Pollution Lake Ohrid, Albania
Albania, Macedonia
last update:
9 months agoProblems
In Albania, human waste and wastewater undergo no treatment. In Pogradec, waste from approximately 30% of the town's population is gathered, only to be discharged directly into Lake Ohrid near Tushemisht. Due to Pogradec's expansion, the volume of wastewater is increasing, and presently, the wastewater produced by over 60,000 residents flows into Lake Ohrid. This situation jeopardizes the well-being of both Pogradec's inhabitants and its visitors. In Macedonia, the Regional Sewerage System for the Protection of Lake Ohrid handles wastewater from around 65% of the Ohrid-Struga region, channeling it to the Vranista treatment plant. Following treatment, the wastewater is released into the River Black Drim.
Agriculture
Farmland can also contribute significantly to Lake Prespa and Lake Ohrid's pollution. The introduction of fertilizers, soil particles, and pesticides occurs through the runoff into rivers and streams, eventually reaching the lakes. Since a considerable portion of the farmland within the watershed is irrigated, the surplus water carries sediments, fertilizers, and pesticides, ultimately flowing back into the lake. It is worth noting that both Albania and Macedonia witness substantial use of fertilizers and pesticides, including highly toxic pesticides that pose risks to human health and flora and fauna in the lake.
Illegal fish farming
Engaging in illegal trout fishing seems to provide sustenance for numerous regional families. However, overfishing posed the most imminent threat to the survival of the Ohrid trout, a unique species found exclusively in this lake and considered a relic of the natural world. In collaboration with law enforcement authorities, the local company holds the fishing concession for the lake and is responsible for monitoring the area. Difficulties arise due to the presence of illegal fishermen who manage to catch a substantial amount of fish daily. Only a few violators are apprehended, and even fewer face consequences. The penalty for engaging in illegal fishing amounts to 33 euros, which happens to be the equivalent price of 2.5 kilograms of fish in the market.
Industrial pollution
Macedonia's industrial sector includes manufacturing automobile spare parts, electrical components, textiles, ceramics, metal processing plants, and food production. These industries generate waste that could contaminate the Sateska, Velgoska, Koselska, and Golema Rivers. Food processing plants that release waste like apple pulp are particularly problematic within the Prespa watershed.
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Timelines
2021
The municipality of Ohrid continued removing illegally built structures along the coast of Lake Ohrid. The removal of structures in this second stage was focused on the strip between the Inex Olgica Hotel and the village of Peshtani. At present, interventions have been made on the territory of the Municipality of Ohrid on a total surface of about 32.000 square meters.
2019
Local authorities implemented a temporary construction halt around Ohrid at the request of UNESCO.
2018
Scheduled completion of the Pilot Upstream Project.
2014
Phase Two of the Pilot Project for the Upstream process initiates the project “Towards strengthened governance of the shared transboundary natural and cultural heritage of the Lake Ohrid region.”
2012
Phase One of the Upstream process entails the Advisory Scoping mission to assess the feasibility of an extension for nomination to the already inscribed site. This mission identifies threats affecting the natural and cultural heritage of the Lake Ohrid region, such as unplanned urban development, fishing and habitat alteration, and unsustainable waste actions.
2011
The World Heritage Committee, in decision 35 COM 12C, selects 10 Pilot Projects to test the effectiveness of the Upstream Process, including the Pilot Project “Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region” (Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia). In the same year, the State Party of Albania submitted “Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region” on the Tentative List as a first step in the World Heritage property extension process.
2009
The World Heritage Committee approves a minor boundary modification that slightly reduces the northern and western boundaries of the property. Within this process, the Committee encourages the creation of a buffer zone and undertaking efforts towards a transboundary extension of the World Heritage property to include the Albanian part of Lake Ohrid.
2008
At its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008), the World Heritage Committee initiated the Upstream Process during a reflection on the future of the World Heritage Convention. The Upstream Process is an experimental approach to reduce the number of properties that experience significant problems during the nomination process for inscription on the World Heritage List.
1998
A joint UNESCO-ICOMOS-IUCN monitoring mission is carried out for the first time since inscription. The mission highlights that economic and demographic developments threaten the site's values that can only be addressed through an integrated approach and protective measures that link cultural and natural heritage preservation. The state of conservation of the property was discussed by the World Heritage Bureau in 1998 in Kyoto, Japan (Decision 22 COM VII.30)
1996
Agreement of Albania and FYR Macedonia for the protection and sustainable development of Lake Ohrid (signed on 17.06.2004 by the Prime Ministers). This new transboundary agreement calls for the creation of an international “Lake Ohrid Management Agency“ with legal authority over the entire Lake Ohrid watershed. It will provide a forum for cross-border dialogue and an institutional mechanism for bilateral negotiation and joint decision-making. It proactively allows for bringing Greece into the management regime as a full partner in the future.
1979
Lake Ohrid is first inscribed on the World Heritage List as a natural property under the superlative natural phenomena.