• The problem of environmental degradation in Albania has grown in recent decades. The project, which focuses on the high-value biodiversity area of the Bay of Vlora, aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society to contribute to the development of environmental conservation policies, measures and laws. This will be achieved through capacity building in the environmental field by environmental civil society organisations (ECSO) and local action groups (LAGs), through the implementation of actions for the protection of the environment and biodiversity and by raising awareness in civil society.

  • n.15 - Life on land

    n. 14 – Life below water

    +20% of protected areas surface monitored

     

    + 15 ECSO which identify and adopt good practices and with improved capacities in the environment protection and conservation

The radical political and social changes that have taken place in Albania in recent decades have led to a situation where the environment is neglected and, in many cases, seriously abused, especially with reference to the recent approval of the amendment to the Law on Protected Areas n. 81/2017. As a candidate country for EU membership, Albania is committed to developing and strengthening cooperation with EU countries in priority areas of the EU environmental acquis, stating a series of national targets that are currently far from being achieved in the planned time frame.

Achieving the environmental objectives to which Albania is committed is even more difficult given the context in which Albanian environmental civil society organisations operate: insufficient funding, lack of awareness and local support and inadequate government support are the main challenges they face in their work. Challenges that do not allow them to play at the best their important role of supervision in the environmental field.

The project Environmental Civil Society Organisations (ECSO) joint Action of for the promotion of Natura 2000 network in Albania – APN2000 aims to increase the capacity of ECSOs to network, monitor, advocate, awareness raising, to implement concrete actions for the conservation/protection of the environment and mitigation/adaptation to climate change, in accordance with the framework of international agreements signed by Albania. All this by involving politicians and decision-makers, with the aim of alleviating the ECSO’s difficulty of inadequate government support. The project focuses in particular on a marine-coastal area: the Bay of Vlora, from the Protected Landscape of Vjosa-Narta to the National Marine Park of Karaburun-Sazan: in fact the system of management of protected areas currently in force covers only 2,6% of marine and coastal areas, compared to 6% for which Albania has committed itself by signing the Biodiversity Targets of Aichi in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Project overview

The project aims to:

  • developing the capacities of local environmental civil society organisations (ECSO) and local action groups (LAGs) to advocate, monitor biodiversity, combat environmental degradation and report environmental crimes;
  • the development of concrete joint actions to improve environmental and biodiversity protection levels in the Pishë Poro-Nartë Protected Landscape and the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park;
  • raising awareness of the legal and behavioural changes necessary to meet EU standards for environmental protection and biodiversity, to combat environmental crime and take climate change mitigation and adaptation measures within protected areas.

To achieve these results, the following actions will be carried out:

  • organisation of round tables between ECSOs, LAGs and international organisations to promote the exchange of know-how;
  • training and know-how transfer to small ECSOs and LAGs;
  • implementation of pilot actions to improve the conservation and restoration of biodiversity;
  • implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to mitigate pollution and climate change;
  • creation of a grant scheme for small ECSOs and LAGs to implement environmental actions;
  • implementation of awareness-raising actions for major LAGs;
  • raising awareness and promoting ecological behaviour among young people at school and university;
  • advocacy towards decision-makers and government and local politicians.

Beneficiaries

  • At least 14 small civil society organisations and a local action group
  • At least 25 employees and volunteers, beneficiaries of round tables and training
  • At least 50 decision and policy makers, included in the identification of concrete actions for biodiversity and target groups for advocacy and lobbying campaigns;
  • At least 15 forest rangers/operators employed by the Albanian Coast Guard, the Municipal Police, the Regional Agency for Protected Areas and the Fisheries Inspectorate, who are the target of awareness activities;
  • At least 200 members from 50 companies targeted by the awareness campaigns;
  • 2,685 primary and secondary school students and young people under the age of 25 who have benefited from awareness campaigns.

  • Project Title

    ECSOs joint Action for the Promotion of Nature 2000 Network in Albania – APN2000

    Project Manager

    Valeria Parracino, parracino@celim.it

  • Date

    2025-2028

    Partner

    Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA)

Donors

Support the activities

Help protect nature in Albania, DONATE NOW and turn your support into real impact!

  • 200

    You contribute to concrete actions to protect the environment and biodiversity.

  • 100

    you support the training of small civil society organisations and local action groups.

  • 50

    you participate in the creation of a grant scheme for small civil society organisations and local action groups.

  • 30

    you help developing environmental awareness campaigns and actions.

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