TIRANA, January 26 /ATA/ Vjosa and Shala rivers are declared protected areas. Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro made the statement today adding that the Albanian Alps and Munella are also qualified as protected areas.
The minister made the statement after the government meeting today that decided to update the entire territory, review, re-evaluate the existing protected areas of all categories from cultural monuments, natural monuments and National Parks.
“The decisions taken will be further processed. In context of this review process, we not only update what we had, but we also take new steps such as the Vjosa River. It has been a matter of much debate and it is a joint contribution of many actors. This decision gives us the opportunity to do a better planning and a better organization of economic tourism activities that can take place. In total, from 18% of the territory we had in the papers with protected areas today we have 21% of the territory./a.a/p.s./
