Over 22,500 species of wildlife have been recorded in North Macedonia. Over 10,000 of these are insects, which include 3,000 beetle species and large numbers of Lepidoptera, flies, and Hymenoptera. Aside from insects, other large arthropod groups include Chelicerata (mostly spiders) and crustaceans. Among vertebrates, more than 300 species of birds recorded, although not all nest in the country. There are over 80 species of both fish and mammals, 32 reptiles, and 14 amphibians.
Over 4,200 plants have been identified, of which more than 3,700 are vascular plants. The majority of existing forest is deciduous, and the amount of forest has expanded slightly in recent years. Over 2,000 species of algae have been found, most of them within lakes. There are also 2,000 species of identified fungi, with 90% of these being Basidiomycota, and at least 450 lichens.
The country covers 25,713 square kilometres (9,928 sq mi), with much of the terrain being mountainous. Significant variation in topography has contributed to large variation within local climates, which together with the presence of ice age refugia has resulted in significant diversity and endemism. Although North Macedonia is landlocked, it has numerous rivers and lakes supporting aquatic wildlife. The forest and caves in the west of the country support a number of unique and endangered animals. The three largest lakes, Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, and Lake Dojran, are further areas of relatively high diversity.
There is substantial interaction between people and wildlife, especially in rural areas. Various plant and fungi species are foraged for local use and for export, and many animal species are hunted. Other threats to wildlife include land use change, pollution, and climate change. A number of animal and plant species have become locally extinct. A variety of laws protect some species and habitats and regulate their use, and action plans have been developed by the government, covering topics including the environment, biodiversity, and water. Four national parks have been established, and North Macedonia is party to a number of European and International conventions that relate to wildlife and the environment.
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