Albania, the FYR of Macedonia and Greece committed to work together for the protection and sustainable development of the Prespa Lakes region

The Transboundary Prespa Park, the first such area of the Balkans, was established in February 2000, by a common Declaration of the Prime Ministers of the three countries that share the two lakes, after a relevant recommendation by the Society for the Protection of Prespa, and WWF Greece, with active support from the Ramsar Convention and MedWet.

Ten years later, on 2 February 2010 –World Wetlands Day– the official international agreement for the Prespa Park was signed by the three Ministers of the Environment, under the auspices of the European Union (which cosigned the document through its Commissioner on Environment). The agreement ensures effective planning and coordination of the necessary activities for the Park’s uninhibited operation.

In this framework, the three countries committed to establish permanent cooperation structures, so as to develop a common strategy and enforce measures for the protection both of the natural environment and the productive activities practiced by the local inhabitants. The agreement promotes issues of major importance, such as biodiversity protection, the elaboration of a study for the sustainable management of the transboundary drainage basin –according to the European Directive for Water– as well as the establishment of a special working group on water management issues.

The signature of the agreement also conveys a symbolic message. Starting from the Prespa basin, locals and regional authorities believe that the future of the Southeastern Europe lies on the cooperation among people and bridging of their differences, towards a sustainable development and peaceful coexistence.

Prespa Workshop: Towards an integrated approach to the cultural and natural aspects of wetlands

The Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (Med-INA), in co-operation with the Society for the Protection of Prespa and MedWet, organised on  23-27 September 2009 the workshop ‘cultural and natural values of wetlands:  towards an integrated approach’.  The meeting took place in the Pyli Information Centre in the Greek part of Prespa Lakes. The General Secretary of the Ramsar Convention Anada Tiega greeted the meeting with his letter, while Prespa Mayor Lazaros Nalpantides opened the beginning of the workshop.  
Participants of the workshop were specialists, researchers, governmental officials and university professors, with experience and knowledge in the management of the cultural and natural heritage of Mediterranean wetlands, from 17 countries. During the three-day programme of the workshop the following subjects were analysed:

- wetland cultural landscapes
- archaeological sites and historic buildings
- cultural aspects of productive activities
- spiritual and secular aspects
- effective management of the natural and cultural heritage

The results of the meeting have been incorporated in the Prespa Statement on 'an integrated approach to the cultural and natural values of Mediterranean wetlands'.

Mediterranean work in Ramsar COP10

During the Tenth Conference of the Contracting Parties of the Convention on Wetlands, held in Changwon on 20 October to 4 November 2008, the South Korean Authorities made great efforts to promote the cultural values of the country and of its wetlands. This was effectively achieved through exhibitions and performances that presented a broad variety of Korean traditional and contemporary arts.

Of particular significance was the inauguration by the Mayor of the city and the Ramsar Secretary General of the Changwon Ramsar Culture Centre at the Junam wetland, devoted to the cultural aspects of wetlands in Korea and internationally.

On 3 November, Wetlands International-Japan brought together in a workshop experts from the region who presented case studies of culture in Asian wetlands from Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and South Korea.

The next day, the Ramsar Culture Working Group organised a meeting on ‘Culture and wetlands: Progress and Guidance’. During the meeting, Ramsar Award winner Sansanee Choowaew presented the work done in this field in Asia. Dave Pritchard, also a Ramsar award winner, introduced the CD-ROM publication ‘Culture and wetlands: A Ramsar guidance document’, produced by the Ramsar Culture Working Group, after a broad consultation. Finally Professor Koichi Sasagawa referred to the conclusions of the Asian workshop. This was followed by a substantive discussion.

During the meeting, its organiser and chair Thymio Papayannis presented the work done by Med-INA in the Mediterranean, focussing on the recent publication Action for culture in Mediterranean wetlands. The book was distributed to all the Contracting Parties and to selected experts. The book raised considerable interest and provided the basis for future collaboration and networking.

Cultural event in a Greek wetland

A major cultural event has been organised in the Greek part of Prespa Lakes for the past twenty years, drawing numerous participants from all over the country.

