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Description of the Protected Area
Description of the Protected Area
Shkodra Lake is the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, is located on the border between Montenegro and Albania, in the southern part of the Dinaric Alps. The catchment basin is about 5,500 km2 (4,470 km2 in Montenegro and 1,030 km2 in Albania), and flows south-east into the Adriatic via the Buna (Bojana) River. On the Albanian part, there are about 170,000 inhabitants in the Shkodra Lake area divided in several local administrative units. The Buna River is the outflow of the Lake Shkoder and receives the waters of the Drin River Basin with a total area of about 21,000 km2. The Shkodra lake is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) in Europe, for about 40 species of water birds, for the globally threatened species Phalacrocorax pygmeus and Pelecanus crispus. There are about 56 species of fishes among others (Acipenser sturio). Among the mammals on of the important species globally threatened is Lutra lutra. According the plant vegetation some of the species are part of Albanian Red Book such as: water lilies (Nymphaea alba, Nuphar luteum and Nymphoides peltata), water nuts (Trapa natans) etc. The main pressures in the area are related to over-fishing, changes to the land cover, fires, urban wastes, pollution from agriculture activities and sewage etc. The lake is shared between Shkodra and Malsia e madhe municipalities. This feature highlights the importance of the agricultural vocation of the protected area. The main products cultivated in “Malesia e madhe” municipality are medicinal plants. As regard of medicinal plants, the “Malesia e madhe” represent most imporntant area in the country, presented by different species like; lavender, thymus, sage etc. As the market is guaranteed, the cultivated medicinal herbs area is growing year by year. In order to increase yield, farmers use chemical fertilizers on their soil, thus adding soil and water pollution. On the other hand in some cases they try to use introduced cultivars instead of local ones. Two monitoring activities have been carried out: Therefore the Managing Authority decided to:
Contribute in preserving a local cultivars,
Reducing the impact of farming through avoiding chemical fertilizers.
Management system
Management system
The Shkodra Lake is managed by the Regional Administration of Protected Areas (RAPA) of Shkodra region, which operates at the regional level (qark). RAPA is responsible for managing and administering the Lake of Shkodra, implementing the management plan, monitoring and managing activities there.
ECOSYSTEMS conservation and MANAGEMENT MEASURES
ECOSYSTEMS conservation and MANAGEMENT MEASURES
Biodiversity and ES conservation measures
Biodiversity and ES conservation measures
The main pressures in the area are related to over-fishing, changes to the land cover, fires, urban wastes, pollution from agriculture activities and sewage etc. The lake is shared between Shkodra and Malsia e madhe municipalities. This feature highlights the importance of the agricultural vocation of the protected area. The main products cultivated in “Malesia e madhe” municipality are medicinal plants. As regard of medicinal plants, the “Malesia e madhe” represent most imporntant area in the country, presented by different species like; lavender, thymus, sage etc. As the market is guaranteed, the cultivated medicinal herbs area is growing year by year. In order to increase yield, farmers use chemical fertilizers on their soil, thus adding soil and water pollution. On the other hand in some cases they try to use introduced cultivars instead of local ones Major conservation activities consist in the protection of flora and fauna habitats, rare and endangered species. Other management activities are; awareness raising activities for farmers on the use of organic farms in the protected area and around it, the use of local varieties, etc. RAPA also develops environmental education activities in the area, mainly with school pupils RAPA also develops environmental education activities in the area, mainly with school pupils. Most important thing is the fact there isn't intensive agriculture in the PA or around it.area.
Application of ESS approach and related activities
Application of ESS approach and related activities
Currently, around 10,000 ha are cultivated with medicinal plants in both; Shkodra and Malesia e madhe Municipality. This feature highlights the importance of the agricultural vocation of the protected area. The main products cultivated in “Malesia e madhe” municipality are medicinal plants. As regard of medicinal plants, the “Malesia e madhe” represent most imporntant area in the country, presented by different species like; lavender, thymus, sage etc. As the market is guaranteed, the cultivated medicinal herbs area is growing year by year. In order to increase yield, farmers use chemical fertilizers on their soil, thus adding soil and water pollution. On the other hand in some cases they try to use introduced cultivars instead of local ones. Project results are:
Establishment of a cooperation between local farmers regarding medicinal plants and bee keepers, through cultivating local varieties which are easy to be adapted in the local conditions and minimize amount of pesticides and herbicides. In this regard it comes in protecting ecosystems, cultivating traditional and local plant varieties.
Establishment of the community of the organic farmers of Lake Shkodra, which involves both farmers and bee kepers sector in order to implement good management practices within the protected area.
Main ESS in the area are;
Cultivated terrestrial plants (including fungi, algae) grown for nutritional purposes
Regulation of the chemical condition of freshwaters by living processes
Characteristics of living systems that are resonant in terms of culture or heritage
Involvement of stakeholders in the management system
Involvement of stakeholders in the management system
Main stakeholders involved are;
Local farmers dealing with medicinal plant cultivation
Local bee keepers
RAPA
Agriculture Extension Service
ecosystems MANAGEMENT MEASURES: best practices
ecosystems MANAGEMENT MEASURES: best practices
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