HABITAT AND ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]

II.  THE STATE OF BIODIVERSITY

II.1 HABITAT AND ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

Albania is well known for its high diversity of ecosystems and habitats. Within its territory there are maritime ecosystems, coastal zones, lakes, rivers, evergreen and broadleaf bushes, broadleaf forests, pine forests, alpine and sub-alpine pastures and meadows, and high mountain ecosystems.

Albania is rich in forest and pasture resources. The forests cover 1,030,000 ha or 36% of the country's territory, and the pastures about 400,000 ha or 15%. Approximately 60% (244,000 ha) of the pastures are alpine and sub-alpine pastures and meadows. The forests and the pastures have a diversity of types, formations, and plant and animal communities.

GRAPH 2

Along the coastline of the country there are many ecosystems of significance in the Mediterranean region such as lagoons, wetlands, sand dunes, river deltas, hydrophil and hygrophil forests. Littoral and infralittoral communities of Mediterranean origin along the rocky coast are quite diverse and well preserved. The lakes and rivers are also important for the biological and landscape diversity of the country. The hydrographic basin of Albania is divided into six river basins as follows:

1. The Drini basin, which includes that part of Drini Zi catchment which is inside the Albanian territory, the catchment of main Drini (downstream of the confluence of Drini Zi and Drini Bardhe ), the Albanian part of Buna catchment and the minor part of the Danube catchment which is in Albania.
2. The Mati basin, covering the Mati catchment.
3. The Ishmi and Erzeni basin, covering the Ishmi and Erzeni catchment.
4. The Shkumbini basin, covering the Shkumbini catchment.
5. The Semani basin, which covers the Semani catchment (including both main tributaries Devolli and Osumi) and the small area that drains into the lakes Ohrid, Large Prespa and Small Prespa.
6. The Vjosa basin, which includes that part of Vjosa catchment that is inside the Albanian territory, the catchment of Kalasa, Bistrica and Pavlla rivers and the southern coastal zone

There is a diversity of landscapes in Albania due to its natural characteristics and long history of population and human activities. Traditional agriculture and stockbreeding developed in the countryside, in accordance with natural conditions, have been the major factors determining the Albanian landscape, where indigenous elements are not missing.

                                                          TABLE 1