PEFC General Assembly welcomes new national member for North Macedonia
The General Assembly has accepted the transfer of the membership for North Macedonia to the Regional Centre for Forestry and Rural Development (REFORD).
PEFC General Assembly welcomes new national member for North Macedonia
19 November 2024 PEFC system news
The PEFC General Assembly has accepted the transfer of the membership for North Macedonia to the Regional Centre for Forestry and Rural Development (REFORD).
REFORD takes over the PEFC membership from the Council for Sustainable Forest Management in the Republic of North Macedonia, of whom it is a founding member. The financial management of the PEFC national member for North Macedonia has always been overseen by REFORD.
In December 2022, the members of the Council unanimously agreed to transfer the PEFC membership to REFORD, to enhance the effectiveness of the North Macedonian member, and to support the further development of PEFC within the country.
“Positioning REFORD as the PEFC National Governing Body in North Macedonia will strengthen the PEFC processes, knowing the long history of REFORD's involvement in development of the forestry sector in North Macedonia and the surrounding region,” said Sasho Petrovski, PEFC Balkans coordinator.
The new member
REFORD is an independent, non-political, non-partisan, non-profit, and autonomous civil organisation based in North Macedonia. Founded in 2010 in accordance with the Law on Associations and Foundations, REFORD was established through the initiative of its founders, with support from private forest owner associations across the Balkans.
“REFORD has a long history of knowledge development among forest owners and users and will continue working to provide more opportunities to these stakeholders, such as PEFC forest certification,” Sasho explained.
PEFC in North Macedonia
North Macedonia joined PEFC as a member in 2016 and achieved PEFC endorsement of its national standard in 2018.
Together with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Slovenia, North Macedonia is part of the Balkan Regional System.
The regional system helps the members sharing resources and knowledge, and maximising their visibility in the region. The system achieved PEFC certification in 2022.