Analysis of public participation practices in ecosystem approaches to environmental management in the Region of Ohrid and the Prespa Lakes (Albania, Greece, and Macedonia)
 
Oliver Avramoski
 
A thesis submitted to the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy of
Central European University in partial fulfilment of the
Degree of Master of Science
 
DOWNLOAD THE THESIS
       

The Region of Ohrid and the Prespa Lakes, situated in the Balkan Peninsula at the border triangle of Albania, Greece and Macedonia, embodies one of the largest biological reserves in Europe. Recognizing the need for more sustainable and effective environmental management, concepts such as integrated environmental management, ecosystem management, and watershed approach have recently been rapidly and enthusiastically embraced by the governments of Albania, Greece and Macedonia. 
This research documents and critically analyses the public participation practices in ecosystem approaches to management in the region by threading them through the eye of the local context. The analysis builds upon the basic concepts of the ecosystem approach in general and adaptive watershed management in particular. The research strategy embarks upon the single case study of the Lake Ohrid watershed embedding two sub-cases: the Lake Ohrid Conservation Project and the transboundary Prespa Park.

Four principle attributes emerging from the description and analysis of the case study are identified and discussed. The vaguely defined system’s boundaries and the lack of appropriate description of its context (and hierarchical structure) are considered to be the major obstacle in implementing ecosystem management in the Lake Ohrid watershed. At present the environmental regimes may be designated as polycentric type of watershed management with poor inter-organisational co-ordination and collaboration, both at national and international level. Despite of the flaws of the participatory processes, there is a capacity in the region for effective public participation in ecosystem management. However, the poor transboundary communication and collaboration currently are the major obstacle for the participation process to become wider and more inclusionary. These attributes then are used to formulate a set of policy recommendations to improve public participation in ecosystem management efforts in the Region of Ohrid and the Prespa Lakes.

Keywords: public participation, watershed management, ecosystem approach, ecosystem management, Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, Lake Ohrid Conservation Project, Prespa Park.