One third of the Prespa Lakes basin is covered with forests that span 465km2 including the total area of Galicica National Park and Pelister National Park. The forests in the Albanian part of the basin are all in the Prespa National Park. In Greece, 86% of the forests are within the Prespa National Forest. About 40% of the 356km2 of forests in the FYR of Macedonian part of the Prespa basin are located in the protected areas.

Habitats of European interest

Although no habitat type can be regarded as rare at a global level, a number of forests in Prespa Park are classed as habitat types of European interest, including the following:

•    The thermophilous deciduous woodland of Quercetum trojanae macedonicum develops on steep, stony terrains up to 1200 metres above sea level. This type of forest habitat is registered along both sides of the road between Djellas and Biglla in Albania, Ramna of Vrondero in Greece, and the area above Oteshevo and Carina in FYR of Macedonia.
•    The Grecian juniper woods Juniperus excelsa, rare in Europe where it occurs only in northern parts of Greece and in FYR of Macedonia, with the Prespa lakes basin being an important site. (e.g., Kallamas in Albania, near Vrondero in Greece, and Golem Grad, Precna Planina and Sirhansko Kale in FYR of Macedonia).
•    Among the forest habitat types in Pelister National Park the two communities of the Macedonian Pine – Molika – stand out: the mountain molika forest Digitali viridiflorae – Pinetum peuces and the sub-alpine molika forest Myrtillo-Pinetum peucis subass. subalpinum. Molika forests are relicts from the Tertiary and in Pelister NP they have been preserved in their primary habitat.
•    Well-preserved stand of beech forests ass. Calamintho grandiflorae-Fagetum and ass. Abieti-Fagetum macedonicum in the basin area Kalojzana – Neprtka and Volko Legalo in FYR Macedonia.

Current uses of Prespa forests

Timber and fuel wood: Wood in the Prespa lakes basin is mainly used for fuel, through legal and illegal cutting. Timber production is of minor importance and mainly restricted to Pelister NP as well as to Prespa NP in Albania. The firewood is sold also beyond the basin’s borders. Thus, in some locations in the basin there could be a high pressure on forest resources. For instance, the inadequate forest management in FYR Macedonia has led to a reduction of certain plant species used solely as timber. 

Fodder: Tree looping for winter fodder production is considered a problem in the Albanian part of the basin, where oak branches are reported to supply 80% of winter fodder requirements. As a result, woodland near the villages is degraded.

Non-timber forest products: The most important products in the study area are mushrooms, blueberries and cones of the Macedonian Pine (in Pelister NP only). The economic value of these products indicates that there is a pressure on these resources.
Hunting: Illegal hunting is reported to be a problem though no exact figures on hunted game numbers are available.

Prespa Park: Managing forests

Within the framework of the transboundary cooperation in Prespa Park, the priority in forest management practices is given to forest restoration, fulfilment of local energy needs, and conservation and enhancement of biodiversity. Special attention is paid to the support to inclusion of some of the typical forest habitats in the zones of strict protection.

In Albania there is a need for active management of degraded forest areas through reforestation, rehabilitation and restoration, as well as control of forest exploitation and the development of alternative renewable energy resources, such as fuel-wood plantations.

Among the priorities for forests management in Greece are the promotion of a variety of forest habitats, improvement of the status of forest fauna, and increasing biodiversity. Woodcutting in a zone of 50m along all streams with steep slopes also is an issue to be looked at. ♦