Bulletin No. 5
Led by the Ministry of Environment, Albania is developing its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the country’s main policy document for guiding biodiversity conservation, restoration and sustainable use. The NBSAP connects Albania’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework with the country’s European Union integration process and the requirements of the EU nature acquis.
On 10 June 2026, the EU4Nature project held a workshop in Tirana on the designation of Natura 2000 sites in Albania. The event brought together representatives of institutions responsible for nature conservation and technical experts, focusing on the knowledge and capacities needed to prepare Albania’s Natura 2000 network.
On 5 June 2026, UNESCO included Lake Shkodra in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. This international recognition highlights the ecological, landscape and cultural importance of one of the region’s most significant freshwater ecosystems, shared by Albania and Montenegro.
Four years have passed since the marine and coastal ecosystem of Porto Palermo Bay was officially designated as a Category IV Natural Park on 29 July 2022. Covering 1,694.98 hectares, the protected area brings together 1,490.4 hectares of marine waters and 204.58 hectares of terrestrial habitats, creating a rare ecological connection between land and sea.
Porto Palermo is a landscape where biodiversity, history and cultural heritage are closely interwoven. Its coastal waters, rocky shores, Mediterranean vegetation and historic features form one of Albania’s most distinctive natural and cultural seascapes.
Beneath its clear waters, extensive meadows of Posidonia oceanica provide essential habitat, feeding grounds and nursery areas for marine organisms. These seagrass ecosystems also contribute to coastal protection, carbon storage and the maintenance of water quality, making their conservation important for both biodiversity and climate resilience.