Action E: Public Awareness

1. Progress Action E includes the following activities: E1: Production of printed, photographic and electronic informative material on the project E2: On-site free bird watching for visitors with the assistance of trained staff /visit to schools/wardening E3: Media work Action E is considered by the SPP as one of the most importance actions for the success of the LIFE project. During the first three moths a specific working plan for the implementation of Action E for four years was prepared including activities that have been already mentioned in the project proposal as well as activities that had not been foreseen. For example, one moth after the official start of the project (August 2002) the SPP used the opportunity given by the call for reed cutting/collection, to initiate a continuous flow of information with the local communities: a two- page leaflet was produced, in layman’s terms, on the LIFE project. This leaflet was distributed to local people that attended the four meetings held at three villages (Karyes, Mikrolimni and Pyli) and at the Town hall (Lemos). The leaflet was also fixed on the information boards of the villages, together with a poster advertising the call for reed cutting. This activity had not been foreseen in the initial project proposal however, it was considered as a necessary step in order to introduce the LIFE project activities in the area. Until now the Public Awareness and dissemination of results of the LIFE project is running efficiently and without major problems. E.1: Production of printed, photographic and electronic informative material on the project The production of a leaflet in which the benefits from water and vegetation management will be presented -in the - has just been completed (see attachment). The leaflet emphasizes the positive implications at both ecological and socio-economic levels, of the restoration of the wet meadows and water management. It will be distributed to local and regional stakeholders, on stands in action E.2 and to Information Centres of the area. E.2: On-site free bird watching for visitors with the assistance of trained staff/ Visit to schools/Wardening. The on-site free bird watching for visitors started in November 2002 and up to this moment it is being continued with success. Every second Sunday, two trained SPP staff are placed at critical locations of the littoral zone in order to provide useful information to visitors on the wetland and the water birds which are also actions of the LIFE project. Appropriate equipment such as binoculars and telescopes acquired through the project are also used in this activity. Up to now, the number of people that have participated in this activity is 383. In order to gather baseline information and facilitate the evaluation of this activity, a questionnaire for the visitors has been prepared. First elaboration of the questionnaires shows that visitors believe that on-site free bird watching is a quite useful activity, which gives them the opportunity to understand the Prespa values and the importance of water and vegetation management in wetlands. Remarkable is also the number of visitors who are informed on the actions of the LIFE project through the SPP Information Centre. During the project period, 9,430 visitors have been informed.

- Visits to schools The LIFE project was presented to the local high school in Lemos village under the Environmental Education program, titled “Management of Water Resources and Wetland Vegetation” and was

- 1 - based on the actions of the LIFE project. It consisted of indoor and outdoor activities on a monthly basis and the SPP staff contributed to its final presentation, which took place in Prespa and .

- Wardening Wardening is an activity that has been carried out by the SPP since its establishment. However, in order to ensure that wardening activities are complementary to the LIFE project, a new annual work plan and a new protocol for wardening was prepared. This includes weekly or daily (depending on the season) patrols in specific areas of outmost importance such as the breeding colonies of rare waterbirds, spawning grounds of fish as well as weekly monitoring of illegal activities in all Prespa area. Due to SPP limited human resources, emphasis has been given mainly to the area around and near the wetland and less to the surrounding mountains. During the reporting period, few incidents have been recorded of which the most significant are: a. March 2003: Local people in Mikrolimni decided to clear the reedbeds in front of their village by cutting. The SPP intervened and finally only a small part of reedbed was cut. b. 4/4/2003: A fire started from a field near the lake Mikri Prespa and expanded towards the heron's colony in Mikrolimni thus threatened their nests. Birds were disturbed but did not abandon their nests. SPP informed the relevant authorities c. 16/4/2003: Fishermen became aware that Carp began to spawn in the managed areas of the LIFE project thus expanded their fishing in those areas. SPP wardens intervened and stopped any fishing activity in these areas. d. 6/5/2003: A pelican found dead by electrocution near the Koula sluice. e. 10/5/2003: Α fisherman at their feeding sites in Koula disturbed pelicans. The SPP warden informed the fisherman on the negative impact of this action and the case stopped there. f. During May and June 2003, several incidents of illegal fishing of barbell in the Agios Germanos River were recorded. E.3: Media work The organization of contacts with the mass media and with journalists at the regional and national level was the first priority for 2002. During the project period, several articles have been published at the national and international level, while interviews have been given to the State channel (ET-3)

2. Activities E.1: Production of printed, photographic and electronic informative material on the project • Production of 150 copies of a two–page leaflet providing information on the LIFE project. • Production of 150 copies of a three - page leaflet with information on the LIFE project for the presentation on May 2003 of all the Environmental Education school programs in the Prefecture of Florina • Production of 10,000 copies of a three – page illustrative leaflet in Greek only. E.2: On-site free bird watching for visitors with the assistance of trained staff /Visit to schools /Wardening • Production of a questionnaire for the visitors on activity aiming at gathering baseline information. • Production of a poster containing information on the LIFE project placed at sites where free- guided bird watching is being implemented.

