Integrated Environmental Policies in Europe & CIS

Nature brings neighbours together at Lake Prespa

The Prespa Park region, connecting FYR Macedonia, Greece and Albania, is under threat from unsustainable human exploitation and inappropriate land-use practices. Nature does not recognize borders, so that is why UNDP and the three countries have joined forces to launch a $4.3 million trilateral project to protect the biological diversity of the Prespa Park and lake.

Preserving the balance of the park's fragile ecosystem is a goal in itself, but there are economic imperatives as well: the Prespa region attracts hundreds of visitors ever year and represents an important source of revenue for FYR Macedonia. The sames applies for the Greek part of Prespa, and there is income-generating potential for Albania as well.

However, this important resource is under threat. Soil and water contamination as well as land erosion is an increasing problem, and some forest-cover has been lost. The degradation of the Park"s natural resources has been such that the water quality of the rivers in the watershed as well as that of the lake itself has been affected.  

With the aim of conserving and sustaining the use of a globally significant biological diversity and trans-boundary water resource of the Prespa Lakes Basin, the Prespa Project, signed by UNDP and FYR Macedonia's Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning along with the governments of Greece and Albania, is working towards:

• A 50% reduction in frequency and quantity of pesticides applied each season;

• At least 1,000 hectares of priority habitat for birds, fish, rare plants, and mammals under improved conservation management;

• 6,000 hectares of forest under better biodiversity-oriented management;

• Prevention of the introduction of non-native species of fish into Prespa Lake;

• Establishment of a database on priority ecosystem and species health parameters, operational and utilized by all three countries;

• An agreement from the three states on trans-boundary ecological management for sustainable use and conservation of native species and aquatic ecosystem health -

• that in turn leads to a Tri-national Eco-tourism and Visitation Strategy and Management Plan.

The Prespa Project also offers an innovative model for decentralized partnerships between national and local authorities in resource and ecosystem management, as well as for the management of trans-boundary water resources.

For more information, please contact:

Constance Hybsier
UN Coordination and Communication Officer
UNDP FYR Macedonia
+389 2 3116 335, ext. 116
constance.hybsier@undp.org

Recent Articles

• Kyrgyzstan Goes Green With New Construction Codes
• Thoughts on human resources management
• Albania Now Mine-Free and Ready to Reconstruct Region
• UNDP Georgia's new Quick Capacity Assessment Methodology
• Tackling Rising HIV Levels in Russia, Central Asia