THE LAKES
What happens to a small area of the planet in the shape of a basin if you leave it for millions of years to live with its waters, animals, insects, plants and people in a geography of incredible contrasts?
A rare ecosystem like that of Little and Great Prespa will be created!
Thanks to their age and the special geomorphology of the area, the two lakes have formed a unique home for the living beings found, born and perched in their lap.
WETLAND: what is it?
Wetland is an area that has water throughout the year or even only for a period 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. However, in addition to being a “home” for wildlife, wetlands are useful for nature and humans as:
- they filter and save water
- help prevent erosion during storms
- they provide a valuable natural resource
- they often help local economies through tourism and recreation
For more than one reason, their management by humans is important and where this is done consistently, we have spectacular results.
WETLAND MANAGEMENT: what does it mean?
Wetland management refers to the planned activities and strategies implemented for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of wetland ecosystems. Successful management results in balancing the ecological, social and economic values associated with wetlands.
– What does this mean in simple terms?
Maintaining the good condition of a lake for example means that the animals and plants in and around it are kept alive, people continue their activities (eg fishing, watering, grazing) and therefore continue to live next to it keeping society alive them and ultimately this important for all cycle of interdependence.
The Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) from 1991 until today, in cooperation with state and local bodies, manages the Mikri Prespa wetland effectively.
The fields of action of the SPP with some indicative actions carried out in Prespa are the following:
Conservation = protection from degradation, destruction or unsustainable use
Example in Prespa: the abandonment of traditional practices (grazing, light logging) threatened the unique juniper forest in the Prespa National Park, as other species (beech, oak) proliferated and did not leave space for its growth. SPP implemented the LIFE JunEx program to save the juniper forest.
Restoration = the return of the wetland to its natural and functional state after a disaster or threat.
Example in Prespa: the level of Mikri Prespa is falling, mainly due to climate change. Wet meadows (lake meadows that flood when the lake level rises) are no longer filled with water and so waterfowl feeding areas are dangerously reduced. In an attempt to compensate, SPP has initiated the use of an amphibious machine to cut the reeds to re-create areas ideal for waterfowl to spawn and feed as well as fish to reproduce.
Regulation = the application of regulations to control activities that may adversely affect wetlands, such as drainage, pollution, and overdevelopment. Demarcation and land use planning are important tools in this regard.
Example in Prespa: in order to effectively protect the single watershed of Prespa a common management policy needs to be drawn up by all three states that share it. With the initiative and many years of work of the SPP and WWF Greece, in 2000 the Cross-Border Park of Prespa was founded, with a joint Declaration of the prime ministers of all three countries laying the foundations for the corresponding cooperation between Greece, Albania and North Macedonia.
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. Sustainable practices can include controlled harvesting, habitat-friendly farming methods and responsible tourism.
An example in Prespa: the traditional Watermill in the village of Agios Germanos, after decades of efforts, was renovated with the initiative of SPP and the contribution of the residents, taking its original form with fully functional mechanisms and since 2015, it has been operating as a place to visit. Through the restoration of a pre-industrial monument, jobs were created and a mild tourism activity was supported. The project won the Europa Nostra award in 2016 in the category “cultural heritage conservation”.
Education & outreach = educating local communities, agencies 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 “Joint Flights” (2021) shows the cooperation in the wetland of Mikri Prespa between the agencies and the professionals who are active around it. Through images of nature and human activities, the public learns about the history of the wetland of Mikri Prespa, the balance in the reedbed and the example of the harmony and coexistence of man and nature.
- Research and monitoring = Conducting research and scientific monitoring of waterfowl to improve knowledge and better understanding of the functions of the wetland ecosystem as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of management interventions.Example in Prespa: Every year the SPP analyzes the data of the scientific monitoring of waterfowl in Prespa and prepares a relevant report. These data, which have been collected continuously since the end of the 1980s, mainly concern the lake level, the populations of important species of water birds (such as pelicans, herons, larks, gray geese, etc.), management interventions ( e.g. wetland vegetation management, reedbed firebreaks, water table management), as well as landmark events for birds (e.g. drought, bird flu). The data of this systematic monitoring are shared with the competent state authorities and used to make decisions about management interventions, to deal with threats, to enrich knowledge and to publish scientific articles and of course to promote Prespa’s valuable natural values and raise public awareness.
You can read everything about SPP and its projects on the official site.