Transboundary Transboundary

cooperation incooperation incooperation in cooperation in

the Prespa Parkthe Prespa Park

• Prespa Park: the first transboundary protected area in South EasternSouth Eastern Europe

• The Prespa Park was• The Prespa Park was established on 2 February 2000, with a joint declaration of the Prime Ministers of Greece Albaniaof Greece, Albania and FYROM

• TBPP

Albania: National Park

Greece: National Park, ,Natura 2000 site, Ramsar site (Micro Prespa)

FYROM: Pelister NPFYROM: Pelister NP, Galicica NP, Ezerani Strict Reserve (Ramsar site)

Rich bi di ibiodiversity…

• Flora : over 1500 species

• Birds: 272 species• Birds: 272 species• Mammals : 61 species• Fish: 23 speciesFish: 23 species• Amphibians: 11 species

Declaration of the TBPP

GOALS of the cooperation among the competent authorities in the TBPP in thecompetent authorities in the TBPP, in the framework of the declaration:

a) maintain and protect the unique l i l l f h " k"ecological values of the "Prespa Park",

b) prevent and/or reverse the causes of its habitat degradationhabitat 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 itsPark" become and remain a model of its kind as well as an additional reference to the peaceful collaboration among our countries.

• After the Declaration, the trilateral Prespa Park Coordination Committee

• The PPCC was supported by the Secretariat ( representatives of

(PPCC) was established, in order to organize and promote projects for the

( representatives of NGOs, offices in Agios Germanos at the Society for the Protection ofpromote projects for the

protection and sustainable development of the PP.

for the Protection of Prespa)

• The PPCC ( representatives of the central government,

• 11 Regular meetings, 2 irregular

the local government, NGOs of the three countries and a permanent observer of the

irregular

permanent observer of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Mediterranean WetlandMediterranean Wetland Initiative (MedWet)

Important water issues in the basin

Degradation at the SW end of Micro PrespaPrespa

D f l l i M PDrop of water level in Macro Prespa (approx. 10 m from the ’70s)

Eutrophication phenomena in MacroEutrophication phenomena in Macro Prespa

Important steps towards TB Water MManagement

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

t twater management

2004 2005 P li i h d l i l t d f th2004 -2005, Preliminary hydrological study for the Prespa basin (funding: kFW)

Important steps towards TB Water ManagementManagement

2005 2006 t d th ff t f th D lli di i2005 – 2006, study on the effects of the Devolli diversion

2006 and 2008, side meeting on Water Management at the 9th

d th 11th PPCC tiand the 11th PPCC meeting

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

Agreement on the sustainable development of the Prespa Park areadevelopment 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 theSigning of the Agreement for the sustainable development of the PP (3 Min of Environment and EU) 2/2/20102/2/2010

The Agreement foresees the following permanent structures:

Ministry of Environment of each State

g g p

Trilateral Prespa Park Management Committee(article 10)

Ministry of Environment of each State local communities in the Prespa regionenvironmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs)local protected area management

(article 10)p g

authorities MedWet Initiative of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar)Ohrid Management Committee.

Trilateral Secretariat to assist Seat of the Secretariat is at the offices of the PNFMB for the next four yearsthe PPMC (article 13) of the PNFMB for the next four years

Working Group on Water M t ( ti l 14)

national water services, regional water serviceslocal authority competentManagement (article 14) local authority competent European Commission

Next steps:

Ratification of the Agreement from FYROM and Greece

Secure funding for the implementation of the Agreement (Ministry of Environment, Management Body)

Th k fThank you for your

attentionattention…