Environmental Monitoring System in the Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

The second part of component 2 of the Project “Strengthening the Capacity of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning” deals with Environmental Monitoring and Data Management Strategies. The project has the objective to develop a strategy for establishing an integrated national monitoring network in order to fulfil national and international reporting requirements and provide high quality, comparable and relevant environmental information. The goals also include to increase the transparency of public institutions by facilitating access to information and by developing a coordinated approach for public sector information. This assessment of current monitoring systems and requirements should provide information about the current situation regarding the acquisition and management of environmental data in Macedonia including: - Monitoring networks established by the MEPP and other institutions - What environmental data are collected - Where and how are environmental data collected and what systems are used - How are data organized and shared within and between institutions - Existing legislation related to data collection and dissemination All information regarding environmental monitoring will be topic-specific, covering the following environmental issues: Air, Water, Soil, Biosphere, Waste, Noise and Land use. Several institutions and organizations in the Country deal with of environmental data. Generally, the organizations involved in the process of monitoring have some kind of data processing, which can be data validation and verification, data processing and modelling, as well as some sort of data dissemination. The final result should be to establish the basis and the framework for the development of a country wide Environmental Information System (EIS). The EIS should provide: - Efficient support for environmental related activities - Support for environmental panning and decision making - Reporting to international institutions (EU) - Reporting under international obligations - Information to the public