The year 2025 marked a turning point in conservation efforts in the Prespa region, as the initiatives of the Macedonian Ecological Society, supported by the Prespa-Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), moved beyond basic monitoring into a more advanced phase. Focusing on scientific authority, stronger institutions, and coordinated transboundary management rather than simply continuing previous work. This phase represented a deeper alignment between science, policy, and local communities, aiming for long-term impact and shared responsibility.
In previous years, the work in Prespa was mainly focused on observation – collecting data, mapping habitats, and understanding species. By 2025, however, the project has grown into a more influential force, capable not only of studying environmental change but also of shaping conservation strategies at regional and international level. This shift reflects the accumulation of knowledge and experience over time.
Despite this progress, the transition was not without challenges. Wildfires and delays in protected area management plans created real obstacles for fieldwork and restoration. However, these difficulties also highlighted the urgency of conservation efforts and pushed the project to become more flexible and adaptive in its approach.
One of the key achievements of 2025 was the adoption of the Trilateral Bat Action Plan, a joint strategy developed with PrespaNet partners from Albania and Greece. This plan provides a unified framework for protecting bat species across the entire Prespa basin, emphasising the importance of cross-border cooperation in managing shared ecosystems.
Research conducted in Galicica National Park and Pelister National Park showed that bats are diverse and widespread in the region, living in caves, forests, and even human-made structures. The discovery of a large maternity colony further underlined the need for targeted conservation measures and demonstrated how scientific findings can directly inform policy.
At the same time, climate change became increasingly visible in Prespa. Drone mapping revealed a clear drop in lake water levels, exposing new land and changing habitats along the shoreline. Continuously receding water levels fail to flood reedbeds that once supported more diverse birdlife, showing that environmental changes are happening quickly and affecting the entire ecosystem.
The situation was made more serious by large wildfires in Ezerani Nature Park, which damaged hundreds of hectares of vegetation. However, the survival of about 80% of restored alder forests showed that well-planned restoration can still be effective even under extreme conditions, offering hope for future efforts.
Restoration activities also showed how conservation can work together with local communities. Wet meadow management expanded significantly, producing large amounts of hay that were shared with farmers and used for wildlife. Over time, local people became more actively involved, even managing land on their own, proving that sustainable conservation depends on community participation.
Scientific research reached an important milestone with the publication of a study in “Ecology Letters”, focusing on tortoises on Golem Grad. The study predicted a serious population decline, but also provided a strong scientific basis for future conservation planning and long-term climate research.
Education remained a key part of the project, especially through the “Wild Side of Prespa” program, which involved hundreds of students and teachers. By combining classroom learning with field experience, and connecting schools with universities, the program helped build knowledge, skills, and a sense of responsibility among young people.
Overall, 2025 showed that conservation in Prespa is moving in a clear direction – toward stronger cooperation, better science, and greater community involvement. While challenges remain, the project is well-positioned to continue its work, demonstrating that protecting such a complex region requires shared effort across borders, disciplines, and generations.
By: “MES”
Photo caption (clockwise): Golem Grad Island; Hermann’s tortoise on Golem Grad; Local farmers involved in wet meadow management; Stakeholder roundtable in Resen; Education workshop on bats; Monitoring of rock partridge in Galichica National Park
(© Macedonian Ecological Society Archive)
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