The Society for the Protection of Prespa
| Address | https://www.spp.gr |
| Country | Greece |
| spp@line.gr |
The Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) was formed in 1991, with the area having already attracted the interest of ecologists, nature-lovers and environmental scientists over several decades, due to its exceptional natural beauty and rare biodiversity. A pivotal group of individuals played a decisive role in its formation – the environmentalist and architect-planner, ThymiosPapayannis, the internationally renowned conservationist and philanthropist, Dr Luc Hoffmann, and the biologist, Dr Giorgos Catsadorakis. Together they laid the foundation for the establishment of the SPP, with the help and support of a series of non-profit organisations. Accordingly, the SPP was created with the participation of ten national and international environmental NGOs as its members.
The SPP’s mission is to safeguard the natural and cultural heritage of the Prespa basin as a whole, for the benefit of all its inhabitants both today and in the future, which it achieves through a wide range of projects promoting the harmonious co-existence of man and nature. Its activities seek to secure the appropriate management of natural resources, the sustainable development of the basin, the protection of threatened species and habitats, and to inform the public and raise awareness of conservation issues. From the beginning the SPP has always understood that safeguarding Prespa’s exceptional biodiversity and cultural traditions requires the harmonious co-operation and involvement of the three states that share the lakes. For this reason, in 2013, the SPP launchedPrespaNet, a cross-border network of environmental NGOs for Prespa, together with MES and PPNEA.
Today the SPP is an environmental organisation whose work is internationally recognised.Τhe organisation is locally based, in the villages of AgiosGermanos and Laimos in Prespa, and employs 20 people. One of the basic principles of its work is that common approaches and close collaboration between stakeholders and organisations at local, national and transboundary levels promotes mutual understanding, builds capacity and social capital, and fosters sustainable long-term solutions. As a result, the SPP promotes partnership at many levels, from participatory governance schemes to support for conservation volunteers, and from multi-stakeholder joint projects to international scientific alliances.
The SPP’s mission is to safeguard the natural and cultural heritage of the Prespa basin as a whole, for the benefit of all its inhabitants both today and in the future, which it achieves through a wide range of projects promoting the harmonious co-existence of man and nature. Its activities seek to secure the appropriate management of natural resources, the sustainable development of the basin, the protection of threatened species and habitats, and to inform the public and raise awareness of conservation issues. From the beginning the SPP has always understood that safeguarding Prespa’s exceptional biodiversity and cultural traditions requires the harmonious co-operation and involvement of the three states that share the lakes. For this reason, in 2013, the SPP launchedPrespaNet, a cross-border network of environmental NGOs for Prespa, together with MES and PPNEA.
Today the SPP is an environmental organisation whose work is internationally recognised.Τhe organisation is locally based, in the villages of AgiosGermanos and Laimos in Prespa, and employs 20 people. One of the basic principles of its work is that common approaches and close collaboration between stakeholders and organisations at local, national and transboundary levels promotes mutual understanding, builds capacity and social capital, and fosters sustainable long-term solutions. As a result, the SPP promotes partnership at many levels, from participatory governance schemes to support for conservation volunteers, and from multi-stakeholder joint projects to international scientific alliances.
Projects involved as partner
1) HOLY WATER