Protected areas of Albania
Network of protected areas in Albania, 2014
The protected areas of Albania comprise a number of various current designations across the territory of the country. The national policy for governing and management of the protected areas is implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism through the National Agency of Protected Areas of Albania (AKZM). Currently, there are 799 protected areas[1] including 14 national parks, 1 marine park, 2 nature reserves, 22 managed nature reserves, 5 protected landscapes and 770 other protected areas of various categories.[2][3][4] Further a biosphere reserve, 3 world heritage sites, 4 ramsar sites, 45 important plant areas and 16 important bird areas are located in Albania.[5][6][7][8][9] Meanwhile, the Albanian government has proclaimed the Coastline of Albania and the Tirana Greenbelt as areas of national importance.[10]
However, protected areas are being threatened by illegal logging, forest fires, and the construction of hydroelectric power plants which have prompted several protests from environmentalists and civil society, meanwhile the logging and hunting moratorium has somewhat successfully revived the fauna and flora of some protected areas.
In 2020, the Albania Government revamped the protected areas map by changing designations, coverage areas, and by adding new areas to the network such as the Vjosa River.[11][12][13]
List of protected areas[]
| Name | Photo | Area | Established | CDDA-Sitecode | Location | Map |
IUCN Category I[] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gashi River Nature Reserve Rezerva Natyrore e Lumit të Gashit |
 |
3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) | 1996[14] | 101471 | Tropojë |   |
| Rrajcë Nature Reserve Rezerva Natyrore e Rrajcës |
 |
2,130 hectares (5,300 acres) | /2008[15] | 101473 | Librazhd | |
IUCN Category II[] | ||||||
| Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park Parku Detar Karaburun-Sazan |
 |
12,570.82 hectares (31,063.2 acres) | 2010 | 555513696 | Vlorë | |
| Butrint National Park Parku Kombëtar i Butrintit |
 |
9,424.4 hectares (23,288 acres) | 2000 | 181966 | Sarandë | |
| Divjaka-Karavasta National Park Parku Kombëtar Divjakë-Karavasta |
 |
22,230 hectares (54,900 acres) | 2007 | 4679 | Fier, Lushnjë, Kavajë | |
| Theth National Park Parku Kombëtar i Thethit |
 |
2,630 hectares (6,500 acres) | 1966 | 12444 | Shkodër | |
| Llogara National Park Parku Kombëtar i Llogarasë |
 |
1,010 hectares (2,500 acres) | 1966 | 11667 | Vlorë | |
| Prespa National Park Parku Kombëtar i Prespës |
 |
27,750 hectares (68,600 acres) | 1999 | 181967 | Korçë | |
| Dajti National Park Parku Kombëtar i Dajtit |
 |
29,384.18 hectares (72,609.9 acres) | 1966 | 344 | Tirana | |
| Shebenik-Jablanica National Park Parku Kombëtar Shebenik-Jabllanicë |
 |
33,927.7 hectares (83,837 acres) | 2008 | 555513697 | Librazhd | |
| Tomorr National Park Parku Kombëtar i Tomorrit |
 |
26,106 hectares (64,510 acres) | 1996 | 346 | Berat, Gramsh, Skrapar | |
| Lurë-Dejës Mt National Park Parku Kombëtar Lurë-Mali i Dejës |
 |
20,242 hectares (50,020 acres) | 1966 | 345 | Dibër | |
| Valbonë Valley National Park Parku Kombëtar Lugina e Valbonës |
 |
