About the Project
This regional initiative is financially supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, through the international assistance program implemented by the executive agency of the U.S. Forest Service. 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.
SVAP Tool
SVAP (Stream Visual Assessment Protocol) is an instrument developed by the United States Forest Service (USFS), which has been introduced through this project to riverside communities located within the Drin River Basin in Albania. The SVAP methodology addresses the need to prepare local communities with increased vigilance towards various types of freshwater pollution, especially plastic pollution. As citizen-science tool that enriches civic culture regarding water conditions, the main target group for its use is composed of elementary and high school students, as well as their teachers, in the involved communities.