There are places that hold memories in their soil. Places where every felled root and every barren hill reminds us of what was lost, and what still has the chance to return.
Pashtrik–Morina is one of them.
For decades, this region has carried deep scars from mining, deforestation, and wildfires. Yet today, amid dust and remnants, a new future is being planted. A small mosaic of restoration, begun with care, patience, and faith in nature.
The Northern Forests Initiative: Forest Restoration in North Macedonia and Albania brought together expertise, local knowledge, dedication, and hands-on work in the field. Through this collaboration, fragmented habitats are being revived, ecological connectivity is being restored, and the foundation is being laid for a more resilient environment, where nature and communities can thrive together.
We could not restore all of Pashtrik–Morina. But we restored something essential: possibility. The possibility that in 10 or 15 years, where now bare land stretches before us, new forests will grow, birds will return with their songs, and children will play in the shade of trees being planted today.
This is the story of a land being reborn.
A story that is quiet, patient, and full of promise.
Remember the name Pashtrik–Morina.
And if you ever pass by, you may witness the beginning of what once seemed impossible.
See you in the forest’s future!
Video Credits – Edvin Rushitaj
*The Northern Forest Initiative, supported by IUCN ECARO and the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation, focuses on restoring degraded forest landscapes in northern Albania and North Macedonia.
