III. THE STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION IN ALBANIA
III.4 IN-SITU AND EX-SITU CONSERVATION
In Albania, in-situ conservation started to be applied only in the second half of this century. A number of Protected Areas have been established, and a number of laws and by-laws for the protection of endangered species of plants and animals have been passed. The Protected Areas are within the forest areas, and to enhance their protection and management the Department of Nature Protection was established within the National Environmental Agency. In some of the districts with Protected Areas or National Parks there are locally functioning units responsible for their management and protection.
Until the beginning of the 1990s, the total amount of Protected Areas was not more than 2% of the country's territory. At that time there were only three categories of Protected Areas: Forest National Parks, Hunting Resources of Categories "A" and "B," and Nature Monuments. In 1994, as part of the Ecological Monitoring of the High Forests in Albania, and based on the Protected Areas categorisation system of IUCN, there were identified and proposed a number of new Protected Areas which would have effectively doubled the existing number. After the recent designation of the Prespa National Park, and the lake Ohrid as Landscape Protected Area, the total country's area under protection has reached at 5.8% of the total territory.
TABLE 7
The Protected Area until 1998*
Nr. |
Category of Protected Area | Number of PA |
Surf. in ha |
% |
1 |
Strict Protected Zone | 4 |
14.500 |
13.30 |
2 |
National Park | 11 |
25.860 |
24.02 |
3 |
Nature Monument | 300 |
4.360 |
4.27 |
4 |
Management Zone | 26 |
42.960 |
39.38 |
5 |
Protected Landscape | 3 |
2.550 |
2.34 |
6 |
Resource Protected Zone | 4 |
18.245 |
16.69 |
7 |
TOTAL | 384 |
107.455 |
100.00 |
* Until 1998 the total protected area cover 3.79% of the Albanian territory, or 10.43% of the forest
Although progress has been achieved, there are still problems and issues, which need to be, addressed such as:
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The lack of a national strategy on nature protection; |
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The lack of an adequate legal and institutional framework; |
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The existing network of Protected Areas is very limited, not always representative of the highest nature and biodiversity values, and poorly managed (less than 6% of the territory of the country is protected); |
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The lack of existing Protected Areas Management Plans (Management Plans have been prepared for only 2-3 of the existing Protected Areas); |
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Lack of financial resources for effective administration of the protected areas; |
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Shortage of personnel and lack of training; and |
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Lack of protection for endangered species of plants and animals outside the Protected Areas. |
Up to now, practices for ex-situ conservation of endangered species of plants and animals do not exist in Albania. The Botanical Garden close to Tirana University is a possibility, which should be considered in the future. There is also no existing genetic bank for endangered species of plants and animals. A seed bank for agricultural crops was established recently near the National Seed Institute (NSI). This institution has around 260 species, subspecies, and varieties, of which 230 are herbaceous, and the other 30 are trees and shrubs. From all of the 260 taxa, 180 are cultivated and 80 are spontaneous plants. However, this bank should be used for the collection of the genetic material of endangered endemic species belonging to the natural flora of the country.
TABLE 8
National Environmental Agency Projects for Nature Conservation Financed by International Organisations
| Project | Program |
Phase |
Grant |
Project’s Objective |
| 1. Dajti National Park Conservation Plan | Phare Program AL9306 |
Finished |
50,000 ECU |
The preparation of a management plan for the conservation of the Dajti National Park |
| 2. Management of Karavasta Lagoon Phase I | Phare Program AL9306 |
Finished |
346,224 ECU |
The preparation of a management plan and a regulatory framework for the Karavasta Lagoon and of the eco-guides for this lagoon |
| 3. Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan | GEF/ World Bank |
Finished the first phase, (1 year) |
96,000 USD |
The preparation of Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and the National Report on Biodiversity |
| 4. Lake Ohrid Conversation Project | GEF/ World Bank |
Start-up in December 1998 (4 years) |
$ 1,78 million for Albania from GEF |
To establish the base for sustainable management and joint protection of Lake Ohrid with Macedonia-legal framework and institutional strengthening, lake monitoring, watershed management and public awareness |
| 5. Management of Karavasta Lagoon Phase II | Phare Program SOP 97 |
Preparation phase (2 years) |
400,000 ECU |
Support for the management of the lagoon, pilot study for setting up an artificial lagoon for sewage water treatment, building guard facilities, local works for immediate improvement of the fence, entering roads, etc… |
| 6. Conservation and Management of Mediterranean lagoons (the extension to EU countries) | LIFE / MEDWET 2 |
Finished (1 year) |
MedWet 3 (1,815,000 USD) financed by the GEF through UNDP |
Study of the environmental and economic/social status of the lagoons of the area of Kune-Vaini as part of the report on wetland status of participating countries (Albania, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia), and the development of a model methodology for wetland studies. The fulfilment of this project was followed by another regional project started recently, including Narta Lagoon, Llogara-Kanali-Orikumi-Karaburuni peninsula-Sazani Island. |