Nearly 14 per cent of North Macedonia’s territory is designated as protected area. Yet protecting the country’s biodiversity requires sustained investment. UNDP BIOFIN is working with national institutions and experts to assess current spending, identify financing needs and develop a Biodiversity Finance Plan.

Speaking to Sitel TV, UNDP’s Igor Izotov explained that the plan is expected to identify innovative financing approaches that could help narrow the gap between available resources and the cost of conserving biodiversity for future generations.

One area under consideration is how to make it easier for businesses to support national conservation priorities. Professor Dragan Tevdovski described a proposed register of biodiversity projects seeking contributions. Companies could use it to find projects they wish to support, while ensuring that their investments align with the country’s priorities.

The team is also exploring more complex instruments, including bonds linked to measurable results for nature. Such an approach could bring together international support and investment from companies, potentially across several countries.

These options remain under discussion. The Biodiversity Finance Plan is still being developed; the proposed mechanisms have not been adopted or launched. Once completed, the plan could provide a practical route for mobilizing more resources to implement North Macedonia’s biodiversity priorities.

Based on a Sitel TV report published on 22 May 2026.