Locations
EU for Nature
Summary
The Overall Objective of the EU4Nature Action is to contribute to the protection and conservation of at least 25 per cent of the Albanian territory (at land and at sea) by 2030 through the establishment and the effective management of a system of Protected Areas, including NATURA 2000 sites and other effective area-based conservation measures.
The EU4Nature Action will build on previous efforts to advance the EU approximation process by enabling EU Nature Protection legislation implementation, enhanced capacities of relevant authorities, CSO, academia, and private sector, and providing necessary resources for new and existing PAs effective management.
The EU4Nature Action has been conceived cooperatively by the partners and all relevant authorities for nature protection in Albania to ensure that:
- builds on the successes achieved so far (the advancement in EU Nature Protection acquis transposi-tion, the provision of institutions and budgets necessary to carry out the laws and regulations, in-creased knowledge of the Albanian biological values and their distributions, among others),
- addresses the major areas of improvements identified by previous efforts, and
- swiftly advances the country towards the protection of at least 25 per cent of the Albanian territory (on land and at sea) through a system of effectively managed PAs.
Project Background
Despite its relatively small size, Albania features a high diversity of ecosystems, habitats, and species.
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the most significant factor responsible for endangering species in Albania is land conversion, resulting in habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. As an economy in transition Albania is indeed following a fast development trajectory. Land has been, and continues to be, converted for commercial, tourism, recreational and residential purposes. Wetlands have been drained and residential or commercial areas and infrastructure investments are encroaching upon native habitats, posing a serious threat to its biodiversity. These impacts are aggravated by climate change, especially in the country’s river basins and coastal area, as major climatic events have led to excessive flooding of large areas and erosion along the coastline.
The National Biodiversity Strategy and the Action Plan (2012-2020) has defined the main directions for preserving biodiversity and habitats through the identification and proclamation as Protected Areas in Albania.
Over the last decades, Albania has made considerable progress in its policy on environmental protection, including nature conservation.
The extent of the PAs network is estimated to cover over 6,250. km2 of marine and terrestrial habitats (appr. 21.7 % of national territory, from less than 6 % in 2005). In this regard, the country reached the 17 % objective of the 2020 Biodiversity Aichi Target, while also making progress regarding the establishment of Ramsar sites (4 sites comprise more than 98,000 ha), three Biosphere Reserves of Prespa and Ohrid area, Shkodra lake and Vjosa river as UNESCO Nature Heritage site and Important Bird Areas, as well as participated in the Green Belt Initiative.
Albania joined in February 2022 the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, pledging to protect at least 30 % of land and seas and promote nature-based solutions within the UN framework convention on climate change.
Project pilot areas include: Vjosa River – National Park; Bredhi i Hotovës-Dangëlli – National Park; Lurë - Deja Mountain – National Park; Shebenik – National Park; Zagori –Nature Park; Lugina e Shalës – Nature Park; Bredhi i Sotires – Nature Park; Ujrat Termale te Sarandoporit - Natural Monument; Dajti Mountain – National Park; Porto – Palermo Nature Park.
Results achieved
- Legal approximation work under the Habitats Directive advanced through the update of the na-tional Table of Concordance and the identification and drafting of legislative amendments required to address remaining transposition gaps. The assessment covers the relevant provisions of the Law on Bio-diversity Protection and its draft amendments, the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, and relevant secondary legislation, including the rules for designation of Special Areas of Conservation. Particular at-tention was given to Natura 2000 requirements, including site designation, ecological network coher-ence, Appropriate Assessment, compensatory measures, ecological connectivity and monitoring.
- In parallel, an agreement has been signed with the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the National Center for Flora and Fauna for the elaboration of reference tables related to the annexes of Birds and Habitats Directives. This work engages experts across diverse biological disciplines, ensuring a scientifical-ly robust framework to guide implementation.
- Work is underway to strengthen the Natura 2000 knowledge base through the development and consolidation of biodiversity datasets, habitat and species mapping, and an EU-compatible geospa-tial database to support future site designation and management.
