The Regional conference for Integrated Protection of the Transboundary Prespa Region - Establishment of a trilateral UNESCO Biosphere Reserve at Prespa Lakes took place in Ohrid, Macedonia in the period of February 17th and 18th February 2011. The Conference was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Psychical Planning with the facilitation and the financial support of by KfW-Entwicklungsbank from the Federal Republic of Germany through the project "Support to National Park Galicica", UNESCO and UNDP. A total of 120 invitations were sent to participants from the three neighboring countries, representatives of the Ministries of Environment, representatives of donor projects in the region, organizations in the field of nature protection, non-governmental organizations active in the transboundary region, international and local experts and representatives of several European UNESCO Transboundary Biosphere reserves. 60 of the 120 invited participants attended the event.

The Conference was focused on presenting information and implemented measures for conservation of the Prespa region in the past period and discussion for the applicability of the concept of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve as a possible umbrella for the protected areas and conservation efforts in the region. The conference is a step forward in the protection and sustainable development of this region, as a continuation of the trilateral declaration for establishment of the Prespa Park signed by Prime Ministers of Macedonia, Albania and Greece in 2000 and the trilateral agreement from February 2, 2010. In the frame work of the agreement a standing Prespa Park Management Committee and secretariat will be established facilitating the transboundary management of the park. These important steps as well as additional individual efforts made by the three states and projects financed by international donors for conservation of natural ecosystems and cultural values of the Prespa region provide the framework for a possible nomination of the Prespa Park as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The positive feedback of the participants and the received support of the Ministries for Environment for the possible designation of Prespa Park as a UNESCO Transboudary Biosphere Reserve show the willingness of the three States sharing Prespa Region to complement the critical and substantial efforts for future protection and sustainable development of the region. In this line a Conference Resolution on the establishment of a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve ‘Prespa Park’ as the most suitable modality for the integrated protection of the Transboundary Prespa Region was finalized by the conference participants. In order to accelerate the process of nomination and the possible designation of the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve ‘Prespa Park’ a working group was suggested to be established and the next steps for following up the conference were agreed.

17.02.2011 (Thursday)

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