This page provides a preliminary summary
on the following items for Albania:
- General features
- Spatial planning
- Environment
- Nature Conservation
- Sectoral Development
- Framework for Development of ICZM
- National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
- Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM
General features
The Albanian coastline is 530 km long. It includes
the southeastern and southernmost shores of the Adriatic Sea,
then the eastern side of the Strait of Otranto connecting
the Adriatic and Ionion seas, and the northernmost Ionian
shores that is a shoreline of 472 km from the Bunë estuary
at the Yugoslav frontier up to the Stilo cape in the Kékira
(Corfu) channel at the Greek frontier.
The Adriatic coast is generally low with many
lagoons and beaches. The process of accumulation is great
because the rivers bring enormous quantities of solid materials
and the Adriatic sea is shallow. The coastline has continuously
developed in seaward direction,
especially during the last decades. This process has led to
a rapid development of lagoons such as Velipoja, Kunea-Merxhani,
Patok and Karavasta, formed in connection with the deltas
of the rivers Buna, Drinit, Matit, Ishmit, Shkumbin, Seman
and Vjosa.
The Ionian coast is high and dominated by cliffs,
except for some zones around river mouths. Along the Ionian
coast erosion prevails. This is why rugged cliffs and sometimes
caves have developed , e.g at Karaburun, Dhermi and Himarë.
The climate of the Albanian coasts are of a
Mediterranean type. Precipitation is rather abundant with
annual averages of c. 1300 mm with a Mediterranean distribution-
a winter or autumn maximum and a summ minimum with 2 to 3
dry months. The central coastal lowlands are the driest area,
often receiving less than 1000 mm and with a marked dry period
in summer. The northwestern areas receive 1100 to 2000 mm
and the rainiest maritime area in Keravnës coast in southern
Albania receiving an annual amount of 1600 to 2000 mm. Temperatures
arel of a Mediterranean type, with annual averages increasing
from c. 15ºC on the northernmost coasts up to 18ºC
on the southernmost ones. Winter frosts and snow are very
rare on the Albanian seashores; the northernmost coast has
about one day annually with frost or snow and the Keravnës
coast none at all. Main coastal wind types of Albanian coasts
are the dry, cold bora from the northeast, this being the
strongest on the northwestern coasts, then a stormy dry-warm
föhn from the east or southeast called “havaja” and the
wet warm sirocco (south to southwest) from the open Mediterranean
being the strongest on the Keravnës coast and in the
Strait of Otranto. Thus the most stormy shores in Albania
are the island of Sazan, the Karaburun Peninsula and the Skënderbeut
promontory.
The more ancient archaeological vestiges of
human life in Albania discovered up to now, date from about
100.000- 30.000 years ago; they are located in Xarra, a village
near Saranda. There are many archaeological centers in Albania,
mostly along the coast, e.g. Dryly (Doors), Apologia, Orin,
Buthroti (Butrinti) and Aulona (6t-5th century B.C) These
sites are testimonies an ancient civilization with characteristic
features of the Illyrian culture, of great interest with respect
to the architectonic and urbanistic development of Illyria.
1. Spatial planning
1.1 Legislation and Regulations
- Law on Physical Planning, (1993).
- The regulation of urban planning of the development of
tourism in the Divjaka-Karavasta coastal area, decision
36, (1994)
1.2 Administrative Competencies
The Ministry of Construction, Housing and Territory
Settlements is the highest organ at the national level within
the field of spatial planning. The Ministry of Public Affairs,
Territory Regulation and Tourism also plays a significant role
within the field of land management together with its institutions
(e.g. the Land Institution).
1.3 Coastal Policy
No information received.
2. Environment
2.1 Legislation and Regulations
- Law on Environmental Protection, (1993).
- Ministerial Act no. 321 on a coastal protection belt
along the Albanian coast, (1992).
- Decision on Hazardous Waste.
- Other by-laws and draft laws are being prepared. [3]
2.2 Administrative Competencies
The Committee for Environmental Protection and
Preservation (CEPP) is a national institution designated by
the Albanian Government in 1991 to act as a general national
co-ordinator for national institutions and experts. At present
the CEPP is acting as an autonomous body within the Ministry
of Health. Officials in both the CEPP and the ministry would
like the CEPP to become independent as soon as feasible.
