Po redaktohet Skopje (paragraf)

=== Environment ===

[[File:Mt. Vodno1.jpg|thumb|Skopje as seen from Mount Vodno. The cable car cables are also visible.]]
The City of Skopje encompasses various natural environments and its fauna and flora are rich. However, it is threatened by the intensification of agriculture and the urban extension. The largest protected area within the city limits is Mount Vodno, which is a popular leisure destination. A cable car connects its peak to the downtown, and many pedestrian paths run through its woods. Other large natural spots include the [[Matka Canyon]].<ref name="nature"/>

The city itself comprises several parks and gardens amounting to 4,361 hectares. Among these are the City Park (Gradski Park), built by the Ottoman Turks at the beginning of the 20th century; Žena Borec Park, in front of the Parliament; the university arboretum; and Gazi Baba forest. Many streets and boulevards are planted with trees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parkovi.com.mk/default.asp?ItemID=585010091E61F94A93252F30545D68B9 |title=Градско Зеленило |publisher=Паркови и Зеленило |access-date=19 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115085154/http://www.parkovi.com.mk/default.asp?ItemID=585010091E61F94A93252F30545D68B9 |archive-date=15 November 2012}}</ref>

Skopje experiences many environmental issues which are often overshadowed by the economic poverty of the country. However, alignment of North Macedonian law on European law has brought progress in some fields, such as water and waste treatment, and industrial emissions.<ref name="pol">{{cite web |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/skopje-signals-air-pollution-alarm |title=Pollution Alert in Smog-Bound Skopje |date=13 December 2011 |author=Sinisa Jakov Marusic |publisher=Balkan Insight |access-date=19 October 2012}}</ref> Skopje remains one of the most polluted cities in the world, topping the ranks in December 2017.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Can urban environmental problems be overcome? The case of Skopje–world's most polluted city |first1=Slobodan |last1=Arsovski |first2=Michał |last2=Kwiatkowski |first3=Aleksandra |last3=Lewandowska |first4=Dimitrinka Jordanova |last4=Peshevska |first5=Emilija |last5=Sofeska |first6=Mirek |last6=Dymitrow |date=1 June 2018 |journal=Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series |volume=40 |issue=40 |pages=17–39 |doi=10.2478/bog-2018-0012 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Steel processing, which a crucial activity for the local economy, is responsible for [[soil pollution]] with heavy metals such as lead, [[zinc]] and [[cadmium]], and air pollution with [[nitrogen oxide]] and [[carbon monoxide]].<ref name="nature"/> Vehicle traffic and [[district heating]] plants are also responsible for air pollution. The highest pollution levels usually occur in autumn and winter.<ref name="pol"/>

Water treatment plants are being built, but much polluted water is still discharged untreated into the [[Vardar]].<ref name="nature"/> Waste is disposed of in the open-air municipal landfill site, {{cvt|15|km|abbr=off}} north of the city. Every day, it receives 1,500 m<sup>3</sup> of domestic waste and 400 m<sup>3</sup> of industrial waste. Health levels are better in Skopje than in the rest of North Macedonia, and no link has been found between the low environmental quality and the health of the residents.<ref name="security">{{cite web |url=http://www.arab-hdr.org/publications/other/undp/hdr/2001/macedonia-e.pdf |title=National Report on Human Development |year=2001 |publisher=UNDR |access-date=13 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226090232/http://www.arab-hdr.org/publications/other/undp/hdr/2001/macedonia-e.pdf |archive-date=26 December 2013}}</ref>