Through the Youth4Nature initiative, young environmental professionals have been engaged in to the protection and sustainable management of Albania’s natural heritage. Twenty junior experts were engaged across ten pilot protected areas of the
project, where they worked alongside protected area staff, supported day-to-day management activities, and gained hands-on experience in conservation practice and field-based work.
As part of their engagement in protected areas, Youth4Nature participants played an important role in environmental education and outreach. They delivered awareness sessions in schools, promoted nature-friendly practices among younger generations, and took part in clean-up actions within protected areas helping translate environmental awareness into visible, on-the-ground action.
Creativity and innovation were also central to the initiative. Through the national “Observation Towers” competition, architecture students were invited to design environmentally sensitive structures that enhance visitor experience while respecting protected area values. The winning concepts will be implemented by the Ministry of Environment and the National Agency of Protected Areas, ensuring that youth ideas move beyond design and become tangible contributions to nature conservation.