OUR BLOG

The role of shepherds in maintaining the biodiversity of protected areas cannot be overstated, playing a crucial role in preserving the natural ecosystem and cultural heritage of these areas. With support from PONT and CEPF, civil society associations such as AlbNatyra are working together with the administration of protected areas to conserve nature in the Shebenik National Park, one of the largest national …

An innovative approach for the management of tourism impacts in protected areas was introduced to PONT by the NGO Build Green Group. Through an 18-month grant it is envisaged protected area authorities and local communities will be assisted in promoting, and at the same time, controlling the eco-tourism activities in their own territories. The grant aims to facilitate meaningful and effective participation of …

The agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and Target 22 of the recently adopted Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework recognises the vital role of women in biodiversity protection. Women’s roles as key land and natural resource managers are central to sustainable development. As a trust fund, PONT believes in the power of local action to have a global impact, and it recognises the critical role …

This morning PONT was at the offices of the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) in the Prespa National Park in Greece, where the partners together signed their new five-year grant agreement for PONT’s support to the SPP’s strategic framework for biodiversity conservation in Prespa. The SPP team gathered to welcome PONT and discuss the programme, and both sides look forward to …

At the heart of the Shebenik National Park, lies a village surrounded by mountains, providing it with a natural seclusion which offers complete tranquillity. This is the village of Qarrishta, nestled amongst the mountains and along the valley of the similarly named river. It is the most remote village in Librazhd and is inhabited by two tribes, Biçaku and Hasa. It is believed …

Financial resources are essential for nature conservation today because they enable conservation organisations and governments to fund important conservation initiatives and protect natural habitats and species. Furthermore, financing can help to support communities that live in or near natural habitats, providing economic incentives for these communities to participate in conservation efforts and promote sustainable practices. This can help reduce the pressure on natural …

With the approval of the new 627.05 km2 National park, Shar Mountain, North Macedonia is the latest to offer the world a new protected area that connects wildlife beyond its borders. PONT’s geographical expansion in 2022 was timely and offered the newly established managing authority a helping hand as its first donor. The Public Institution Shar Mountain National Park is now responsible for …

With the additional donations received in the summer of 2022 we managed to hire consultants to identify and describe the Connectivity Conservation Area in North-Western Greece and to conduct a public consultation process. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are eligible to receive grants to support the work in the ecological corridors between the transboundary conservation areas in the PONT Focus Region. This Call is open …

Following on from the Call for Proposals in September 2022, PONT is pleased to announce it has awarded grants to 5 National-Level Environmental Actors and their implementing partners in Albania and North Macedonia. The projects will be implemented across the Korab-Koritnik Nature Park, the Albanian Alps, the Mavrovo and Shar Mountain National Parks, as well as in the Connectivity Conservation Areas connecting the protected …

All protected areas in the PONT Focus Region, currently eligible to receive PONT grants, have successfully completed the first phase of the granting process. After the successful completion of the planning grants in 2022, PONT has recently approved the first one-year grants to three protected areas in the PONT Focus Region: Shar Mountain National Park in North Macedonia, the Albanian Alps National Park …

Have you heard about monitoring of aquatic ecosystems based on the benthic macroinvertebrate organisms that live in lakes or rivers? I bet you have, but do you know why and how they are used? Benthic macroinvertebrates or macrozoobenthos represent a group of organisms which includes worms, liches, snails, shells, crayfishes (including other crustaceans) and insects. Based on their presence or absence in an …

In an effort to continue coordinating transboundary conservation, the authorities of the Protected Areas (PA) in the Transboundary Prespa Park (TPP), met for the third time on the 7th December 2022, at the visitor centre of Pelister National Park in North Macedonia. The meeting was attended by representatives of: Public Institution Pelister National Park, North Macedonia Resen Municipality, managing Lake Prespa Monument of …

Have you ever heard of the seven principles of Leave No Trace? Maybe yes, maybe not. But what do they mean?  Created by the Leave No Trace Centre for Outdoor Ethics, the Seven Leave No Trace Principles cover everything from preparing and planning an excursion to how best to dispose of trash. They show us how to minimise our impact on nature. The …

On the 9th of November 2022, the PONT Executive Director and the Executive Director of Eko-svest ceremonially signed the new Grant Agreement from PONT, approved on the 15th of August 2022. The signing took place during the opening of the first field office of Eko-svest in the village of Vevchani. Eko-svest implemented a joint grant from PONT and CEPF from November 2021 to June 2022 …

This week PONT hosted a KfW mission in Galicica National Park, North Macedonia. Janis Müller-Späth of the KfW office in Frankfurt, and Marsela Maci of the KfW office in Tirana, visited Public Institution Galicica National Park and the activities financed and supported by PONT over the last five years. The mission started with a visit to the PONT office in Tirana where a …

Resen Municipality is responsible for managing two protected areas, the Ezerani Nature Park (NP) and the Lake Prespa Monument of Nature. The Ezerani NP was proclaimed in 1996 as a strict reserve – IUCN category I, covering 1,917 hectares of wetlands and meadows along the northern shoreline of Lake Prespa. In 2012, it was reproclaimed under the IUCN category (IV) due to the …

Call for submission of Concept Notes by Non-Governmental Organizations involved in conserving the Korab-Shara/Albanian Alps areas and the ecological corridors connecting protected areas With the additional capital contribution donated by the German Government at the end of 2021, the PONT Focus Region has further expanded to include four additional protected areas eligible to receive support from PONT. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also eligible …

The region of Ohrid and Prespa has a high concentration of natural values. The protection, conservation and management of these values demands significant resources and capacities. In order to fill the gaps that public administrations have, involvement from different environmental actors is needed and welcomed. With this in mind, PONT has supported both, the public administration and environmental actors from the very beginning …

Five years ago, in the early days of PONT and CNVP’s cooperation in the Prespa area, a group of women was identified who were taking action independently but we could see had extraordinary potential should they collaborate. The group of women was supported by CNVP in 2019 through the PONT Grant “NTFPs for Prespa Economic Development”. The grant focused on developing their capacity …

