Ovce Pole is a plateau on 470 metres above sea level and it is always exposed to strong northeastern winds. The rainfalls are insignificant, about 400 ml/m². The field protective belts as a project was one of the main protections from strong winds that saved most of the crops. After Ovce Pole such projects were implemented in the fields of Tikves, Kumanovo, Prilep and Bitola. Macedonia has about 1,685 kilometres of field protection belts that decrease arable land for only 2.7%. That way the fields are divided into rectangular parcels surrounded by field protective belts. In addition the belts can decrease the speed of the winds from 15 to 83%. The relative humidity of the air behind the belts on the height of 50 cm from the soil and to a distance of 500 metres from the belts is 8% bigger than the relative humidity of air of open and unprotected areas. Evaporation of humidity on areas between belts is 20 - 50 % smaller than that of open terrain.

Enormous number of trees have been cut for fire wood in the last 2 years. As a result, the belts became thinner. Forest management responded by issueing the licences for cutting trees. Consequently, the forests became thicker. The lesson from this mistake must be learnt and the belts have to be preserved.

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