Training journalists to identify the polluters of Lake Ohrid
Natural heritage is an important part of a destination’s identity. Places such as lakes, rivers, mountains, and protected areas are not simply attractions for visitors. They are living ecosystems, cultural landscapes, and resources that local communities depend on and need to protect. Lake Ohrid is one of the region’s most important natural and cultural heritage sites. Shared by Albania and North Macedonia, the lake is recognized for its exceptional natural, cultural, and scientific value. In July 2019, the Albanian part was added to the UNESCO World Heritage property, creating a transboundary site of outstanding importance.
Despite this recognition, Lake Ohrid continues to face environmental pressures. Illegal fishing and construction, poor waste management, pollution from detergents, and contamination connected to mining activities all pose risks to the lake. These problems affect not only biodiversity and water quality, but also the heritage value of the area and the communities whose lives and livelihoods are connected to it. UNESCO has also raised concerns about the conservation of the property and identified actions needed to protect its Outstanding Universal Value. This makes regular monitoring, public awareness, institutional cooperation, and responsible reporting particularly important. Against this background, DMO Albania investigated and documented pollution sources affecting the Albanian side of Lake Ohrid. An investigative report was produced and presented to relevant stakeholders in 2019, with the aim of drawing attention to the problems and encouraging action. However, the continued environmental challenges showed that more public scrutiny was needed. This is where journalism can make a difference. Environmental journalists have an important role in explaining complex issues, investigating potential violations, and bringing problems to the attention of the wider public. With the right knowledge and tools, journalists can follow evidence, identify possible sources of pollution, ask the right questions, and help hold responsible actors accountable.
this reason, DMO Albania developed an initiative focused on training journalists to identify and report on pollution affecting Lake Ohrid. The project brought environmental journalists together for a dedicated workshop in Pogradec, where participants gained practical knowledge and investigative tools. The training aimed to strengthen their ability to investigate environmental problems, identify potential polluters, assess available evidence, and communicate their findings responsibly. The workshop also encouraged participants to look at Lake Ohrid from a wider perspective. Protecting the lake is not only an environmental issue. It is connected to biodiversity, tourism, local communities, economic activity, cultural heritage, and the long-term development of the region. Another important part of the initiative was cooperation. Journalists, environmental experts, public institutions, and local stakeholders all have different roles to play in protecting the lake. Better communication between these groups can help ensure that environmental problems are identified and addressed more effectively. Strong environmental journalism can also give citizens better access to information. Investigative reporting can bring attention to pollution sources, illegal activities, weaknesses in enforcement, and threats to protected areas. Just as importantly, it can keep these issues in the public conversation instead of allowing them to disappear from the agenda.
The initiative reflects DMO Albania’s wider approach to sustainable tourism. A destination cannot remain attractive or successful if the natural and cultural resources that define it are damaged. In the case of Lake Ohrid, protecting the environment also means protecting an important part of Pogradec’s identity and economic future. UNESCO recognition is an important step, but it is not enough on its own. Protecting Lake Ohrid requires continuous monitoring, responsible development, public awareness, cooperation, and action when environmental rules are violated. Through this initiative, DMO Albania sought to give journalists a stronger role in that process — helping them investigate, inform the public, and keep the protection of Lake Ohrid visible. A heritage site can only be protected when its problems are seen, investigated, communicated, and acted upon. Read more: https://lakeohrid.blogspot.com/