For the last four years, PONT and Connecting Natural Values and People (CNVP) have successfully cooperated in the areas of Non-Timber Forest Products and Nature Based Tourism. CNVP, through its branch offices in North Macedonia and Albania, is currently implementing an ongoing 3-year grant, titled “Empowering women for NTFPs development of Prespa”. The grant builds on the achievements of the previous PONT grant …

Over the summer four of PONT’s partners successfully closed their grants and applied for follow-up grants. We are delighted to announce these four successful partnerships between Environmental Actors and Protected Areas will continue for another three years. Une, Gruaja (Me, the Woman): This follow-up project by ‘Me, the Woman’ was developed in close consultation with major stakeholders in the Albanian part of the …

Developing educational resources for cave and bat protection in Galicica National Park. “I am really happy that for the first time in North Macedonia, but also for the first time in the region, educational materials intended for the educational system in kindergartens and elementary schools have been prepared, through which we will be able to raise awareness about the protection of caves and …

Shebenik National Park is one of the largest parks in Albania, about 34’000 ha, which means it requires a great number of Rangers for monitoring.  A much higher comparable number than are currently available at the RAPA of Elbasan office. Around Shebenik there are several villages that alongside their daily rural routine were evaluated to also have a significant impact on the monitoring …

Implemented by Eko-svest in the period between November 2021 and June 2022 Eko-svest in partnership with Natura MK initiated a project to apply “citizen science” in the Monument of Nature Vevchani springs. The main aim was to identify and map plant species, which will enable better monitoring and protection of forests in this protected area. In this process, the engagement of local volunteers, …

The “Bushtrica River” is an important natural ecosystem of the Shebenik National Park. This river has special ecological values, the microclimate it offers, the cultural, historical, and natural monuments, as well as the role it plays in irrigation. The river is under threat by the construction of several Hydro Power Plants (HPPs) along its course and the consequences are extremely serious. For this …

Living in Pogradec, pampered by Nature, you can become a poet or an environmentalist, or both! Living in Pogradec, gazing at the Lake, surrounded by the rich flora and fauna of the area, you feel as if you are at the heart of biodiversity. At the Une, Gruaje (UG) association, we have always taken care of the environment, through many local initiatives to …

We are pleased to announce that the National Agency for Protected Areas (NAPA) and the (RAPA) Kukes, RAPA Shkoder, and RAPA Diber finalised grant agreements for the Albanian Alps National Park and Korab-Koritnik Natural Park. The grant agreements signed by NAPA Director Daniel Pirushi and PONT Executive Director Mirjam de Koning will serve as the first step towards an envisaged 10-year cooperation co-financing …

At the start of the 2022 summer holiday season, the first Via Ferrata in Galicica National Park was opened. This new adventure provides a different way of experiencing the nature and panoramic values of the park. The Via Ferrata named “Dobroja” (the local name for the Juniperus foetidissima tree species), was built with the financial support of PONT, within the project “Adventure Zone …

Estimating the abundance of brown bears in the wild is a daunting task. It’s virtually impossible to directly observe the bears and estimate how abundant they are. Tagging them with individual-specific tags is a highly demanding task and unfeasible in any real-life setting, as is the reading of any such tags. For these reasons, the abundance estimates of brown bear populations are often …

We are pleased to announce the successful NGOs in Albania from our first call for grant proposals launched back in March 2022. The applicants in Albania were local NGOs based in Korab-Shara and Albanian Alps areas involved in conservation, developing society, improving communities, and promoting citizen participation in conservation. PONT’s Environmental Actors programme aims at complementing and supporting the conservation work carried out …

“How do we unearth the stories that want to be told? What makes us remember a story? How do we balance fact and emotion?”  These were some of the questions faced by those who joined the Storytelling Workshops last week. They shared some of their own stories with others in the group using the “Hero’s Journey” structure and brought in emotions such as …

Reinout Vos, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Albania and his wife visited Shebenik National Park on the 4th of June. The visit was organised by the Regional Administration of Protected Areas Elbasan, the local NGOs AlbNatyra and Agri-En in cooperation with PONT. The visitors learned about the natural values of the park in the visitor centre and enjoyed a picnic lunch in the …

Back in March 2022, PONT launched a call for applications for locally based non-Governmental Organisations involved in conserving the Korab-Shara and Albanian Alps areas. At the same time, PONT also invited the eligible Protected Area authorities to submit a planning grant application. This was in light of the decision by the PONT Supervisory Board to expand the PONT Focus Area last December to …

The week of 23rd to the 25th May saw the PONT board visit Albania. We kicked off the visit with an event at Reja “The Cloud” on the 23rd of May. PONT hosted its Tirana based partners and beneficiaries at the modern interactive art installation in front of the National Gallery of Arts. It was an opportunity for all to meet and for beneficiaries to …

Following the expansion of the grant activities to the Korab-Sharra-Albanian Alps areas in Albania and North Macedonia, PONT is exploring the opportunities for replicating and upscaling successful practices and solutions applied in the Prespa-Ohrid region over the last 5 years. The support to Environmental Actors in promoting sustainable uses of natural resources in the PONT Focus Region compatible with Protected Area management objectives …

The new revenue generation model of the Public Institution Galicica National Park (PIGNP), excluding direct use of natural resources, has paved the way to fully develop some of the key functional areas. Over the past few years, the park administration has thoroughly reorganised its operations around some of the key functions of an IUCN Category II of Protected Areas – National Park. The …

On April 14 2022, PONT joined the journalists’ trip to German Development Cooperation (GDC) projects that contribute to improving people‘s living conditions in Albania, organized by the German Embassy in Albania. The German Ambassador, his excellency Mr. Peter Zingraf, and Dr. Judith Hoffmann, Head of Development Cooperation at the embassy, as well as the KfW Country Director, Ms. Brit Horschke, had the opportunity …

