Albania is a country rich in forest resources but they have to be managed in a sustainable way in order to provide higher output in the country’s economy. Much more work is necessary to:
• apply the national action plan, criteria and indicators for sustainable management and protection of forests based on the resolutions of Ministerial Conferences for the Protection of Forests in Europe process http://www.mcpfe.org/;
• facilitate international support for the sector by allowing interested development partners to see how their resources can and will be used to best advantage;
• enable capacity building of public forestry sector staff so they can see themselves as part of the overall efforts towards the development of the sector;
• overcome uncertainty among the private sector that might otherwise stifle positive investment decisions for sector participants who will feel more secure in practising the conservation and wise management of their forest and pasture resources.
International cooperation, especially through EUFORGEN, has helped integrate Albania in forest genetic diversity conservation and use programmes, and identify priority species for conservation, tree improvement and seed supply. According to the list of priority species for conservation, improvement or seed procurement, six species are important for industrial wood production, two for non-wood production, one for fuelwood and two for other uses, goods and services. For all of those species that are a priority for conservation, there needs to be more biological information such as natural distribution, taxonomy, genecology, phenology, etc.
An evaluation is needed for eight species and conservation in situ is needed for
12 species. Four species are endangered and action needs to start with the highest priority given to their conservation. For eight species there needs to be provenance trials carried out with the highest priority and with immediate effect.
Demarcation of borders of the seed parcels and protected areas and making them known to the local community, is an important step that should be taken by the forestry authority.
In order to attract visitors and improve public relations, some environmental events should be arranged relevant to the protection status of the National parks, for instance at Dajti park. The preparation of laws and regulations is necessary, for the use of the National parks by people, and these should be based on international experience.
