1. Presentation of the “Integrated Management Plan for the Vjosa River National Park”;
2. Program “Man and Biosphere” | UNESCO.

1. The Integrated Management Plan for the Lumi Vjosa National Park was drawn up by national and international experts, within the Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the Patagonia Society in collaboration with IUCN.
The Integrated Management Plan is the basic document for the conservation and development of the protected area and is implemented by the administration of the protected areas. This plan was drawn up based on Law No. 81/2017 “On protected areas”, amended by Law No. 21/2024 “On some additions and changes to Law No. 81/2017 “On protected areas”, as well as amended according to Minister’s Order No. 148, dated 21.02.2013 “For the Approval of the standardized structure of the Management Plan of the Environmentally Protected area” and has a 10-year validity.
The integrated plan is composed of six chapters listed as follows, which will be presented and addressed during the public consultation with interest groups in three counties (Fier, Vlorë, Gjirokastër):
A.    Management Plan
B.    Zoning of the protected area
C.    Ecological Study
D.    Socio-Economic Analysis
E.    Financial Plan
F.    Tourism Master Plan

2. Man and the biosphere | UNESCO, River Vjosa National Park, “Presentation of the process of declaring the Vjosa Biosphere Reserve”.
After more than a year since Vjosa was declared a National Park, its values ​​and importance bring to attention another opportunity to recognize Vjosa at the world level. The staff of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the National Agency of Protected Areas have started work on the preparation of the application file of Vjosa, now in the Biosphere Reserve category, part of the “Man and Biosphere” program of UNESCO.
Through the approach of strengthening the sustainable interaction between communities and the environment, the process aims to give a direction to the development of the Vjosa Valley. A biosphere reserve should represent the biogeographic qualities of the area and the importance for biodiversity. For this purpose, in the conditions where it is important that the area has a stable governance structure and a genuine management plan to preserve nature, develop the economy and support local communities, the hearings for this project will continue in the coming months.

Participants’ suggestions and comments on the “Integrated Management Plan for the Vjosa River National Park” and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve declaration process are welcome during the public consultations that will be organized according to the following calendar:

22.05.2024, 10:00 a.m., Fier Prefecture
22.05.2024, 12:30, Palace of Culture, Vlora
23.05.2024, 11:00, Çajupi Hotel, Gjirokastër

The General Director of the National Agency of Protected Areas, Mrs. Daniel Pirushi, Prefect of Korçë District Mr. Nertil Jole, AdZM Korçë, as well as all the participants put emphasis on the need to draw up Management Plans for some of the protected areas in the Korçë District; the problems and improvement of the good management of the Ohrid-Prespa Cross-Border Biosphere Reserve, which includes 7 protected areas in the cross-border region, and also introduced the innovations brought by the amendment of the Law on Protected Areas, as well as the obligations arising from its implementation .

The region of Vlora and the protected areas that are part of it are getting ready to welcome the high flow of local and foreign tourists. Together, we aim to offer the highest quality offer in the management and maintenance of the territories of protected areas and more.
The process of declaring Vjosa Biosphere Reserves also includes the Vlora region, with whom we shared all the information through which we will all work together to write the application file at UNESCO.

Throughout the committee, we shared the problems and achievements obtained in the sustainable management of protected areas in this district, as well as in the good management of the high number of tourists who are expected to visit the “Divjakë-Karavasta” National Park during the summer season.

We presented the process of declaring Vjosa Biosphere Reserves. Vjosa’s involvement in world assets will come through the “Man and Biosphere” program. A global program that aims to create a scientific basis to improve the relationship between people and the nature they live in, for sustainable development that protects the environment.

We also presented the innovations brought by the amendment of the Law on Protected Areas, as well as the obligations arising from its implementation. Our priority in the following months is coordination and consultation with local actors for the review of the technical-formal elements of any decision to declare protected areas.

• Prespa National Park
• PMUT Pogradec Lake
• Albanian Alps National Park
• PKorab Koritnik Natural Park
• Shebenik National Park

Please find attached the ToR (terms of reference) of the vacancies for the persons to be employed as consultants, to be financed by the PONT under the grant and the respective Operational Plan approved for the year 2024 for the Protected Areas cited above.

• Albanian Alps National Park
• Korab Koritnik Natural Park
• Shebenik National Park

Please find attached the ToR (terms of reference) of the vacancies for the persons to be employed as consultants, to be financed by the PONT under the grant and the respective Operational Plan approved for the year 2024 for the Protected Areas cited above .

We express our gratitude for the contribution made by the EU to protected areas, as well as we appreciate the concrete initiatives and results that take into account the environment and ecosystems of protected areas.