During the “For You, Nature” event, which addressed key environmental and forestry priorities set to enter a new phase in the light of Albania’s EU integration process, Jaupaj stated, “Lake Shkodra represents another valuable natural asset of Albania, which is poised to become part of UNESCO’s global heritage.”

He conveyed his appreciation to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and highlighted the ongoing collaboration with UNESCO, recognizing the progress made over the years.

Jaupaj remarked, “These achievements inspire us to do even more, focusing first and foremost on our citizens and Albania’s European integration.”

By 2030, Albania aims to have management plans for all protected areas, complete the Natura 2000 network as part of EU requirements, and turn these areas into centers for local development, tourism, and natural innovation.
Minister Jaupaj remarked, “Today, we reaffirm one of the key pillars of this government mandate: the protection and restoration of nature, the strengthening of protected areas, and the sustainable development of forests as national assets, directly connecting this vision to our path towards European Union membership.”

Minister Jaupaj emphasized that nature is now seen as a key element of Albania’s long-term economic and social development, rather than just a technical management issue. He also announced the launch of a new forest strategy, integrating science, ecological restoration, digitalization, and innovative reforestation.

Minister Jaupaj informed that the 2026 budget for the Ministry of Environment includes a dedicated fund for a drone-assisted reforestation program, initially to be implemented in the Dajti National Park, the Hotova Fir in Përmet, and the Lurë-Dejë National Park, ensuring more accurate and faster ecological regeneration.

Jaupaj also stated, “Protected areas, forests, water resources, and biodiversity define what is called Albania’s ecological identity and are our national assets.

Jaupaj noted that, after the establishment of the National Agency for Protected Areas (AKZM) and the successful forestry moratorium, which restored ecological balance in over 1 million hectares of forestland, it is now time to create a new model that addresses both present challenges and fulfills future goals.

Jaupaj stated, “We believe it is beneficial for the National Forestry Agency to merge with this institution as a policymaking and monitoring entity, forming a unified structure with standardised procedures and a clear accountability framework. This merger is not just technical, but transformational, as it will allow us to achieve: integrated management of forests and protected areas, data-driven decision-making, biodiversity monitoring, and effective territorial oversight.”

Jaupaj highlighted that protected areas can drive local development, benefiting the communities living within them, with the Vjosa National Park serving as an exceptional example due to its inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage.

He also cited the challenges of managing natural risks and ensuring safety, particularly in light of the increasing vulnerability of forests to extreme heatwaves due to climate change and human threat. In collaboration with the Civil Emergency Agency and other partners, Jaupaj noted that the new early warning system for fires, based on sensors, satellite analysis, and climate models, will enable swift and coordinated responses from specialised units in mountainous areas.

“But this vision makes no sense without the people, without the youth. For this reason, we are launching a new program, a national initiative called ‘Nature for All,’ as a call for environmental education, volunteerism, and an active role for young people in protecting nature. Protected areas can become workshops for youth, habitats for biologists, shelters for eco-tourism guides, whose work is made easier by the trail platform, and, of course, hosts for local communities,” emphasised Jaupaj, adding that the nature we preserve through today’s vision is the heritage that will speak for us tomorrow.

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