Secretariat by

PRESPA BIOSPHERE RESERVE

MANAGEMENTMACEDONIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ohrid, 10.03.2016

Prespa Ohid TBB reserve

Biodiversity richness trans-boundary level Total Species richness

Registered over 1500 species within thetrans-boundary Prespa region

High species endemism

50 animal species and 19 plant speciesendemic to the Prespa watershed,

9 endemic fish species (5 endemic to theBalkans & 4 endemic to Prespa) havebeen recorded.

Biodiversity hot spot with nationalimportance

356 species identified on MK-Prespa reflect76% of total species recorded in the country

Mosaic of heterogeneous landforms, vegetation types and landuse practices-unique trans-boundarylandscape

• 4 National parks (2 MK, 1 AL, 1 GR)

• 1 Monument of Nature (Prespa Lake

• 1 Park of Nature –Ezerani reserve

(formerly Strict Protected Area)

Institutional and legal context for protected areas management in

Prespa Biosphere Reserve

Galichica National Park (II category protected area)

Law on proclamation of Galichica as National Park

Management entity-Public Entity established my MoEPP

Pelister National Park (II category protected area)

Law on proclamation of Pelister as National Park

Management entity-Public Entity established my MoEPP

Ezerani Park of Nature (IV category protected area)

Law on proclamation of Ezerani nature reserve as park of nature

(Official Gazette No.24/2012)

Management entity-Municipality of Resen designated by MoEPP

Prespa Lake Monument of Nature (III category protected area)

Law on proclamation of Prespa Lake as monument of nature (Official

Gazette No.24/2012)

Management entity-Municipality of Resen designated by MoEPP

Prespa Lake & Ezerani nature values and importance

First Ramsar site (1996)

Important Bird Area (Bidrlife International), Important Plant Area

(Plant) acc. Birdlife International system (supports life of

Dalmatian Pelican (VU), Pygmy cormorant, relict population of

endemic Goosander (Mergus merganser).

Important Plant Area-IPA according to the PlantLife International

which supports existence of important European plant species:

Waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa), Floating fern (Salvinianatans) and Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)

Important area part of the established national Emerald network,

adequate to the Natura 2000 network for EU member states

according to the Bern Convention and Birds and habitats directives

Prespa Lake & Ezerani nature values and importance

(cont.)

Prespa Lake with its littoral belt and for its natural beauties,

geomorphological, hydrological, hydrobiological and other scientific

values (Article 1 from Law on proclamation)

One of the most important ornithological localities in Europe

216 birds species recorded in Ezerani reserve and Prespa Lake

presents 66% country's avifauna and 42% of Europe`s birds

species

Dalmatian Pelican with more than 1.200 pairs live, feed, nest and

breed on Prespa Lake

Lake ecosystem

River ecosystem

Brajchinska

Kranska

Golema reka

Marsh ecosystems

Grassland ecosystems

Forest ecosystems

Agro-ecosystems

Fish ponds

Natural heritage values

Cultural and historic values

Key challenges and impacts in Ezerani and Prespa Lake

protected areas management

Surface and ground water quality deterioration

Inappropriate land use practices

Use of agriculture environmental unfriendly practices

(eutrophication)

Inappropriate agricultural and communal waste management (solid

waste, pesticide & fertilizer packaging)

Discharge of untreated wastewaters from the local villages in the

vicinity of the Ezerani protected area

Illegal fishing and hunting activities and sand and gravel excavation

from the area's shoreline

Wetland drainage for shifting towards different land use patterns

Low public awareness on the importance of the ecosystem values, goods

and services of the area mainly due to the former approach of

designation of the protected area and management setting up!!!

