Henry Ford European Conservation Awards present $100,000 to environmentalists in Macedonia

The top prize of $100,000 in the 1999 Henry Ford European Conservation Awards has been presented to scientists working in the city of Ohrid in the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) for developing an innovative solution to a worldwide environmental problem.

The Henry Ford European Conservation Awards are selected by an independent jury of environmental experts comprising representatives of some of Europe's most respected and authoritative organisations: the Council of Europe; UNESCO's World Heritage Centre; Ecofund (the Polish Fund for the Environment) and the Conservation Foundation. It is chaired by Archduke George von Habsburg, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Hungary.

Dr Hristovski and his students at the University of Skopje in FYROM were named as the winners of the 1999 Henry Ford European Conservation Awards for their design of a unique dam modification that provides a cost-effective, low maintenance solution to migratory problems of the Ohrid eel and other catadromous fish.

The beautiful lake Ohrid, one of the most peaceful places imaginable, is a UNESCO protected area and has been, for centuries, the home of the Ohrid eel - and the starting place for its so called "wedding trip" to the Sargasso Sea.

However, the construction of the Spilje hydro-electric power station on the river Cern Drim has, for more than 30 years, prevented the migration of the endangered Ohrid Lake eel.

Dr Hristovski and his team have been studying the eels' epic journey from the lake, through the river to their breeding place, thousands of miles away in the Caribbean Sargasso Sea, and the return of their offspring, the elvers, back through the same waters to the Ohrid lake. Such amazing journeys, taking two years to complete, are one of the unique mysteries that make up the interesting ecology of Europe.

In winning the 1999 Henry Ford European Conservation Awards, this project will be able to assist the eel overcome local obstacles and prevent the Ohrid lake from losing a vital part of its ecosystem.

The project has designed 'water elevators', that allow the eels and other catadromous fish to bridge heights of hundreds of metres and follow their natural migratory paths. This solution is suitable for rocky terrain, limited spaces and all types of dams.

Mr Jim Donaldson, President of Ford of Europe presented the 1999 Henry Ford European Conservation Award, a distinctive Meissen trophy of an eagle and $100,000 to Professor Hristovski at the annual Awards ceremony in Aachen, Germany on June 14.

"Ford understands the hard work and commitment necessary to develop and implement engineering solutions that benefit the environment," he said.

"Recognising that similar man-made dams are installed in some of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the world, this original solution has universal application in reviving natural ecosystems."

The Henry Ford European Conservation Awards attract entries from a wide variety of conservation projects. In 1999, a record 2,580 projects were submitted - a 25 per cent increase over 1998.

Independent juries in each country selected the thirty-three national winners who competed for the overall European prize in Aachen.

Named in honour of the Company's founder, a renowned naturalist and conservationist, and chaired by his great-grandson, William Clay Ford, Jr., the Henry Ford European Conservation Awards make overall financial grants in excess of half a million US dollars.

Children are welcome ambassadors for the environment and the second and third prize winners in 1999 celebrated the work of youth groups.