Cultivating Futures in the Albanian Green Belt

The BESTbelt project "Nature Heritage Incubator" in Albania has helped to reconnect a new generation with the Albanian Green Belt—weaving together nature conservation, local heritage, and the dreams of young people to cultivate a sustainable future.

Group photo. © Pandi Dhimitri
Student learning about the production of traditional costumes from her mentor. © Silvana Mielke | EuroNatur
A serene view of Prespa Lake from Gorice e Vogel, framed by green hills, scattered trees, and a traditional church tower. © Sualdo Dino

 

At the heart of the Albanian Green Belt, the landscape was in the midst of a quiet crisis. As young people left the area in search of opportunities, important ecological areas were abandoned and traditional land use practices began to disappear. However, where there was once a risk of loss, there is now a spark of renewal. Through the 'Nature Heritage Incubator: Cultivating Futures in the Albanian Green Belt', the region is rediscovering its strength by investing in its most valuable resource — its young people.

The project brought forty young people back into connection with the Albanian Green Belt, showing them how nature conservation, sustainable tourism and traditional handicrafts can create meaningful careers. Through mentoring, professional internships and immersive field visits, the participants developed an understanding of how to become active stewards of their environment and their future.

Five professional internships in the fields of sustainable tourism, traditional craftsmanship, agrotourism and local entrepreneurship provided hands-on experience in green sectors, and five youth-led storytelling initiatives are now sharing the magic of the Albanian Green Belt with a wider audience. The project has also fostered lasting partnerships between young people, local entrepreneurs and protected area managers through the internships.

The project has set an important precedent by creating tangible opportunities and offering hope to young people in the region. It has shown them an alternative to leaving their heritage behind, and they are becoming the new guardians of the region’s biodiversity. Their journey proves that when we empower the next generation, we are not just protecting a landscape — we are planting the seeds for a thriving, living future.

 

The project "Nature Heritage Incubator: Cultivating Futures in the Albanian Green Belt" was implemented from November 2024 to June 2026 by the Albanian Center for Environmental Governance (ACEG) in collaboration with Korça Alpin and was funded by the BESTbelt project.