Other ministries involved are the Ministry of Agriculture and
Food (collection and deposit of harmful wastes), and its directorates
for forestry and fisheries.[4] The Ministry of Public Works,
Territory Adjustment and Tourism is responsible for the decision-making
within the field of solid waste and sanitation and the administration
and implementation of water strategies.[5]
After recognising the need for monitoring and policy development
capability at the local level, the Government established Regional
Environmental Agencies (REA’s) in each of the 12 prefectures
in Albania. These structures are developed by the CEPP.[6]
2.3 Environmental Policy
- A national Waste Management Plan and a National Water
Strategy have been developed with assistance from PHARE
Environment 1993.
3. Nature Conservation
3.1 Legislation and Regulations
- Law on Environmental Protection, (1993).
- Law on Plant Protection Service, (1993).
- Ministerial Act no.321 on a coastal protection belt along
the Albanian coast, (1992).
- Forestry Law, (1993).
- Decision on Hazardous Waste.[7]
3.2 Administrative Competencies
Also for nature conservation the Committee for
Environmental Protection and Preservation (CEPP) is the acting
general national co-ordinator for national institutions and
experts. At present the CEPP is acting as an autonomous body
within the Ministry of Health.
Other ministries involved are the Ministry of Agriculture and
Food (collection and deposit of harmful wastes), and its directorates
for forestry and fisheries.[8]
After recognising the need for monitoring and policy development
capability at the local level, the Government established Regional
Environmental Agencies (REA’s) in each of the 12 prefectures
in Albania. These structure are developed by the CEPP.
3.3 System of Protected Areas
Nature reserves, national parks, marine reserves
and scenic landscapes are the protected areas in Albania.[9]
4. Sectoral Development
4.1 Coastal Defence
No information received.
4.2 Recreation and Tourism
As a result of the government’s isolationist policies,
Albania had no tourist industry until recently. However, the
country’s Mediterranean coastline and mostly unspoiled mountainous
interior offer great tourist potential. An estimated 30,000
tourists visited Albania in 1990, an increase of more than 50%
over 1989; the number continued to grow in the mid-1990’s. The
major tourist destinations include Tirana, the southern coastal
areas, the northern mountains and several archaeological sites.
Most tourists are Albanian emigrants from the West as well as
Greeks, Italians, Germans and other western Europeans. The country’s
one international airport, near Tirana, was renovated in 1996.[10]
4.3 Fisheries and Aquaculture
Currently, the Albanian commercial fishery is
underdeveloped due to its lack of national attention in comparison
to agriculture and forestry. Modern fishing and aquaculture
activities are relatively new to the region and cannot compare
to the existing infrastructure in the agricultural sector. However,
according to the South Coastal Region’s climatic regime and
available water resources, there are opportunities to develop
a viable commercial fishery. It should be recognised that coastal
and inland commercial fisheries can provide an immediate economic
revitalisation in terms of the revenues generated through commercial
licensing fees, seafood markets, and the taxation on fishery
exports. Among the main issues is the lack of implementation
of legislation to abolish dynamite fishing and other illegal
practices leading to overfishing, the lack of appropriate fishing
gear, fleet and harbour, and the lack of stock assessment studies
allowing a real management of the resource.
4.4 Transport
The main traffic axis through the Adriatic coastal
zone leads from Tirana through Laçi, Lezha and Bushat
to Shkodra. Most important commercial and industrial centres
of the Adriatic coastal plain are located at or close to the
main road. Assuming that the economy of the country will improve
in coming years, large growth of road traffic (mainly business)
is anticipated, and therefor improvement or widening of the
main road is inevitable. Apart from main roads, the secondary
road network is required to satisfy logistical requirements
associated with the economic market. Currently the feeder network
is in poor condition.
Presently, a single-track railway leads almost parallel to the
main road and thus connects the major urban and industrial developments
in the coastal plain. In particular, from an environmental point
of view, expansion of the railway-network will be necessary
with road traffic growing. Especially freight traffic must be
increasingly taken off roads and will thus have to rely more
on railway facilities.
Rinasi Airport in the northern outskirts of Tirana represents
the only international civil airport in Albania. From there,
road transportation to tourism development areas near the coast
takes several hours.
4.5 Harbours and Shipping
Seaports are required to allow for accessibility
to the Albanian coast from the sea. This will be particularly
crucial as long as accessibility by air, road or railway transportation
does not satisfy the demand. Presently, the only international
seaport in Albania is located in Dürresi, and Vlora is
the main seaport servicing the South Coastal Region. Although
the secondary ports do not handle much traffic, they are of
great value to tourism (sport fishing) and to accessibility
to the remote shorelines. [11]
4.6 Industry
No information received.
