Authored by Jos T.A. Verhoeven, Ph.D., Society of Wetland Scientists Europe Chapter President, and supported by SWS scientists Kimberli Ponzio, James Perry, Keith Edwards, Matthew Simpson, Rob McInnes
Mr. Nikola Bakračeski
Mayor of the City of Ohrid
Dimitar Vlahov Street No. 57
6000 Ohrid
R. Macedonia
Respected Sir,
On behalf of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), we would like to express our concern about the recent plans for the Studenchishta Wetland area. The Society has a world‐wide membership of more than 3,000 wetland professionals whose mission is ‘to promote understanding, conservation, scientifically based management and sustainable use of wetlands throughout the world’ (see www.sws.org). We have been informed about the current plan for Studenchishta, which is a deviation from the earlier established General Urban Plan for the town of Ohrid and environs and the broader Spatial Plan for Macedonia, which proposed the area as a Natural Monument1. We hope to make you aware of the current services and benefits provided by the wetland to the people of the region and the potential impacts any change to the management/protection of this area might incur. Continue reading.