Oliver Avramoski
Programmes Director
Rasanec 10, Leskoec 6306, Republic of Macedonia
GSM: + 389 75 563 417; + 36 620 923 7039
oliver@allcoop.org.mk

Key Qualifications: (Use about half a page)

Background in biology and environmental sciences and policy with emphasis on integrated management of coupled socio-ecological systems.

For the last 6-years focus on development of institutions for multilevel environmental governance in the Ohrid and Prespa region (Albania, Greece and Macedonia). 

Hands-on experience in development of comprehensive plans for conservation and sustainable use of natural resources following the principles of adaptive ecosystem management:

Direct responsibility for the development of the first action plan for the Lake Ohrid watershed (Lake Ohrid and the Prespa lakes): Coordinator of the Lake Ohrid Watershed Management Committee in Macedonia;

Principle mediator in conflict resolution between the different interests represented in the Lake Ohrid Watershed Management Committee in Macedonia (public, private, business, NGOs);

Lead expert of an international project for development of guidelines for involvement of the public in management of transboundary lake basins in the countries in transition of Central and Eastern Europe (Albania, Estonia, Macedonia, Russia);

Contributing author of the first State of the Environment Report for the Lake Ohrid Watershed;

Project coordinator and lead expert for the development of the first state of the environment report for the transboundary Cherava River basin (Albania, Macedonia).

Design and implementation of various public awareness and participation activities implemented in the wider frame of the public participation and community outreach programs.

Since 2000 cooperation with NGOs from Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Russia, Serbia and USA to experience other regions in the world (e.g. Lake Champlain, USA, Lake Peipsi, Lake Balaton, Rila National Park) having certain similarities with the Ohrid and Prespa region.

Since 2002 focus on environmental education. In cooperation with NGOs from Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria and Serbia, as well as in cooperation with the authorities and experts from the Galicica National Park in Macedonia, development of pilot marketable products for environmental education in national parks in Macedonia.

For the last three years focus on biodiversity conservation with an emphasis of innovative approaches to community-based, on-farm conservation of agricultural biodiversity in the mountainous areas in the Ohrid and Prespa region.

For the last two years experience as an international expert/consultant:

In the frame of a project implemented by the World Bank with funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and executed by the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC), with support from LakeNet, USA, responsible for the preparation of a “thematic paper” concerning the role of public participation and citizen involvement in lake basin management in 28 case studies from 32 lakes from around the world;

Responsible for a socio-economic analysis in the frame of the feasibility study for the transboundary Prespa Park (GFA-Terra Systems, Germany).   

Education:

2003 - present: PhD Candidate at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary.

2001 - 2002:  M.Sc.: Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary. Thesis title: “Analysis of the public participation practices in ecosystem approaches to environmental management in the Region of Ohrid and the Prespa Lakes (Albania, Greece and Macedonia).”

1995 - 1999: M.Sc.: University of St Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Skopje, Macedonia.

1988 – 1993: B.Sc.: University of St Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Skopje, Macedonia.

 

Employment Record: (start with present position)

Present – Sep. 2003	Alliance for Lake Cooperation on Ohrid and Prespa, Ohrid, Programmes Director.  Responsibilities included: strategic and operational planning of the activities of ALLCOOP; fund-raising; project development, management and implementation.
Sep. 2003 – March 1999	Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of Republic of Macedonia, The Lake Ohrid Conservation Project, Ohrid, Coordinator of the Participatory Watershed Management Approach. Responsibilities included: promotion and development of a watershed management approach; planning and design of pilot projects; preparation of Terms of Reference and specifications and identification of qualified sources for procurement of equipment or technical services; evaluation of tenders, and monitoring and supervision of the execution of the work.
March 1999 – May 1994	Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Teaching Assistant. Responsibility included: practicals and exams in general microbiology, applied microbiology, biotechnology, molecular biology and general botany; research in biology and ecology of microfungi and biological wastewater treatment processes, etc.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed articles:

Antypas, A., and Avramoski, O. 2004. Polycentric environmental governance in the Western Balkans: towards stability and sustainable development. Environmental Policy and Law 34(2): 87-93.

