SOUTH-EAST REGION
GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION
TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Major parts, i.e. 46%, of the plough areas in the South-Eastern Region are found on flat lands, situated at from 250 to 300 meters above sea level and are of primary importance for agriculture in the region. These are the areas spread along the Rivers Vardar, Strumica, Trkanja and Kriva Reka. The other 52% of the total surface is sloped, and 2% is with hills. The altitude ranges between 64 and 2.157 meters above sea level. (Highest peak is Zelen Breg on Mt. Kozuf).
The particular geographic and topographical position of the South-Eastern region is characterized by two climactic zones. The Sub-Mediterranean climate with high or low overlaps with the Eastern continental climate, interlace that gives the region a special earmark - long and hot summers with high temperatures during the day, reduced amount of rain, with lower winter temperatures and winds blowing from all directions. Strumica’s micro-region is characterized by long period of sunny and intensively bright days, which positively impact the fructification. There are around 230 days of sun annually, whereas the sun reflection lasts on average 2,377 hours in a year. There is a fog in a maximum of 20 days. The micro regions of Radovish and Konche are characterized by relatively continental climate. Due to the difference in height (400-707 meters above sea level) particular climate elements vary between Mediterranean climate in the fields and mountainous climate in the mountains. Gevgelija’s micro-region is characterized by Mediterranean to continental climate, ensuring warm days throughout the year. This micro-region is the sunniest part of the country, with over 240 sunny days per year.
HIDROGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
The River Strumica flows through Strumica, Cironska, and Lebnica River till the Bulgarian border. It covers 1,649 kilometers or 6.4% of the territory of Macedonia. Its main tributaries are the Rivers Vodocha, Turija, Radovishka, and Podareshka. The total amount of water in this river is around 132 million m3.
Dojran Lake is the smallest natural lake in the Republic of Macedonia, and belongs to the river system of Vardar, which flows into the Republic of Greece. The lake is an isolated ecosystem with very specific flora and fauna.
From the surface waters, main river flow is Luda Mara River, which is not characterized with great and constant flows. Along the River the reservoir Lake Paljurci is constructed, whose primary goal is irrigation of the nearby fields. The reservoir lake has area of 2.8 х 106 m3. At Luda Mara in the municipality of Dojran, a similar reservoir lake called Chinarli has been constructed with an area of 0.25х106 m3.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The richness and the heterogeneity of the types of ecosystems are basic characteristics of the biological diversity in the South-Eastern region. This condition is the result of its specific geographical position, climate, soil, geology and other characteristics, as well as changes that have occurred over the geological periods on this territory.
FORESTS
The forest eco-systems in Strumica micro-region are covering the territory of Belasica and Ograzden mountains, and are dominated by deciduous forests mostly composed of oak, black and white hornbeam, chestnut and beech trees. Evergreen forests are rarer and mostly found in the higher parts of the mountains, dominated by the pine, fir and juniper trees. Mixed forests are found on smaller surfaces and they are not very common in this region.
In the micro-region of Radovish and Konche, most dominant is the oak, beech and the ash forests. In the municipality of Konche, the forest complexes cover 9,429 ha, and additional 2,313 ha of pastures. In the municipality of Radovish, the forest complexes cover 21,000 ha. The bigger forest complexes are present around Stara and Oravichka River, where oak, beech, and conifers dominate the forestry. Besides wood, other (secondary) forest products are being used such as: oak lichen, cantarion, St. John’s wort, yarrow, the mushroom boletus etc.
AVAILABLE NATURAL RESOURCES
The Radovish and Konche regions are characterized bythe supplies of mineral non-metal raw materials, such as decoration stones used for construction such as quartz and clay. Mineral metal raw materials present in Radovish municipality include iron and zinc ore, copper, gold, silver, chrome and uranium, whereas in Konche municipality there is limestone, marble and copper. In Strumica micro-region, the mine for exploitation of feldspad “Hamzali” is of a sodium character, and is the only one found on the territory of Macedonia and the Balkans. The mine for CaCO3 exportation “Memeshli” is a site which represents marbled limestone, one of the rare sites in the Republic of Macedonia. An investigation is being conducted on Ograzden Mountain in the immediate vicinity of the populated area Ilovica, where there are indications of potential stores (copper and gold).
CONCESSIONS
The law for concessions and other types of public private partnership (Public journal of Republic of Macedonia, No.6/12) regulates the conditions, form and procedure for granting concessions. The concession may be in terms of construction, providing public services and use of goods of general interest for the Republic of Macedonia.
The Law on Concessions regulates the general conditions for granting concessions. There are special rules determined by the Law of Mineral Resources (Public journal of Republic of Macedonia, No. 132/13), which regulates the conditions for awarding concessions for exploitation of mineral resources and in the Law for Water (Public journal od Republic of Macedonia, No. 87/08), by which the conditions for granting concessions for water in lakes and streams are regulated.
The Ministry of economy has developed a system for „e-Concessions“ which provides the procedures for granting concessions for detailed geological research and exploitation of mineral resources to go electronically in all its phases after the decision made by the Government of Republic of Macedonia to publish Public Call: Electronic tender documentation, electronic preparation and submission of the required documentation and participation in e-auction of all involved parties. Entities participating in the procedure receive notifications through automatically and independent system for mail delivery.