The Region of Ohrid and the Prespa Lakes (hereinafter referred to as “the Region”) is situated in the Balkan Peninsula at the border triangle of Albania, Greece and Macedonia. Possessing unique flora and fauna, Ohrid and Prespa lakes and the Region as a whole assemble one of the largest biological reserves in Europe. The region has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The human interventions throughout the centuries have changed the natural conditions, especially of the terrestrial ecosystems.  Interestingly, the traditional agriculture, especially in the mountainous parts in the Region has often created conditions favouring rich biodiversity. Being at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Macedonia became the home for diverse types of plants in past centuries. Of the agricultural biodiversity the diversity of fruit tree varieties is of particular interest in the Region. Fruit tree growing has long history in the region; some old texts document the rich diversity of fruit tree varieties grown in the region:

“However, since the whole country was then covered by wild trees and there was shortage of productive trees, he also with that granted it by bringing from the land of Greeks all sorts of ennobled trees and through grafting ennobled the wild ones” (Teofilakt of Ohrid in “Life of Saint Kliment of Ohrid”).  

“(…) among their specialities worth of noting are the nine varieties of quince, and in particular the twenty-four varieties of pear which are recorded in the official judicial protocols” (Evlija Chelebi, 17th century, notes on fruit tree growing in Ohrid region). 

Due to the topographical variety and various hindrances to production, traditional agricultural systems in mountainous part of the Region have nurtured a host of semi-natural environments, providing shelter for many species. However, this semi-natural environment may collapse without effective agro-environmental policies. The migration of the people to urban areas in the Region leads to under-utilisation of agricultural land and its abandonment. In turn the mountainous agricultural landscapes with rich flora may be soon reverted to scrubs or forests.

Accordingly, the overarching goal of the project is to develop sustainable and participatory approaches to conserve mountain biological and landscape diversity in the Region of Ohrid and the Prespa Lakes. This project focuses on strengthening in-situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity within traditional mountainous agricultural systems through broadening the use of traditional fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives and participation of farming communities and other groups in their conservation.
On-farm or in-situ conservation of agrobiodiversity is related to a host of ecological, historical, social, institutional, and economic variables. These influence landscapes, agrobiodiversity, cultivation practices, production and productivity, rural communities, farmers’ skills and knowledge, land tenure, the size of farms and infrastructure.  The development of understanding of such complex socio-ecological or socio-natural systems inevitably must be developed through a close cooperation of scientists and farmers. The public participation is not only important in primary data gathering, but also to develop changes. An understanding of farmers' knowledge and incorporation of their strategies for agrobiodiversity enhancement increases the chances of success. In this respect, Participatory Action Research (PAR) methods involve people in being inquisitive about and coming to understand the relationship between circumstances, action and consequences in their own lives. PAR empowers farmers and protects their rights that are also important means of conserving agrobiodiversity.

Consecutively, the general objectives of the project are:

• Recovery and conservation of traditional fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives trough participation of farming communities and other groups;
• Develop linkages between agricultural genetic conservation and use;
• Increase public participation in, and awareness and acceptance of, biodiversity and agrobiodiversity in particular as well as landscape conservation;
• Foster cross-border exchange of information and cooperation with respect to agricultural and landscape conservation.
  

Drawing upon these, the specific objectives of this project are:

• Characterise  the diversity of traditional fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives;
• Recover and replicate traditional fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives; 
• Establish a network of farmers to be in charge of the recovery, multiplication and distribution of root stocks to farmers and to serve as a mechanism for exchange of information;
• Train farmers, enthusiasts and young people in grafting techniques;
• Collect, document and distribute baseline information on socio-economic and cultural determinants of traditional and under-utilized fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives; 
• Promote under-utilized fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives;
• Promote the incorporation of agrobiodiversity concerns in rural landscapes to generate benefits for biodiversity and rural income generation;
• Sensitize the farming community, other stakeholders and the general public of the importance of on-farm (in-situ) conservation of agricultural abrobiodiversity;
• Foster public action to conserve agricultural biodiversity;
• Improve recovery on-farm conservation of traditional fruit tree varieties through wider dissemination in the Region;
• Facilitate the communication and exchange of information across the borders in the Region of Ohrid and the Prespa Lakes;
  

The project activities will focus on certain parts of the Region presumed to have particularly rich agrobiodiversity and a large concentration of local varieties. Following the preliminary assessment of the diversity of traditional fruit tree varieties in the Region three “demonstration villages” will be selected for implementing specific measure for on-farm conservation as well as incorporation of agrobiodiversity concerns in rural landscapes to generate benefits for biodiversity and rural income generation.

The expected outcomes of this project are as follows:

• Collect information related to traditional varieties currently grown by farmers in the mountainous areas in the Region of Ohrid and Prespa Lakes and their location;
• Identify mountainous areas in the region with a rich agrobiodiversity and a large concentration of local varieties;
• Farmers, professional agronomists, relevant local officials, NGOs and enthusiasts exchange rootstocks, scions, seeds and information on traditional fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives;
• The network gradually enlarges, gain in importance, and eventually become an association.
• Immediate results are obtained in recovering traditional fruit varieties;
• Traditional fruit tree varieties are distributed and replicated outside of their original location and across the borders throughout the region;
• Two commercial nurseries for traditional fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives are established;
• Strengthened capacity of local communities, NGOs and other target groups to use and promote the use of traditional varieties and indigenous species;
• Micro reserves established for the conservation of selected fruit tree varieties and their wild in collaboration with local communities;
• The connection between the traditional mountainous agricultural systems and the agricultural biodiversity are explained to the public;
• Demonstration villages and their diversity in traditional fruit tree varieties are promoted;
• Understand the ecological, historical, social, institutional, and economic variables of demonstration villages and how these influence landscapes, agrobiodiversity etc.;
• Farmers and the community in demonstration villages become inquisitive about and coming to understand the relationship between circumstances, action and consequences in their own lives;
• Farmers and the community in demonstration villages decide about the steps and actions to conserve the agricultural and landscape diversity;
• Traditional fruit varieties and their wild relatives, the related traditional management practices and uses are presented to the farmers, clients and the general public;
• Promote local traditional fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives;
• Facilitate the exchange and distribution of seeds and rootstocks of local traditional fruit tree varieties and their wild relatives as well as the related knowledge;
• Enhance farmer participation, and inspire management of rich diversity;
• The stakeholders will be informed of the importance of in-situ conservation of agrobiodiversity as well as the activities and expected results of this project;
• Encourage media to become partners and allies for increased and positive reporting on development and allies for advocacy;
• Increased awareness of different stakeholders groups and the general public of agrobiodiversity and landscape conservation;
• Increased the participation in the project activities;
• The public is informed of the project activities and related results;
• Increased consumer interest in traditional fruit varieties;
• Upscale relevant information of the demonstration villages to cover the entire Region of Ohrid and the Prespa Lakes;
• Increased awareness of local traditional fruit resources and the importance of in-situ agrobiodiversity conservation;
• Increase consumers awareness of the products of traditional fruit varieties and their wild relatives;
• Influence/change consumer demand and food culture to favour diverse varieties instead of uniform products and market and consumer demands for standardized products;
• Consumers, including young people involved in agrobiodiversity conservation ensuring the sustainability of action;
• Facilitate the distribution of root stocks and scions of traditional varieties of fruit trees and their wild relatives from the nurseries to clients.