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Joint Statement: Municipal Referendum on the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF)Local communities have a voice! At SPP, we support citizens’ right to participate in environmental decision-making. Alongside other organizations, we have consistently advocated for this principle to be enshrined in law. Together with other civil society groups, we now return to this issue, supporting the campaign for a local referendum on the future of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) site. We urge the...

22 May, 2025

The new online platform climaprespa.gr is now online! It is the first website dedicated exclusively to the impacts of climate change in the Prespa region, created by the National Observatory of Athens in collaboration with the Society for the Protection of Prespa. Through scientific data, graphs, and explanatory texts, the website highlights how key sectors of life in Prespa are being affected, such as: nature and biodiversity, water resources, agriculture, daily human life, and it proposes actions...

23 April, 2025

A One-Way Path to Protect the Critical Habitat of the Griffon Vulture — and the Integrity of Energy Communities A joint letter [1] was sent to the authorities and agencies involved in the licensing of the 15 wind farms (WPPs) in the Acarnanian Mountains by 22 environmental organizations [2], requesting the revocation of all permits issued to date. This request is based on information revealed last week, showing that although the...

10 April, 2025

In May and June, the watermill will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00, and will also welcome visitors on May Day and on Whit Monday (June 9th) from 10:00 to 14:00.* Due to exceptional circumstances the watermill will be closed on the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of May....

28 March, 2025

The phenomenon seems to be declining! Although we recorded 46 dead Dalmatian pelicans in Lesser Prespa and 11 in Cheimaditida since early February, everything now appears to be returning to normal, with the colonies hosting hundreds of nesting birds.One confirmed case in Kerkini. This concerns a Dalmatian pelican that was breeding in Cheimaditida and was being monitored via a satellite transmitter. During a visit to Kerkini on February 26, the...

13 March, 2025

Luc, who nests in Prespa, has been monitored via a transmitter since 2023, providing us with valuable information about his movements. A few days ago, his transmitter remained stationary in one location, which raised concerns. We found him alive but severely injured beneath a high-voltage power pylon near Kleidi, Amyntaio, suffering from serious burns caused by electrocution. The dense fog in the area makes obstacles invisible threats, often leading to injuries...

13 March, 2025

For March, you can visit the exhibition space of the Watermill in Agios Germanos on the following dates and times:March 1-2: 10:00 - 16:00 March 3 (Clean Monday): 10:00 - 14:00 March 15: 10:00 - 16:00 March 22-23-24: 10:00 - 16:00 March 29-30: 10:00 - 16:00 ...

27 February, 2025

Together with Princeton University, Fighting Avian Influenza!One of the key collaborations at the Society for the Protection of Prespa is with the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University and Ph.D. student Qiqi Yang recently visited our area to conduct extensive sediment sampling at key sites in the two Prespa lakes, which are frequented by pelicans and other aquatic birds.The goal of this partnership is to better understand avian...

27 February, 2025

Following the announcement by the Veterinary Subdivision of Florina regarding the detection of the avian influenza virus in our region, we inform domestic poultry owners about the necessity of taking essential preventive measures.Specifically:Domestic poultry must not be kept in open and unfenced areas (yards, courtyards, fields, etc.) throughout the Municipality of Prespa. Domestic poultry must be kept exclusively in enclosed or covered spaces until mid-May. The general public should...

24 February, 2025

A memorandum between the UNEP-administered Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) has recently been signed, aiming to foster a wide international collaboration for the conservation of the spectacular Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus).The SPP will coordinate the operation of an international working group of government officials and experts across two continents, Europe and Asia, which is being convened under AEWA. The...

06 February, 2025

On December 23, 2024, in Laimos, the Mayor of Prespa, Giorgos Stergiou, and the Director of the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP), Myrsini Malakou, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. This agreement formalizes, strengthens, and systematizes the long-standing relationship between the Municipality and the Society.  Main Pillars of Cooperation  Preservation of Natural and Cultural Resources: Special focus is placed on the impacts of climate change on the sustainable management of...

23 December, 2024

On December 3, 2024, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention voted in favor of downgrading the protective status of wolves. This decision has faced strong criticism from nature conservation experts and environmental organizations. The Environmental Organizations co-signing this announcement join their voices with other European groups and international networks, denouncing the decision as a serious misstep devoid of any scientific rationale. This decision, influenced by the EU's push to weaken...

04 December, 2024

The opening hours of the exhibition area of Agios Germanos watermill for December: Saturday 7/12 and Saturday 14/12 From 10:00 AM to 2:00 PMDuring the holiday season: It will remain open from Saturday 21/12 through 7/1, except on public holidays. The opening hours will be from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Specifically, we look forward to welcoming you on: 21 - 22/12 23 - 24/12 27 - 31/12 3 - 5/1 7/1Happy holidays! ...

03 December, 2024

Joint Announcement of 12 Environmental Organizations We welcome the submission to the Hellenic Parliament of the draft law aimed at strengthening and expanding public participation in environmental issues. The bill was submitted by the New Left in response to the invitation extended by 12 civil society organizations. These organizations have launched a joint initiative to address the serious deficit in public information and meaningful participation in the policy-making process and environmental...

24 October, 2024

Last Thursday, September 26, 2024, the EU Council formally ratified the decision of the majority of EU member states to adopt the European Commission's proposal to downgrade the protection status of the wolf under the Bern Convention. This decision was made possible after most countries, including Greece, changed their position and voted in favor of the proposal despite initial reservations.Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, the EU's Environment Ministers ignored the...

30 September, 2024

Eleven (11) environmental organizations are joining forces to establish the Alliance for Wildlife, a new ambitious initiative aimed at contributing to the conservation and protection of Greece's biodiversity. This is a collective initiative focused on the effective protection of both well-known and lesser-known species important to our country. By combining the extensive experience, significant work, and expertise of these organizations, the Alliance for Wildlife aims to play a crucial role...

25 September, 2024

In Prespa, we celebrate our rivers and streams every day! The Society for the Protection of Prespa undertakes actions related to the streams and the Agios Germanos River, which, despite their seemingly short length, together with their riparian vegetation and habitats, are biodiversity hotspots of great ecological significance and a valuable source of water and life for Prespa. We are implementing: Since April 2022, the program “Prespa’s Green & Blue Life Lines” These...

20 September, 2024

                  Joint Press Release Twenty environmental organizations are calling on the Greek government to reject the proposal for downgrading the protection status of wolves, which will be discussed soon at the Council of EU Environment Ministers. They request the government to align with a scientifically grounded and ambitious approach to preserving species and ecosystems in the EU and Greece. In a letter to the...

12 September, 2024

Are you an adventurous undergraduate or post-graduate student searching for new experiences of learning and investing in field research? Save the dates of 26th-30th August and apply for the Transboundary Summer School 2024, in Prespa National Park, Albania!Led by PPNEA and actively supported by MES from North Macedonia and SPP from Greece, this Summer School promises a unique, synergetic experience, sharing knowledge from all three sides of the Prespa’s basin.Let's...

03 July, 2024

The Society for the Protection of Prespa had the pleasure of participating in two conferences beyond Greek borders in April, with the central theme being the conservation and restoration of rivers, traveling to the Netherlands and Wales, filling with new knowledge and experiences. We are grateful to be able to convey what we saw and learned back to Prespa.Initially, we attended the Free Flow Conference in Groningen, which encompassed a...

08 May, 2024