DOCSLIB.ORG

The Ezerani Nature Park

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Ezerani Nature Park Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning Republic of Macedonia Breaking new grounds in conservation in the Republic of Macedonia: The economic case for long-term protection of the Ezerani Nature Park Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Prespa Lake Basin Breaking new grounds in conservation in the Republic of Macedonia: The economic case for long-term protection of the Ezerani Nature Park Marta Ceroni, PhD ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION: This publication was produced with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), within the Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Prespa Lakes Basin project. This report was prepared by Marta Ceroni, PhD, Director, Sustainable Economies Program, Donella Meadows Institute. The Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Prespa Lakes Basin project is implemented by UNDP with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Its overall objective is to help the region’s people with long term economic and social development, conserve the rich biodiversity and protect the waters of the Prespa Lakes Basin. ABOUT THE GEF: The Global Environment Facility unites 182 member governments - in partnership with international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector - to address global environmental issues. As an independent financial organization, the GEF provides grants to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. These projects benefit the global environment, linking local, national, and global environmental challenges and promoting sustainable livelihoods. ABOUT UNDP: UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. Disclaimer: The opinions and standpoints expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of UNDP or the GEF. Table of Contents Executive Summary...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8 2 Goals of the Study...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11 3 Goals and Structure of The Report........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12 4 Ecosystem Services and Conservation.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13 5 Why We Need Economic Valuations.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14 6 How Economic Valuations are Done.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 7 Environmental Conditions at Ezerani Nature Park........................................................................................................................................................................................17 8 Total Economic Valuation: Introduction.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................19 8.1 Values of Ecosystem Goods and Services of ENP in its Present State .........................................................................................................19 8.1.1 Direct Values............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 8.1.2 Indirect Use Values...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 8.1.3 Option Values...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22 8.1.4 Existence Values........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22 !"#$%&'('$)*+$,-*-.('$&/$01&2&341)2$5-'(&6)(4&*""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""#7 8.2.1 Restoration of the Former Fish Ponds...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23 8.2.2 Restoration Options According to Various Sources.........................................................................................................................................................................24 !"#"7$8922:%&'($8922:,-*-.($;*)2<'4'$&/$5-'(&6)(4&*""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""#= !"7$0>-1(4?-$%&*'-6?)(4&*$@-6'9'$,9'4*-'':;':A'9)2$B1-*)64&"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""#C 9 Total Economic Valuation: Assessment....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................28 9.1 Values of Ecosystem Goods and Services of ENP in its Present State.......................................................................................................28 9.1.1 Lake Prespa Fishery..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................28 9.1.2 Hunting...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................36 9.1.3 Hay Production............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................37 9.1.4 Reed Collection..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38 9.1.5 Sand Extraction..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................39
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Monitoring Methodology and Protocols for 20 Habitats, 20 Species and 20 Birds
    1 Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Finland Monitoring methodology and protocols for 20 habitats, 20 species and 20 birds Twinning Project MK 13 IPA EN 02 17 Strengthening the capacities for effective implementation of the acquis in the field of nature protection Report D 3.1. - 1. 7.11.2019 Funded by the European Union The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Department of Nature, Republic of North Macedonia Metsähallitus (Parks and Wildlife Finland), Finland The State Service for Protected Areas (SSPA), Lithuania 2 This project is funded by the European Union This document has been produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Twinning Project MK 13 IPA EN 02 17 and and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union 3 Table of Contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Summary 6 Overview 8 Establishment of Natura 2000 network and the process of site selection .............................................................. 9 Preparation of reference lists for the species and habitats ..................................................................................... 9 Needs for data .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Protocols for the monitoring of birds ....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • On the Basis of Article 65 of the Law on Real Estate Cadastre („Official Gazette of Republic of Macedonia”, No
    On the basis of article 65 of the Law on Real Estate Cadastre („Official Gazette of Republic of Macedonia”, no. 55/13), the Steering Board of the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre has enacted REGULATION FOR THE MANNER OF CHANGING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CADASTRE MUNICIPALITIES AND FOR DETERMINING THE CADASTRE MUNICIPALITIES WHICH ARE MAINTAINED IN THE CENTER FOR REC SKOPJE AND THE SECTORS FOR REAL ESTATE CADASTRE IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA Article 1 This Regulation hereby prescribes the manner of changing the boundaries of the cadastre municipalities, as well as the determining of the cadastre municipalities which are maintained in the Center for Real Estate Cadastre – Skopje and the Sectors for Real Estate Cadastre in Republic of Macedonia. Article 2 (1) For the purpose of changing the boundaries of the cadastre municipalities, the Government of Republic of Macedonia shall enact a decision. (2) The decision stipulated in paragraph (1) of this article shall be enacted by the Government of Republic of Macedonia at the proposal of the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre (hereinafter referred to as: „„the Agency„„). (3) The Agency is to submit the proposal stipulated in paragraph (2) of this article along with a geodetic report for survey of the boundary line, produced under ex officio procedure by experts employed at the Agency. Article 3 (1) The Agency is to submit a proposal decision for changing the boundaries of the cadastre municipalities in cases when, under a procedure of ex officio, it is identified that the actual condition/status of the boundaries of the cadastre municipalities is changed and does not comply with the boundaries drawn on the cadastre maps.
