Strasbourg, 20 March 2006 T-PVS/Emerald (2006) 3

[T-PVS/Emerald03e_06 ] English only

CONVENTION ON THE conservation of EUROPEAN wildlife

and natural habitats

Group of Experts for the setting up

of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest

---ooOoo---

Second Emerald Network Pilot Project in Albania

- Report-

SECOND EMERALD PROJECT IN ALBANIA

First report

February 2006

Contents

1. Background ………………………………………………………… 3

2. Development of the network of protected areas in the country .… 3

3. Update on the legislation related to the protection of wildlife and natural habitats………………………………………………………… 5

4. National workshop…………………………………..……………… 5

5. Selection of sites ……………………………………………………. 6

6. List of Emerald habitats in Albania ……………….……………… 8

7. Description of sites

7.1 Managed nature reserve of the Albanian part of Shkodra Lake…… 11

7.2 Enlarged Dajti national Park (proposed) …………………………15

7.3 Protected landscape of the Wetland complex Vjose-Narte …………18

8. Work table …………………………………………………………. 24

9. Financial statement of expenditure ……………………………….. 24

1. Background

Albania as a party to the Bern Convention from 1999, has continued the work for the setting-up of the Emerald network of the Areas of Special Conservation interest as stated in the Group of Emerald experts meeting in Dubrovnik (Croatia) in October 2003.

In 2005 there have been some institutional changes regarding the environment and its management following the general elections of July 2005. So, from November 2005 the Ministry of Environment became the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Management taking on board forests, fishing and water management structures including the management of protected areas as well as hunting ctivities. We see these changes as a chance for a better management and conservation of natural resources in general and forests and protected areas in particular, in order to ensure the compliance with the sustainable development principle.

2. Development of the network of protected areas in the country

Important areas identified as such by the group of specialists for habitats and species conservation and to implement the Biodiversity Strategy and Action plan 2000, have been designated as protected areas of different categories.

So, the Protected marine/terrestrial Landscape of the wetland area Vjose-Narte was designated by the DCM no. 680, dated 22.10.2004 with covering an area of 19.412 ha. This was the first protected area with a marine protected part in Albania.

In 2005, two new sites and the enlargement of a National park were designated resulting in an increase of the protected areas coverage by 55.632 ha. They are as follows:

- Managed nature reserve of the Albanian part of Shkodra Lake – designated by DCM no. 684,dated 02.11.2005;

- Protected landscape of Buna river and its surroundings – designated by DCM no. 682, dated 02.11.2005;

- Ramasar site designation for Shkodra lake and Buna river and its surroundings, no 683 , dated 02.11.2005.

Following these new designations the protected area coverage increased to 238.322 ha or 8, 29 % of the country, a figure which represents an increase of about 2 percent for the last two years (2004 -2006).

For 2006 the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Management has planned and has just started work on two important sites: the enlargement of Dajti National park which will increase to 29.347 ha from 3.300 ha and the enlargement of Divjaka National Park to Divjaka-Karavasta National Park of 22.000, 28 ha, comprising around 7.154 ha of marine and wetland habitats.

Albania will make a significant progress in the next five years trying to achieve the 15 % of the country to be designated as protected areas, in order to be in line with other EU countries and recommendations of the European Commission.

3. Update on the legislation related to the protection of wildlife and natural habitats

From beginning of 2003 when the pilot project was finished, a number of Decisions of the Council of Ministers (DCM) and some revisions of the existing laws, has taken place, as follows:

Law no. 9219, date 08.02.2004 concerning some additions and changes in the Law no.7875, dated 23.11.2003 “On the protection of wild fauna and hunting”;

Law 8870, dated 21.03.2003 concerning some additions and changes in the law no.7908, dated 05.04.2002 “On the fishing and aquaculture”;

Law no. 9382, dated 04.05.2005 “On the forests and the forestry service”;

Law no. 9103, dated 10.07.2003 “On the protection of transboundary lakes”;

DCM no. 266, dated 24.04.2003 “Concerning the administration of Protected areas”;

DCM no. 267, dated 24.04.2003 “Concerning procedures regulating proposal and declaration of protected and buffer zones”;

4. National workshop

The national workshop in cooperation with the European Environment Agency and the Council of Europe was held in Tirana on 16-17 January 2006. Mr. Marc Roekaerts and Mr. Lauri Klein consultants of EEA and COE participated in the workshop.

The national team of experts that worked for the implementation of the pilot project is involved with the second phase. There only one addition a GIS expert that will work with the mapping of the selected sites.

