This book: "Distribution atlas of vascular plants in Albania" with authors Zoltán Barina (Editor) and Alfred Mullaj, Daniel Pifko, Gabriella Somogyi, Marjol Meço, Marash Rakaj, was published in 2017. Dr. Zoltán Barina, since 2002, is in charge of phanerogamous plants, of the Herbarium, in the Department of Botany, Natural History Museum, Budapest (http://www.nhmus.hu/en/collections/department_of_botany). During the period 2004-2014, he and his colleagues studied the flora of Albania, especially the difficult-to-identify species, based on morphological and molecular methods. Research has included our entire country, collecting plant species and preparing the herbarium; also, plant materials found in Hungary, Vienna, Belgrade, Bremen, Sofia and Jena have been consulted. As a result, they have produced publications containing data on hundreds of plant species that have been reported for the first time by them, as well as pointing the location of many other species. It’s worthy to mention here the most recent publication: 'Checklist of vascular plants of Albania' in the journal Phytotaxa (Barina et al., 2018), which provides a list of about 5,480 species of vascular plants reported or collected in the territory of Albania. Part of the work for the collection of information for the book "Distribution atlas of vascular plants in Albania" was done in close cooperation with the National Herbarium of the Flora and Fauna Research Center. This book is of special importance for botanical studies in Albania, for Albanian and foreign researchers. In this context, Dr. Barina gave a speech entitled: 'Exploration of the flora of Albania - background of the volume Distribution atlas of vascular plants in Albania', on November 26, 2019, 12.00-13.00, Hall D1, FNS, UT.

On October 15, 2018, in the Museum of Natural Sciences, a ceremony was held on the occasion of naming the Museum in honor of the scientist Sabiha Kasimati.

Sabiha Kasimati was born on September 15, 1912, in Ederne, Ottoman Empire. In 1927, together with her family, they moved to Korça, where she continued her education. In the summer of 1936 she won a scholarship to study in Italy, where she stadyed at the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Turin. Kasimati chose ichthyology as her field of specialization and finished the PhD studies with the topic "Fauna ittica di acqua dolce d'Albania" (Ichtic fauna in freshwater in Albania). Sabiha Kasimati's relations with scientific institutions in Albania began in January 1943. She asked for the preparation of a zoological collection, starting with Ichthyology, at the Royal Institute of Studies. This was a field she had studied in Italy in her second year of studies and then finished the degree with the topic; “a herbarium as the Albanian flora has raised the interest of prominent European botanists, especially German ones"; to establish a close cooperation with the Directorate of Mines, to make a collection of minerals and fossils that were found in the soil layers in Albania. The realization of the project required the creation of a special library of scientific works, the bibliography of which she had already prepared. In addition to the library, Kasimati also proposed the establishment of a laboratory for microscopic studies that would enable relative scientific research. In the meeting of February 18, 1943, the Royal Institute of  Albanian Studies decided to create a science museum near the Institute, for the preparation of which they charged Sabiha. Sabiha Kasimati was shot after the bomb explosion in the Soviet embassy. She was arrested on February 20, 1951 and shot two days later. She was accused of being against the communist regime and of having relationship with enemy elements.

On March 8, 2018, the Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents proposed to the University of Tirana to give the name "Sabiha Kasimati" to the Museum of Natural Sciences, a proposal that the Academic Senate of the University of Tirana unanimously approved on March 26, 2018.

On May 4, 2018, in the Botanical Garden of Tirana was organized the ceremony of placing the memorial of its founder, Prof. Mustafa Demiri.

In this event, in their welcoming speech, the Rector of the University of Tirana, Prof. Mynyr Koni, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof. Spiro Drushku, Head of the Flora and Fauna Research Center, Prof. Alfred Mullaj, Head of the Botanical Garden, Prof. Petrit Hoda, former director of the Botanical Garden, Prof. Liri Dinga, mentioned with gratitude and respect, the precious work of Prof. Demiri, in the establishment and management of the Botanical Garden, as well as in scientific research in the field of Botany. Other attendees at this event were co-workers, colleagues, lecturers, students and family members.

Prof. Mustafa Demiri was born in the city of Elbasan, on May 13, 1923. He attended the Normal School of Elbasan and then in 1945-1946 he worked as a teacher in the district of Gramsh. In 1946, he started university studies in Biology in Zagreb and finished in 1951 in Sofia. After finishing his studies, he worked for a short period in the Ministry of Education and as a teacher in a high school of Shkodra. In 1952, he was hired as a scientific worker at the Institute of Sciences, in the Flora sector. With the establishment of the University of Tirana, in 1957, he started to work as a scientific researcher in the Department of Botany and in 1965 was appointed as the head of the Botanical Garden, a position he carried out with passion until 1985, when he passed away.

For about 30 years, he collected, processed and studied most of the Albanian flora and vegetation, in publications such as "Flora of Tirana", "Plant Determinants - Small Flora of Albania", "Excursionist Flora of Albania", "Flora of Albania" (co-authors in volumes 1 and 2), research and experimental works on the use and improvement of pastures and meadows. These are included in the dissertation "On the biology and nutritional values, production of pastures in Central Albania", in several monographs on forage plants "Manual for Pastures", etc.

Prof. Mustafa Demiri remains an outstanding figure of Albanian education, but the living monument of his work remains the Botanical Garden, as the only one of its kind in Albania. He led the scientific work making this institution an important center with scientific, educational and cultural values. Prof. Mustafa Demiri holds the title "Teacher of the People" and "Republic Award"

This expedition was organized by Gianniantonio Domina (OPTIMA - Palermo) and Professor Alfred Mullaj (QKFF - Tirana). The program was divided into 5 parts, each dedicated to the study of a specific area: Librazhd (June 21 to 24), Voskopoje (June 25), Berat (June 26-27), Kukës (June 28-29) and Valbona (June 30). until July 3). In total, 116 areas were visited, in which plants were collected.

After a public call to participate in this expedition, OPTIMA selected 2 new participants and 8 expert botanists; The Flora and Fauna Research Center of the University of Tirana selected the 5 Albanian participants. In total the group had 14 participants. Prof. Attilio Carapezza, an entomologist from Palermo, joined the group.

Albanian participants

Ermelinda Gjeta (June 21 to July 3)

Ermelinda Mahmutaj (June 21 to 24)

Oresta Saliaj (June 21 to 27)

Mariol Meco (June 25 to July 3)

Ajola Mesiti (June 28 to July 3)

Foreign participants (June 21 to July 3)

Giannantonio Domina, Palermo

Werner Greuter, Palermo

Edda Lattanzi, Rome

Simonetta Peccenini, Genoa

Eckhard Raab-Straube von, Berlin

Francesco M. Raimondo, Palermo

Giovanni Scafidi, Palermo

Ernst Vitek, Vienna

Salvatore Cambria, Catania

Davide Dagnino, Genoa

In total, 1738 species of vascular plants were collected. The main groups of specimens, herbarized, sorted, packaged, once identified and determined, will be distributed among the participating institutions.