The Accursed Mountains, the Second National Park of Kosovo
24 December 2012
24/12/2012- With the approval of the law for the 'Accursed Mountains' National Park, another legally protected area with the status of a National Park has been added to Kosovo. This is the Accursed Mountains National Park, which covers an area of 62,488 ha and extends over the territory of the municipalities: Gjakova, Junik, Peja, Deçan, and Istog.
The territory declared as a National Park is distinguished by rare natural values, a large number of important forest ecosystems, significant habitats of rare species as well as rich hydrological, geomorphological, and landscape features that hold scientific, educational, and tourist-recreational importance.
In this park, under this law, protective regimes have been established according to the first zone (part of the territory with extraordinary natural features and enjoying the character of a strict protection area), the second zone (parts of the territory characterized by ecosystems and other natural values where activities that are not contrary to the protection purposes can be carried out), the third zone (parts where sustainable use is allowed, intended for the construction of facilities for rest, recreation, and tourism, and the needs of residents for limited use of natural resources), and the impact zone (an area of 50 meters from the Park's boundary that serves to prevent harmful impacts).
This park will be managed by the Directorate for the Administration of the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park, which is expected to be established within 6 months by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and will be part of the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency.
The professional justification for taking the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park under protection was prepared in 2003 by the Institute for Nature Protection.
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