The team of experts held two meetings one in October to select the sites for the first report and another one in December to get all the data checked and to resolve any problems experts had experienced during their work with new sites.

5. Selection of sites

In the second phase of development of the Emerald network in Albania three potential Areas of Special Conservation Interest were selected based on the criteria listed in the Resolution no.16 (1989). Together with the sites designated in the pilot project, they count for about 40 % of the total Emerald Network in Albania.

Site code	Name in Albanian	Name in English	IUCN category	Size
AL 0000007	Rezerva natyrore e menaxhuar e liqenit te Shkodres	Managed nature reserve of the Albanian part of Shkodra lake	IV	26.535 ha
AL 0000008	Peizazhi i mbrojtur i sistemit ligatinor Vjose-Narte	Protected landscape of the wetland complex of Vjose-Narte	V	19.412 ha
AL 0000009	Parku Kombetar i Dajtit (i propozuar)	Enlarged national park of Dajti (proposed)	II (proposed)	29.347 ha

List of biogeographical regions in Albania

1. Meditarranean

2. Alpine

6. List of Emerald habitats in Albania

1 . COASTAL AND HALOPHYTIC COMMUNITIES

11. OCEANAND SEAS, MARINE COMMUNITIES

11.2 Benthic communities
! 11.22 Sublittoral soft seabeds
! 11.24 Sublittoral rocky seabeds and kelp forests
! 11.25 Sublittoral organogenic concretions
! 11.3 Sea-grass meadows

11.4 Brackish sea vascular vegetation

12. SEA INLETS AND COASTAL FEATURES

! 12.7 Sea-caves

! 14. MUD FLATS AND SAND FLATS

15. SALTMARSHES, SALT STEPPES, SALT SCRUBS, SALT FORESTS

15.1 Annual salt pioneer swards
! 15.5 Mediterranean salt meadows

! 15.6 Mediterraneo-Nemoral saltmarsh scrubs

! 15.8 Mediterranean salt steppes

16. COASTAL SAND DUNES AND SAND BEACHES

! 16.2 Dunes

! 16.3 Humid dune-slacks

17. SHINGLE BEACHES

2 . NON-MARINE WATERS

! 21. COASTAL LAGOONS

22. STANDING FRESH WATER

22.3 Amphibious communities
22.32 Euro-Siberian dwarf annual amphibious swards
! 22.341 Short Mediterranean amphibious swards

! 22.344 Serapias grasslands

22.4 Euhydrophyte communities
22.41 Free-floating vegetation
! 22.412 Frogbit rafts
22.43 Rooted floating vegetation
22.431 Floating broad-leaved carpets
22.432 Shallow-water floating communities
! 22.44 Chandalier algae submerged carpets

23. STANDING BRACKISH AND SALT WATER

24. RUNNING WATER

! 24.2 River gravel banks

3. SCRUB AND GRASSLAND

31. TEMPERATE HEATH AND SCRUB

! 31.2 European dry heaths

! 31.7 Hedgehog-heaths

32. SCLEROPHYLLOUS SCRUB

32.2 Thermo-Mediterranean shrub formations
! 32.22 Tree-spurge formations
! 33. PHRYGANA

34. STEPPES AND DRY CALCAREOUS GRASSLANDS

! 34.3 Dense perennial grasslands and middle European steppes

! 34.5 Mediterranean xeric grasslands

35. DRY SILICEOUS GRASSLANDS

35.1 Atlantic mat-grass swards and related communities

! 35.7 Mediterraneo-montane mat-grass swards

37. HUMID GRASSLAND AND TALL HERB COMMUNITIES

! 37.2 Eutrophic humid grasslands

! 37.4 Mediterranean tall humid grasslands

37.7 Humid tall herb fringes
! 37.713 Marsh mallow screens

38. MESOPHILE GRASSLANDS

38.2 Lowland high meadows

4 . FORESTS

41. BROAD-LEAVED DECIDUOUS FORESTS

! 41.1 Beech forests

! 41.2 Oak-hornbeam forests

! 41.4 Mixed ravine and slope forests

! 41.5 Acidophilous oak forests

! 41.7 Thermophilous and supra-Mediterranean oak woods

! 41.8 Mixed thermophilous forests

42. TEMPERATE CONIFEROUS FORESTS

42.1 Western Palaearctic fir forests
! 42.16 Southern Balkan silver fir forests
! 42.17 Balkano-Pontic fir forests

42.5 Western Palaearctic Scots pine forests

42.6 Black pine forests
! 42.62 Western Balkan Pinus nigra forests
! 42.63 Salzmann's pine forests
! 42.66 Banat and Pallas' pine forests

