Prespa region: Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia seek joint UNESCO status

North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece are planning a joint candidacy to include the entire Prespa region on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This regional initiative aims to secure stronger international protection and promote sustainable ecological development for the transboundary area.

The proposal, supported by Albanian Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Blendi Gonca and Greek Ambassador Lambriki Komini, seeks to establish a coordinated mechanism for managing waters, coastlines, and protected zones around the Great and Small Prespa Lakes. The initiative is intended to address challenges such as receding water lines, climate change, illegal urbanization, and uncontrolled water extraction.

While the Ohrid-Prespa region is already recognized as a transboundary biosphere reserve, this new bid focuses on achieving World Heritage status to increase international attention, promote quality tourism, and provide new economic perspectives for local communities.