The Prespia event is held every August, around the Prespa Lakes. Well- known artists from Greece and abroad take part in concerts, poetry nights and local festivities. On the small island of Ag. Achilios, at the ruins of the ancient Byzantine basilica, the closing concert is performed.

During these twenty years four Prime Ministers, three Presidents and one hundred members of the Greek Parliament have attended the Prespia. The organisers are also very proud that the festival has been attended by a large number of important international cultural figures. A few years ago, when famous composer and performer Goran Bregovic was asked which of his appearances was his favourite, he replied: ‘I can’t tell you where I have performed better, but I can definitely say that the best concert I have been to was on a small island, Aghios Achilios, in Micro Prespa. There, I heard the silence of the lakes and the stars, under a bright, crowned moon.’ The festival has greatly contributed to the Prespa region in re-defining its character.

The twentieth anniversary was honoured by the participation of the President of Greece, and its events were dedicated to opera singer Maria Callas and to popular musician Vassilis Tsitsanis. It should be noted that Prespia contribute in making known the region of Prespa with its rich natural and cultural heritage. This helps in conservation efforts and provides additional income for local inhabitants.

New culture guidance from Ramsar

In accordance with Resolution IX.21, the Ramsar Bureau has issued guidance on incorporating cultural aspects in the work of the Convention. ‘Culture and wetlands: a Ramsar guidance document’ has been prepared by the Culture Working Group, after review by the Standing Committee, various Ramsar regional meetings and the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP).

The 70-page document includes a general section on culture and wetlands, as well as a number of general and specific objectives with concrete actions suggested for their implementation. It also incorporates certain concerns that have been voiced on the incorporation of cultural aspects in wetland matters by the Ramsar Convention.

The guidance document will be presented on 1 November 2008 at a special side event at the next Ramsar Conference of the Parties (COP10, Changwon, South Korea, 28 October to 4 November).

Med-INA director Thymio Papayannis is one of the two authors of the document, while other Med-INA staff have participated in its editing and in the preparation of the corresponding CD-ROM.

Workshop on “Action for culture in European wetlands”  

Sunday, 4 May 2008, 11h00 – 13h00

During the 6th European Ramsar Meeting, to be held in Stockholm in early May, a Workshop is being organised with following objectives:

• to review progress made in the implementation of Ramsar COP Resolutions VIII.19 (2002) and IX.21 (2005);
  
• to assess the process of developing guidance to the CPs for incorporating cultural aspects in the management of wetlands;
  
• to provide guidelines for the work of the Ramsar Culture Working Group during the period 2009-2011;
  
• to reinforce an integrated approach to the management of all wetland values in Europe and in parts of the World in which Europe is assisting.

The workshop will be chaired by Thymio Papayannis, Co-ordinator of the Ramsar Culture Working Group and Director of Med-INA.

During the Workshop will be a brief presentation of the Med-INA book Action for culture in Mediterranean Wetlands.

New Med-INA book 

Action for culture in Mediterranean Wetlands

Further to the CD-ROM that Med-INA prepared on the occasion of Ramsar COP9, the following book has been just published:
Papayannis, T. (2008), Action for culture in Mediterranean Wetlands, Med-INA, Athens, Greece.
The book is based on an analysis of culture-related activities in 21 Mediterranean wetland sites, under the prism of the Ramsar Convention work on the cultural values of wetlands and the related Resolutions VIII.19 and IX.21. It provides an up-to-date documentation of characteristic on-going cultural activities related to the Mediterranean wetlands, examining simultaneously their significance for the management and protection of these sensitive ecosystems. A main conclusion of this painstaking work is that nature and culture are two interdependent elements and therefore “we cannot understand and manage the ‘natural’ environment unless we understand the human culture that shaped it”. Thus, the values resulting from cultural activities are important in strengthening the links of people with wetlands, which are a prerequisite for wetland conservation and for the sustainable use of their resources and services.

The book is available from Med-INA at secretariat@med-ina.org

Click here for table of contents

Translation of the book texts in English in .pdf form (English version in publication)
Translation of the book texts in French in .pdf form (French version in publication)