- Revenue generation from ecosystem services has been strengthened through the National Agency of Protected Areas (NAPA) Revenue Fund and new regulatory measures. The regulation on con-trolled access points in managed parks and the package on ecosystem regeneration and timber supply have been drafted and approved, ensuring sustainable use of resources. An electronic invoicing system has been installed in all local offices, supported by five POS devices, and staff have been trained on both the guidelines and system use. These actions enhance transparency and efficiency, while increasing rev-enue from ecosystem services to support conservation and community benefits. After the assessment of the financial possibilities for all PAs, including Vjosa NP, changes in the DCM are proposed and are under public consultation.
- Essential equipment to support protected areas local offices has been delivered, contributing to improved monitoring, safety, and visitor management. The equipment includes 15 kits for freshwater and marine monitoring, 5 multi-parametric probes, 15 trap cameras for biodiversity monitoring and visi-tor management, fire protection equipment and extinguishing devices for local offices covering pilot ar-eas, 8 drones for local offices across the project areas, ranger kits, etc.
- A baseline assessment report on the biodiversity, cultural, and social values, as well as carrying capacities of “Lugina e Shalës,” has been finalized, incorporating field survey findings and consultations with experts and local communities. This provides an essential evidence base for sustainable manage-ment of one of Albania’s most sensitive and visited natural areas.
- Management effectiveness is being periodically assessed across all 10 EU4Nature pilot protected areas through METT-4, in cooperation with protected area administrations and relevant stakeholders. The management-effectiveness indicator has reached 36.53%, while the assessment process is progres-sively being institutionalized, with NAPA and Regional Administrations of Protected Areas taking in-creased ownership of its implementation.
- Capacity building has been strengthened through the launch of the NAPA e-learning platform (https://learning.akzm.net/ ), a central hub for training manuals, case studies, and digital modules. De-signed for protected area staff but open to civil society and other users, it offers self-paced learning on management planning, biodiversity monitoring, visitor management, and stakeholder cooperation. De-veloped with the Albanian School of Public Administration (ASPA), the platform provides certification upon completion and helps institutionalize professional development in protected areas management.
- The Youth4Nature programme is being implemented through the National Agency of Protected Areas (NAPA), with a focus on engaging and strengthening the capacity of young professionals in nature conservation and protected area management. Young professionals are supporting activities at the pro-tected area level, contributing to field-based work, awareness-raising, monitoring, community engage-ment, and other activities related to the effective management and conservation of protected areas.
- On-the-ground ecosystem restoration measures are being implemented in the Vjosa River Na-tional Park, including restoration and reforestation activities in 3 ha degraded area aimed at improving native vegetation cover, biodiversity, soil stability, erosion control and climate resilience, with local community participation.
- The updated Brown Bear and Balkan Lynx action plans were finalized, approved and published in the Official Gazette. No. 196, dated 10 September 2026. Preparatory work was also initiated for the development of two additional priority species action plans, for the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and otter (Lutra lutra).
- The work is ongoing for the development of management plans for 4 areas: Bredhi i Hotovës–Dangëlli, Zagoria, Bredhi i Sotirës, and Lurë–Mali i Dejës National Park.
Project outcome & outputs
The EU4Nature Outcome is to enhance the management effectiveness of the Albanian PAs and ensure the effective protection and conservation of at least 25 per cent of the Albanian territory. The following 7 Outputs have been identified to address the main areas of improvement recognized also by previous projects.
- Output 1.1 - Strengthened capacities of the relevant institutions to effectively manage Protected Areas (PAs) according to the EU acquis and best practices
- Output 1.2 - Revised and new protected areas management plans through assessment of biodiversity values and threats following Natura 2000 requirements
- Output 1.3 - Performance monitoring system in place
- Output 1.4 – Conservation and restoration measures foreseen in the management plans are imple-mented
- Output 1.5 - New management plans for the use of forest and non-timber forest products developed
- Output 1.6 Support to civil society for environmental protection and restoration of protected areas
- Output 1.7 Nature-based solutions (focusing but not limited to nature protection/conservation and fighting of environmental crime) implemented
