18 April is World Heritage Day. This is a special day to raise public's awareness about the importance and values of Cultural and Natural Heritages and the efforts required to protect and conserve it. Lake Ohrid region is one of the few mixed Cultural and natural properties included in World Heritage List, protected by UNESCO since 1978. Now Albania is preparing the file to inscribe the 1/3 of the Lake Ohrid into this World Heritage property. A lot of work need to be done by local government and community itself to protect this area.
The project Towards Strengthened Governance of the Shared Transboundary Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Lake Ohrid region, is contributing in this direction, to raise awareness of Albanian Government and community to protect Lake Ohrid Region.
In the framework of this project a photo competition on Lake Ohrid run by UNESCO and its local partners during April aiming to promote the values of this region. More than 450 photos were submitted in Facebook and Instagram through dedicated social media channels managed by an Albanian PR company contracted by UNESCO, which showed a good enthusiasm of people to share their interest, concerns, or good memories from this beautiful area. This social media competition showed that many people are willing to conserve and protect this amazing natural and cultural heritage.
This is just one of many activities foreseen in the project to raise public awareness about Universal Outstanding Values of Our lake Ohrid.