Together with representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, PONT visited the Shar Mountain National Park and Mavrovo National Park in North Macedonia on the 11th and 12th of April. The aim of the visit was to get to know the status quo, opportunities and challenges of both parks alongside assessing their “PONT” readiness to receive future grants. Both national parks …

With the additional capital contribution donated by the German Government at the end of 2021, the PONT Focus Region has further expanded to include four additional protected areas eligible to receive support from PONT. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also eligible to receive grants to support the work in the protected areas and the ecological corridors between the transboundary conservation areas in the PONT …

PONT provides much of the financing for the Society for the Protection of Prespa’s (SPP) 5-year strategic framework (2018-2022), a selection of highlights of which for 2021 are mentioned below. Long-term wetland management in Lesser Prespa Passing the milestone of the 30th anniversary of its founding, 2021 found the SPP reflecting on its three decades of effort for the wetlands of Lesser Prespa …

A public consultation on PONT’s Strategic Framework is taking place in Albania and North Macedonia! Following on from the extensive public consultation conducted in September 2021 at transboundary, national and local level in the Wider Ohrid Area, the public consultation is now being held in the Korab-Shara and Albanian Alps regions. In late 2021, PONT expanded its work to these new regions. The …

PONT had the honour to meet Mr. Naser Nuredini, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning (MOEPP) of North Macedonia, during his visit to Tirana on 24 February 2022. During this planning meeting, the successful cooperation over the last four years was highlighted. A recent additional contribution by the German government enables PONT to geographically expand its granting programme to the Korab-Shara transboundary conservation …

Bridging achievement with lessons learned is a crucial principle of PONT’s success and one that underpins its five-year cross-border work in nature conservation with the Protected Areas in Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia. With this philosophy in mind, a kick-off meeting was held by PONT and NAPA on the 11th February 2022 in Librazhd. In attendance were representatives from the five RAPAs working …

Prespa National Park is a treasure trove of biological diversity. Recent research conducted by the Iliria Association has revealed very valuable botanical treasures. Implemented over a period of 18 months and financed by PONT and CEPF the project “Site Restricted Endemics of Prespa National Park -Assessment, protection and in-situ/ex-situ conservation, through involvement of young professionals” assessed the conservation status of 10 restricted endemics …

The PrespaNet partners strengthened cross-border co-operation by working together to map and assess wetland habitats in Prespa, producing a transboundary plan for how to protect these vitally important places for the first time. Working in Prespa, PONT and the PrespaNet partners have always understood that transboundary collaboration is an essential prerequisite to successfully protecting biodiversity. The three NGOs – the SPP, MES and …

In implementing PONT Supervisory Board’s decision to extend its conservation programme to the Wider Ohrid area, and complementing the support provided to the protected area authorities, PONT  has  recently awarded grants to five non-governmental organizations, in cooperation with the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). The grant to the AlbNatyra Association focuses on reducing the threats to the natural values of Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Park …

School children from Bitola visited Pelister National Park on 25 October to celebrate the Day of Climate Action. A recent temperature drop causing cold conditions didn’t scare the kids off to see and enjoy the beautiful nature and to learn more about the history and values of the park. The event was organized by the local NGO ’COME, SEE & ENJOY in cooperation …

The rich and important forest biodiversity of the Galicica Mountain was the principal reason for declaring it a National Park, back in 1958. Restoration of degraded forest habitats was therefore of highest priority for the park managers in the first three decades after the proclamation. Active forest management was carried out in line with regular 10-year forestry management plans that were mandatory for …

The Protected Areas (PAs) are the main pillars in PONT’s programme aiming at conserving nature for a sustainable future of the Prespa-Ohrid ecoregion through long-term partnerships and financing. Following up on the recent PONT Supervisory Board decision, taken on 30 September 2021, to roll out programme activities in the Wider Ohrid Area, PONT has awarded three planning grants to the authorities of the …

Early in 2021, the PONT Supervisory Board decided to start the process of expanding the operations of PONT to the Wider Ohrid Area (WOA). The decision was based on the findings of the Feasibility Study conducted by the GOPA Worldwide Consultants in association with Stritih Sustainable Development, with financial support from the KfW Development Bank. The WOA includes three Protected Areas that are …

What started as a joint call for proposals for small grants for the Wider Prespa Area has evolved over the past three years into a co-financing, knowledge-sharing and learning partnership between the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT) and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). PONT implements its mission through two main grant programmes: (1) co-financing operational costs of Protected Areas (PAs), and (2) …

The Management Board of the Public Institution Galicica National Park formally approved the new Management Plan for Galicica National Park, for the period 2021-2030. This step was taken at its meeting of 11 August 2021 and after receiving a positive evaluation by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. The formal approval of the new Management Plan marks the successful completion of the …

In June 2020, PONT and CEPF awarded a grant to the Balkan Foundation for Sustainable Development in North Macedonia concerning the conservation of the endemic Prespa trout (Salmo peristericus) which is listed as Endangered on the global IUCN Red List. Brajchinska and Kranska rivers support the largest populations of this species in North Macedonia, while a small population is found in Leva River, …

The implementation of the first programme for long-term monitoring of biodiversity in Galicica National Park goes back to 2011 and the adoption of the first Management Plan for the park. Over the last 3 years, the support from PONT helped the Public Institution Galicica National Park (PIGNP) double the number of its technical staff involved in the implementation of the monitoring programme, but …

Following the formal approval of the new Management Plan for Pelister National Park (2021-2030) in November 2020, developed with support from PONT, the Public Institution Pelister National Park (PIPNP) has commenced the implementation of its first long-term biodiversity monitoring programme. The programme consists of three interdependent components: (a) monitoring of the conservation status of key indicator species and habitats; (b) monitoring of the …

In May 2020, PONT and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) awarded a grant to Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Art (MASA) concerning the conservation of six endemic vascular plant species in Galicica National Park in North Macedonia. By combining existing data with field investigation, the conservation status of 4 endemic species (Edraianthus horvatii, Festuca galicicae, Laserpitium ochridanum, Sempervivum galicicum and Centaurea galicicae) was …

