Surface: 28748 km²
Total population: 3.18 million and density : 114 persons/km²
Government: Republic parliamentary
GDP per capita: 3 911 current US$ (2008)
Agricultural GDP: 20.8 % of GDP
Urbanization : 47%
Human Development Index : 0.818 (high human development)
Human Poverty Index : 0.4 % ; (rank 15/135 countries, 2009)
Wetland total area 96 803 including 3 Ramsar sites
Main wetlands types :
natural : coastal lagoons, freshwater permanent lake
artificial : reservoirs, hydropower lakes
Protection framework for wetlands :
National Parks
Protected Landscape Areas
Strict nature reserve
Managed Nature Reserves
Natural monument (UNESCO)
Human interactions with wetlands territories: cropping, animal breeding , fishing, hunting, forest exploitation, water use, infrastructure and housing, waste pit, tourism.
Main pressures : industrialisation and urbanisation, poor waste management, erosion due to uncontrolled deforestation, intensive agriculture and pasture.
Success stories : The trans-boundary approach toward the management of Lake Orhid watershed materialized by the treaty of “Agreement for the Protection and Sustainable Development of Lake Ohrid and its Watershed” signed in 2004 and ratified in 2005 by Albania and the FYR of Macedonia enforces environment legislation in both countries. The project have had a positive impact on public awareness and transborder communication. A similar willingness exists through the creation of Prespa Park Coordination Committee (PPCC), established by the three Governments (Albania, Greece, FYR of Macedonia), for the coordination of planning and activities in the Prespa region.
Status and trends of wetlands: About half of Albanian wetlands were drained and loss between 1946 and 1974. Due to a decrease of Albanian industry wetlands pollution decreased in some catchment during the last 10 years providing better water quality. The inventory of Albanian wetlands conducted in 2003 provides information on designation, catchment and site description, hydrology, wetland Ramsar types, values and activities. Threats and impacts of human activities are still affecting wetlands by habitat loss and degradation, pollution, soil and hydrological impacts, vegetation degradation, faunal changes, decrease in wetland benefits and loss of aesthetic values. Coastal wetlands are the most threatened ones
Main stakeholders involved in wetlands:
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration
General Directorate of Forestry and Pastures and General Directorate of Fisheries (both under the direction of the ministry of Agriculture and Food)
Council of Territorial Planning
National Tourism Agency
National Water Council
Donors (UNDP, WB, EU).