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Overview
Although
slightly smaller than the state of Maryland, Albania
is a country of rich natural diversity. Situated on
the Adriatic and Ionian Coast between Greece and the
former Yugoslavia, it boasts a landscape of coastal
plains and a largely forested mountainous interior,
and is home to the deepest lake in the Balkans. Albania
enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate that supports a
unique set of species, including the rare and endangered
Dalmation Pelican; 277 species of birds; wild herbs
that include raspberry and blackberry leaf, bilberry,
nettle, rosehips, chamomile, thyme, oregano, sage, bearberry,
licorice; and 400 species of flowering plants. Albania's
diverse flora represents nearly 30% of all European
plant species and approximately 250 species have medicinal,
spice, or aromatic value. In the early 1990s, herb and
spice exports contributed up to 30 million USD to the
Albania's GDP, but revenue generated by this sector
has dropped by nearly two thirds since then. The forested
interior provides habitat for large mammalian species,
including the brown bear and wild boar. Albania faces
unique challenges to sustainable environmental management,
following years under a communist regime and, more recently,
regional conflict. Since the 1990s, Albania has begun
creating regulatory structures to mitigate the environmental
stresses of an emerging liberalized market economy.
During this period of liberalization, the Albanian government
has made a series of strides in enacting environmental
legislation, including the Law on Hunting and Wildlife
Protection, the Laws on the Land and its Distribution,
the Law on the Protection of Wild Aromatic and Medicinal
Plants and Tannifers, and the Law on Protected Areas.
Threats
to the Resource Base
Despite these legislative actions, Albania faces serious
threats to its environment, the largest of which comes
from the impact of human use. Urban waste, industrial
pollution, population growth illegal cutting and harvesting
of forest and vegetation resources, and unregulated
development have led to severe environmental degradation
in Albania, particularly in the coastal areas. Coastal
wetlands are the home to 41% of the Albanian population,
a population that has recently tripled in size following
an influx of refugees. Scenic seaside areas and coastal
towns are experiencing rapid development to bring in
tourism dollars. However, poor planning and lack of
regulation can lead to sanitation and severe pollution
problems, negatively impacting tourism, as well as the
health and livelihoods of its citizens.
Forested
areas are facing similar threats of degradation due
to unsustainable harvesting practices. This is particularly
evident with the case of non-timber forest products,
including medicinal plants and herbs. Albania is an
important world producer of sage and other herbs and
spices, but these products are largely collected from
the wild rather than cultivated at managed sites. Agricultural
and grazing practices combined with the demand to grow
the sector put the sustainability of these species under
increasing risk.
Why
Does the USDA Forest Service Work in Albania?
In
response to significant flooding and water quality problems
in Albania, the USDA Forest Service initiated a Watershed
Management project in 1998. Since that time, the Forest
Service has provided technical assistance on a number
of issues, including an assessment of the watershed
management project and a non-timber forest products
training program to develop marketing opportunities.
Most recently, the Forest Service is collaborating on
an initiative to help alleviate the degradation of species
in the spice and herbal products sector and to ensure
sustainability in the developing specialty tourism sector.
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Forest Products
The
USDA Forest Service has been working with Albanian counterparts
to promote the sustainability of non-timber forest products
since 1999. Albania enjoys extensive plant diversity
due to its geographic location and the influence of
Central European and Mediterranean climates. The people
of Albania have an enduring tradition of using native
plants for medicinal and related purposes. Economic
revenue in the herbs and spices sector currently depends
primarily on wild harvest. It is important that supply
and use are within the resource's capacity to furnish
products without detriment to plant species' health
and persistence. The conservation and sustainable management
of hundreds of native plant species depends upon implementing
effective strategies not only for sustainable harvest,
but also for species, habitat, and ecosystem protection.
Sustainable harvest of wild plants combined with measures
to protect the resource base can benefit society as
well.
In
October 2004, USDA Forest Service fielded a team, including
an expert in non-timber forest products, to Albania
in support of USAID activities in the herbs and spices
and specialty tourism sectors. The team provided recommendations
for ensuring the sustainability of herb and spice resources
while allowing for their continued use and development.
Plans for additional activities in 2005 are currently
under development.
Partners
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Specialty Tourism
Albania
has unique ecological features that provide significant
but under-utilized tourism potential, including coastal
areas, mountainous terrain, rivers, parks, protected
areas. The tourism industry in Albania currently focuses
on coastal areas, rather than on the unique features
that set this country apart from its neighbors. Albania's
natural features have the potential to attract tourists
seeking ecological and cultural experiences. Thoughtful,
sustainable development of these resources could enhance
rural village and community livelihoods throughout Albania.
In
October 2004, USDA Forest Service fielded a team that
traveled to Albania in support of USAID activities in
the specialty tourism and herbs and spices sectors.
The team's analysis and recommendations looked to promote
Albania's rich ecological features and protected area
network, and to ensure that tourism approaches integrate
the needs of the local people who depend on the resource
base. Plans for additional activities are currently
under development for 2005.
Partners
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Past Projects
Marketing
Non-timber Forest Products
In 1999, USDA Forest Service led a three-week training
program for a group of Albanian business owners working
with botanical and medicinal plants, and wild mushrooms.
The goal of this training program was to improve the
economic and environmental sustainability of enterprises
involving non-timber forest products. The training sought
to improve understanding of effective marketing mechanisms,
such as developing products and markets, and business
management, including using the Internet for marketing
and market research. It exposed participants to marketing
concepts, environmental sustainability of business,
and marketing practices used by small US firms and organizations.
The training also provided opportunities to make contacts
with US firms, resulting in two budding partnerships.
The
USDA Forest Service has promoted the environmental aspects
of harvesting native herbs to ensure sustainability
of the sector and maintenance of biodiversity in forest
areas. Working with partners such as the International
Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and FFF Associates,
Inc., The project built strong synergies with a separate
USAID-funded project entitled Assistance to Albanian
Trade Associations in Albania (AAATA) by implementing
environmental protection projects with Albaflor, an
existing trade association of collectors and smaller
dealers with a significant interest in herbal and medicinal
plants. In coordination with AAATA, the project also
established the Albanian Spice and Herbal Trade Association
(ASHTA). ASHTA's activities have included training and
education seminars, and the development of conservation-oriented
educational materials for widespread distribution in
Albania.
Albanian
Watershed Assessment Project
In
recent years, Albania has experienced a variety of serious
environmental problems, including increased flooding
on the coastal plain, drained wetlands, excessive sediment
transport and deposition, and poor water quality. In
1998, the USDA
Forest Service initiated an assessment of the Shkumbini
and Vjosa watersheds to identify the causes of these
problems. Albanian resource managers have used the assessment
data to develop watershed management plans, and identify
the mitigation practices that minimize the socio-economic
impacts associated with changing land use practices.
The USDA Forest Service Inventory and Monitoring Institute
provided technical and administrative management for
this project.
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