- 2 - • June 2003: Cooperation with the Danish Ornithological Society (DOS) in the organization of a workshop in Agios Germanos village involving the SPP staff in eco-guiding, environmental education and guided bird watching. During the workshop, the Guided Bird Watching and other public awareness activities of the LIFE project were discussed and compared with the Nature Interpretation approach. • Purchase of 3 pairs of binoculars and 1 telescope. One monocular was offered to the SPP as free gesture by the retailer.

- Visit to schools • Organisation of monthly lessons for the pupils of the high school of Lemos on: a. Basic concepts on ecology; the importance of effective water level and vegetation management b. Preparation of project proposals and implementing project activities c. The basic actions included in the SPP LIFE project d. Functions of the Mikri and Megali Prespa wetland and their catchment basin e. Interactions between human economic activities and the wetland Finally, the program also included outdoor activities and one visit to the Centre for Environmental Education in Kastoria. • Oral presentation of the LIFE project with emphasis on the importance of wet meadows to the pupils of Prespa and a group from the senior high school of Sykies (Thessaloniki). • May 2003: Participation of the Prespa High School, supported by the SPP, in the Environmental Education Program of the Prefecture of Florina.

- Wardening • Patrolling weekly managed sites • Winter 2002-2003: Weekly patrolling at roosting sites of Pygmy Cormorants and feeding/roosting sites of the Greylag Geese • Spring - Summer 2003: Daily or weekly- depending on subject- patrolling at breeding and feeding sites of pelicans, cormorants and herons. Emphasis has been given in illegal hunting and illegal fishing of barbell in the river of Agios Germanos

E.3: Media work • Completion of a thorough list of names of the national mass media and selected international names (mainly with environmental interest). • A press release about the LIFE project was published in the WWF’s International Bulletin, (15th February 2003) • The article “Mikri Prespa’s wet meadows” about the work of the SPP and the LIFE project was published in the newspaper "Kathimerini" (English edition), national circulation, on the 14th of February. • An introductory note about the LIFE project and invitation for the Guided Bird Watching activity was published in the newspaper Ethnos – Florina, regional circulation, on the 21st of February. • A short documentary about Prespa and the LIFE project was shown on the ET-3 National TV Station on the 28th of February.

- 3 - • Interview about the Prespa area and the implementation of the LIFE project activities for the National Radio of Germany. • A film producer from Athens and his cameraman visited Prespa on the request of the SPP in order to investigate the possibility to produce a film on the SPP and the LIFE project activities. • A press release about the LIFE project was published in the web page of the Medwet organization (www.medwet.org,) and in the www.anthropos.gr Internet media. • An article was published on the 26th of June in “DIE ZEIT” Journal, Germany, titled: Pelikane ϋbern Bunker, im Dreiländereck Makedonien, Griechenland und Albanien liegen der Ohrid – und der Prespa – See. Seit auf dem Balkan Ruhe herrscht, ist die Region wieder ein Reiseziel. .

3. Targets / objectives not achieved and why. Accordance of project actions to the time planning table of the project proposal The activities related to the Public Awareness section are in accordance with the project proposal. All targets have been achieved

4. Meetings, contacts, presentations and visits on its action E.1: Production of printed, photographic and electronic informative material on the project - E.2: On-site free bird watching for visitors with the assistance of trained staff /Visit to schools/Wardening • Contacts planned for November and December are being made with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the DOS for the enrichment of the Guided Bird Watching activity. Visit to schools Contacts and visits were made with the High School principal and the two teachers who were in charge of Environmental Education in order to organise the above-mentioned activities and compile the final report of the project. Wardening • Meetings with the Mayor of Prespa and members of the local Municipality Council in order to inform them specifically on wardening activities within the LIFE project. • Contacts with wardens from the Forestry Department, to inform them on the LIFE project and coordinate wardening activities in Prespa

