As nature and biodiversity sit at the intersection of climate mitigation and adaptation action, through our projects in the field we have fostered environmental stewardship by building a knowledge repository on biodiversity protection and nature restoration. Most importantly, we are dedicating attention to a neglected tract of pastures along Albania’s eastern Green Belt segment, which faces numerous degradation issues. Notwithstanding, we are also working throughout the Drin River Basin, from its main headwaters, to the estuary, to ensure water quality is at its finest, as well as disseminating citizen science tools to local communities, so that they can ensure riverine ecosystem balance. Another important sector we are targeting is coastal biodiversity, with focus being put on species that have only in the past decade started being observed along Albania’s shores due to climate impacts. We believe this biodiversity marker is not only important to our climate programme, but it also entrenches that there is a crucial biodiversity aspect to it.
Ongoing Projects Focusing on
Nature & Biodiversity
Connectivity through Pastures
“Connectivity through Pastures” aims to address the challenges faced by a highly neglected typology of natural ecosystems found in our country, pastures. In particular, the project follows the requirements for rehabilitation or halting the environmental degradation that pastures along the eastern edges of the Albanian Green Belt are facing.
Rapid Watershed Assessment for the Western Balkans
At the core of the initiative is the education of riverine communities in the Western Balkans to “diagnose” the condition of freshwater streams found near their settlements. In Albania, the project is focused on two areas rich in such streams, the Municipality of Kukës and that of Shkodër.
Monitoring Nesting Attempts of Loggerhead Turtles
The project “Monitoring Nesting Attempts of Loggerhead Turtles” aims to survey and preserve identified nesting sites of the species Caretta caretta on Albanian shores. It is supported by the UNDP’s Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Small Grants Programme, and is being implemented by REC Albania.