Osogovo nature is a comprehensive digital resource – on-line flora/ virtual atlas of the flora of the Osogovo Mountain Massif in North Macedonia. The site is dedicated to collecting and sharing detailed, scientifically accurate information about the vascular flora in the region – native plants, as well as introduced and adventive species.
The primary objectives of Osogovo nature are:
- to increase the knowledge of the flora of the Osogovo region by providing a centralised, scientifically curated platform
- contribute to the knowledge of the flora of North Macedonia
- support biodiversity, research and conservation by offering reliable references
- the botanical knowledge of the site is accessible to everyone – from students and researchers to nature entusiasts
Established in 2020, Osogovo nature has grown steadily since its inception and currently hosts data on more than 1300 plant taxa. The site is continuously expanded and updated to reflect new discoveries, taxonomic revisions and regional checklists.
The vascular plants are determined down to subspecies level and listed taxonomically on the page Vascular plants list. Each taxon is presented with a profile which includes general information regarding taxonomy, life-form, habitat, distribution range, flowering time as well as original photographs taken in the Osogovo region, with information when and where the taxon was recorded/ photographed. The profile of each taxon is accessible directly from the list.
The methods, literature and other sources and botanical references used in the study (taxonomic determination, worldwide distribution of taxa and similar) are listed on the Materials and methods page.
The site is created and maintained by the author Trajche Dimitrovski, a trained biologist/botanist with a strong interest in plant taxonomy and biodiversity documentation. All taxa included on Osogovo nature are recorded, determined and photographed by the author.
About the Author:
“I am Trajche Dimitrovski, a biologist with a special interest in plant sciences, including botany, biodiversity, plant taxonomy and systematics among others. I obtained a BC degree in Biology – Biochemistry and Physiology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. I obtained a MS degree in Plant production at the Institute of Agriculture, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje.
I have been involved in botanical fieldwork, identification and documentation of vascular plants since 2009. One of the defining moments for my profound interest in plant taxonomy and biodiversity was the time I invested in my first cycle studies at the Department of Systematics and Phylogeny of Higher-Order Plants and Phytogeography with Phytocoenology at the Institute of Biology from 2009 to 2010, during which period I prepared a herbarium collection from Osogovo. The invaluable experience and knowledge I gained at this department played a key role years later, in the creation of Osogovo nature.
While my current professinal work is not affilated with an academic or botanical institution, I remain dedicated to ensuing scientific accuracy and providing public access to reliable plant data.”
Author: Trajche Dimitrovski
Contact: dimitrovskitrajche@gmail.com