The inauguration of the Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Biosphere Reserve is the result of a long-lasting process started in 1996 and 10 years of endeavour from part of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, Venice (Italy), towards the integration of the Ohrid and Prespa Lakes into a larger territorial framework, the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (TBR). The whole process was boosted through capacity-building and training activities, the facilitation of meetings with stakeholders, and the support for the establishment of the MAB National Committees in both countries.

On past June, the Ohrid-Prespa TBR has been added to the World Network of Biosphere, following its designation as site by the International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme, at its 26th session in Jönkoping (Sweden) and in the East Vättern Landscape biosphere reserve. With this new inscription, Albania and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia joined the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The landscape of the new TBR is a balanced combination of water bodies, and surrounding mountains bordered by flat areas on its external boundaries.  With an area of 446,244 hectares and a population of about 455,000, it includes part of Lake Ohrid and its surroundings in The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which are inscribed on the World Heritage List, as well as part of Lake Ohrid in Albania. It accommodates inhabitants living in 23 villages/municipalities in Albania and 6 municipalities in The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The entire area of the TBR is rich in biodiversity with worldwide rare and endangered species. Due to the historical genesis of the two lakes, numerous endemic species which are unique are present only in these aquatic and surrounding terrestrial ecosystems. National Parks were created in the 1950s with the aim to preserve these values. The Galicica and Pelister National Parks as well as the Prespa National Park are good examples of the conservation function of a Biosphere Reserve, with about 14,000 ha., core zone of the reserve, been kept free from human use.

The precious core areas of the Ohrid-Prespa TBR are surrounded by a 140,429.27 ha. buffer zone in which the use of natural resources will enhance the conservation goals of the core zone. In the so-called transition zone surrounding the buffer zones, the use of natural resources will be subject to sustainability. Developing a sustainable use of natural resources to the benefit of the local population is the central challenging goal of the entire TBR. As the target region has been populated by humans for over 7,000 years, the old knowledge on the sustainable use of the existing resources will have to be rediscovered and combined with modern tools and measures to improve the livelihood of the inhabitants.

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The official inauguration event of the Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Biosphere Reserve was supported by: Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Prespa: Support to Prespa National Park in Albania, and A development project of Albania, co-financed by Germany through KfW Development Bank”.

UNESCO will intensify its support for the launching period following the inauguration of the Ohrid-Prespa TBR. The reserve will be governed by the Ohrid Watershed Management Committee (OWMC), an institution created by a bilateral agreement of the two littoral countries, signed in 2004 and ratified by their Parliaments. The OWMC will be organised by a Joint Secretariat with offices in Pogradec and Ohrid. The Joint Secretariat will be the entity that will be responsible for the collaboration within the boundaries of this young TBR.