The recent dramatic water level decrease of Lake Prespa, in combination with the continued and unabated human pressures (water abstraction, pollution, habitat fragmentation and degradation) amplifies the threats to the lake’s ecosystem and the rich and significant biodiversity it supports. In 2019 PONT extended a grant to the Public Institution Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid (HIO) to establish and build a strategic partnership with Resen …

The sustainable use of Non-Timber Forest Products holds the potential to improve livelihoods of local communities in Prespa while contributing to the conservation of region’s rich and unique biodiversity. This is predicated on developing new resource use models that combine conservation with socio-economic priorities of the local people, as highlighted in the 2019 Assessment of Challenges and Opportunities Related to Non-Timber Forest Products …

Nature-based tourism in protected areas in the Wider Prespa Area holds a great potential to contribute to the local economy, reduce poverty, and help develop this predominantly rural area, as argued in the report “Assessment of Challenges and Opportunities Related to Sustainable Tourism”, commissioned by PONT in 2019. The positive social and economic impacts of nature-based tourism will in turn strengthen the case …

National and local stakeholders, representing central and local government, Protected Area staff, CSOs, local communities and the private sector in Prespa, in North Macedonia, got together on the occasion of the World Biodiversity Day, to express their unequivocal support for the conservation of the endemic Prespa Trout (Salmo peristericus). Four rivers in the Prespa basin, Braychinska, Kranska and Leva rivers in North Macedonia, …

Following the easing of the border restrictions, the PONT team visited some of its beneficiaries in North Macedonia. The trip started with a fruitful meeting with the Mayor of Vevchani Municipality. The journey continued to the new and bright offices of the Association of sports “Sport for all – All for sport” Ohrid. This new office with three rooms gives space for the …

The transboundary network of NGOs in Prespa – PrespaNet, recently published the results of the “Preliminary assessment of Human-Large Carnivore Conflicts and Associated Livestock Husbandry Practices in the Albanian and Macedonian sides of the Prespa Basin”. The study builds upon and complements a similar study conducted on the Greek side of the basin in 2016-2017. Collectively, these studies provide for the first-time standardised …

Elaine Chen and Charlotte Walter’s creative adventure into raising awareness of at-risk species and their campaign #OurVulnerableEarth2021  came to an end last Thursday on Earth Day 2021. What started with a Calendar for Non-profits the year before, culminated in an auction of the original prints created for the calendar. Their campaign raised an amazing 3700 Canadian Dollars for Non-profits working in the field …

As soon as most of the snow melted on the mountains of Prespa National Park in Albania,  the PONT Executive Director Mirjam de Koning, joined a field expedition of ILIRIA. The team was accompanied by the experienced staff of RAPA Korça. Prior to the field expedition a fruitful coordination meeting was held with the RAPA Director Iljon Thanas and the “Transboundary Biosphere Reserve …

In early April, the Albanian Centre for Environmental Governance (ACEG) invited donors and tour operators to enjoy the beauty of Prespa National Park. Mirjam de Koning, the Executive Director of PONT joined the tour expedition. “This tour expedition marked a successful final milestone of a 16-month long project implemented by ACEG with the financial support of PONT and the GIZ ProSeed/Idea programme. The …

The most important event of this two-year grant funding provided by PONT and the Aage V. Jensen Charity Foundation was the opening and operationalisation of the PPNEA local office, in Gorice e Vogel/Dolna Gorica, Prespa. The renovation works undergone by PPNEA through the length of the project has now provided good facilities for short stays at the office by the PPNEA staff conducting …

As we all know 2020 has been a challenging year for the entire world but the COVID 19 pandemic has had a particularly significant impact on tourism. This has had some implications on our financial operations with the income of firewood production having dropped to 0, while the revenues from tourism decreased by an astounding 73% in comparison to the previous year. However, …

Conserving Prespa is impossible without transboundary collaboration at all levels of governance. The project ‘Working towards transboundary conservation of the Prespa region by common actions raised by PrespaNet partners’ delivered in North Macedonia by the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) has laid the foundation for efficient transboundary coordination and collaboration in the Prespa basin. The project itself was supported by PONT and the Aage. V. Jensen …

During 2020, we continued working on the maintenance and signage of the network of hiking trails with the help of local temporary workers financed through PONT. RAPA Korça also continued, in collaboration with Pustec Municipality, working towards the eradication of the invasive plant ‘Ara e Indit’ – as outlined in the Park Management Plan. “Turtle Day”  Theoretical lectures were delivered to the junior …

PONT provides much of the financing for the Society for the Protection of Prespa’s (SPP) 5-year strategic framework (2018-2022), supporting its core financial and administration operations as well as co-funding its projects and activities, a selection of highlights of which for 2020 are mentioned below. Working together across borders Transboundary collaboration is a basic tenet of the SPP’s philosophy, and nowhere is this …

The two-year process for developing the new Management Plan for Galicica National Park for the 2021-2030 period culminated with a formal and mandatory public consultation in February 2021. Supported by a grant from PONT, the Public Institution Galicica National Park (PIGNP) initiated the process in 2019 by assessing the implementation of the first Management Plan (2011-2020) and reviewing the “lessons learned” in the …

Complementing the recently approved three-year grants for the Protected Area Authorities in the Wider Prespa Area in North Macedonia and Albania, the PONT Supervisory Board, in its meeting held on 16 December 2020, also approved three-year grants for Environmental Actors. The three-year grant applications were developed by Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) and the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) as …

Three-year grants for all the Protected Area Authorities in the Wider Prespa Area in North Macedonia and Albania were recently launched after the approval by the PONT Supervisory Board during its meeting held on 16 December 2020. The PONT grants co-finance the essential conservation actions derived from the updated 10-year management plans with detailed five-year operational plans and realistic budgets (Pelister National Park …

