Prespa Lakes are located on the border between Macedonia, Albania and Greece. Their basin is considered an ecosystem of significant international importance offering wide biodiversity and ecological wealth. Terrestrial and aquatic environments are under multiple threats deriving from a range of human activities in the region.
Despite the low population density and lack of significant industrial pollution the basin is at risk from further degradation from a number of pollution sources and other pressures. In the Prespa Lakes Basin of Albania and Macedonia, there are specific stresses to take into consideration to protect the environment and improve the wellbeing of inhabitants.
It’s necessary to reinforce the dialogue, cooperation and information/data exchanges among various stakeholders between the two countries. To involve the population and institutions in a sustainable and permanent process of environmental protection, it’s important to create awareness campaigns able to communicate the interrelation amongst agriculture innovative techniques, pollution reduction and wellbeing.
The project aims to develop and reinforce long term partnerships and networking between civil society organizations, local authorities and institutions, involving schools and faculties as well as National Parks in the targeted region, to implement innovative methodologies for the protection of the ecosystem. We’ll start a pilot initiative of innovative Reed Beds Techniques as natural system for waste water collection and treatment, involving two schools: in Village Grncari/Podmocani in Macedonia and in Gorica in Albania. The two schools will be the first to be involved in this eco-friendly process, in synergy with local authorities and agricultural communities.
Farmers will be involved in trainings for sustainable agriculture, to reduce the use of pesticides and introduce innovative practices of organic farming on cross-border level. A study visit to Italy will allow them to meet farmers already implementing these techniques and see the real benefits.
An awareness campaign will gradually communicate the results of the pilot initiative, which aims to become a best practice for environmental protection to be replicated in other communities in the area.
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