The Greek government on Friday announced that a large stretch of the Prespes Lake region, in extreme northern Greece in the tri-state area that includes Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia, has designated as an “untouched mountain”, meaning that new roads will be prohibited.
The relevant ministerial decision was signed by Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou.
A map of the designated region.
According to a ministry announcement, the Prespes (Prespa) region constitutes one of the most important natural ecosystems of the Balkans, hosting significant natural habitats, wetlands and forest ecosystems of high biodiversity, and falling almost entirely within two protected Natura 2000 network zones.
The village of Psarades (fishermen) on Lake Prespa (Prespes in the plural), Greece, June 16, 2018.
The region’s ecological value is unique, as it is home to a variety of flora, including rare and endemic species, as well as important wildlife species, such as the brown bear, the wolf, the chamois and numerous avian species. At the same time, the wetland habitats of the Prespes lakes provide critical refuge for rare wading and waterbird species.
The ministerial decision aims at a more effective protection and conservation of Natura 2000 areas and the species living within them, pending the approval of the special environmental study and the determination of land uses and protection measures through proposed presidential decrees.