The ongoing dramatic water level drop of Lake Prespa has prompted the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia to adopt a set of urgent measures to ensure good water status as well as to protect soil and biodiversity for the benefit of both people and the lake ecosystem. Developed with support from prominent national scientists and experts, the Action Plan …

The Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) and Resen Municipality, managing Ezerani Nature Park and Lake Prespa Monument of Nature, have recently embarked on a ground-breaking work to restore wet meadows and alluvial forests with common alder. The work builds upon previous studies that mapped all wetland habitats and identified restoration options for priority habitat types around the Greater Prespa Lake in North Macedonia. The …

The PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet has recently shared PONT’s experience in strengthening management effectiveness of protected areas in the Wider Prespa Area by publishing a Full Solution under the title Closing the gap between strategic and operational planning for protected areas. It builds upon and complements the previous story by PONT published on PANORAMA in 2018, under the title Prespa …

On 19 October certificates were awarded to 18 participants of the Youth Academy on nature-based tourism in Prespa. In June the Albanian Centre of Environmental Governance (ACEG) published a call for applications for Prespa community members to participate in a Youth Academy in the field of nature tourism. ACEG in co-operation with GIZ ProSEED/IDEA programme organized the Youth Academy in both municipalities (Devoll …

Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT) aims to expand its work beyond the Prespa region to include protected areas within the Lake Ohrid basin as a next step. With the help of KfW Development Bank, the GOPA Worldwide Consultants in association with Stritih Sustainable Development continued the work on a Feasibility Study for Expanding the Focus Area of PONT, expected to be completed by …

In 2007 a team from the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES), in cooperation with Serbian and French scientists (herpetologists and ecologists) commenced the long-term study of the population dynamics of the Golem Grad island reptiles. Population studies require capturing as many individual representatives of the population as possible, gathering as much morphological and ecological data as possible from them, marking them permanently in order …

Following the successful completion of the first grant in August 2020, PONT and Resen Municipality continue their cooperation over the completion of the 2020 Operational Plan for the Ezerani Nature Park (ENP) and Lake Prespa Monument of Nature (LPMN). Their second Grant Agreement, signed on 18 September by the PONT Executive Director –  Mirjam de Koning and the Mayor of Resen – Zhivko …

In January 2020, PONT signed a grant agreement with the Association “Sport for all – All for sport” – a non-governmental organization based in Ohrid, concerning the second edition of the Ohrid Ultra-Trail® – an international trail running event taking place at Galicica National Park. The grant enables the Association and its partner organization “Outdoor Sports Association – TREX” from Skopje, to strengthen …

The challenge A Biodiversity Monitoring Scheme (BMS) is a long-term array of complementary surveys, censuses, surveillance and monitoring referring to a well-defined and ecologically meaningful area, the analysis of the results of which allows at least a basic understanding of trends in the values of some important elements and the causes of change. Monitoring is the systematic measurement of variables for a specific reason …

PONT and CEPF awarded two complementary grants to the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Art (MASA) and ILIRIA – Protection and the Social & Environmental Development Association concerning the conservation of endemic plants restricted to the Galicica/Mali i Thatë mountain, spanning the borders of Galicica National Park, in North Macedonia, and Prespa National Park in Albania. Both grants implement actions designed to foster …

In 2006, the Public Institution Galicica National Park, in cooperation with the Macedonian Ecological Society, organized a workshop to address a pressing management problem – the impacts of the largest nesting colony of the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in the country, on the old stand of the Grecian juniper woods on the Golem Grad Island in the Greater Prespa Lake, North Macedonia – …

A formally approved Management Plan (MP), meeting PONT’s requirements laid out in the Framework Agreements with the governments of Albania and North Macedonia, is one of the key requirements for the Protected Areas authorities in the Wider Prespa Area in order to be considered by PONT for possible funding. PONT may also support the development of a Protected Area MP under the conditions …

PONT aims to expand its work beyond the Prespa region to include other areas such as the Ohrid lake basin. With the help of KfW Development Bank, the GOPA Worldwide Consultants in association with Stritih Sustainable Development recently started the work on a Feasibility Study for Expanding the Focus Area of the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), expected to be completed in October …

In June the Albanian Centre of Environmental Governance (ACEG) published a call for applications for Prespa community members to participate in a Youth Academy in the field of nature tourism. In total 62 applicants registered, including 27 from Devoll Municipality and 35 from Pustec Municipality. The applicants belong to the following age groups: 40-60 years: 14 Individuals (5 women and 9 men) 30-39 …

Since North Macedonia’s lockdown was lifted on 26 May 2020, Galicica National Park has been a popular destination for the people in the Prespa-Ohrid region and across the country, seeking relaxation in nature after their indoor isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the park has kept the entrances open and waived entrance fees until the end of June. …

On 3 July the Korça Regional Administration for Protected Areas (RAPA) for Prespa National Park, Albania, met with PONT and the KfW financed project “Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Prespa” (KfW PRESPA), implemented by GFA and INCA. In the meeting the results of the previous PONT grant were evaluated and lessons learned were discussed. The highlights of the previous grant period include: Recruitment of new …

A large amount of data, information and knowledge is needed for the conservation and sustainable management of biological diversity, natural processes and ecosystem services in Prespa for the benefit of nature and people in the region – a mission that PONT and its grantees share. The largest body of information concerning Prespa’s biodiversity is collected through field observations conducted by PONT grantees as …

Following up on the previous full grant by PONT, the latest proposal from the National Agency for Protected Areas (NAPA) and the Korça Regional Administration for Protected Areas (RAPA) for Prespa National Park, Albania, builds up on the achievements of the previous grant and continues the implementation of the 2020 Operational Plan for Prespa National Park in the period July – December 2020. …

PONT and CEPF have recently awarded two complementary grants that address Strategic Direction 4 – the conservation of plants, under the joint Call for proposals, opened in January 2020. An additional grant was awarded to the Balkan Foundation for Sustainable Development (BFSD) in North Macedonia that addresses Strategic Direction 2 (Sustainable management of water catchments) of the Call. The grant will support actions …

