PRESPA BIOSPHERE RESERVE MANAGEMENT MACEDONIAN PERSPECTIVE

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Austin Francis
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1 PRESPA BIOSPHERE RESERVE MANAGEMENT MACEDONIAN PERSPECTIVE Secretariat by Ohrid,

2 Prespa Ohid TBB reserve

Biodiversity richness trans-boundary level Total Species richness Registered over 1500 species within the trans-boundary Prespa region High species endemism 50 animal species and 19 plant species

3 Biodiversity richness trans-boundary level Total Species richness Registered over 1500 species within the trans-boundary Prespa region High species endemism 50 animal species and 19 plant species endemic to the Prespa watershed, 9 endemic fish species (5 endemic to the Balkans & 4 endemic to Prespa) have been recorded. Biodiversity hot spot with national importance 356 species identified on MK-Prespa reflect 76% of total species recorded in the country Mosaic of heterogeneous land forms, vegetation types and land use practices-unique trans-boundary landscape 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)

4 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

Birdlife International system (supports life of Dalmatian Pelican (VU), Pygmy cormorant,

Important Plant Area-IPA according to the PlantLife International which supports existence

fern (Salvinia natans) and Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) Important area part of the

5 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 (Salvinia natans) 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.

hydrological, hydrobiological and other scientific values (Article 1 from Law on

species recorded in Ezerani reserve and Prespa Lake presents 66% country's avifauna

6 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 pairs live, feed, nest and breed on Prespa Lake

ecosystem Agro-ecosystems Brajchinska Fish ponds

7 Natural heritage values Cultural and historic values Lake ecosystem Forest ecosystems River ecosystem Agro-ecosystems Brajchinska Fish ponds Kranska Golema reka Marsh ecosystems Grassland ecosystems

8 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!!!

9 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 (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 (supported by UNDP)

10 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

12 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 socioeconomic 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

13 Goods and services for the Ezerani`s ecosystems 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 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.

15 Type of value Ecosystem Service Baseline value Effective conservation value Direct use Fishing 893, , Hay 147, , Reed for fuel 0 N/A Sand 2,897, N/A Research opportunities 38, , Education opportunities 110, , Wildlife viewing 28, , Indirect use Nutrient abatement N/A (wastewater) 5,637, (runoff 19,178, ) Flood control N/A N/A TOTAL 3,277, ,143, Type of cost Source of funding Baseline cost Effective conservation cost Direct conservation costs Construction and maintenance of fish ponds Foreign investment 0 338, Landowner compensation Local/national 0 120, Capital, maintenance and operation Local 0 162, Indirect conservation costs Landowner opportunity costs Local/national 0 239, Capacity building and education Foreign 0 3,325, Total costs 0 4,186, Net benefits 3,277, ,957,103.05

16 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)

18 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

19 Thank you

Ohrid Lake and Prespa Lake, Sub basin s on Crn Drim river basin International Workshop, Sarajevo, Bosna and Hercegovina May 2009

Ohrid Lake and Prespa Lake, Sub basin s on Crn Drim river basin International Workshop, Sarajevo, Bosna and Hercegovina 18-20 May 2009 Ms. Darinka Jantinska Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning