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A Strategic Vision for the Prespa Park 3
The Prespa region is situated in the Balkan Peninsula, in southeastern Europe, at the borders between Albania, Greece, and the
FYR of Macedonia. The area is mountainous, remote and sparsely populated, which has lead to limited interaction among the
three nations. Following the Declaration of the Prime Ministers of Albania, Greece and the FYR of Macedonia, on the creation
of the trans-boundary Prespa Park, the three neighbouring countries were faced with the development of a joint strategy for
the preservation of the unique biodiversity and resources and the promotion of sustainable development for the region.
“The Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Trans-boundary Prespa Park Region Project” - a $4.13 million GEF effort with cofinancing
of $13.914 supported by UNDP - promotes integrated ecosystem management of the trans-boundary Prespa Park
region with the participation of all stakeholders and strengthens cooperation among the three countries. Support from UNDP
will help to minimize the impact of intensive agricultural production on the biodiversity, ecosystem and water quality in the
Prespa Region. Currently, UNDP is working with local communities and farmers’ groups to build agricultural services that will
promote rational use of fertilizers and strengthen existing agricultural associations. This will lead to an increase in biodiversity
in the lake and surrounding ecosystems, and will help to stabilise livelihoods by reducing the economic and environmental
risks associated with production.
The region’s biodiversity is being conserved through the promotion of the wise water management in the basin, joint monitoring
programmes among the three countries, sustainable utilisation of natural resources and trans-boundary activities for environmental
protection and management. The project is also enhancing opportunities for the sustainable economic and social
development of local societies and the wise use of natural resources for the benefit of both nature and people.
BIODIVERSITY
1
GEF Final Evaluation TEST to Reduce Transboundary Pollution in the Danube River BasinProject Summary: http://www.gefonline.org/projectDetails.cfmprojID=867;
2
GEF: http://www.undp.org/gef/undp-gef_publications/publications/intlwaters_brochure2004.pdf Protecting International Waters Sustaining Livelihoods, Restoring the Dnipro River Basin,
November 2004, pg. 9; 3 Prespa Park, http://europeandcis.undp.org/index.cfmwspc=EnvG_Home_1_BSLM_PRESPA GEF online database, http://www.gefonline.org/projectDetails.cfmprojID=1537
Prespa Park, http://www.medwet.org/prespa/park/strat.html
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