Lake Prespa Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis

Download document 

Summary

The Prespa Lakes Basin is a high altitude system (approximately 850 m) with a combined catchment of 1,386 km² covering part of the territory of Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece. The basin is home to nearly 30,000 people with the majority residing in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The region has little industry (again centred in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and the main source of income is agriculture which is estimated to employ about 75% of the workforce, however unemployment is high ranging from about 12% in Greece to over 30% in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The ecosystem and the biodiversity of the region are worth special mention. The geography, soil type and climate coupled with the relatively low human population and impact in the basin has resulted in wide species diversity with a high proportion of endemic species that are not found elsewhere. The region is an important location for over 90 migratory birds, including the high-profile Dalmatian Pelican. To-date about 20 species are listed on the IUCN threat status list.

Whilst the population and industrial impacts are currently relatively low, there is a good opportunity to develop an agreed trilateral approach through a Strategic Action Programme to reduce the existing pressures (including pollution from agriculture, municipalities and industry, and from illegal hunting, fishing and logging) and impacts, and to control future economic development in the basin and avoid adverse effect on the ecosystem.

At present, there is no formal agreement or convention for the transboundary management of Prespa Lakes Basin. The Prime Ministers of the three countries issued a joint declaration in 2000 acknowledging the unique and significant habitats of the region that led to the formation of the Prespa Park Co-ordination Committee (PPCC). The PPCC has had a significant role in catalysing activities in the region including the preparation of an initial Strategic Action Plan and assisting with the development of the UNDP/GEF Prespa Project. However there is still limited national resources available to sustain the management secretariat or to implement planned activities.

As an initial step to developing an agreed Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Lake Prespa Basin, this report presents the information of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) which reviews and analyses data and expert judgement of the state and pressures on the ecosystem and biodiversity of the basin. Where available, official data from national authorities has been selected.

To date there has been little routine monitoring of water quality in the Prespa Basin apart from Greek side where data since 1990s indicates little evidence of pollution. The importance of the tri-lateral monitoring programme under development by the Prespa Park Co-ordination Committee (with UNDP-GEF support) can not be over stated and will be essential to validate the expert judgement summarised in this TDA with water quality monitoring data.

The TDA identified five priority concerns of transboundary importance impacting the ecosystem and biodiversity of the Prespa Basin. The TDA recommends that these concerns be addressed through the implementation of an agreed Strategic Action Programme. The Priority Issues of Transboundary Concerns impacting the Basin are:

• Water Quality (specifically: excess nutrients, organic pollution and hazardous substance pollution);

• Inappropriate Land Management (including detrimental agricultural activities and forest management)

• Fish and Fisheries Management

• Loss of water level in Lake Macro Prespa;

• Sediment transport;

These problems and potential problems are, in general, not unique to the Prespa Basin and there are many examples in other regions where there is clear evidence of such pollution problems. The SAP offers an opportunity to introduce measures in this relatively unpolluted region to prevent these problems materialising in the future that will enable the ecosystem status to improve together with the livelihoods of the local population, and to ensure that the integrated ecosystem management of the basin (supporting the environment, landscape, architecture and population) is sustainable.

Above summary taken from 'Lake Prespa Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis' document.