Publications
Problems of Protection of Lake Ohrid and Lake Baikal as World Natural Heritage Properties: A Comparative Legal Study
A comparative legal analysis of Lake Ohrid and Lake Baikal, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, reveals shared conservation challenges while highlighting unique regional differences. The study identifies common issues such as boundary determination, management practices, and normative regulations for water body protection, with notable distinctions arising from the lakes' spatial scales. Proposals to optimize Lake Baikal's conservation efforts were developed, emphasizing its spiritual significance and suggesting its recognition as a cultural heritage site. The research employed comparative legal, logical, system-structural, and formal-legal methods, offering actionable insights for international and national heritage protection frameworks.
Authenticity, Integrity and Management of World Heritage in the National Context — Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region
A comprehensive assessment of the authenticity, integrity, and management challenges faced by the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region' reveals critical insights into preserving its dual heritage status. The study highlights the site's vulnerability to degradation due to urbanization, tourism pressures, and inadequate management frameworks within North Macedonia. By analyzing historical and contemporary data, the research identifies key threats to the site's integrity, including environmental changes, cultural erosion, and governance gaps. It emphasizes the need for integrated conservation strategies that balance natural and cultural preservation while addressing national heritage policies. The findings underscore the importance of adaptive management approaches tailored to the region's unique context, offering a model for other World Heritage Sites facing similar challenges.
Scratches? Scribbles? Scripture! Revealing the Unseen – 3D Scanning of Glagolitic Graffiti of the 10th Century at the Monastery of St. Naum
A groundbreaking study reveals previously unseen Glagolitic graffiti on the 10th-century marble columns of the Monastery of St. Naum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Macedonia. These inscriptions, among the earliest evidence of the Glagolitic alphabet, were obscured due to the columns' curvature and shiny surface, which hindered traditional imaging techniques like macrophotography with raking light. To address this, researchers employed structured light scanning with a resolution of 30 μm or less, successfully capturing high-resolution 3D models of the inscriptions without texture information to avoid errors from the marble's discoloration. This innovative approach not only digitally preserves and archives the graffiti but also allows for detailed analysis from any virtual angle, providing invaluable resources for Slavistic and linguistic experts.
UNESCO Lists for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage in the World and Their Impact on Tourism Development: Case of the Republic of North Macedonia
UNESCO's World Heritage Lists play a significant role in both the protection of natural and cultural heritage and the sustainable development of tourism. The Ohrid region in the Republic of North Macedonia, listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1979, faced threats from uncontrolled tourism expansion, unplanned urban development, and environmental destruction, leading to its inclusion on the World Heritage List in Danger in 2017. This study investigates whether sites originating from North Macedonia are on UNESCO Lists and how this impacts heritage protection and sustainable tourism development. Using a research approach that combines analysis of UNESCO's lists with an assessment of local tourism development, the paper highlights the complex interplay between global recognition, local challenges, and the need for balanced conservation strategies.
The Influences and Importance of the UNESCO World Heritage List: The Case of Plaošnik, Ohrid
UNESCO World Heritage designation significantly influences the preservation and development of culturally and naturally significant sites, as demonstrated by the case of Plaošnik in Ohrid. This archaeological site, home to the oldest Slavic monastery and university in the Balkans, faces pressures from redevelopment projects that threaten its integrity. The study highlights how international legal instruments like the World Heritage List can mitigate these risks by shaping local conservation practices and urban evolution. Researchers analyzed the interplay between heritage protection and development, emphasizing the need for balanced approaches to safeguard key elements of recognized sites without compromising their historical significance.
Preliminary Investigations on Odonata from the Lake Ohrid (Macedonia)
A preliminary investigation of Lake Ohrid revealed 17 species of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) from 476 adult specimens collected across 21 stations in June 2009. This study is notable for addressing a significant data gap regarding this invertebrate group in the lake, which is otherwise well-documented in other European lakes. The findings indicate a relatively low species diversity, likely influenced by the lake's mountainous location and moderate climate. Enallagma cyathigerum was the most abundant species, thriving due to its association with elodeid plants like Potamegeton perfoliatus. Four of the identified species are endemic to Southern Europe, while the rest are widespread across the continent. This research provides foundational data for understanding odonate biodiversity in Lake Ohrid and highlights the ecological significance of its unique environment.
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