! 42.7 High oro-mediterranean pine forests

! 42.83 Stone pine forests
42.84 Aleppo pine forests

44. TEMPERATE RIVERINE AND SWAMP FORESTS AND BRUSH

! 44.1 Riparian willow formations

44.4 Mixed oak-elm-ash forests of great rivers
! 44.44 Po oak-ash-alder forests

! 44.7 Oriental plane and sweet gum woods

! 44.8 Southern riparian galleries and thickets

5. BOGS AND MARSHES

53. WATER-FRINGE VEGETATION

! 53.3 Fen-sedge beds

54.1 Springs
! 54.2 Rich fens

6 . INLAND ROCKS, SCREES AND SANDS

61. SCREES

61.3 Western Mediterranean and thermophilous screes

! 65. CAVES

7. Description of sites

7.1 Managed nature reserve of the Albanian part of Shkodra Lake

Site code: AL0000009

Area covered: 26.535 ha

Managed Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV), established by the Decision of Council of Minister No. 684, date 02.11.2005.

Shkodra Lake is the biggest lake in the Balkan peninsula. It is and important area for trans-boundary biodiversity protection (the Montenegrin part of the like is already designated as a National Park and a Ramsar site).

A glance of Shkodra Lake – Photo Zamir Dedej

The site includes a variety of habitats as the lake, under water meadows, floating meadows, peat lands, forests, etc. The site is an Important Bird Area for Europe hosting about 40 bird species, including the globally endangered specie of Phalacrocorax pygmeus. The lake is home for some 45 fish species including the endengered species of Acipenser sturio. The area is rich in aquatic vegetation including some endemic and endengered spesies like Nymphaea alba, Nuphar luteum, Nymphoides peltata, and Trapa natans.

The site is under continuous pressure from human activities occurring within the area. Their impact is damaging the natural values of the site causing irreversible habitat loss (especially water and coastal habitats important for bird breeding) by destruction of forests areas and uncontrolled urbanization. As result of these disturbances, there is a reduction of wildlife species especially migratory birds and mammals. The number and size of migratory bird population is very small compared to the Montenegrin part of the lake.

Shkodra Lake managed nature reserve species

Invertebrates

1. Euphydryas aurinia

2. Unio crassus

Amphibians

1. Testudo hermanni

2. Emys orbicularis

3. Muremys caspica

4. Elaphe quatorlineata

5. Elaphe situla

6. Triturus cristatus

7. Bombina variegata

Fish

1. Lampetra fluviatilis

2. Petromyzon marinus

3. Acipenser naccarii

4. Acipenser sturio

5. Alburnus albidus

6. Barbus meridionalis

7. Cobitis taenia

8. Misgurnus fossilis

Birds

1. Accipiter brevipes

2. Accipiter gentilis arrigonii

3. Accipiter nisus granti

4. Acrocephalus melanopogon

5. Alcedo atthis

6. Alectoris graeca saxatilis

7. Anthus campestris

8. Aquila chrysaetos

9. Ardea purpurea

10. Ardeola ralloides

11. Asio flammeus

12. Aythya nyroca

13. Botaurus stellaris

14. Branta ruficollis

15. Burhinus oedicnemus

16. Caprimulgus europaeus

17. Chlidonias hybridus

18. Chlidonia leucopterus

19. Chlidonias niger

20. Circaetus gallicus

21. Circus aeruginosus

22. Dendrocopos syriacus

23. Egretta alba

24. Egretta garzetta

25. Falco columbarius

26. Falco naumanni

27. Falco peregrinus

28. Falco vespertinus

29. Ficedula albicollis

30. Ficedula semitorquata

31. Gavia arctica

32. Gavia stellata

33. Glareola pratincola

34. Hieraaetus pennatus

35. Himantopus himantopus

36. Ixobrychus minutus

37. Lanius collurio

38. Larus melanocephalus

39. Lullula arborea

40. Mergus albellus

41. Milvus migrans

42. Milvus milvus

43. Nycticorax nycticorax

44. Pandion haliaetus

45. Pelecanus crispus

46. Perdix perdix italica

47. Pernis apivorus

48. Phalacrocorax pygmeus

49. Platalea leucorodia

50. Plegadis falcinellus

51. Pluvialis apricaria

52. Podiceps auritus

53. Sterna albifrons

54. Sterna caspia

55. Sterna hirundo

56. Sterna sandvicensis

57. Tetrax tetrax

58. Tringa glareola

Mammals

1. Rhinolophus blasii

2. Rhinolophus euryale

3. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

4. Rhinolophus hipposideros

5. Minopterus schreibersi

6. Myotris blythii

7. Myotis capaccinii

8. Myotis emarginatus

9. Myotis myotis

10. Lutra lutra

7.2 Enlarged Dajti national Park (proposed)

Site code: AL 0000007

Area covered: 29.347 ha

Dajti National Park is one of the most important natural areas of Albania because of its rich and diverse wildlife (plant and animals) heritage. This is largely explained by the geographical position of Dajti National Park (on the transition zone between Mediterranean and Central European Vegetation zones, its location near to the sea and the topography (high altitude amplitudes).

The wide range of habitats include Mediterranean shrubs (‘maquis’), mixed woodlands (oak forests, chestnut forests), beach forests, mixed forests of beech and fir, pine forests, grasslands, sub-alpine meadows, water reservoirs, streams and springs, wet meadows, cliffs, caves and so on.

In the total territory of Dajti National Park, a total of 655 vascular plant species have been identified, which is equivalent to about 20% of the entire Albanian flora, and inlcude some of the most endangered species such as Ramonda serbica, Taxus baccata, Satureja Montana, Pinus leucodermis.

Dajti National Park area is hosting 23 species of global conservation interest, including 14 species of mammals, 3 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibians and 4 species of insects.

Visitors center at Dajti national park – Photo Zamir Dedej

Dajti National Park species

Invertebrates

1. Buprestis splendens

2. Cerambyx cerdo

3. Lucanus cervus

4. Osmoderma eremita

5. Rosalia alpina

6. Erebia medusa

7. Euphydryas aurinia

8. Hypodryas maturna

Amphibians

1. Testudo hermanni

2. Emys orbicularis

3. Mauremys caspica

4. Elaphe quatuorlineata

5. Elaphe situla

6. Vipera ursinii

7. Truturus cristatus

8. Bombina variegata

Birds

1. Accipiter brevipes

2. Accipiter gentilis arrigonii

3. Accipiter nisus granti

4. Aquila chrysaetos

5. Aquila pomarina

6. Buteo rufinus

7. Circaetus gallicus

8. Hieraaetus fasciatus

9. Hieraaetus pennatus

10. Neophron percnopterus

11. Pernis apivorus

12. Falco biarmicus

13. Falco peregrinus

14. Alectoris graeca saxatilis

15. Perdix perdix italica

16. Bubo bubo

17. Caprimulgus europaeus

18. Alcedo atthis

19. Dendrocopus leucotos

20. Dendrocopus medius

21. Dendrocopus syriacus

22. Dryocopus martius

23. Picus canus

24. Lanius collurio

25. Ficedula albicollis

26. Ficedula semitorquata

27. Emberiza hortulana

Mammals

1. Rhinolophus blasii

2. Rhinolophus euryale

3. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

4. Rhinolophus hipposideros

5. Miniopterus schreibersi

6. Myotis blythii

7. Myotis capaccinii

8. Myotis emarginatus

9. Myotis myotis

10. Canis lupus

11. Ursus arctos

12. Lutra lutra

7.3 Protected landscape of the Wetland complex Vjose-Narte

Site code: AL 0000008

Area covered: 19.412 ha

The wetland complex of Vjosa-Narta is distinguished for its diversity of habitats and its richness in flora and fauna species. Many of them are of have a conservation value at international, national, and regional level.

Physical map of PL wetland complex Vjose-Narte

A wide range of habitats, typical to wetland sites, include Mediterranean shrubs and maquis in the hill range, alluvial forests bordering Vjosa River, fresh water bodies at Zverrneci or Panaja hills, coastal lagoons of Narta and Kallenga, salt marshes of Akernia etc. The richness of habitats explains the presence of numerous species of vertebrates and invertebrates such as birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and fish.

Flora and vegetation is impressively rich and interesting. Some 800 vascular plant species (equal to 25% of the flora of Albania) are found on the site. About 25 plant species or 7.5% of the total number of threatened plant species of Albania are encountered in the wetland complex. Of special interest is the presence two endemic species: Orchis albanica and the hybrid form Orchis x paparisti.

