Climate change mitigation of the Ohrid: Prespa region by a stakeholder engagement

Climate change, economic growth, and demographic shifts create complex, long-term challenges, particularly for water-dependent sectors such as agriculture, energy, tourism, and environmental systems. Traditional, isolated management approaches are increasingly ineffective, especially in transboundary regions where shared water resources face mounting pressures. Addressing these challenges requires innovative, multidisciplinary solutions that engage stakeholders and decision-makers across all affected sectors. The H2020 ARSINOE project is tackling these issues in the transboundary Ohrid and Prespa Lakes region, shared by North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece. By applying System Innovation and Frame Design Thinking methodologies, the project fosters collaboration through national working groups and transboundary living labs. These participatory tools enhance communication, facilitate problem identification, and drive solution development-integrating research, planning, and citizen innovation. This approach supports sustainable, climate-resilient water management by promoting cooperation among the three countries, ensuring continuous monitoring, and implementing adaptive strategies across sectors. Key outcomes include: improved understanding of lake interconnections, integrated data analysis (hydrology, economy, demography) and prioritization of water users and feasible climate resilience strategies. The project delivers policy and management recommendations to ensure long-term sustainability - balancing water use with economic growth while protecting the environment. Given the region's UNESCO heritage and Biosphere Reserve status, ARSINOE aims to safeguard its ecological and cultural significance for future generations.