Protected areas

In all three countries various steps have been taken for the protection of the unique ecosystems of Prespa during the last few decades.

In Albania, the Prespa National Park was established, in 1999, for the rehabilitation and sustainable protection of critical terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the Prespa Lakes.

In Greece, the Prespa National Forest was designated, in 1974 for the protection of the lakes Micro and Macro Prespa and the greater part of their catchment area, and the same area was also declared a landscape of exceptional beauty”, in 1975. Also, the Greek side of Micro Prespa is declared an area of great ornithological value (Special Protection Area -SPA) under the EEC Birds Directive, while the whole catchment basin has also been included in the Greek National List of the NATURA 2000 protected sites network (under the EEC Habitats Directive). Finally, the Greek part of Micro Prespa has been designated a “Wetland of International Importance” (under the Ramsar Convention) since 1974.

In the FYR of Macedonia, both the mountainous ecosystem to the east of Macro Prespa Lake (Pelister National Park) and the terrestrial ecosystems straddling the Galichitsa Mountain located between the Macro Prespa and Ohrid Lakes (Galichitsa National Park) are protected. The Strict Ornithological Reserve “Ezerani” bordering the northern section of Macro Prespa Lake was established in 1996 for the protection of migratory waterfowl and other waterbird species. Also, the FYR of Macedonia part of Macro Prespa has been designated a "natural monument", in 1977, as well as a “Wetland of International Importance” (under the Ramsar Convention) in 1995.