Restoring the Ecosystem of Lake Prespa

RESTORATION OF THE PRESPA LAKE ECOSYSTEM How do we go about it? Prespa Lake Basin - Some Facts and Figures 70% 16,825 on5,848- OVER PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLDS OF POPULATION EMPLOVED IN AGRICULTURE -2,000- OVER SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 65 tons OF PESTICIDES APPLIED EACH YEAR 200 SPECIES OF BIRDS 15 tons OVER OF AGROCHEMICALS PACKAGING EACH YEAR 23 SPECIES OF FISH, Y OF WHICH ARE NATIVE OVER 10.000 tons UNIQUE ECOLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL SYSTEM OF GLOBAL SIONIFICANCE OF BIODEGRADABLE WASTE DISCARDED EACH YEAR OVER OVER 5,000,000 YEARS . P 500 tons OLD OF PHOSPHORUS RELEASED FROM AGRICULTURE AND HOUSEHOLDS AMONGST THE OLDEST FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD Prespa Lake Watershed Farmland • Settlements Today's Biggest Threat: Eutrophication P UNDP supported a team of experts to carry out the first ever comprehensive investigation of the lake's ecological state. The findings revealed that the most acute problem that the entire ecosystem is currently facing with is eutrophication. Eutrophication is a process of enrichment of water by nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which accelerate the growth of algae and affect the ecosystem's balance. One of its main adverse effects is the increased prevalence of harmful algal blooms. The algal blooms cause fish kills, intoxicate many life forms and diminish biodiversity. The World Health Organization considers them to be a major health concern for people, who use the water for drinking or recreational purposes. The eutrophication and pollution of the lake have had a severe impact on key sectors, such as tourism, water and fisheries, affecting the local population's socio-economic well-being. Golema Reka River - the largest and most polluted tributary of Lake Prespa Sources of pressures and transport routes (pathways) Point sources of pollution: • domestic wastewater • industrial pollution (poultry farming, metal processing, food processing, ceramics production, etc.) • Illegal solid- waste landfills • Stormwater drainage from WASTEWATER SOLID WASTE TOXIC SUBSTANCES HEAVY METALS INCREASED RUNOFE WASTEWATER SOLID WASTE *SURFACE RUNOFF urban and industrial areas Diffuse sources of pollution: • fertilizers • pesticides • organic waste NUTRIENTS CONVERSOANENKDN LAND DEGRADATION OF NATURAL LAND LOSS OF IMPORTANT LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR -- MAINTAINING AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM INTEGRITY I VEGETATION)| AS A RESULT OF . RIPARIAN CONVERSION OF NATURAL LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT PURPOSE MODIFICATION OF HYDROLOGICAL REGIME NUTRIENTS PESTICIDES Open nutrient cycle (high loss to lake) ECOSYSTEM DEGRADATION SUBSURFACE RUNOFF, GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION What are we doing about it? An Integrated Approach to Restoring Lake Prespa இகலககககை இககககல் இக்கககள் இகககல் இகககல் இககககை கககக இககக இக்க 'இககல் தலலலை இகக இகககை கக்க்ல் 15 Settlements Erosion control works - reforestation/afforestation and 11 Agroecological and organic farming control of torrents Farmland Regeneration of the riparian vegetation Agroecological farming practices Wastewater Treatment Plant 13 Functional wetland providing safeguarding against Wetland restoration upstream pressures Eroded land a-River delta restoration b-Turning fish ponds into viable wetlands c-Tertiary treatment of wastewaters Better management of agricultural waste a-Excess biomass transformed into compost Abandoned fishponds t will be returned to farmland) High lake eutrophication levels b-Safe disposal of agrochemicals packing 15 Restoration of Lake's ecological functions Considerable reduction of pressures to the lake 65 – 90% NUTRIENTS RETENTION BY Retention, transformation and REGENERATED RIPARIAN VEGETATION stabilization of pesticides and other toxic substances Reduced transport of harmful substances by erosion and runoff Co2 sequestration CLOSED NUTRIENT CYCLE (MINIMAL LOSS TO LAKE) UP TO NUTRIENTS UPTAKE IN THE WETLAND %0% Overall, the restored and newly created wetlands are expected to provide: al water retention of Golema Reka River (filtering effect); b) tertiary treatment for the wastewa- ters from the municipal Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP); cl flood control function; d) retention / stabilization of untreated wastewaters in event of high hydraulic load or WWTP malfunction; el additional wetland-related benefits (wildlife habitat, recreational and aesthetic values, biomass generation). Long-term benefits for people ttit Ecological restoration and improved hydrological regime will result in: Clean water supplies Biomass production (composting and fuel) Better tourism opportunities • Employment opportunities / green jobs Human health benefits LET'S PRESERVE PRESPA NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS! Schweizerische Eidgenossenscl Confédération suisse Confederazione Svizzera PECT Confederaziun svizra Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation UN Empowered lives. Resilient nations. W. SURFACE RUNOFF