GENETIC DIVERSITY

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II.3 GENETIC DIVERSITY

A number of autochthonous breeds of cattle and crops exist in the country. About 30 species of crops are native to Albania. There are nine autochthonous breeds of goats and five for sheep. This is an important heritage for the protection and improvement of the production and the quality of the agricultural and animal husbandry.

BREADS OF GOAT IN ALBANIA

BREADS OF SHEEP IN ALBANIA

The medical, industrial, and feed value of plants and animals is well known. There are 300 types of medical and aromatic plants, which represent about 10% of the Albanian flora. In the future the number of plants with medical or aromatic value will likely increase.

About 40 plant species have forage values, and 35 plant species are taniferous. The number of well-known plants for honey producing by bees is about 50, and the number of plants used for feeding is 70.

Different types of fish in marine and inland waters, and a considerable number of sea animals, are an important food source for humans, and frogs are also becoming a source of food. Molluscs are an important source for the preparation of pharmaceutical products and other cosmetic products. Their shells serve to produce artistic objects, stamps, parts of musical instruments, and other objects. Insects are important for pollen, and some also have food and industrial values such as the bee and silkworm.

Furs of some animals like martens, fox, squirrel, and others also have economic value.

The recreational values of biological and landscape diversity are an asset, which can be used to promote tourism development. It is our duty and responsibility to protect and develop these values for present and future generations. If we are not able and responsible to protect biological and landscape diversity, there is a risk of losing their recreations values to help foster tourism as a means to promote development and prosperity in Albania.

Sport hunting, fishing, climbing, and other activities, which would be attractive for tourism, require that Albania take the necessary measures to protect the environment and its biodiversity.

The relief of Albania has created the conditions for the existence and protection of a number of endemic and subendemic species. There are 27 plant species with 150 subspecies, which are endemic in Albania, and another 160 plant species, which are subendemic in Albania, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Among paleoendemics there are types with very old origin like Wulfenia baldaccii, Forsythia europea, Gymnospermium shqipetarum, and from the neo-endemics Lunaria telekiana, Crepis bertiscea, Petasites doerfleri, Leucojum valentinum subspecies Vlorense, Aster albanicus subspecies Paparistoi, and others.

In comparison with the flora, the Albanian fauna is less known and studied. It has a considerable number of endemic and ancient species. Lake Ohrid is the most well known ecosystem in the country in terms of fauna endemism: over 40 species of molluscs and two fish species are endemic. Insects are represented by 16 species (11 species of Hemiptera and five species of butterflies). Further studies of the country's fauna, in particular biospeleological studies, which just have only just begun in Albania, will help in finding new endemism in the country.

The Albanian inland and marine ecosystems are a part of the Mediterranean and Balkan natural ecosystems. Transboundary lakes like Shkodra, Ohrid, and Prespa are points of floristic and fauna exchange with other Balkan countries.

Species migrate through the rivers and the highest parts of Albanian mountains from their natural habitats outside Albania in Greece, Macedonia, and Yugoslavia.