TIRANA, June 20/ATA/-The World Bank and the government of Sweden are supporting creation and protection of forests in Albania with a grant at the amount of 2.3 million Euros.
Minister of Agriculture Niko Peleshi and Minister of Tourism and Environment Blendi Klosi held a meeting on Wednesday with local residents and farmers of the remote areas in the North of the country. They highlighted the indispensability of public awareness on the need of protection and improvement of the mountainous eco-systems through development of agriculture and forestry.
Minister Klosi said that the government policy of financial support aims at increase of the forest areas and at the same time development of the commercial forestry that yields incomes for the local residents.
On his part, Minister Peleshi emphasized the fact that the number of fruit trees planted has reached to 500 thousand through the schemes of national support for the agriculture. This has a direct impact on improvement of environment and economy.
63 contracts were signed and a fund of 1.7 million lek was allocated during the first call for grants. Meanwhile, all the groups of interest and potential beneficiaries will be informed on the second call from June 21 to July 20. e.xh/ /a.g/p.s./