Spirkovski, Z., Avramoski, O., Kodzoman, A. 2002. Watershed management in the Lake Ohrid region of Albania and Macedonia. Lakes and Reservoires: Research and Management 6: 237-242.

Avramoski, O., and Kungulovski Dz. 1998. Mycoflora of herbal drugs from the market of Republic of Macedonia: Penicillium, Aspergillus and their theleomorphs. God. Z., Biol.-Prir.-mat.fak. Univ. “Sv. Kiril i Metodij” Skopje, Vol. 51, p.5-11.

Kungulovski Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1998. The effects of some antifungal compounds against Cldosporium cladosporoides - the causative agent of biodegradation of a fresco. God. Z., Biol.-Prir.-mat.fak. Univ. “Sv. Kiril i Metodij” Skopje, Vol. 51, p.22-24.

Avramoski, O. Kungulovski, Dz., Dodovska, K. 1997. Mycoflora of spices on the market of Republic of Macedonia: Penicilliuum, Aspergillus and their teleopmorphs. God. Z., Biol.-Prir.-mat.fak. Univ. “Sv. Kiril i Metodij” Skopje, Vol. 50, p. 73-83.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1997. Antifungal activity of some essential oil components against Ascosphaera apis. God. Z., Biol.-Prir.-mat.fak. Univ. “Sv. Kiril i Metodij” Skopje, Vol. 50, p. 67-72.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1996. Antifungal activity of some essential oils against some food contaminating Aspergillus spp.  God. Z., Biol.-Prir.-mat.fak. Univ. “Sv. Kiril i Metodij” Skopje, Vol. 49, p.29-37.

Articles in conference proceedings:

Roll, G., Säre, M., Uus, P., Avramoski, O. 2003. Strategies for public participation in the management of transboundary waters in countries in transition. Proceedings of the second international UN/ECE conference on “Sustainable management of transboundary waters in Europe”, April 21-24, Miedzyzdroje, Poland.

Avramoski, O., and Panovski, D. 2002. Public participation practices in ecosystem management in the region of Ohrid and the Prespa lakes (Albania, Greece, and Macedonia). Proceedings of the “International conference of basin organizations”, November 4-6, Madrid, Spain.

Avramoski, O. 1999. Watershed management approach: a strategy for the conservation of Lake Ohrid. Proceedings of the “International conference on waste water and solid waste”, November 14-17, Ohrid, Macedonia.

Book-chapters, brochures and manuals:

Avramoski, O., Grupcev, M., and Sekuloski, J. 2005. Grafting our future onto the old roots. Ohrid: ALLCOOP.

Avramoski, O. 2003. The Cherava River watershed: state of the environment report. Ohrid: ALLCOOP.

Micevski, B. and Avramoski, O. 2000. FYR Macedonia. In: Transboundary water resources in the Balkans: initiating a sustainable co-operative network, J. Ganoulis, Murphy, I.L. and Brilly, M., 117-124. Kluwer Academic Publishers: Netherlands.

Avramoski, O. (1999): Summary of the strategic action plan of the feasibility study of the Lake Ohrid conservation project. Ohrid: Lake Ohrid Conservation Project, PIU, Macedonia.   

Avramoski, O. (1999): Lake Ohrid conservation project. Lake Ohrid Conservation Project. Ohrid: Lake Ohrid Conservation Project, PIU, Macedonia. 

Kungulovski, Dz, Avramoski, O. (1997): Applied microbiology: a laboratory manual. Skopje: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Kungulovski, Dz, Avramoski, O. (1996): General microbiology: a laboratory manual. Skopje: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Conference papers:

Avramoski, O., and Sekuloski, J. 2003. Ecotourism development in Macedonia: the case study of the Galicica National Park. Paper presented at the international conference “Forum on biodiversity and tourism in south-east Europe”, November, 20-22, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Avramoski, O. 2003. Cooperation in transboundary environmental management in the region of Lake Ohrid and Prespa lakes. Paper presented at the “International Lake Ohrid conference”, November 3-4, Ohrid, Macedonia.

