The document summarizes information about transboundary cooperation in the Prespa Park between Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia. Key points include: - The Prespa Park was established in 2000 through a joint declaration and includes protected areas in each country. - It has rich biodiversity with over 1500 plant species, 272 bird species, and 61 mammal species. - The goals of cooperation are to maintain the park's ecological values, prevent degradation, manage water resources sustainably, and make it a model for peaceful collaboration. - A trilateral committee was formed to coordinate projects and an agreement in 2010 established permanent cooperative structures including a management committee and secretariat.

1. Transboundary
cooperation in
the Prespa Park

2. • Prespa Park: the first
transboundary
protected area in
South Eastern
Europe
• The Prespa Park was
established on 2
February 2000, with
a joint declaration of
the Prime Ministers
of Greece Albania
Greece,
and FYROM
• TBPP
Albania: National Park
Greece: National Park,
,
Natura 2000 site,
Ramsar site (Micro
Prespa)
FYROM: Pelister NP,
NP
Galicica NP, Ezerani
Strict Reserve (Ramsar
site)

4. Rich
biodiversity…
bi di i
• Flora : over 1500
species
• Birds: 272 species
• Mammals : 61 species
• Fish: 23 species
• Amphibians: 11 species

5. Declaration of the TBPP
GOALS of the cooperation among the
competent authorities in the TBPP in the
TBPP,
framework of the declaration:
a) maintain and protect the unique
ecological values of the "Prespa Park",
l i l l f h " k"
b) prevent and/or reverse the causes of its
habitat degradation,
degradation
c) explore appropriate management
methods for the sustainable use of the
Prespa Lakes water, and
d) to spare no efforts so that the "Prespa
Park" become and remain a model of its
kind as well as an additional reference to
the peaceful collaboration among our
countries.

6. • After the Declaration, the • The PPCC was supported
trilateral Prespa Park by the Secretariat
Coordination Committee ( representatives of
(PPCC) was established, in NGOs, offices in Agios
order to organize and Germanos at the Society
promote projects for the for the Protection of
protection and sustainable Prespa)
development of the PP.
• The PPCC ( representatives • 11 Regular meetings, 2
of the central government, irregular
the local government, NGOs
of the three countries and a
permanent observer of the
Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands and the
Mediterranean Wetland
Initiative (MedWet)

7. Important water issues in the basin
Degradation at the SW end of Micro
Prespa
Drop of water l
D f level in Macro Prespa
li M P
(approx. 10 m from the ’70s)
Eutrophication phenomena in Macro
Prespa

8. Important steps towards TB Water
Management
2002, Strategic Action Plan for the Sustainable
Development of the Prespa Park (funding: Ministry Of
Environment)
2003, Common position of the Mayors of the three
Municipalities of the Prespa basin for the need for Tb
water management
t t
2004 -2005, Preliminary hydrological study for the
2005 P li i h d l i l t d f th
Prespa basin (funding: kFW)

9. Important steps towards TB Water
Management
2005 – 2006 study on th effects of th Devolli di
2006, t d the ff t f the D lli diversion
i
2006 and 2008, side meeting on Water Management at the 9th
and the 11th PPCC meeting
d th ti
2009, ToR for the working group on water management
2007 – today, TB monitoring system (funding: SPP and GEF
project) (study and pilot application)
Watershed Management Plan for the Prespa Basin

10. Agreement on the sustainable
development of the Prespa Park area
Common statement of the
Prime Ministers of the three
countries for the signing of
an agreement (November
2009)
Signing of the Agreement for the
sustainable development of the PP (3
Min of Environment and EU)
2/2/2010

11. The Agreement foresees the following p
g g permanent structures:
Ministry of Environment of each State
local communities in the Prespa region
Trilateral Prespa Park environmental non-governmental
organisations (NGOs)
Management Committee local protected area management
p g
(article 10) authorities
MedWet Initiative of the Convention on
Wetlands (Ramsar)
Ohrid Management Committee.
Seat of the Secretariat is at the offices
Trilateral Secretariat to assist of the PNFMB for the next four years
the PPMC (article 13)
national water services,
regional water services
Working Group on Water
Management (article 14)
M t ( ti l local authority competent
European Commission

12. Next steps:
Ratification of the Agreement from FYROM and Greece
Secure funding for the implementation of the Agreement
(Ministry of Environment, Management Body)

13. Thank
Th k you for
f
your
attention…
attention