Resource assessment and economic potential of bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium uliginosum) on Osogovo Mtn., R. Macedonia

• Bilberries in Macedonia are significant natural resource especially on Osogovo Mtn.
• Bilberries resource assessment based on remote sensing and GIS ground truth data.
• Intensive field assessment of annual production of bilberries fruits and leaves.
• HPLC/DAD/ESI-MSn chemical profile of bilberries leaves.
• Estimated economic income of sustainable use of fruits (1.6 M€) and leaves (0.5 M€).

Bilberries in Macedonia represent significant natural resource that provides additional income for number of people. However, the systems for collection, licensing, control and monitoring are still not well developed in most of the Republic of Macedonia which puts pressure on natural habitats and wild species and leads to unsustainable use.The aim of this paper is to assess the economic potential based on sustainable usage of bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus – European bilberry and Vaccinium uliginosum – Bog bilberry) on Osogovo Mtn., north-east Macedonia by intensive field assessment of annual production of fruits and leaves along with chemical characterization of the leaves and analysis of the importance of bilberries for local population.Field methods for assessment of surface of the heathlands and were based on remote sensing and ground truth data by using GIS; leaves and fruits production was estimated by standard transect square method; chemical characterization of the leaves was done by HPLC/DAD/ESI-MSn.The average production of dry leaves and fruits was 11.7 g m−2 and 213.2 g m−2, respectively.The total dry fruits biomass on Osogovo Mtn. in 2008 was estimated at 249.11 t (218.82 t in heathlands) from which 53% was European bilberry fruits. The total dry leaves biomass was estimated at 1459.4 t (927.1 t of European bilberry).The total content of all phenolic compounds in freeze-dried extract of V. myrtillus was 36.53 mg g−1. Phenolic acids (caffeic acid and its esters with quinic acid and glucose, or other hydroxycinammic acids such as p-coumaric, p-coumaroylquinic or feruloylquinic acid and corresponding p-coumaroyl glucoside) represented 36% of total phenolic compounds in the European bilberry leaves extract, followed by flavonols (60%) and catechin (4%).Estimated economic income of sustainable use of fruits and leaves is 1.6 and 0.5 milion €, respectively. This amount can support 340 people with average Macedonian annual gross salary.