The project for Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Prespa Basin in Albania, North Macedonia and Greece, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other donors ran from 2006 to 2012, and included within its activities was the development of a transboundary monitoring system (TMS), which was put together in collaboration with the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP).
As there were no common metrics for the three parts of the Prespa area and if in the future common management was to be achieved, it was acknowledged by all at the time that there should be a common picture of the basic attributes of the ecosystem as a whole, necessitating the preparation of a comprehensive system of transboundary monitoring.
The monitoring system addressed a wide-ranging variety of areas, such as fish, birds and other biodiversity, aquatic vegetation, forest and terrestrial ecosystems, water quality, land use and socio-economic aspects. A transboundary monitoring study-document and several reports on the pilot field monitoring activities implemented per thematic area were produced. The TMS was developed with the contribution of national and international scientists and under the guidance of a multi-stakeholder working group composed of representatives from all three countries.
Unfortunately the TMS has subsequently not yet been implemented, largely due to the long pause in formal transboundary inter-state co-operation after 2010.
Pilot application – forests and terrestrial habitats monitoring (Annex 1)
Pilot application – forests and terrestrial habitats monitoring (Annex 2)
Expert proposal for the transboundary water monitoring system of the Prespa Park
Pilot Application of the Transboundary Monitoring System for the Prespa Park – Brown Bear Monitoring
Adjustment οf the Transboundary Monitoring System (TMS) for the Prespa Park
2007 - 2012
National & international
experts