The Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Protection includes Prof. Dr. Slavcho Hristovski, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Daniela Jovanovska, Assistant MSc Marija Chobanova and technical associate BSc Biol. Violeta Boshkovska.
Over the past decade, the Department’s scientific research has focused on modern and integrative approaches in ecology, with particular emphasis on ecosystem research, landscape ecology and nature conservation in Macedonia. Research activities address the structure, function and dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems, as well as their resilience and vulnerability under anthropogenic pressures and climate change. Scientific data generated by the Department serve as a basis for policy development and decision-making; therefore, in the past five years, the Department has actively contributed to establishing the ecosystem services concept at the national level, including the development of numerous methods for assessing ecosystem condition and the services they provide.
Special attention is given to wetland ecosystems, which represent important biodiversity hotspots and play a key role in hydrological regulation and carbon storage. In this context, research includes studies on floristic and vegetation diversity, biomass assessment, ecohydrology, soil analysis and evaluation of ecosystem services provided by wetlands. In addition, the impacts of land-use change, hydrological alterations and pollution on the functioning and stability of these sensitive systems are thoroughly analyzed. Within the field of landscape ecology, the Department conducts research focused on landscape structure, spatial heterogeneity and functional connectivity of ecosystems at different spatial scales. These studies include habitat mapping and classification, application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, modeling of spatial and temporal changes and assessment of anthropogenic impacts on landscapes, all aimed at supporting sustainable management. Activities in the field of nature conservation are directed towards the identification, valorization and monitoring of areas with high natural value, assessment of the conservation status of habitats and species and the development of scientific foundations for their protection, management and restoration. The Department actively contributes to national and international biodiversity conservation initiatives. In addition, research is being developed on ecophysiological adaptations of plants, including studies on heavy metal accumulation and its significance in the context of ecosystem processes and bioremediation, as well as multidisciplinary approaches integrating biological, chemical and spatial data.