What happens to a small basin-shaped area of the planet if it evolves in peace for 1.5 million years with its waters, animals, insects, plants and people in a geography of incredible contrasts?
The anwer is: Lesser and Great Prespa!
Thanks to their age and the particular geomorphology of the region, the two lakes have formed a unique home for the living beings found, born and roosting in their embrace. Prespa was home to the largest colony of Dalmatian pelicans in the world even after 2022, when avian flu reduced the population by about 1/3. Many endemic species of plants and animals prove its importance as a protected area.
Wetland: what is it?
![](https://poliprespa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Prespa_Pelicans_╕FranciscoMARQUEZ_-41-1-scaled.webp)
Pelicans in one of the islets they nest in Lesser Prespa
A wetland is an area that has water all or even just part of the year.
As water is a source of life for plants, animals and insects, natural aquatic ecosystems are important habitats (=homes) for many species. But beyond being a “home” for wildlife, wetlands are useful for nature and humans as well:
- They provide a valuable natural resource
- They filter and store water
- They help prevent erosion during storms
- They often help local economies through tourism and recreation
So for more than one reason, human management is important and where it is done consistently, we see spectacular results.
WETLAND MANAGEMENT: what does it mean?
Wetland management refers to the planned activities and strategies implemented to conserve, restore and sustainably use wetland ecosystems. Successful management results in balancing the ecological, social and economic values associated with wetlands.
-What does this mean in simple terms?
Keeping a lake in good condition, for example, means that the animals and plants in and around it are kept alive, people continue their activities (e.g. fishing, watering, grazing) and therefore continue to live alongside it, keeping their community alive and ultimately this important interdependent cycle for all.
The Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) has been materialising protection projects of the wetland of Lesser Prespa and the surrounding area (Prespa National Park) effectively since 1991 in cooperation with state and local institutions, foundations and organisations.
The fields of action of the SPP with some indicative actions carried out in Prespa are the following:
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Conservation = protection from degradation, destruction or unsustainable use
Example in Prespa: the abandonment of traditional practices (grazing, gentle shaving) threatened the unique juniper forest in Prespa National Park, as other species (beech, oak) became more abundant and left no room for its growth. The SPP implemented the LIFE JunEx project to save the juniper forest.
![](https://poliprespa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/exofillo_Λ.Νικολάου-scaled.jpg)
One of the remaining flocks of sheep and goats in the juniper forest in Daseri
![](https://poliprespa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/collection_juniper_I-1.Koutseri-scaled.webp)
Collection of juniper fruit samples
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Restoration = the return of a wetland to its natural and functional state after a disaster or threat
Example in Prespa: the level of the Lesser Prespa is falling, mainly due to climate change. The wet meadows (lakeside meadows that are flooded when the lake level rises) are no longer filled with water and the feeding areas of waterfowl are dangerously reduced. In an attempt to compensate for this, the SPP has initiated the use of an amphibious machine to cut the reedbeds in order to re-create areas ideal for waterfowl to feed and for fish to reproduce.
![](https://poliprespa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FcoMARQUEZ_AmphibianMachine_Prespa_July2019_-15-1-scaled.webp)
The amphibious reed cutter creates space for fish breeding in shallow waters
![](https://poliprespa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FcoMARQUEZ_AmphibianMachine_Prespa_July2019_-17-1-scaled.webp)
Drone shot of the amphibious reed cutter during the summer cuts
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Regulation = Implementing regulations to control activities that may negatively affect wetlands, such as drainage, pollution and unregulated development. Zoning and land use planning are important tools in this respect
Example in the Prespa: to effectively protect the shared river basin of the Prespa, a common management policy needs to be developed by all three sharing countries. With the initiative and many years of work by SPP and WWF Hellas, the Transboundary Prespa Park was established in 2000, with a joint declaration by the Prime Ministers of all three countries, laying the foundations for similar cooperation between Greece, Albania and North Macedonia.
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Sustainable land use = Balancing the use of wetlands for human activities such as agriculture, fishing and recreation with the need to maintain their ecological integrity. Eco-friendly practices may include controlled harvesting, habitat-friendly agricultural practices and sustainable tourism
Example in Prespa: the traditional water mill in the village of Agios Germanos was renovated after decades of efforts on the initiative of the SPP and the contribution of the residents, taking its original form with fully functional mechanisms. Since 2015 it has been operating as a monument for visitors to be guided in. Through the restoration of a pre-industrial monument, jobs were created and a mild tourist activity was supported. The project was awarded the Europa Nostra prize in 2016 in the category “conservation of cultural heritage”.
![](https://poliprespa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/watermill-scaled.webp)
The interior of the Ag. Germanos Watermill which has no electricity and is lit only by natural light
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Education & outreach = educating local communities, institutions or scientists and raising public awareness of the importance of wetlands and the benefits they provide to both the environment and society
Example in Prespa: The documentary “Wings, wetlands and people” (2021) describes the cooperation in the wetland of the Lesser Prespa between the operators and professionals working around it. Through images of nature and human activities, the audience learns about the history of the Lesser Prespa wetland, the balance in the reedbed and the example of harmony and coexistence between man and nature.
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Research and monitoring = Conduct research and scientific monitoring of waterbirds to improve knowledge and understanding of how the wetland ecosystem functions and evaluate the effectiveness of management interventions
Example in Prespa: Every year the SPP analyses and reports on the scientific monitoring data of waterbirds in Prespa. e.g. vegetation management of wet meadows, creation of firebreaks in reedbeds, water level management and milestone events for birds (e.g. drought, avian influenza). The data from this systematic monitoring are communicated to the relevant governmental authorities and used in decision-making on management interventions, in addressing threats, in enriching knowledge and publishing scientific articles and, of course, in promoting the valuable natural values of the Prespa and raising public awareness.
![](https://poliprespa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2018-9-27_Ο-1.Αλεξάνδρου_επίσκεψη-στις-αποικίες-των-πελεκάνων-στη-Βρωμολίμνη-9-scaled.webp)
Fieldwork in the pelican colonies
![](https://poliprespa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Αργυροπελεκάνος_επανένταξη_Γ-1.-Θεοδωρόπουλος-scaled.webp)
Silver pelican reintegrated after medical care
Current management actions & resident participation ACTIONS
Read more about the action of the Prespa Protection Society here.