    [Show full text]
  • “Notes and Studies of Prespa in the Branislav Rusic Archoves at The
    “Notes and Studies of Prespa in the Branislav Rusiќ Archives at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and the Arts” Branislav Rusiќ was a member of the first post-war generation of Macedonian ethnographers who set the groundwork for ethnographic studies of Macedonia. His family originated from the village of German in Lower Prespa, now in Aegean Macedonia. He was born in the village of Tomino in the Poreč region, he received his primary and secondary education in Prilep, Kruševac and in Bitola, and in 1937 received a degree in ethnography from Belgrade University. He received his doctorate from Zagreb University in 1951. From 1939 to 1946 he worked at the State Archives and at the Ethnographic museum in Belgrade. In 1946 he moved to the newly established university in Skopje, where he formed a group on Ethnology, which he lead until 1958. From 1958 to the end of his life in 1971 he was a professor of Ethnography in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He was concurrently in charge of the division on folk costumes at the Folklore Institute in Skopje. Rusiќ’s greatest contribution to the ethnographic study of Macedonia is undoubtedly his extensive field research of every part of the country, either alone early in his career, or on field studies with his students in later years. He began his field research as a student in 1934 as a student at Belgrade University. There is hardly a village in Macedonia that escaped a study by Rusiќ, though his most voluminous studies were concentrated mostly in the regions of Poreč, Železnik, Debarce, Struga, Ohrid, Prespa, Slavište, Pijanec, Delčevo, Osogovia and Capari.
    [Show full text]
  • Annex 2: List of 'Mountainous' Areas
    Annex 2: List of ‘Mountainous’ areas Settlements designated as ‘Mountainous’ areas (>700m) Municipality LAU 2 City: Berovo and villages: Budinarci, Vladimirovo, Dvorishte, Berovo Machevo, Mitrashinci, Ratevo, Rusinovo and Smojmirovo. Villages: Bratin Dol, Brusnik, Bukovo, Gopesh, Graeshnica, Dihovo, Dolenci, Dragos, Drevenik, Gjavato, Zlokukani, Kazani, Kisava, Bitola Krklino, Lavci, Lera, Lisolaj, Lopatica, Magarevo, Maloviste, Metimir, Nizepole, Oblakovo, Orehovo, Ostrec, Ramna, Rotino, Svinishte, Snegovo, Srpci, Staro Zmirnovo, Strezevo, Trnovo, Capari. Villages: Gorno Palchiste, Jelovjane, Novakje, Novo Selo, Rakovec, Bogovinje Selce Kec, Sinichane and Urvic. Brvenica Village: Gurgurnica Butel Village : Ljubanci Vasilevo Villages: Kushkulija, Nivichino. Vevchani Village: Vevchani Veles Village: Novo Selo Vinica Villages: Grljani, Kalimanci, Laki, Trshino. Villages: Vranovci, Gorjane, Novo Selo, Gurgjevishte, Kalishte, Vrapchishte Lomnica, Pozarane. Gevgelija Village: Huma Villages:Brodec, Vrutok, Gorno Jelovce, Gorna Djonovica, Dolno Jelovce, Dolna Djonovica , Zelezna Reka, Korito, Kunovo, Leshnica, Gostivar Merdita, Mitroj Krsti, Padalishte, Pechkovo, Simnica, Srbinovo, Strajane, Rechane, Trnovo, Kafa. Gradsko Village: Dvorishte Villages: Banishte, Gari, Gorno Kosovrasti, Krivci, Mogorche, Osoj, Debar Rajchica, Tatar Elevci, Hame, Dzepishte. Villages: Arbinovo, Brezani, Vrbjani, Godivje, Gorno Sredorecie, GrkoPole, Dolno Sredorecie, Zlesti, Klimeshtani, Laktinje, Mramorec, Debarca Slatino, Slatinski Ciflik, Slivovo, Soshani, Turje,
    [Show full text]
  • Initial Characterisation of Lakes Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar Implementing the EU Water Framework Directive in South-Eastern Europe
    Initial Characterisation of Lakes Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar Implementing the EU Water Framework Directive in South-Eastern Europe Implementing the EU Water Framework Directive in South-Eastern Europe i Acknowledgements This publication is the result of a joint effort of ministries, competent authorities, research institutions and experts of Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro to characterise the three lake sub-basins jointly and pursuant to the EU Water Framework Directive. This endeavour, which involved the pooling of expertise from all three countries, was pursued with determination and in a spirit of cooperation at