8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) | 1996 | 101424 | Tropojë | |
| Fir of Hotova-Dangell National Park Parku Kombëtar Bredhi i Hotovës |
 |
34,361.1 hectares (84,908 acres) | 2008 | 101425 | Përmet | |
| Shtamë Pass National Park Parku Kombëtar i Qafë Shtamës |
 |
2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) | 1996 | 101427 | Krujë | |
| Fir of Drenova National Park Parku Kombëtar Bredhi i Drenovës |
 |
1,380 hectares (3,400 acres) | 1966 | 62072 | Korçë | |
IUCN Category III[] | ||||||
| Blue Eye Syri i Kaltër |
 |
180 hectares (440 acres) | 1996 | 101466 | Delvinë | |
| Ksamil Islands Ishujt e Ksamilit |
 |
15 hectares (37 acres) | 2002 | 181969 | Sarandë | |
| Grama Bay Gjiri i Gramës |
 |
5 hectares (12 acres) | 2002 | 182122 | Vlorë | |
| Delta of Palasë Delta e Përroit të Palasës |
 |
0.5 hectares (1.2 acres) | 2002 | 182078 | Vlorë | |
| Black Lake, Martanesh Liqeni i Zi |
 |
0.8 hectares (2.0 acres) | 2002 | 182253 | Dibër | |
| Korab Plain Rrafsh i Korabit |
 |
0.2 hectares (0.49 acres) | 2002 | 182428 | Dibër | |
| Pirates Cave Shpella e Piratëve |
 |
2 hectares (4.9 acres) | 2002 | 182611 | Vlorë | |
| Bënjë hot springs Ujërat Termale të Bënjës |
 |
0.6 hectares (1.5 acres) | 2002 | 182674 | Përmet | |
| Landslide of Këllez Rrëshqitja e Këllezit |
 |
540 hectares (1,300 acres) | 2002 | 182537 | Gjirokastër | |
| Kakomë Bay Gjiri i Kakomës |
 |
5 hectares (12 acres) | 2002 | 182122 | Vlorë, Sarandë | |
| Forests of Zvërnec Pyll i Zvërnecit |
 |
7 hectares (17 acres) | 2002 | 182403 | Vlorë | |
| Hill of Muzina Bokërrimat e Muzinës |
 |
4 hectares (9.9 acres) | 2002 | 182005 | Delvinë | |
| Hill of Vuno Bokërrimat e Vunoit |
 |
10 hectares (25 acres) | 2002 | 182011 | Vlorë | |
IUCN Category IV[] | ||||||
| Lake Shkodër Nature Reserve Parku Natyror i Menaxhuar Liqeni i Shkodrës |
 |
26,535 hectares (65,570 acres) | 2005 | 332697 | Shkodër | |
| Korab-Koritnik Nature Park Parku Natyror i Korab-Koritnikut |
 |
5,500.70 hectares (13,592.5 acres) | 2011[16] | 555560373 | Dibër, Kukës | |
| Nikaj-Mërtur Regional Nature Park Parku Natyror Rajonal Nikaj-Mërtur |
 |
17,505 hectares (43,260 acres) | 2008 | - | Tropojë | |
| Bogovë Nature Park Parku Natyror i Bogovës |
 |
330 hectares (820 acres) | 1977 | 11681 | Skrapar | |
| Kunë-Vain-Tale Nature Park Parku Natyror Kunë-Vain-Tale |
 |
330 hectares (820 acres) | 2010 | 11661 | Lezhë | |
| Ulza Lake Nature Park Parku Natyror Rajonal i Liqenit të Ulzës |
 |
4,206 hectares (10,390 acres) | 2013 | 555560372 | Mat | |
| Shkreli Regional Nature Park Parku Natyror Rajonal i Shkrelit |
 |
20,282 hectares (50,120 acres) | 2015 | Malësi e Madhe | | |
| Kthella Regional Nature Park Parku Natyror Rajonal i Kthelles |
9,400 hectares (23,000 acres) | 2015 | Mat | | ||
| Zagoria Nature Park Parku Natyror i Zagorise |
24,590 hectares (60,800 acres) | 2018 | Gjirokastër | | ||
| Fierza Lake Regional Nature Park Parku Natyror Rajonal i Liqenit te Fierzes |
 |
8,169 hectares (20,190 acres) | 2014 | Kukës | | |
IUCN Category V[] | ||||||
| Mali me Gropa-Bizë-Martanesh Protected Landscape Peisazhi i Mbrojtur Mali me Gropa-Bizë-Martanesh |
 |
25,266.42 hectares (62,434.7 acres) | 2007 | 101458 | Bulqizë, Mat, Tirana | |