E.3: Media work • Contact with the WWF - Hellas press officer in order to prepare the mass media work plan • Contact and meeting with the Communication Officer of the Trans-boundary Prespa Park • Contacts with the Communication officer of the MedWet/Ramsar organisation. Contacts with journalists at the regional level, in order to established links for the continuous flow of information about SPP activities and the LIFE project. At the national level, contacts have been made with journalists sensitive to environmental issues and who have cooperated in the past with the SPP’s members, such as WWF-Hellas, Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, Hellenic Ornithological Society, Goulandris Museum of Natural History. - 4 -

Presentations of the project • October 2002: Presentation of the LIFE project in the WWF staff meeting in Athens • February 2003: Presentation of the LIFE project in the Fourth Regular Meeting of the Prespa Park Co-ordination Committee held in Oteshevo, F.Y.R. of Macedonia. The event had the participation of 43 representatives of Albania, the F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Ramsar/MedWet, UNDP (United Nations Development programme), KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, German state Bank for Reconstruction), GTZ (Gesellschaft für Technich Zusammenarbeit, German technical cooperation), Europarc Federation, Pro Natura and WWF International. • February 2003: Presentation of the LIFE project including the SPP Wet Meadows project at the offices of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature in Athens. Among the 50 people present, there were representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture. • October - November 2002: Presentation of the LIFE project to personnel working at the area of Lake Kerkini and in the LIFE project for Lakes Cheimatiditida and Zazari. • March - April 2003: Presentation of the LIFE project to the Director and officer of the Forestry Department, Regional Administration of Western Macedonia and to the Director of the Forestry Department of Florina. They visited the area twice and were guided to the littoral sites of Lake Mikri Prespa, in which the SPP is implementing actions of the LIFE project. • April 2003: Presentation of the LIFE project to the pupils and teachers of Lemos High School and of the Athens College. The pupils were guided to the area of Karyes where they discussed the effects of water buffalo grazing on reedbed vegetation. • Presentation of the LIFE project with emphasis on the importance of wet meadows took place at the Lemos High School and was attended by the pupils of Prespa and a group from the senior high school of Sykies (Thessaloniki). All pupils (approx. 70) and 6 teachers discussed issues relevant to wetland conservation and management. • Presentation of the LIFE project at the public presentation of the Environmental Education School Program of the Prefecture of Florina in the city of Florina with a panel and a special leaflet, which was prepared by the SPP. • June 2003: Mention of the LIFE project and SPP’s contribution to environmental education in World’s Environment Day. The event was organized by the “Association of All Prespiots” and by Mrs. Virginia Louka (Principal of the Lemos High School) and was attended by the locals of Prespa, a Member of Parliament, the Prefect of Florina, the Mayor of Prespa and many visitors. • Participation in an Environmental Congress of the Regional Administration of Western Macedonia in on the 9th April 2003. • Participation in the public presentation of the Lake Cheimaditis LIFE project “Conservation management of Cheimaditis – Zazari wetlands” held in Aetos on the 16th of April 2003.

5. Planned targets and activities for the next reporting period E.1: Production of printed, photographic and electronic informative material on the project • 9/2003: Creation of the web page.

E.2: On-site free bird watching for visitors with the assistance of trained staff /Visit to schools/Wardening • Elaboration of the first year questionnaires. - 5 - • Evaluation of the first year activity and preparation of a new work plan. • Continuation of the free Guided Bird watching for visitors according to the new work plan. Visit to schools This activity will be organised in cooperation with the local High School in September 2003.

Wardening • July 2003: Evaluation of the first year of wardening activities and adjustment of the work plan to the new conditions i.e. add in to the wardening schedule the two new areas under management in Plati and Lefkona. • Continuation of the cooperation with the wardens from the Forestry Service of Florina.

E.3: Media work • August 2003: Interview in the Hellenic Radio station of Florina • August 2003: An article for the newsletter “European Water management News”. • September 2003: Distribution of leaflets produced through action E1 to the web sites of the SPP members and MED PO. • October2003: Production of a press release on the first network meeting of LIFE projects in Amvrakikos 26 - 27 of September 2003. • October 2003 Press trips: The SPP will invite selected journalists to visit the area for two days. • November 2003: Production of fact sheets providing selected journalists with information covering three different aspects of the LIFE project. • November 2003 Production of a feature story (2000 words) for the WWF International Bulletin. • December 2003: Evaluation of the first year activity and preparation of a new work plan.

- 6 -