Step 1: Understanding the socio-ecological system

In this stage we set up our advisory group of experts, and together we decide on our principles and philosophy of approach. We carry out the necessary socio-ecological research in order to understand the interactions and interdependencies between the natural systems and their parts, the needs and desires of the local community and the overall involvement of the existing social, legal, institutional and economic factors at a local and supra-local level.  In the case of Lesser Prespa Lake this is not a new approach and process, but something that we have been working on for years, through a variety of aspects and kinds of research, assisted by ceaseless efforts to achieve a satisfactory level of active local stakeholder participation.