Avramoski, O., Kycyku, S., Naumoski, T., Panovski, D., Veli, P., Selfo, L., Watzin, M. 2003. Lake basin management initiative, experience and lessons learned brief: Lake Ohrid. Paper presented at the conference “Sharing experience and lessons learned in lake basin management”, June 18-21, Burlington, Vermont, USA.

Avramoski, O., Panovski, D., Selfo, L. 2003. Ecosystem approach to management of transboundary water resources in the region of Lake Ohrid and the Prespa lakes (Albania, Greece, and Macedonia). Paper presented at the international conference on “Sustainable development for lasting peace: shared water, shared future, shared knowledge”, May 6-7, Athens, Greece.

Avramoski, O. 2002. Lake Ohrid conservation Project: management of non-point sources
of pollution in the region of Ohrid and the Prespa lakes.  Paper presented at the “Regional workshop on agricultural non-point source pollution control in the Black Sea and Baltic Sea riparian countries”, September 17 – 20, Torun (Przysiek), Poland.

Avramoski, O., and Panovski, D. 2001. Lake Ohrid conservation project: report on the results after three years of implementation. Paper presented at the: Third meeting of the parties to the Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes: Working group on water management, September 17 to 19 The Hague, Netherlands.

Avramoski, O., and Panovski, D. 2000. The Lake Ohrid conservation project: encompassing the ecological, economic and social aspects. Paper presented at the “International conference about problems of ecology of the lakes”, June 13-17, Balatonfoldvar, Hungary.

Panov, N., Avramoski, O., Panovski, D. 1999. Transboundary co-operation: a precondition for developing watershed management approach in Lake Ohrid watershed. Paper presented at the international conference “Management and sustainable development in international lake basins”, December 15 – 17, 1999, Tartu, Estonia.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1999. Anaerobic digestion of manure wastewater by a lagoon system. Abstract Book, IUMUS, IX International congress of bacteriology & applied microbiology, August 16-20, Sidney, Australia, 245.

Kungulovski, Dz., Avramoski, O., Jovanoska, K. 1998. Sanitation of the municipal sludge from the wastewater treatment plant “Vraništa” by psyhrophyilic methanogenesis. Abstract Book, Ist Congress of Ecologists of Macedonia, September 20-24, Ohrid, Macedonia, 178.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1997. The effect of the methanogenesis on the utilization of the heavy metals.  Abstract Book, Ist Congress of Microbiologists of Macedonia, May 14-17, Ohrid, Macedonia, 141.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1997. Antifungal activity of some essential oils on Ascosphaera apis. Abstract Book, Ist Congress of Microbiologists of Macedonia, May 14-17, Ohrid, Macedonia, 142.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1997. Fungicides in the control of the biodegradation of the frescoes. Abstract Book, Ist Congress of Microbiologists of Macedonia, May 14-17, Ohrid, Macedonia, 150.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1996. Antifungal activity of eugenol and cinnamaldehide against food contaminating Aspergillus species. Abstract Book, Ist Congress of Biologists of Macedonia (with international participation), September 18-21, Ohrid, Macedonia, 104.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1996.  Metanogenesis of the municipal sludge of the Varniste Waste Water Treatment Plant. Abstract Book, Ist Congress of Biologists of Macedonia, September 18-21, Ohrid, Macedonia, 191.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1996. Mesophylic and psyhrophilic anaerobic treatment of the municipal wastewater and sludge. Abstract Book, 8th International congress of bacteriology and applied microbiology division and 8th International congress of mycology division, August 18-23, Jerusalem, Israel, 112.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1996. Antimicrobial activity of several fractions derived from garlic. Abstract Book, 8th International congress of bacteriology and applied microbiology division and 8th International congress of mycology division, August 18-23, Jerusalem, Israel, 67.

Kungulovski, Dz, Avramoski, O., Miljkovic, A., Dodovska, K. 1995. Anaerobic transformation of the poultry manure to biogas. Abstract Book, VIIth Congress of Microbiologists of Yugoslavia, June 12-16, Herceg Novi, Yugoslavia, 31.

