Prespa Lake (Greece, Albania, North Macedonia)
Solutions
- In 2000, an Agreement was reached between the Greek, Macedonian and Albanian governments to create the Prespa Park, the first transboundary protected area in the Balkans.
- The Agreement committed the countries to establish permanent structures for collaboration, including the Prespa Park Management Committee and the Working Group on Water Management. Moreover, four NGOs from the Prespa countries prepared a Strategic Action Plan.
- In 2010, Prespa Park was officially established.
- In 2013, three NGOs from the three countries signed a transboundary cooperation agreement.
- Two years later, a conservation trust fund was established in the Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (PONT, Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust)
Results
- Enhancing transboundary management of wetlands at a large scale, with the involvement of municipalities and associations from three different countries
- Biodiversity management strengthened across 2,300 hectares of ecological corridors
- Providing funding for a park of over 250,000 hectares
Key learnings
- Wetlands are often shared by various countries. Fostering transboundary cooperation across Europe is thus essential to ensure conservation and restoration
- Innovative finance mechanisms with a long-term vision can deliver high conservation impact for wetlands at a large scale.
- The development of formal agreements and governance structures is an essential mechanism to gain the long-term commitment of relevant actors for wetland restoration, supported by a shared vision.
Name of the site: Prespa Lake (Greece, Albania, North Macedonia)
Geographical location: Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP), Macedonian Ecological Society (MES), Association for the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA)
Leading organisations: Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP), Macedonian Ecological Society (MES), Association for the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA)
Funding partner: BMZ Germany, MAVA Foundation, LIFE Programme, UNDP-GEF
Size of area benefiting from restoration: 2,300 hectares
Wetland types: Marshes, riverbanks, wet meadows, reed beds, grasslands
Enabling factors
☑ Local knowledge of ES
☑ Importance of resource for community
☑ Participatory approach
☑ System productivity
☑ Diversification of funding
☑ Involvement of civil society organisations
☑ Successful pilot testing
☑ Development of governance structures
☑ Favourable policy context
☑ Support of local authorities
☑ Leadership/ entrepreneurship
☑ Direct involvement of private sector
Restoration types
☑ hydrological restoration
☑ morphological restoration
☑ hydro-morphological restoration
☑ water quality improvement
☑ vegetation restoration