In January 2020, PONT and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) published a joint Call for Proposals for grants inviting eligible organisations to address the sustainable management of water catchments and conservation of plants in the Wider Prespa Area. Applications from NGOs and academic institutions from Albania and North Macedonia were evaluated in a two-stage process: the applicants whose concept notes were selected by the joint …

Building upon the 2016 Review of Conservation Efforts in the Transboundary Prespa area, conducted by the PrespaNet NGO network, and in close cooperation with the protected area authorities and Environmental Actors, PONT adopted its Strategic Framework in 2017, comprising a set of objectives, funding priorities and indicators of progress for 2018–2027. Over the past two years PONT has supported the PrespaNet members, the …

PONT provides much of the financing for Society for the Protection of Prespa’s (SPP) 5-year strategic framework (2018-2022), supporting its core financial and administration operations as well as co-funding its projects and activities, highlights of which for 2019 are mentioned below. Active wetland management – vegetation and streams Now in its third year, the LIFE Prespa Waterbirds project, co-funded by the EU, Stavros …

Through the ongoing grant from PONT, the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) has recently completed the first detailed study of wetland habitats in the Prespa National Park. The study covers the entire Albanian part of the Lake Prespa catchment area. The mapping study has built upon the results and experience gained in mapping the wetland habitats in the Macedonian …

A year after the opening of its local office, MES and PrespaNet continue to work alongside regional stakeholders for the protection of Prespa. 2019 was an interesting year, with many achievements for the network. Wetland restoration After the mapping of Prespa shoreline habitat types in 2018, which resulted in the production of recommendations on habitat management in Macedonian Prespa for the Municipality of …

Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) recently opened a local satellite office in Albania. The country’s oldest environmental NGO invited numerous stakeholders to celebrate the opening ceremony of the local office in Goricë e Vogël in Prespa. Representatives of the National Agency for Protected Areas, the Regional Administration for Protected Areas in Korça, local authorities, other civil society organisations, students …

Improved staffing levels with sufficient technical and human capacity are critical elements required for improving the current management effectiveness of the Regional Administration of Protected Areas (RAPA) in Korça. The RAPA overseas the management of Prespa National Park. The effective implementation of the Management Plan of the Prespa National Park in Albania for the period 2014-2024 requires further staffing of the RAPA. This cannot …

PONT grantees actively participated in the 54th count season of the annual International Waterbird Census that took place on the second weekend of January 2020. Although situated at high altitudes, the Greater and Lesser Prespa Lakes consistently host 35,000 to 55,000 waterbirds every winter, significantly exceeding the requirement to be considered a Wetland of International Importance. The census provides a valuable snapshot of waterbird …

In December 2019 PONT signed a grant to the Public Institution Galicica National Park (PIGNP) to cover 50% of the total costs for implementing their 2020 Operational Plan. PIGNP’s resources will be directed to maintaining and developing the key functions of the institution, in line with the IUCN Category II protected area management guidelines, with the following being priorities for 2020: biodiversity monitoring and …

The Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT) and Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) recently agreed to combine their efforts in the Wider Prespa Area by issuing a joint Call for Proposals for small grants. With similarities in both their strategies, and the view to enabling longer-term interventions with greater impact, PONT and CEPF invite applications from eligible organizations to address the conservation needs around the …

Since its launching in 2007 by WWF and the World Bank, the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) has become the world’s most applied tool for assessing management effectiveness. It has been applied to over 2,500 Protected Areas (PAs) in more than 120 countries. METT assessments are an integral part of PONT’s monitoring and evaluation system at both programme level and with respect to …

PONT recently commissioned a report, which recommended supporting communities and entrepreneurs in Prespa to focus on developing and delivering nature-based tourism products and services to increase the chances of commercial success in the region. The partnership of protected area authorities and local governments is crucial. PONT subsequently published a call, in August 2019, inviting environmental actors to submit proposals that support tourism businesses …

Water quality monitoring scientists from the three sides of the Prespa basin met in Stenje, in October 2019, to build on the cross-border co-operation initiative taken a year ago on the other side of the lake.  The workshop aimed to further promote the dialogue and joint work set off in Laimos last autumn and was organised by the Society for the Protection of …

The Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid (HIO) and the Municipality of Resen in North Macedonia have recently formalised their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, with the aim of strengthening management effectiveness of Lake Prespa Monument of Nature and Ezerani Nature Park in North Macedonia. With a planning grant from PONT, HIO has adopted a strategic plan for its contribution to conservation …

PONT provides most of the financing of the 5-year strategic framework (2018-2022) of the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) by supporting its core financial and administration operations, and the implementation of the activities highlighted below. Research on vegetation dynamics As part of the collaboration between the SPP and the French research institute, and SPP member, Tour du Valat, under the LIFE …

PONT has identified two areas among its funding priorities that are not being addressed adequately by its current grants or actions supported by other donors: Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and Sustainable Nature-Based Tourism. PONT published a call in May 2019 to address the first gap, inviting proposals by environmental actors that are active in the Wider Prespa Area in Albania, North Macedonia, or …

The National Agency of Protected Areas (NAPA) and PONT have agreed on a follow-up grant for the Prespa National Park in Albania. The grant proposal was prepared by the Regional Administration of Protected Areas (RAPA) in Korca, with the support of the KfW financed project ‘Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Prespa’. It focuses mainly on the requirement of additional manpower to implement priority conservation actions, …

PONT recently engaged the Connecting Natural Values and People Foundation (CNVP) to investigate the modest outcomes of past initiatives concerning ecotourism in the Wider Prespa Area (WPA) and to develop recommendations to increase the impact of future efforts. Contents of the report Following a thorough review of documents and structured consultation of a wide range of stakeholders in Albania and North Macedonia, the …

From 8-12 July many stakeholders joined forces in the Wider Prespa Area to work on the implementation of Natura 2000. PONTs cooperation partner, the EU Twinning project, ‘Strengthening the capacities for effective implementation of the acquis in the field of nature protection’, organised the following events in Pelister NP (National Park) and Prespa Lake Monument of Nature: invertebrate inventory and monitoring training; habitat …