Kungulovski, Dz., and Avramoski, O. 1995. Antifungal activity of several garlic fractions. Abstract Book, VIIth Congress of Microbiologists of Yugoslavia, June 12-16, Herceg Novi, Yugoslavia, 31.

Participation in projects:

2005-2006    Project coordinator: Instutionalization of a cross border NGO Network in the Prespa/Ohrid Euroregion. ALLCOOP, Macedonia, Cultural Triangle of Prespes, Greece; financed by the Balkan Trust.

2005:            Lead expert: Old life-styles – new opportunities: pilot project for conservation and promotion of traditional patterns of production and consumption in rural communities in mountainous areas in Macedonia. ALLCOOP, Macedonia; financed by the Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC).

2005:            Lead expert: Ohrid and Prespa Sustainability Network – peripheral civic networking for the implementation of sustainable development in Ohrid and Prespa regions (Albania and Macedonia). ALLCOOP, Macedonia, ALLCOOP, Albania, and the Environmental Association Areal, Macedonia; financed by the East-West Institute, USA.

2005-2003:   Project coordinator: Grafting our future onto the old roots: a community-based in-situ conservation of traditional fruit tree varieties and the associated traditional agricultural landscape in the Region of Ohrid and the Prespa Lakes (Albania, Greece, and Macedonia). ALLCOOP, Macedonia and SPP, Greece; financed by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeut (GTZ).

2004:            Environmental management expert: Feasibility study on the transboundary Prespa Park. GFA-Terra Systems, Germany; financed by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).

2004-2003:   Public participation expert: Sharing experience and lessons learned in lake basin management. The World Bank, International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC), LakeNet, USA; financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

2003-2002:   Lead expert : Establishing financial mechanisms for conserving biodiversity in the Balkan region: sustainable development through eco-tourism and environmental education in protected areas. ALLCOOP, Macedonia, Children of the Earth, Bulgaria, Tourism and Environment, Albania and Association for Educational Improvement, Serbia and Montenegro; financed by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC).

2003-2002:   Project coordinator: Save transboundary Cherava River: development of Cherava River basin management plan. ALLCOOP, Macedonia and Tourism and Environment, Albania; financed by the Open Society Institute, USA.

2002-2001:   Project coordinator: Strategies for public participation in the management of transboundary waters in countries in transition: Lake Ohrid and Lake Peipsi case studies. ALLCOOP, Macedonia and Peipsi CTC, Estonia, financed by the Open Society Institute, USA.

2002-2001: Project coordinator: Public participation and NGO involvement in transboundary water management: implementing the international standards. ALLCOOP, Macedonia and Peipsi CTC, Estonia; financed by Charity Know How, United Kingdom.

2003-1999:   Country co-coordinator of the Participatory Watershed Management Approach Program: the Lake Ohrid conservation project. Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of Environment of Albania; financed by the World Bank.

1999-1997:  Microbiology expert: Ecosystemic research in stationary state in Beech forests of the National Park of Mavrovo. University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje; financed by the Ministry of Science of Republic of Macedonia.

1998-1996:   Microbiology expert: Anaerobic fermentation of the waste water form the pig farm in Petrovec, Skopje by a new three-lagoons system. Rikom, Skopje, Macedonia.

1997:          Microbiology expert: The fungicides as control agents in the biodegradation of the frescoes of the Monastery church in village Gorno Nagoricane, Kumanovo.  Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Skopje and Department for protection of the cultural monuments of Macedonia, Skopje, Macedonia; financed by the Ministry of Science of Republic of Macedonia.

1997-1995:   Microbiology expert: Anaerobic treatment of the municipal sludge from the Ohrid’s collector and its transformation to biogas. University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje; financed by the Ministry of Science of Republic of Macedonia.

1994:           Microbiology expert: Eco summer school: natural ecosystems-assessment of the disturbance caused by the human activities. Youth researches of Macedonia and the Society of Ecologist of Macedonia; financed by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC).