2013
Double interview: the view of local collaborators
Capacity building is one of the main tasks of IUCN’s “Institutional support for Protected Areas in Albania”project. International experts work closely on the ground with local partners, who are a valuable source of information and knowledge on the local context, to develop the capacity building activities. Through the project, local trainees are “learning by doing” while working on data collection and management plans creation. The local collaborators, Mr. Bajram Kullolli, Forest District Service specialist, member of the Plant Ecology Unit and Alsida Myrtaj, NGO “For a Healthier Albania” involved in the work of Socio-Economic Development Unit share their experiences. …
15 May 2013 | Article
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A vision for the sea
Sazani Island – Karaburun Peninsula is the first marine protected area in Albania, declared in 2010 as a result of an UNDP assisted project. In order to ensure the proper management of this area and to expand the marine protected areas network, a new project is currently implemented on the central and local governance level. Non-governmental and community-based organizations are considered important partners in the project implementation. …
15 May 2013 | Article
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Agricultural land abandonment and biodiversity
Rural landscape constantly changes replying to human demands and socio-economic challenges. Farming practices in fertile and accessible land, usually lowlands, are increasingly intensified, while mountains’ farming systems become marginalized and abandoned. Two years project lead by University of Ioannina, Greece analysed the impact of agricultural abandonment on landscape structure, vegetation and farmland birds in South-Eastern Europe. The 72 sites in the Balkans were a part of the research, 12 in Albania and 20 in Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece. …
15 May 2013 | Article
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Winter bird monitoring in Buna River Protected Landscape
IUCN expert Francesca Pella, supported by the ornithologist Mikel Salvador Corres from Spain led water bird monitoring exercises in the Buna river Protected Landscape with the team of wildlife trainees last January. The group learned about the bird migration concept, a key topic that explains the importance of wintering sites and justifies the conservation of the Buna river wetlands. The next water bird monitoring session was held end of March, with the support of Borut Stumberger and Peter Sackl from Euronatur. …
15 May 2013 | Article
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Towards sustainable tourism
Last years’ decentralization process in Albania has made an impact on the local administration, including the protected areas. Development and management plans implementation require a strong institutional collaboration platform. Mr. Astrit Xhafa, Mayor of Lunik Commune in Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Park shares his thoughts on challenges and benefits that the life in a protected area brings. …
15 May 2013 | Article
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Ecosystems are transboundary
In early 2013, two bordering provinces of Thailand and Cambodia discussed possible transboundary collaboration. A group of 34 representatives from communities, academy, local government offices in Trat, as well as a team of the Sustainable Development Foundation and IUCN, travelled to Koh Kong, Cambodia to meet with H.E. Say Socheat, Deputy Governor of Koh Kong province, and other officials, as part of the European Union funded project Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts in Coastal Southeast Asia (BCR). …
15 May 2013 | Article
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Standards developed by IUCN adopted in Albanian law
The Albanian Minister of Environment, Mr Fatmir Mediu, signed the Order N. 148 on 21.2.2013 which gives legal force to the standardized structure of management plans for the protected area prepared by the working group headed by IUCN within the framework of the “Institutional Support for Protected Areas in Albania” project. The Minister’s Order states that when elaborating a protected area management plan proposal, all institutions are legally obliged to use the approved standard structure as the base document. …
15 May 2013 | Article
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Conservation royalty awarded IUCN’s highest award
Distinguished conservationist, Sir David Attenborough, received the John C. Phillips Memorial Medal earlier this week at a special presentation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London. …
15 May 2013 | News story
Strong core of leaders selected for IUCN World Parks Congress
A strong core of leaders has been decided for the main programme streams at the IUCN World Parks Congress, to be held in Sydney, Australia in November 2014. Held under the theme ‘Parks, People, Planet: Inspiring Solutions’, the Congress will help set the agenda for protected areas for the next ten years. …
15 May 2013 | Article
Action is needed to preserve the world’s most inspiring natural sites
IUCN recommends taking action to tackle major threats to natural sites ahead of the 37th World Heritage Committee this June, including the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania. …
15 May 2013 | News story
