In Albania all types of HNV farmlands are present, but there is very limited knowledge of the topic and the relevant inventories are not wholly dependable. The most common is Type 1 (semi-natural pastures and meadows). There are about 400,000 ha of natural pastures in Albania that account for 14.3% of the country’s surface, which is almost as much as the area of arable.

Two types of natural pastures are recognized based on their traditional use – summer and winter pastures. Summer pastures are all pastures in the sub-alpine and alpine zones and are used in summer for 4-6 months (May-October). Winter pastures are located in the lowlands and are used in winter as well as in early spring and late autumn.

The ownership and respectively the management of pastures are changing in the last years. Currently, 58% of pastures are given to communities, one third is still state-owned and private pastures are only 7% of all. This change in ownership changed the historical grazing rights and respectively, the livestock management systems. The effect of it remains to be seen.

Type 2 HNV farmland is the next most common. These low-intensity small-scale mosaic landscapes usually consist of vegetable gardens, arable plots, orchards or vineyards and grasslands. In the central and southeastern part of the country (Prespa National Park) there are still traditionally managed small orchards and vineyards.