The site is an important distribution area for a high number of animals including mollusks, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and especially birds (at least 749 species of animals). A good number of species belong to categories threatened either nationally or internationally. Narta is a site of worldwide conservation interest since it shelters 26 Globally Threatened species. The site’s importance is shown also by the presence of 118 species protected nationally and internationally. Narta is a stronghold of biodiversity in Albania.

Different ecological units of the site show signs of ecological deterioration. Narta lagoon suffers from eutrophication, pollution from industrial and urban activities over fishing, over hunting, water misbalance, absence of fresh water entrances etc. Kallenga and Limopua suffer from uncontrolled interventions in relation with sea water entrance. Dune systems are facing degradation and destruction from sand extractors. Pishe-Poro suffers from fires, logging, degradation from grazing, over hunting etc. Agricultural land is in need of an appropriate irrigation and drainage system while Salinas suffer from the absence of key investments related to sea water entrances, water balance and dike erosion.

A glance of protected landscape of the wetland system of Vjose-Narte

Narta species

Amphibians

1. Testudo hermanni

2. Caretta caretta

3. Emys orbicularis

4. Mauremys caspica

5. Elaphe quatuorlineata

6. Elaphe situla

7. Triturus cristatus

8. Bombina variegata

Fish

1. Alburnus albidus

2. Barbus meridionalis

3. Cobitis taenia

4. Misgurnus fossilis

5. Aphanius iberus

6. Aphanius fasciatus

Birds

1. Accipiter nisus granti

2. Alcedo atthis

3. Anser albifrons flavirostris

4. Anthus campestris

5. Aquila clanga

6. Ardea purpurea

7. Ardeola ralloides

8. Aythya nyroca

9. Botaurus stellaris

10. Burhinus oedicnemus

11. Calonectris diomedea

12. Caprimulgus europaeus

13. Ciconia ciconia

14. Ciconia nigra

15. Circaetus gallicus

16. Circus aerugonosus

17. Circus cyaneus

18. Crex crex

19. Dendrocopus syriacus

20. Egretta alba

21. Egretta garzetta

22. Falco columbarius

23. Falco naumanni

24. Falco pregrinus

25. Falco vespertinus

26. Gavia arctica

27. Glareola pratincola

28. Grus grus

29. Haliaeetus albicilla

30. Hieraaetus fasciatus

31. Hieraaetus pennatus

32. Himantopus himantopus

33. Hippolais olivetorum

34. Hydrobates pelagicus

35. Ixobrychus minutus

36. Lanius collurio

37. Larus audouinii

38. Larus genei

39. Larus melanocephalus

40. Limosa lapponia

41. Lullula arborea

42. Melanocorypha calandra

43. Mergus albellus

44. Milvus migrans

45. Nycticorax nycticorax

46. Pandion haliaetus

47. Pelecanus crispus

48. Perdix perdix italica

49. Pernis apivorus

50. Philomacus pugnax

51. Phoenicopterus ruber

52. Platalea leucorodia

53. Plegadis falcinellus

54. Pluvialis apricaria

55. Porzana parva

56. Porzana porzana

57. Porzana pusilla

58. Recurvirostra avosetta

59. Sterna albifrons

60. Sterna caspia

61. Sterna hirundo

62. Sterna sandvicensis

63. Tetrax tetrax

64. Tringa glareola

Mammals

1. Rhinolophus blasii

2. Rhinolophus euryale

3. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

4. Rhinolophus hipposideros

5. Miniopterus schreibersi

6. Myotis blythii

7. Myotis capaccinii

8. Myotis emarginatus

9. Myotis myotis

10. Lutra lutra

11. Tursiops truncatus

8. Work table

The work plan table presents the whole tasks and activities that have been fulfilled during the implementation phase. The work started in August when we have been contact for this contract and even the difficulties presented for some financial matters the work continue during the whole period.

Activity	A	S	O	N	D	J	F
1. Building up the national Emerald team
2. Training of the new national Emerald team
3. Identification of the species and habitats within each biogeographical region
4. Selection of potential ASCI-s
5. Description of potential ASCI-s
6. Building up the database of Emerald designated sites
7. Submission of proposal site report

9. Financial statement of expenditure

First Administrative Arrangement (1 AA)

ITEM

COST

Field Coasts

Travel and accommodation expenses for experts

1,000 €

Professional Fees

1. Project co-ordination and administration

2. Purchase of missing data

3. Experts coast (Data sheets development)

4. GIS expert work for mapping

1,200 €

3,000 €

1,000 €

Production of maps and workshop

Preparing and printing maps

Workshop

400 €

TOTAL

10,000 €