05 April 2026
The EUROPARC Federation has welcomed Sharri National Park as its newest member. This has been described as a special milestone, as Sharri becomes the first member from Kosovo, further strengthening the network of European parks with a new member from Southeastern Europe.
With its exceptional biodiversity, strong ties with the local community, and commitment to sustainable development, Sharri National Park is a valuable addition to the EUROPARC network, according to the welcome announcement.
The EUROPARC announcement also highlights the values of Sharri National Park, describing it as a refuge for high-altitude biodiversity and iconic species, while emphasizing its biodiversity conservation strategy, which focuses on: protecting and conserving natural habitats and biodiversity, supporting traditional lifestyles in surrounding communities, providing access to education, research and recreation, and ensuring the long-term conservation of habitats for future generations.
The announcement also highlights the park team’s key achievements in recent years, including the discovery of new endemic species, cross-border cooperation projects, and membership in the EUROPARC Federation, which further strengthens Sharri’s role in European conservation efforts.
The information about Sharri National Park presented on the EUROPARC Federation’s website also emphasizes support for traditional livestock farming in the Sharri Mountains, cooperation with livestock farmers and their associations, maintenance of mountain infrastructure, development of sustainable tourism, wildlife protection through strict protection zones, park monitoring and control, as well as the implementation of environmental education programmes for visitors and local communities.
For more information, please see the announcement on the portal of the EUROPARC Federation.