| Buna River-Velipoja Protected Landscape Peisazhi i Mbrojtur Lumi Buna-Velipojë |
 |
23,027 hectares (56,900 acres) | 2005 | 332698 | Shkodër | |
| Canyon of Gjipe Protected Landscape Peisazhi i Mbrojtur Kanioni i Gjipesë |
 |
1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) | 2002 | 182182 | Vlorë | |
| Kraste-Verjon Protected Landscape Peisazhi i Mbrojtur Krastë-Verjon |
 |
1,469.24 hectares (3,630.6 acres) | 2018 | Kruje | | |
IUCN Category VI[] | ||||||
| Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape Peisazhi i Mbrojtur Vjosë-Nartë |
 |
19,412 hectares (47,970 acres) | 2004 | 19738 | Vlorë | |
| Guri i Nikës Resource Reserve Rezerva Natyrore e Gurit të Nikës |
 |
2,200 hectares (5,400 acres) | 1996 | 101463 | Pogradec | |
Biosphere Reserves[]
| Name | Photo | Area | Established | District | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Ohër-Prespë Rëzervë Biosfere |
 |
446,244.52 hectares (1,102,694.2 acres) | 2014 | Korçë | |
Archaeological Parks[]
| Name | Photo | Area | County | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amantia[17] |  |
15 hectares (37 acres) | Vlorë County | |
| Antigonia |  |
92 hectares (230 acres) | Gjirokastër County | |
| Apollonia |  |
140 hectares (350 acres) | Fier County | |
| Byllis |  |
30 hectares (74 acres) | Fier County | |
| Lissus |  |
22 hectares (54 acres) | Lezhë County | |
| Oricum |  |
694 hectares (1,710 acres) | Vlorë County | |
| Phoenice |  |
57 hectares (140 acres) | Vlorë County | |
| Shkodër |  |
70 hectares (170 acres) | Shkodër County | |
References[]
- ^ "Initial assessment of protected areas in Albania" (PDF). iucn.org. pp. 1–12.
- ^ "Protected Areas System in Albania" (PDF). tap-ag.com. p. 5.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-01-12. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "RRJETI I ZONAVE TË MBROJTURA NË SHQIPËRI" (PDF). mjedisi.gov.al (in Albanian).
- ^ UNESCO. "Ohrid-Prespa". unesco.org.
- ^ UNESCO. "Albania". whc.unesco.org.
- ^ Ramsar Convention. "ALBANIA" (PDF). ramsar.org.
- ^ "Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region" (PDF). portals.iucn.org. p. 76.
- ^ BirdLife International. "Albania". datazone.birdlife.org.
- ^ "Baza Ligjore | APR Tirana". Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ "FLETORJA ZYRTARE" (PHP). planifikimi.gov.al. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
- ^ "STUDIM PËR RIVLERËSIMIN ESISTEMIT" (PDF). akzm.gov.al. 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
- ^ "Map" (PDF). gazetasi.al. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
- ^ Euronatur. "Report of the Excursion to Ancient Beech Forests in Albania and Macedonia" (PDF). euronatur.org. p. 9.
- ^ Euronatur. "BEECH FORESTS ALONG THE GREEN BELT ALBANIA" (PDF). euronatur.org. p. 9.
- ^ "Korab - Koritnik Natural Park Management Plan" (PDF). researchgate.net. p. 9.
- ^ "Archaeological Parks of Albania". archeoparks-albania.com.
External links[]
- National Agency of Protected Areas (AKZM) - Official Website (English)
- National Parks Portal Official Website
- Official Coastal Agency Website (Albanian)
 Topics related to the Protected areas of Albania | |||||||||
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Categories:
- Protected areas of Albania
- Albania geography-related lists