4.7 Agriculture
Following a sharp decline in agricultural production
after the collapse of the centralised system, Albania became
dependent on food aid imports. Nevertheless, especially in the
last two years, the country has achieved enormous progress towards
reforming the agricultural sector. Already, practically all
of the land previously controlled by state-run co-operatives
and state farms has been fully privatised and major reforms
in price and trade liberalisation have been achieved. As a result,
for the last year agriculture has been growing at an annual
rate of more than 14%. Agriculture and associated rural economic
activities presently account for over 50% of GDP and employment
and the sector has been a contributor to the resumption of GDP
growth in 1993, 1994 and 1995. However, agricultural production
remains mainly subsistence oriented.[12]
5. Framework for Development of ICZM
In May 1990, the government of Albania signed
the Barcelona Convention and its four related protocols. Upon
signing these documents, a number of activities were launched
within the framework of the Albanian programme of participation
in the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP). At the meeting of the
Scientific-Technical Committee of MAP held in 1991, the Albanian
delegation proposed that Coastal Area Management Programme (CAMP)
would be initiated in 1992. The proposal was approved by the
Seventh Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona
Convention and its Related Protocols in Cairo in 1991. In 1992
a draft agreement for the CAMP was co-signed by the Albanian
Government and MAP at the end of 1992. The implementation of
CAMPs thus pursues the task set as matter of priority at the
Conference of the United Nations on the Environment and Development
(UNCED) with its ‘Agenda 21’, which was held in Rio de Janeiro
in 1992. The Ramsar Convention on protection of the habitats
of migratory birds and the ECE Convention on the Protection
and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
have also been signed and ratified.[13]
6. National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
- Elaboration of a National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP)
in 1993 aiming at the integration of environmental protection
in the development programmes of different economic and
social sectors.
- In the first quarter of 1993, establishment of Regional
Environmental Agencies has been endorsed.
- A research study focussing on coastal zone management
in June 1993. Financing from UNEP has enabled Albania to
start the Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management
(ICAM).
- In 1993, the CEPP produced the Environmental Strategy
Study in co-operation with the World Bank.
- A national Waste Management Plan and a National Water
Strategy have been developed with assistance from PHARE
Environment 1993.
- Elaboration of a tourism strategy focussing on sustainable
development.[14]
7. Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM
- While the law specifically states that the CEPP is the
focal point for any environmental matter, existing rules
do not provide CEPP with adequate instruments to perform
this function. Also little co-ordination between other ministries
and institutions involved in environmental management.[15]
- In general, environmental legislation is lacking or totally
inadequate, because most of them date back to the 60s.
- The CEPP is severely understaffed, it only employs seven
professional staff members.
- The absence of an organisational structure.
- The lack of professional knowledge and skills.
- The disability of the local authorities to manage the
coastal territory.
- No systematic analyses of the causes and effects of environmental
degradation in Albania have been undertaken until now.
- Little effort has been made to study the importance of
strengthening the legal and institutional framework for
environmental management.[16]
References
| 3 |
UNEP/MAP/PAP/RAC: ‘Outline of the Coastal Area Management
Programme of Albania’, Tirana, Albania, 1994. |
| 4 |
World Bank / Government of Albania: Environmental review
and environmental strategy studies, Oct. 1992. |
| 5 |
See footer 1. |
| 6 |
http://www.un.org |
| 7 |
UNEP/MAP/PAP/RAC: ‘Outline of the Coastal Area Management
Programme of Albania’, Tirana, Albania, 1994. |
| 8 |
World Bank / Government of Albania: Environmental review
and environmental strategy studies, Oct. 1992. |
| 9 |
http://www.un.org |
| 10 |
http://www.albinfo.com/albtravel.html |
| 11 |
PAP.DMI: ‘Albania CZM Plan: final Report – Phase one’,
july1995. |
| 12 |
http://www.un.org |
| 13 |
UNEP/MAP/PAP/RAC: ‘Outline of the Coastal Area Management
Programme of Albania’, Tirana, Albania, 1994. |
| 14 |
Management of Coastal Lagoons in Albania: proceedings
of International Seminar held in Tirana, 1994. EUCC, Leiden,
1996. |
| 15 |
World Bank / Government of Albania: Environmental review
and environmental strategy studies, Oct. 1992. |
| 16 |
UNEP/MAP/PAP/RAC: ‘Outline of the Coastal Area Management
Programme of Albania’, Tirana, Albania, 1994. |
Prepared by Martijn Onderstal at EUCC International Secretariat
