Connectivity Through Pastures in Albania

Challenge

Albanian pastures are among the ecosystems most severely impacted by climate change. More than 80% of the pastures in the project area are located on steep slopes and more than half of them are at altitudes above 1000 meters. More than 60% of these pastures have experienced soil erosion, for example due to invasion by alien species, increased wildfires as a result from prolonged droughts, or landslides caused by intense rainfall and flash floods.

Objective

Our project aims to enhance sustainable pasture utilization and rehabilitation, for example by conducting a comprehensive assessment, by mapping vegetation, and by considering socio-economic factors. We plan to implement rotational pasture use and promote trans-boundary cooperation to foster sustainable farming practices. Additionally, we aim to enhance environmental education within the community to further support these objectives.

Approach

Our approach involves:

• Integrating our recommendations into the Regional Administration of Protected Areas (RAPA)’s annual Action Plans.
• Engaging local municipality representatives to address the needs for pasture improvement in local plans and for providing support for local livestock management.
• Suggesting measures for pasture improvement and the promotion of trans-boundary cooperation to enhance ecological connectivity, based on a comprehensive study.

Expected Results

Our expected project results include the development of a comprehensive “Map of Pastures and Habitats”, and a published paper documenting the project’s methodology, results, and recommendations in a relevant scientific journal. We also expect the integration of our recommendations into RAPA’s annual management plans. A national workshop will be held to discuss challenges and solutions related to pasture management, providing a forum for project visibility and experience sharing. Additionally, a  detailed pasture inventory showing the distribution and composition of pastures will be developed and published.