General Information 

The Island of Golem Grad is positioned about 2 km from the shore of the Lake Prespa (from the location Precna Mountain).  It has elliptic shape with length of 700 m and width of 400 m, with total area of 21.9 ha.  All the perimeter of the island is mostly made up of hard to approach rocks, and cliffs 20 to 30 m high.  Over them there is a plateau with two high points on the south and north part of the island.  Between the two elevated sections there is a low section mildly sloping down towards the two opposite sides of the island, shaping two small bays, the only easy access points on the island shore.

The island bedrock consists of limestone masses that partially reach the surface of the island. 

Surroundings of the island, including large water mass, geological underlay, and the Mediterranean proximity, have influenced specific micro climate, and emergence of rich and rare vegetation, mostly dominated by southern Europe types (41 or 25.6% - subtypes of Mediterranean;  29 or 18,2 % - Eurasian; 20 or 12,6 % - Mediterranean types) 

According to academic Hans Em, there are clear distinction between two forest communities on the island: Biaro tenuifoliae-Juniperetum excelsae commonly known as wild juniper, and Pruno webbii-Celtetum glabrae - forest of almond and smooth nettle.

Legal Status 

When the mountain of Galicica was declared a National Park, according to the law (official gazette NRM 31/58), the area that the National Park encompasses was defined.  The area of the National park due to its scientifically confirmed natural values, has been given specified rules for protection and management.  Section 2 of the same law stipulates that the island of Golem Grad (St. Petar) in the Lake Prespa, is included in the Park.

Due to its natural values, the island of Golem Grad, with the plan for physical planning of the Park, has been given a special status of protection, and it has been classified as a strict protection zone.  The rules for protection for the strict protection zone is defined in section 104 of the Law for protection of nature (official gazette RM 67/04).  According to the same law, “areas with limited intervention, in where the traditional way of management and protection is still in use for maintaining the natural values of the zone”.

This is important when the protection objectives undertaken by PINP Galicica, are taken into account.  Furthermore, our purpose is conservation of biodiversity, as well as protection of natural processes.

Protection of the nature and biodiversity of on the Island 

The natural values, found on the island of Golem Grad, are result of traditional management techniques conducted by the villagers from the surrounding villages.  This attitude towards the natural resources, even though not scientifically based, has included the component of sustainability, and has helped in creation of very stable ecosystem on the island.  Visible proof of this, are trees in the island forest with age of 200 years and more.   

In the last thirty years, changes in socio-economic conditions and way of life have influenced changes in the traditional management and attitude towards the nature on the island.  Strictly restricted human access to the island as a result of the proximity of the Albanian state border, has allowed unhindered natural succession of vegetation communities.  Results of this natural succession are seen in two concrete occurrences that prevent the wild juniper trees to flourish on the island.  Firstly, the juniper fruits (seeds) lack the means of being transported to a fertile soil due to the absence of goat and sheep, which used to be brought on the island years ago, and secondly, the light has been reduced to the lower ground due to natural expansion of ground vegetation.  

These processes have additionally confirmed the decaying stage of the wild juniper forest.  The prolonged continuation of these processes, will inevitably lead to death of wild juniper forest on the island.  Further contribution to the decaing is provided by the cormorant colony on the island.  Their nests are built on top of the wild juniper trees, and components in their excrement are causing the stems of the wild juniper to dry.

 Humans and the Island 

Golem Grad is the only land completely surrounded by water in Republic of Macedonia.  Here, the natural conditions together with human activities influenced creation of unique environment.  This uniqueness, and activities undertaken to preserve it, have added spiritual meaning to this island and the wild juniper forest.

Having into account all said above, there is a necessity for a all inclusive and thorough approach towards the protection of the Island and its ecosystem.  For this purpose, workshop regarding these issues, was organized and held by the PINP Galicica, and some concrete conclusions resulted form it.