” Strong winds, high heat, and steep mountains are making it hard for firefighters to put out the fire.”, said Ballolli.

Librazhd firefighters and civil emergency teams are working to contain the active fires and stop them from spreading. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced today that Albania has been unanimously elected as the President of Forest Europe for the 2026–2030 term.

Rama hailed the milestone as a significant diplomatic achievement that further elevates the nation’s international profile. Until 2030, Albania will steer the organization’s political agenda and ministerial process, coordinating Pan-European priorities for the forestry sector.

” How did it happen that Germany and the United Kingdom supported this significant and unanimous decision”, PM Rama stated pointing at the recent demonstrations in Zvërnec by utilizing irony to counter the claims made against him. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

According to the report, 7 firefighting vehicles with 40 workers from the Fire Protection Department, a bulldozer and a fire engine are at the scene, but due to the sandy terrain and the big fire, the situation in the Darëzezë forest has not yet been brought under control.

At around 14:00, the fire has spread further and it has become impossible to intervene with firefighting vehicles.

In coordination with the Joint Operational Center, there has been sent even the Air Force Cougar helicopter in support for air intervention.

The flames have affected an area of about 10 hectares, while the wind is favoring the spread of the fire in the northern part of the forest. /a.f/p.s./

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro wrote in a post in the social media that, “Last week was full of afforestation activities, enriching the planting calendar with more than 12,000 new saplings from the forest economies of Berat, to those of Elbasan and Librazhd, from the Bredhi i Hotovës-Dangëlli National Park, to the Divjaka-Karavasta National Park”.

Minister Kumbaro expressed her gratitude for the work done by the National Forestry Agency, municipalities, donors, volunteers, citizens and staff of the National Agency for Protected Areas.

“Forests are a precious asset and home to the extraordinary biodiversity that we have, therefore it is important to use every day of the planting season for a greener Albania,” said Kumbaro.

The increase in forested areas with new trees continues throughout the country. /p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media photos from the planting of trees along Shkodra-Velipoja road.

Rama wrote that, “Shkodra-Velipoja road is being decorated with new saplings, in context of the Year of Forests program. Every day of the biological cycle of plants is being used to increase forest areas and green spaces”.

2024 has been declared the year of forests and in this framework there has been prepared a calendar of activities that are expected to make an important contribution to nature, not only with planting actions, but also with the awareness campaign. /m.m/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote today in the social media that 1500 black pine saplings were planted in Mat, while it is planned that another 5 hectares will be afforested.

“We continue with afforestation process under coordination of the National Forestry Agency and with the commitment of the municipalities that every day is part of the Year of Forests calendar. Thus, 1500 black pine saplings were planted in Muzhaka of Mat, a municipality that will afforest another 5 hectares”, wrote Rama.

Almost 2/3 of the country’s territory is forests and pastures and 80% of them are owned by municipalities.

The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has announced 2024 as a year of afforestation campaigns, but also education and awareness for citizens.

Earlier, the year 2022 was dedicated to cleaning and environment, while 2023 was the year dedicated to the Vjosa River, with the creation of the National Park of the last wild river in Europe./p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama posted in the social media photos from this initiative being materialized, describing it as motivating as well as a program that starts in the year dedicated to the forests.

“Motivating images of the work for regeneration of Pishë-Poro area in Fier, with a program that starts exactly in the year dedicated to forests”, wrote Rama.

This action started last Sunday. The political leader of the Socialist Party of Fier region Taulant Balla, Head of the Agrarian Environmentalist Party Agron Duka joined the action planting 200 pine saplings in the area damaged by the fire.

Mayor of Fier Armando Subashi emphasized that this is an indisputable commitment until the reforestation of this area, which in May is expected to reach to almost 5000 planted seedlings./p.s./

JICA Chief Representative for the Balkan Region Ueki Masahiro and the General Director of AKMC Haki Çako signed today in the premises of the National Operational Center for Civil Emergencies in Tirana the agreement for implementation of the Technical Cooperation Project “On Capacity Building for the National System of Forest Fire Information (NFFIS) and Nature-based Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction (NbS-DRR)”.

Through this Technical Cooperation Project, Japanese JICA experts will come to Albania to help AKMC to implement the NFFIS and to pilot NbS-DRR.

There are also planned trainings in Japan or other countries related to the achievement of the above-mentioned goals. They are also planned to be undertaken through the support of JICA for the personnel of AKMC and other government organizations that will be involved in implementation of the project, in order to increase the capacities of human resources. Also, within the framework of this initiative, a number of devices will be provided to AKMC through this technical cooperation.

The cooperation project starts in the first 6 months of 2024 and will continue for a period of 5 years.

In recent years, Albania has faced the risk of climate change, forest fires, floods, landslides and earthquakes. Approximately 39.9% of the land in the country is forest, and forest fires are common during the dry summer months. The frequency of occurrence and the endangered areas have increased in Albania. From 2012 to 2017, the average number of fires per year was 214, and the area burned per year was 3,476 ha (including grassland). Albania is at risk from the effects of heat waves and fires. With higher summer temperatures and increasingly dry conditions, the frequency and size of wildfires is likely to increase further./p.s./

A SPAK press release reads that the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime has submitted to the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime (on 16.08.2023) the request for trial against the defendants: Fran Tuci, charged with the criminal offense of “Abuse of duty”, committed in cooperation; Ndoc Marku, charged with the criminal offense of “Abuse of duty”, committed in cooperation; Durim Margjekaj, accused of the criminal offense of “Illegal construction”.

“From the analysis of the evidence collected during the preliminary investigation, it turns out that it is confirmed that the defendants Fran Tuci and Ndoc Marku, in cooperation between them, with illegal actions and omissions which constitute regular non-fulfillment of duty, have caused as a direct consequence the serious damage (estimated at ALL 234,007,500) to the property of the “forest fund” type and the corresponding terrain, registered in the cadastral office on behalf of the Fushë Arrëz Municipality”, reported SPAK.

“While the defendant Durim Margjekaj, in the capacity of administrator of the company “Legendari” sh.p.k. has intentionally carried out infrastructure construction works without the relevant permit, bringing serious consequences to the property of the “forest fund” type owned by the municipality of Fushë Arrëz”, the press release concluded. /p.s./

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro posted today on social media photos from this forest writing that it is part of the protected areas.

“The Pheasant Forest in Maliq, a fantastic oasis of 50 hectares, part of the protected areas, also frequented by nature-loving tourists in the Korça region,” wrote Kumbaro.

The pheasant forest located only 10 km from the city of Korça is one of the most interesting attractions in the southeast of the country. With a fantastic landscape, this forest enjoys the status of a natural monument, with pheasants as its symbol.

Today, this forest is the shelter of pheasants, roe deers, wild rabbits and foxes; it is the forest of poplars, willow, lime tree, pine and fir.

The clean air, the amazing landscape, the greenery that accompanies you everywhere, the diverse flora and fauna are some of the reasons why everyone chooses this natural wonder. /gj.m/p.s./