The waterbirds of Lake Dojran have always been a symbol of the importance of the lake to local inhabitants. Traditionally, people used birds in elaborate systems of underwater tunnels to fish the waters. Today, the Monument of Nature Lake Dojran has been recognized as an Emerald site, a Ramsar site, an Important Bird Area, and an Important Plant Area. However, the site’s biodiversity has not been systematically recorded and is actively changing due to ongoing variations in lake levels from human activity and climate change. To prevent and mitigate changes, the municipality and local organizations Milleukontakt Macedonia and Regional Environmental Centre are developing a management plan for the site and need biodiversity information of the site.

In this project, MES will fill biodiversity knowledge gaps by coordinating and conducting two years of field research. Educational staff will also organize two education camps for local primary and high school students. To expand awareness about the value of the site and facilitate long-term communication efforts, the team will invite wildlife photographers to activities for materials to develop a pocket guide to share with the local population and visitors. The project will also complement the efforts of the municipality and local organizations to draft the management plan. With expertise in biodiversity monitoring and in raising awareness of the importance of wetland habitats, MES is well suited for this boundary-spanning role to support the protection of Lake Dojran.