"Le Courrier des Balkans", a French-language information medium that focuses on the Southeastern Balkans and where news from these countries becomes known to the French-speaking public, on Sunday, January 18, 2026 published a long article "Between Albania and North Macedonia, the suspended winter of Lake Ohrid", where the focus was on the threat to Lake Ohrid from construction projects.
In both Pogradec and Ohrid, concrete risks breaking the fragile balance of millennial landscapes. UNESCO has set an ultimatum until February 1, 2026: what will Albania and North Macedonia do to protect this unique heritage?
Neglect, abandonment, and greed are hanging like a "guillotine" over Ohrid's status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the decision of the 47th Session held in July 2025, UNESCO postponed the inclusion of Ohrid on the List of World Heritage in Danger to the next session to be held in Seoul in July 2026, on the condition that the two countries, by February 1, 2026, prepare a detailed Plan for the implementation of the Strategy for the Revitalization of Lake Ohrid as a World Heritage Site, which would stop the serious damage to the natural and cultural assets of the site, prohibit construction near the lake, and immediately suspend construction activities until the drafting of reports for the assessment of the impact on the environment as a world heritage site.
The countdown has already begun towards February 1, the date when the Macedonian and Albanian governments must submit their report on the measures taken to the World Heritage Center, but I think that inclusion on the List of World Heritage in Danger is the "last chance" to save Lake Ohrid.
