PONT News

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 non-profit focus that are present and …

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 will enable PIGNP to strengthen their …

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 organizations, as well as local residents …

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 includes monitoring of priority habitats and …

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 through the Twinning Project “Strengthening the …

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 Vlatko Trpeski, Head of Nature Protection …

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 largest freshwater bird. These birds nest …

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 at Lake Ohrid; excursion in Galicica …

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 active in the Prespa-Ohrid ecoregion. Jani …