Collaboration between governmental, scientific and civil society organizations is of critical importance for improving the quality and efficiency of natural resource management in the Wider Prespa Area, and for achieving the desired impact of PONT’s funding on biodiversity conservation. In line with priorities outlined in its 2017 Funding Strategy, PONT is supporting the Regional Administration for Protected Areas in Korca (RAPA), managing Prespa …

PONT and Galicica National Park have been working together to create a video highlighting the recent reorientation undergone by the park management: the move from a reliance on deforestation for funding to a conservation focused financing model. Last week, a team of professionals from PONT, Galicica National Park and Focus Pocus Films gathered in various locations across the stunning vistas offered by the …

Sustainable nature-based tourism in the Wider Prespa Area is increasingly seen as a source of income to cover the cost of nature conservation and protected area management, and also as an opportunity for local development. A 2016 review of conservation efforts in Transboundary Prespa, conducted by the PrespaNet network, concluded that the actions and initiatives over the last two decades related to ecotourism …

concerning sustainable, nature-based tourism in the Wider Prespa Area in Albania and North Macedonia PONT has identified two topics among its funding priorities that are not being adequately addressed by its current grants or actions supported by other donors. The first concerns the Non-Timber Forest Products that was the topic of the call for grant proposals to Environmental Actors launched in May 2019 …

On 24 May 2019, the European Day of Parks, the Prespa National Park in Albania offered a guided tour for the local schools “Dy Deshmoret” and “Rezidenca e Goricareve” of the Municipality of Pusteci. The 5th grade students learnt about the history, culture and nature of their environment. Vasil Male and Olsi Duma, chief specialists of the regional administration of protected areas of …

Germany’s Lower Saxon State Government has provided funds to the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation for a project that aims to assist the cross-border Prespa-Ohrid ecoregion to develop nature-based tourism activities, and to start building up capacities in this respect on a regional level. The project aims to accomplish two objectives: To develop initial nature-based tourism activities in the Prespa-Ohrid Ecoregion through …

On 7 May 2019, PONT was honoured by the visit of Achim Mortier and Maren Kneller of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to the Prespa National Park in Albania. BMZ has provided tremendous support to PONT over the past years. In the presence of representatives of the National Agency for Protected Areas, KfW, GIZ and the Transboundary Biosphere …

PONT recently engaged the Connecting Natural Values and People Foundation (CNVP) to prepare a report that assesses the opportunities and challenges related to non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in the Wider Prespa Area. Contents of the report Fully endorsed by PONT, the report sets out a number of recommendations related to the collection, production, processing and marketing of NTFPs, taking into account input from …

On behalf of PONT, the Connecting Natural Values and People Foundation conducted an assessment of the opportunities, and associated challenges, for local small-scale production, processing and marketing of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the Wider Prespa Area in Albania and North Macedonia. The Foundation prepared a draft analysis, which summarizes findings from the review of past initiatives and actions, as well as interviews …

2018 was an interesting year for Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) and PrespaNet, with many activities focused on laying the groundwork for the upcoming year and projects. Being locally active is very important for PrespaNet and its organisations. PPNEA Local Officer PPNEA is looking to increase its presence in the area, promote its project and raise awareness about nature …

Since its establishment in 1958, the management of Galicica National Park (NP) has been funded through revenues generated from the park administration, predominantly from selling firewood. Following a significant increase in revenue from entrance and user fees in 2018, the park administration has adopted an operational plan and budget for 2019 with a strong focus on the primary management objectives of the park. …

PONT provides most of the financing of the 5-year strategic framework (2018-2022) of the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) by supporting its core financial and administration operations, and also the implementation of the projects mentioned below. Pelicans census The South East European pelican census was conducted in May 2018 at wetlands across South East Europe for the third consecutive year. Pelicans …

The importance of wetland habitats Wetlands are one of the most important environmental assets in Prespa, home to many plant and animal species, providing significant economic, social and cultural benefits to the people of Prespa and the society at large. Wetland habitats across Prespa are impacted by various human activities, such as water extraction, modification of beaches and streams, fishing, farming, sand excavation, …

Learn more about PONT, the Pathfinder Award, Panorama Solutions and financing conservation projects. 

PONT has been selected, from over 200 submissions from around the world, as the winner of the 2018 Pathfinder Award that recognises outstanding and innovative solutions for protected areas, developed and implemented by individuals, organisations or groups. The Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), winner of the award, is a conservation trust fund that supports transboundary conservation of nature in the Prespa Ohrid ecoregion, covering parts …

The objective of PONT as a co-funding instrument is to assist the management bodies of Protected Areas (PAs) in the Wider Prespa Area (WPA) in improving the quality of their management. The progress on this objective is being measured by using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT), developed by WWF and the World Bank in 2002, and later amended in 2005 and 2007. …

The German Government, through its Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the KfW Development Bank (KfW), has contributed another €5 million to PONT’s core endowment fund. A signing ceremony was held on 15th November in the KfW offices in Frankfurt. A memorandum confirming KfW’s latest contribution was signed by Thomas Eisenbach, Head of Division; Frank Mörschel, Senior Project Manager at …

Experts from the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment (PPNEA), in cooperation with RAPA Korce, have just completed the first assessment of camera traps set in Prespa National Park and they are happy to share photos of the wildlife diversity of this park. With the support of PONT, PPNEA will continue wildlife monitoring and bear scat sample collecting through to December 2018. This is …

PONT has been selected, from over 200 submissions, as the winner of the 2018 Pathfinder Award. The Award, which recognizes outstanding and innovative solutions for protected and conserved areas, is presented by the United Nations Development Programme; the International Union for Conservation of Nature; the World Commission on Protected Areas; and WildArk, and supported by the Biodiversity Finance Initiative and PANORAMA. The winners …

