Despite being a relatively small country,

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

is exceedingly rich in

biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...

. Its ecosystems and habitats support over 5,550 species of

vascular Vascular can refer to: * blood vessels, the vascular system in animals * vascular tissue Vascular tissue is a complex transporting tissue, formed of more than one cell type, found in vascular plants. The primary components of vascular tissue ...

and

non-vascular plant Non-vascular plants are plants without a vascular system consisting of xylem and phloem. Instead, they may possess simpler tissues that have specialized functions for the internal transport of water. Non-vascular plants include two distantly rel ...

s and more than 15,600 species of

coniferous Conifers () are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a sin ...

and non-coniferous evergreens, most of which are threatened at global and European levels. The country has made recent efforts to expand its network of protected areas which now include: 11 national parks, 1

marine park A marine park is a designated park consisting of an area of sea (or lake) set aside to achieve ecological sustainability, promote marine awareness and understanding, enable marine recreational activities, and provide benefits for Indigenous peo ...

, 718 nature monuments, 23 managed nature reserves, 11 protected landscapes, 4

World Heritage Sites World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...

, 4 Ramsar sites and other protected areas of various categories, that when combined, account for 21.36% of the territory. Furthermore, a biosphere reserve, 45 important plant areas and 16

important bird areas An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird populations. IBA was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife Int ...

are found in the country. Meanwhile, the central government has proclaimed the Coastline and the Tirana Greenbelt as areas of national importance. At present, protected areas are constantly under threat by

illegal logging Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase, or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission, or from a p ...

forest fires A forest fire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a bushfire ( in Au ...

and the construction of hydroelectric power plants which have prompted ongoing protests from environmentalists and civil society. The national policy for governing and the management of protected areas is implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism through the National Agency of Protected Areas (AKZM).

Strict nature reserves

(Cat. Ia) Strict nature reserves are limited areas of ecological significance, preserved and protected for scientific purposes, to safeguard the living world and all its cultural and natural values. Two such areas in the country have this designation: Gashi Valley and Rrajcë Strict Nature Reserve.

National parks

(Cat. II) National parks are vast areas of land or water, typically not less than 1000 hectares in size, that possess exceptional scientific, ecological, and educational values and are kept away from strenuous human activities. These parks are protected and monitored to maintain the ecological balance of their ecosystems, to promote scientific research, and to provide visitors with spiritual and educational experiences, in compliance with environmental and cultural regulations. A total of 12 national parks, encompassing a surface area of , occupy 10.92% of the country's territory.

Natural monuments

(Cat. III) Natural monuments typically consist of natural entities and habitats that cover a limited area of land, usually no more than 50 hectares. These areas are recognized for their significant scientific, ecological, cultural, historical, aesthetic, and religious values. They may include both living organisms, such as rare or endemic species of trees and plants, as well as non-living environmental features like unique geological formations created by wind, ice, or water erosion, such as: karst springs and lakes, glacial lakes, wetlands, and sources of mining or thermal activity. A total of 718 nature monuments have been designated (government decision no. 303, dated 10.05.2019).

Managed nature reserves

(Cat. IV) Managed nature reserves are protected areas of land or water that are of local and regional importance. These areas are maintained through proper management to preserve the species, habitats, and other unique natural phenomena, with the aim of enhancing their quality and utilizing them for recreational and entertainment purposes, as well as for studies, educational, and cultural activities. A total of 23 managed nature reserves, encompassing a surface area of , occupy 7.5% of the territory.

Protected landscapes

(Cat. V) Protected landscapes and seascapes are primarily managed for the preservation of landscape values and to provide recreational opportunities for relaxation and entertainment. This category includes areas with residential centers that allow activities like agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fishing, etc., both on land and in sea. The goal is to preserve the quality of landscapes and the harmonious interaction of human activity in them, and maintain the biological diversity they host. A total of 11 protected landscapes, encompassing a surface area of , occupy 2.94% of the territory.

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