all levels: political, technical and administrative. All parties and persons involved are acknowledged for their contribution to this work. Disclaimer This publication has been prepared from original material submitted by the authors. Every effort was made to ensure that this document remains faithful to that material while responsibility for the accuracy of information presented remains solely with the authors. However, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of GIZ, the Governments of Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro, nor the national competent authorities in charge of implementing the EU Water Framework Directive. The use of particular designations of water bodies does not imply any judgement by the publisher, the GIZ, as to the legal status of such water bodies, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries. ii Initial Characterisation of Lakes Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar
    [Show full text]
  • Brochure on Water-PRESPA.Pdf
    M t . P l a The Prespa Lakes basin (Southeast Europe) is a globally signicant k e n s ecological and cultural landscape comprising four National Parks k a and several protected areas with unique habitats, ora and fauna. Ohrid FYR MACEDONIA In 2000 the Governments of Albania, FYR Macedonia and Greece Resen agreed to work together to maintain the natural values of the a d s i t i area and introduce environmental management practices in the r h h c O i M l t . Prespa Park by integrating ecological, economic and social goals. e a P e G k l i a . s t t L e Two Wetlands of International Importance, designated under the M r Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, lie within the Transboundary a Prespa Park boundaries. The area has been acknowledged as a p s e Gift to the Earth by WWF-International, and European Union has r P e t a o included Prespa Lakes in its policies on water and species r h c T a i protection. i M l a e M k t a s u n . a n o The Prespa Park Coordination Committee is a trilateral body t L a r M V ALBANIA . t M representing governments, local authorities and civil society. It a p s supports environmental protection and sustainable development e r P o in the Prespa Park for the preservation of natural and cultural r c i M e heritage and the wellbeing of its peoples. k La Since 2006 a GEF/UNDP Project supports Integrated Ecosystem GREECE Management in the transboundary Prespa Lakes Basin, to last until 2011.
    [Show full text]
  • Monitoring Network and Data Evaluation for Vulnerability Assessment of Transboundary Lake Prespa
    Monitoring Network and Data Evaluation for Vulnerability Assessment of Transboundary Lake Prespa Popovska Cvetanka Professor, Skopje, Macedonia ABSTRACT: During the last century the Macro Lake Prespa experienced a significant water level fluctuation. After its last peak (1963) and after the separation of the Micro Lake Prespa (1975), the level generally dropped by approximately 8 m (2002). This resulted to a loss in water volume and even more significant a loss of water surface. The effects and causes of the changes in the Lake have been investigated in various studies carried out by interested parties from shareholding countries. Most of these studies had to rely on the hydrometeorological data that were not up-to-date or not complete. In this study, effort was made to collect long-term time series climatic and hydrological data and to assess the vulnerability of Lake Prespa to climate change and human actions in the watershed. Hydrological analysis is obtained using measured data for the period 1951-2010 at Pretor meteorological station and Stenje hydrological station. 1 WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS The physical geographical characteristics of the Lakes Prespa watershed and sub-watersheds were defined on the basis of digital topographic maps in scale 1:25.000 and satellite images with high resolution. The Macro Lake Prespa catchment area is defined to be 1.110 km2 (including 278 km2 lake surface) and that one of Micro Lake Prespa is 253 km2 (including 48,5 km2 Lake surface) at Lake water level 844 m asl. The Macedonian part of the catchment area is 52,1% and that of Lake surface is 65,7%.
