TIRANA, June 19 /ATSH/ – “Natura 2000 “is the heel of nature conservation values. By embracing EU standards, Albania is progressing towards fulfillment of conditions for opening of EU accession negotiations in the environmental and climate change chapter.
“The NaturAl project has done a good job of bringing the network of protected areas in Albania in line with the network of EU Nature 2000 network,” EU Ambassador to Albania Soreca said in his address to the closing conference of the project NaturAl on behalf of the EU Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Karmenu Vella.
In its 4 years of existence, the European Union Project NaturAl – “Strengthening National Capacity for Nature Conservation – Preparing for the Natura 2000 Network” (2015-2019) has worked to strengthen management of protected areas of Albania by focusing on training and capacity building of National Agency for Protected Areas and regional agencies.
In this framework, about 100 people from the agency were trained in biodiversity protection, implementation of monitoring plans and protocols, preparedness measures against wildfires and natural disasters, infrastructure development for tourists, as well as have gone on study visits inside and outside the country.
This project also includes the monitoring of wildlife creating the National Biodiversity Database (BIONNA) and wildlife management and information system, which are accessible to rangers to gather and analyze wildlife data and biodiversity status in Albania.
Regional Administrations of Protected Areas are equipped with off-road cars, motorcycles, bicycles and sailing boats) and other equipment such as PCs and inspection gear (binoculars, telescopes, GPS, trap cameras).
Particular attention was focused on communities living in protected areas. 3 new centers reconstructed through the project funds in the Divjakë-Karavasta national parks, Llogora and Dajt are the best example of coexistence between visitors to parks, rangers and local community.
The project has invested about EUR 1mln in infrastructure rehabilitation, improvement of conditions and working environments for regional administrative staffs in Shkodra, Velipoja, Kukës, Berat, Lezha, Shebenik, Llogora, Peshkopi, Bredhi i Hotova, Dajti, Tomori, etc. .
Potential areas of Natura 2000 network of concern to community have been identified, creating a preliminary list of 43 proposed areas. 13 monitoring protocols for certain species, technical guidelines for creation of the Natura 2000 network, national action plan for bats and bats atlas in Albania have been drafted.
The Closing Conference “Towards the Natura 2000 Network” has presented the best experience of neighboring countries on their journey to the Natura 2000 network such as Croatia, Serbia and Greece bringing together field experts, donors and local authorities to guarantee Albania’s journey towards the largest European network for nature protection, “Natura 2000.”
The NaturAl Project was funded by the European Union under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA 2013) and implemented by the Italian Agency for Co-operation and Development, AICN International Union for Nature Conservation and the Italian Association of Botany SBI.
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