Key strategic documents/acts for management of protected

areas in Prespa Biosphere Reserve (national level)

Ezerani Park of Nature

Study for valorization of natural values of the Ezerani protected

area (supported by UNDP)

Management plan for Ezerani protected area for the period 2012-

2021 (supported by UNDP)

Prespa Lake Monument of Nature

Study for valorization of natural values of the Prespa Lake

protected area (supported by UNDP)

Management plan for Prespa Lake protected area for the period

2014-2024 (supported by UNDP)

Trans-boundary level of cooperation in Prespa Biosphere

Reserve management

Species and habitats conservation action plans (supported by UNDP)

Priority species and habitats conservation management plans -

Brown Bear, caves and baths, Graecian Juniper forests, reedbeds,

mountain tea

Trans-boundary monitoring study for the Prespa Park area

Document includes identification and selection of indicators and

parameters of trans-boundary importance for monitoring of water,

aquatic vegetation, biodiversity, socio-economy and land-use

Participatory field protocols and field surveys, capacity development

for environmental monitoring in the three littoral states

Integrated ecosystem management approach:

Strengthening the participatory process of managing with the area

and enhancing the involvement of the affected local communities

Conducting comprehensive study of the overall natural and socio-

economic values of the protected area-revalorisation study

Developing protected area management plan according to the best

recommendations of the revalorisation study and global best

practices on protected areas management planning conducted in

highly participatory manner throughout involvement of all relevant

stakeholders (e.g. Coordination body or Council)

Strengthening the capacity of the management body (technical

assistance, knowledge and experience sharing on best practices,

management planning targeted capacity building trainings to the

personnel

Total Ecosystem Valuation (TEV) assessment of the protected area

for bringing in functional protection of this valuable ecosystem,

balanced use of the natural resources and justifying application of

restoration measures. First ever done assessment in the country!!1

Direct values

Commercial and recreational

fishing

Hunting

Timber and firewood

Hay

Sand

Wildlife viewing

Research opportunities

Education opportunities

Nature tourism

Indirect values

Flood mitigation

Nutrient abatement

Toxic abatement

Sediment trapping

Wildlife habitat

Non-use (existence) values

National/global biodiversity

significance

Goods and services for the Ezerani`s ecosystems

With system of prioritization affected communities agreed on:

Restoration of former fish ponds and diversification

of Golema Reka river delta to enhance wetland's capacity as biofilter

and improve water quality-activity crucial for all park's goods and services.

Type of value Ecosystem Service Baseline value Effective conservation value

Direct use Fishing 893,339.58 € 893,339.58 €

Hay 147,241.35 € 147,241.35 €

Reed for fuel 0 € N/A

Sand 2,897,639.16 € N/A

Research opportunities 38,298.00 € 114,894.01 €

Education opportunities 110,107.41 € 553,455.86 €

Wildlife viewing 28,106.16 € 797,375.68 €

Indirect use Nutrient abatement N/A (wastewater) 5,637,349.69 €

(runoff 19,178,263.64 €)

Flood control N/A N/A

TOTAL 3,277,656.67 € 8,143,656.17 €

Type of cost Source of funding Baseline cost Effective conservation cost

Direct conservation costs

Construction and maintenance of fish ponds

Foreign investment 0€ 338,701.23 €

Landowner compensation Local/national 0€ 120,750.00 €

Capital, maintenance and operation Local 0€ 162,509.17 €

Indirect conservation costs

Landowner opportunity costs Local/national 0€ 239,346.73 €

Capacity building and education Foreign 0€ 3,325,245.99 €

Total costs 0€ 4,186,553.12 €

Net benefits 3,277,656.67 € 3,957,103.05 €

Use of Total Economic Valuation (TEV) assessment helped

in identifying and achieving:

What are the values of ecosystem goods and services of the

protected area?

How does the scenario of effective conservation which includes

ecological restoration compare to the business scenario over the long

term?

Raised awareness of the economic values of effective conservation

(local population, financial planners, decision makers to create

climate for sustainable policy creation and behavioral change)

Evaluate cost and benefits of specific habitat management actions

(to inform conservation and public funding decisions)

Identify financial opportunities for the park and neighbouring

communities (park's provision of ecosystem services)

Strengthened & enhanced

institutional and human resource

capacities

Ranger services consisted of

three highly equipped and

knowledge rangers for

protection of the Ezerani and

Prespa Lake protected areas

Thank you