    [Show full text]
  • Brochure for Prespa Region
    1 2 PRESPA A region of clean and healthy environment, an area of cultural and traditional diversity, a beautiful territory welcoming any visitor 3 Table of Contents Table 3 GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE REGION 3 position 3 countries and municipalities 3 people and their diversity 4 geography 4 climate 4 nature 5 history 5 culture 6 architecture 6 tradition 7 gastronomy 7 agriculture 8 economy 8 tourism 9 interesting facts 10 PUTTING THE REGION ON THE MAP 13 THE REGION BETWEEN HYSTORY AND MYTH 19 THE REGION THROUGH THE YEAR 29 TASTES OF THE REGION 35 WHAT TO VISIT IN THE REGION 56 WHAT TO EXPERIENCE IN THE REGION 60 WHERE TO STAY AND EAT IN THE REGION 4 GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE REGION Position Prespa region is situated in the southwest part of the Republic of Macedonia and southeast part of Albania and includes Prespa, Ohrid and Korca valleys. The region borders with Greece on its southeast side. On its southwest side in Albania it shares the boundaries with Gjirokaster County, and shares the boundaries with Berat and Elbasan Counties on the west side, while in Macedonia it borders the Municiplaty of Bitola on the west, the Municiplaty of Struga on the east and the Municiplities of Debarca and Demir Hisar on its north. Countries and municipalities The region includes two municipalities in Macedonia, Resen and Ohrid, and the whole Korca region in Albania. Korca County includes the districts of Devolli (Bilisht), Kolonja (Erseke), Korca and Pogradec. Administrative division of Korca comprises four districts, 6 cities, 31 communes and 344 villages.
    [Show full text]
  • Vkupno Naselenie, Doma]Instva I Stanovi Total
    REPUBLIKA MAKEDONIJA DR@AVEN ZAVOD ZA STATISTIKA REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA STATE STATISTICAL OFFICE POPIS NA NASELENIETO, DOMA]INSTVATA I STANOVITE VO REPUBLIKA MAKEDONIJA, 2002 definitivni podatoci Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Macedonia, 2002 final data VKUPNO NASELENIE, DOMA]INSTVA I STANOVI - DEFINITIVNI PODATOCI PO NASELENI MESTA - VKUPNO NASELENIE SPORED IZJASNUVAWETO ZA NACIONALNATA PRIPADNOST, MAJ^INIOT JAZIK I VEROISPOVEDTA X BOOK X X TOTAL POPULATION, HOUSEHOLDS AND DWELLINGS - FINAL DATA BY SETTLEMENTS - TOTAL POPULATION ACCORDING TO THE ETHNIC AFFILIATION, KNIGA KNIGA MOTHER TONGUE AND RELIGION PRI KORISTEWE NA PODATOCITE DA SE NAVEDE IZVOROT: POPIS NA NASELENIETO, DOMA]INSTVATA I STANOVITE VO REPUBLIKA MAKEDONIJA, 2002 - KNIGA X WHEN USING DATA CONTAINED HERE, PLEASE CITE THE SOURCE AS FOLLOWS: CENSUS OF POPULATION, HOUSEHOLDS AND DWELLINGS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, 2002 - BOOK X Izdava~: DR@AVEN ZAVOD ZA STATISTIKA, "Dame Gruev" - 4, Skopje Publisher: THE STATE STATISTICAL OFFICE, "Dame Gruev" - 4, Skopje Odgovara m-r Don~o Gerasimovski, direktor For the publisher: M.Sc. Donco Gerasimovski, Director Broj na stranici: 470 Number of pages: 470 Pe~ateno vo Pe~atnicata na Slu`bata za op{ti i zaedni~ki raboti pri Vladata na Republika Makedonija Printed in Printing House at General Administration Services at the Government of the Republic of Macedonia Tira`: 500 primeroci Number of copies printed: 500 2 Popis na naselenieto, doma}instvata i stanovite vo Republika Makedonija, 2002 PREDGOVOR Popisot na naselenieto, doma}instvata i stanovite vo Republika Makedonija be{e sproveden vo periodot od 1 do 15 noemvri 2002 godina. Podatocite vo popisnite obrasci se zapi{ani so sostojba na den 31 oktomvri 2002 godina vo 24 ~asot, odnosno na polno} pome|u 31 oktomvri i 1 noemvri 2002 godina.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Changes in Lakes Catchments As a Trigger for Rapid Eutrophication – a Prespa Lake Case Study
    4 Environmental Changes in Lakes Catchments as a Trigger for Rapid Eutrophication – A Prespa Lake Case Study Svetislav S. Krstić Faculty of Natural Sciences, St.Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia 1. Introduction Elucidating upon and/or separating the natural processes of eutrophication from the anthropogenically induced ones in a lake’s history have proven to be a formidable task. The nature and patterns of the eutrophication processes, their overall impact on the ecosystem and biota, as well as the possible management practices to be introduced to reverse or slow down the accelerated eutrophication have been in focus only very recently mainly due to imposed EU legislation such as the WFD. Another important and also very demanding task that greatly influences management plans, costs and activities is the detection of the reference conditions for every particular water body. Among various suggested approaches, we have concluded that the best way is to reveal the past changes of the lake’s environment by conducting paleo-ecological research (the so called state change approach) using core sample analyses of as many parameters as possible and relate them to the biota, algae in particular. In that regard, under the comprehensive River Basin Management Plan developed for the Prespa Lake catchment (the part that belongs to Macedonia), the most wide-ranging 12 month surveillance monitoring has been conducted in order to reveal the present ecological situation and the past changes during the last 10 ka period. The results of these investigations are presented in this chapter. 2. Investigated area The Prespa Lake has been chosen as a part of the complex Prespa-Ohrid-River Crni Drim system which is thought to be more than 3-5 million years old, and as a pilot project as its catchment is relatively small.
