Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostusa

Mavrovo and Rostuša exists because biodiversity concentrated in 780 square kilometers of western Macedonian mountains warrants national park protection. Established in 1949, Mavrovo National Park encompasses the municipality's territory: deep canyons, the Mavrovo reservoir, dense forests hosting 1,435 vascular plant species (including 13 endemics), 50 mammal species including the critically endangered Balkan lynx and brown bear, 129 bird species, and alpine ecosystems at elevations exceeding 2,000 meters.

The formation era developed Yugoslavia's tourism infrastructure: the Zare Lazareski ski resort now operates eleven ski lifts and three chairlifts with capacity for 11,000 skiers hourly. Timber and firewood sales historically provided park revenue, but tourism increasingly diversifies income. Visitors from Albania, Kosovo, and Greece supplement domestic demand for winter sports and summer mountain recreation.

Today the municipality confronts severe demographic decline: from 8,618 residents in 2002 to 5,042 in 2021—a 41% population loss driven by emigration to urban centers and abroad. The park's zoning plan designates 11.6% for strict protection, 32.1% for active management, and 56.3% for sustainable use. Threats include proposed hydropower developments, illegal logging, and tourism pressures that conservation management must balance against the economic needs of remaining residents.

By 2026, Mavrovo and Rostuša represents the fundamental tension between conservation value and human habitation. The Balkan lynx population requires protection; the ski resort requires investment; the remaining 5,000 residents require livelihoods. Whether nature tourism can generate sufficient revenue to sustain both ecological and human communities remains the municipality's existential question.