Total: 28,750 sq km
Land: 27,400 sq km
Coastline: 362 km
Population: 3,364,571 (July 1999 est.)
Source: CIA Worldfact Book (1999)
Albania
(Source: CIA World Factbook 1999)
Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the following information. The information was taken from Albania's submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: April 1997). For further information on the Albania's social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Albania at:
http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/albania/index.htm
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has not been ratified.
The Committee of Environmental Protection and the
Ministry of Public Works, Territory Adjustment and Tourism
are responsible for this area.
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 ìhavajaî 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.
EUCC has compiled country files on Integrated Coastal
Management (ICM) for all coastal states of Europe and
Central Asia. Summaries for all countries will become
available in August.
This page provides a preliminary summary on the following
items for Albania:
- 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
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 (REAís)
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 (REAís)
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 governmentís isolationist policies, Albania had no tourist industry until recently. However, the countryís 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-1990ís. 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 countryís 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 Regionís 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 ëAgenda 21í, 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:
ëOutline of the Coastal Area Management Programme of
Albaniaí, 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:
ëOutline of the Coastal Area Management Programme of
Albaniaí, 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: ëAlbania
CZM Plan: final Report ñ Phase oneí,
july1995.
12
http://www.un.org
13
UNEP/MAP/PAP/RAC:
ëOutline of the Coastal Area Management Programme of
Albaniaí, 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:
ëOutline of the Coastal Area Management Programme of
Albaniaí, Tirana,
Albania,
1994.
Prepared by Martijn Onderstal at EUCC International
Secretariat
© Copyright: European Union for Coastal Conservation
(EUCC), 2000