The shoreline of Lake Prespa plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the entire lake. It is often said that wetlands are the kidneys of our planet; in this sense, the reed belt and wet meadows surrounding the lake function as the kidneys of Lake Prespa, being responsible for mitigating its eutrophication.
Bearing in mind the immense importance of wetland habitats, in 2018, for the first time, MES carried out a detailed mapping of these habitats along the lakeshore in Macedonia.
This represents a starting point for identifying priority habitats, extremely rare plant communities, setting priorities for future research, and determining the level of threat. Accordingly, based on the habitat map, the riparian belt - together with the priority habitat of alder forests, as well as the wet meadows - were identified as priorities for restoration and management.
Mapping
In 2018, MES conducted, for the first time, a detailed mapping of these habitats along the shoreline of Lake Prespa in Macedonia.
Riparian belts
Riparian belts are areas in the immediate vicinity of watercourses, forming an essential part of the structure and functioning of coastal and riverine zones.
Wet meadows
Wet meadows are grassland habitats that are periodically (seasonally) flooded with water.