In the end of 1993, the forest fund was 1 034 300 ha (36% of the country’s surface areas), i.e. 3700 ha less than 1992.

The exploitation of forests by industry during 1993 has not been critical, mainly concentrated in areas having active regeneration, so it has not been a negative factor to the environment. On the contrary, the main reasons of forest damages and reduction of forest fund have been their abusive cutting for fuel use, construction material, especially in the forests near the villages and on road sides, damages from overgrazing, and fires.

Even during 1994, the industrial exploitation of forests has been inconsiderable, i.e. under the annual possibility of their utilisation. The forest fund of Albania was about 1 034 000 ha by the end of 1994, marking a reduction of 300 ha as compared to 1993, mainly due to the damages caused by construction sites approved within forest areas.

Another continuous damaging factor for forests are the illegal cutting. During 1993, the Directorates of Forest Service in the districts have identified 15 500 cases of cutting, damages and misuses, but among the penal contraventions proceeded (1132) only 7.2% of the cases have been judged. Also, the administrative contraventions were all judged by the Directorates of Forest Service in districts, but the collection of the value of the damage is realised only 16.2%. During 1994, the Directorates of Forest Service in the districts have prepared relevant reports for about 12 thousand cases of administrative contraventions, but the general number of the judged cases was only 10%, while the collection of the damage value referring to the administrative contraventions judged by the Directorates of Forest Service was realised 8.7%.

The rather small number of judgements developed as well as the collection of fines have considerably limited the importance of proceeding role and have commuted the force of the law, which adversely affects the protection of this irreplaceable wealth of the Albanian nature.

The opinion is that the reports of the Directorates of Forest Service do not reflect the real figure of tree cutting. Thus, e.g. judging from the reported figures of the relevant Directorate of Puke district, it results that every saw mill (operated by the average of four workers) should have processed less than 2 m3/day. Private persons can not perform such an activity which does not cover the expenses and be beneficial.

Referring to the law “On forest and forest service police” the right to exploit forests is given to all legal and physical persons that have permit for exerting this activity. This implies that forests can be exploited by anyone who does not know the process. Many abuses have been noticed during the exploitation of forests like tree cutting on road sides, non-compliance with ... impossibility of control from forest service bodies as result of the large number of subjects who exploit forests.

In order to improve the situation, these measures are necessary: further strengthening of control over subjects who exploit forests, the perfection of the present methods of exploitation, as well as searching of new manners like those proposed by FAO and the World Bank. At the same time, it is necessary that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food prepares the strategy and action plan for the sustainable use of forests to precede the further development of this activity.

Another serious damaging factor to pine trees which occupy about 16% of the forest country area is processionaria. As result of its biological cycle, it had maximum development during 1993 and was spread in about 35 thousand ha, the level of affected areas ranged from 5-95%. During 1994 processionaria was more widespread along a surface area of 70 thousand ha. Being impossible to apply the method of biological struggle against processionaria, as the most successful one, and due to lack of relevant means and mechanisms, during 1993 the mechanical method wad used in about 8 100 ha, in consistence with the available funding.

The application of mechanical method continued during 1994 as well, but it was noticed that it weakened the situation of pine forests considerably, while the level of infection according to the biological cycle has not been reduced. Consequently, the implementation of more advanced and effective methods is required, so that the healthy state of pine forests be guaranteed. According to the assessments made by the General Directorate of Forestry and Pastures, the full cost to struggle processionaria amounts to 466 million leks.

Forests have also been damaged by fires. Despite the measures taken for the protection of forests from fire, about 560 fires were caused during 1993. Fires have gone through 4 thousand ha and have burned burned 250 ha. In 1994 509 fire cases were noted; they have burned a forest area of about 400 ha. In order to avoid the consequences and to re-establish the normal state is necessary to perform the work foreseen in the relevant programs for sanitary cutting, regeneration and aforestation.

Overgrazing of goats remains a problem for forest areas. This is more evident in the Southern part of the country, where goats are more spread per forest ha. Mostly endangered by this phenomenon are especially the re-pruned oak forests and those which are reproduced on seeds and which have undergone the first phase of exploitation. It is necessary that the Directories of Forest Service study the zones where grazing should be allowed and where it should be prohibited and also implement better the regulations for grazing of animals in the forests. On the other hand the approval of a legal act which would sanction the prohibited zones (as well as those allowed)for goat breeding or the application of a taxation system, which stimulates other type of animal rising.

The wild life has also suffered damages due to illegal hunting by foreign and native hunters. Up to the end of 1993, 300 foreign hunters have been hunting in Albania, frequently having sophisticated weapons which say more about the damaging character of hunting. Marina fauna has been damaged, too and generally lagoon ecosystems from fish hunting by dynamites and chemicals, as been reported by the CEP and other sources in the districts of Shkoder, Lezhe, Vlore and Gjirokaster.

In order to control hunting and prevent damages coming from it, as well s to create conditions for the regeneration of wild life, being based on the weaknesses noticed in this sector during 1993, the following measures were taken:

- the improvement and completion of legislation up to the approval of the draft law on “Protection of Wild Life and Hunting”; - the establishment of the National Council of Fauna and Hunting which regulates the activities related to hunting; - banning of hunting in the whole territory of the country for August 93 - March 94 season and reduction in general of the allowed period of hunting of general species, as well special species (it is worth mentioning that for the first time in the country, the wolf so much fought against until mow, presently is under protection; - prohibition by law of the imitation means, automatic and half automatic weapons - co-operation with the Ministry of Interior to arrange foreign hunters entering through Durresi harbour and Rinas airport - prohibition of hunting for foreigners who do not have contracts.

The present system for the organisation of the collection of medical plants, according to which, each individual or group having a permit can collect them in consistence with buyers ‘requests have led to the collection without criteria for certain species of medical plants which are consequently reduced and threatened to extinct.