    [Show full text]
  • RESTORATION of the PRESPA LAKE ECOSYSTEM PROGRESS REPORT for the Period 1 July – 31 December 2015
    RESTORATION OF THE PRESPA LAKE ECOSYSTEM PROGRESS REPORT for the period 1 July – 31 December 2015 Photo: Over 5,000 people directly benefit from the successful completion of eleven small-scale environment/water infrastructure project Project Number: 00083375 Donor: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Total Budget: 5,400,000 CHF Project dates: 01 July 2012 – 30 June 2016 Reporting Period: 01 January 2016 – 30 December 2016 National counterparts: Municipality of Resen, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Public Enterprise ‘Proleter’, Public Forest Enterprise ‘Makedonski sumi’, State High-School Center ‘Car Samuil’, Resen, farmers associations and other NGOs Jordan Hadzi-Konstantinov Dzinot 23, 1000 Skopje, www.undp.org.mk PROJECT DESCRIPTION THE CHALLENGE The Prespa Lakes Basin is an area of rich biodiversity that has been subject to intense pressures from human activities over the past decades. Unsustainable farming practices, erosion, and the unregulated disposal of untreated waste have reduced the health of the ancient freshwater lake and depleted the habitat of many rare endemic species, endangering a unique ecosystem that has evolved over five million years. Comprehensive investigations into the ecological status of the Lake have helped to better identify and quantify the main environmental challenges and their root causes. The findings have revealed that the most acute problem currently facing the ecosystem is eutrophication, a process that accelerates the growth of aquatic biomass and upsets the balance of the entire ecosystem. This has a severe impact on key sectors such as tourism, water and fisheries, negatively affecting the socio-economic wellbeing of the local population. OBJECTIVES To tackle these processes of degradation, the ‘Restoration of the Prespa Lake Ecosystem’ project was launched in July 2012, implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Municipality of Resen and with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
    [Show full text]
  • RESTORATION of the PRESPA LAKE ECOSYSTEM PROGRESS REPORT for the Period 1 July – 31 December 2015
    RESTORATION OF THE PRESPA LAKE ECOSYSTEM PROGRESS REPORT for the period 1 July – 31 December 2015 Photo: The Lake Prespa Eutrophication Model evolves into a powerful tool generating cost-effective watershed-scale management scenarios and informing investment decisions Project Number: 00083375 Donor: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Total Budget: 5,400,000 CHF Project dates: 01 July 2012 – 30 June 2016 Reporting Period: 01 July 2015 – 31 December 2015 National counterparts: Municipality of Resen, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Public Enterprise ‘Proleter’, Public Forest Enterprise ‘Makedonski sumi’, State High-School Center ‘Car Samuil’, Resen, farmers associations and other NGOs Jordan Hadzi-Konstantinov Dzinot 23, 1000 Skopje, www.undp.org.mk PROJECT DESCRIPTION THE CHALLENGE The Prespa Lakes Basin is an area of rich biodiversity that has been subject to intense pressures from human activities over the past decades. Unsustainable farming practices, erosion, and the unregulated disposal of untreated waste have reduced the health of the ancient freshwater lake and depleted the habitat of many rare endemic species, endangering a unique ecosystem that has evolved over five million years. Comprehensive investigations into the ecological status of the Lake have helped to better identify and quantify the main environmental challenges and their root causes. The findings have revealed that the most acute problem currently facing the ecosystem is eutrophication, a process that accelerates the growth of aquatic biomass and upsets the balance of the entire ecosystem. This has a severe impact on key sectors such as tourism, water and fisheries, negatively affecting the socio-economic wellbeing of the local population.
    [Show full text]