PONT recently facilitated a successful exchange between the Society for Protection of Prespa (SPP), GIZ CSBL (Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity at Lakes Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar – Phase III) and the Albanian Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Prespa Project – Phase II. On 14 and 15 October, several sites were visited on the Greek side of Prespa with a focus on Small Prespa …

PONT has recently engaged an international independent consultant, Jernej Stritih, to support Protected Area authorities in the Wider Prespa Area in enhancing their capacity for effective management of operations and assets. With a focus on co-financing operational costs of Protected Areas, PONT requires that the Protected Area authorities submit an updated annual operational plan, monitoring plan and budget as part of their grant …

A team from the 100 Villages Academy, focusing on villages in the region of Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, presented initial proposals for how to strengthen tourism development at two events in Korça, on Friday 28 September. The team lived in Gorice e Vogel, inside Lake Prespa National Park, for four weeks, beginning in mid August, while also working in the villages of …

Joint initiatives for the Prespa region were presented in Tirana on 25 September 2018. The event brought together approximately 50 stakeholders, including government and numerous institutions, that are working in the wider Ohrid-Prespa ecoregion, highlighting the importance of German-Albanian cooperation through the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust and the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Prespa Project – Phase II to the conservation efforts in the region. …

Signed on 3 September, the Regional Agency of Protected Areas (RAPA) Korçe applied for a planning grant in close consultation with the National Agency of Protected Areas (NAPA). RAPA manages the Prespa National Park in Albania, and this monumental signing marks an important shift in Albania’s involvement in the conservation of the Prespa region. The planning grant is the first step in PONT`s …

A Grant Agreement between PONT and the Public Scientific Institution Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid (HIO) was signed in Ohrid on 13 August 2018. The grant to HIO is part of PONT’s support to Environmental Actors that contribute to biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in the Wider Prespa Area (WPA), such as legally established NGOs, municipalities, academic or scientific institutions with a …

A grant agreement between PONT and the Public Institution Galicica National Park (PIGNP) was signed on 3 August 2018, symbolizing the start of a new phase in the collaboration of the two institutions. The agreement was signed by Mirjam de Koning, Executive Director of PONT, and Andon Bojadzi, Director of PIGNP, and honoured in a meeting on 13 August in Ohrid. The grant …

The official opening of the Macedonian Ecological Society’s (MES) new office in Resen took place on 9 July. Of great local significance, the ceremony was attended by representatives from the local government, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP), Galicica and Pelister national parks, the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA), Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP), donor …

The first Grant Agreement between PONT and the Municipality of Resen concerning the management of the Lake Prespa Monument of Nature and Ezerani Nature Park was signed on 28 June 2018 in Resen. The Agreement provides for PONT to co-finance activities related to improving the technical and management skills of the municipal staff involved in the management of the two protected areas. This …

Mirjam de Koning, Executive Director of PONT, and Amet Axhiu, Director of the Public Institution Pelister National Park (PIPNP) signed the first Grant Agreement on 28 June 2018 in Resen. The Agreement provides for a financial contribution from PONT to develop a new Management Plan for Pelister National Park. PONT’s financing is matched by contributions from the park administration and the European Union …

Following an initiative of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP), a meeting was held on 28 June 2018 in Resen to coordinate activities supported by PONT’s grant agreements concerning the protected areas in the Macedonian part of Prespa. The meeting was opened by Ajman Al Malla, head of the Environment Sector at the Municipality of Resen, followed by short speeches by …

The Dutch Ambassador to Albania, Dewi van de Weerd, visited Greater Prespa Lake on 19 May 2018, where she enjoyed a boat trip and sighted more than 100 pelicans. The trip was organized by the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA), and the park authorities. Prespa is home to the Dalmatian pelican – the world’s …

The Supervisory Board of PONT recently conducted a tour of the Prespa-Ohrid ecoregion. This was a fantastic opportunity to further develop understanding of the issues and challenges unique to the region, as well as to build upon and foster new relationships. Some highlights of the multi-faceted visit include: research and monitoring activities of the Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid, demonstrated aboard the Institute’s monitoring boat …

A ceremony was held on 14th of May in Skopje to mark the launching of PONT’s grants programmes in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The event was opened by PONT’s Executive Director Mirjam de Koning who, in her opening remarks, noted that PONT is a private, independent grant-making foundation providing long-term co-financing to protected area authorities, non-governmental organizations and other environmental actors …

Integrated landscape approaches provide a basic framework for balancing competing demands and integrating policies for multiple land uses within a given area. In the Prespa region this approach includes sustainable agriculture activities, certification and labelling of agricultural products, and so-called agritourism or ecotourism activities aimed at community engagement and empowerment; resulting in an overall “greening” of the local economy. Local stakeholders in the …

In 2018, PONT granted the NGO, Protection and Preservation of Nature Environment in Albania (PPNEA) (www.ppnea.org), an initial one-year grant. The grant is aimed at strengthening PPNEA’s institutional capacities through enhancing its involvement in transboundary projects and projects specific to Prespa, Albania, and through improving overall operations and research activities, including large carnivores conservation activities. A lot remains unknown about the population of …

The Wider Prespa Region covers parts of Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Greece. The transboundary area houses five protected areas, three wetland areas, part of a transboundary Biosphere Reserve as well as the transboundary Prespa Park. To ensure sustainable conservation and effective management of the protected areas, cooperation across borders is crucial. In 2013, to strengthen cooperation between local stakeholders, …

As part of the development and establishment of PONT’s grant programme, PONT has conducted a conflict assessment. The study followed a participatory approach to identify existing and potential conflicts and engage different stakeholders to come up with mitigation measures and implementation strategies in line with the PONT grant programme.  The study, Conflict Assessment in Wider Prespa Area can be found on the PONT …

Summer is nearly here and I’m so proud of all that we have achieved over the last few months. Since arriving in Tirana in late January, my team and I have established our program office and signed  a Framework Agreement with the Ministry of Environment of Albania—two very important milestones in furthering PONT’s successful future. PONT’s Regional Program Office (RPO) officially opened its …