Albanian municipality on the Balkan Green Belt honoured with award

The small town of Kukës in northeastern Albania has been recognised as a Model Municipality of the European Green Belt. EuroNatur Executive Director Gabriel Schwaderer presented the award.

Gabriel Schwaderer award ceremony mayor Kükes

EuroNatur Executive Director Gabriel Schwaderer (right in the picture) and Mayor Safet Gjici at the award ceremony.

© Olsi Lama

At the award ceremony on 9 November, Gabriel Schwaderer congratulated the entire municipality, and in particular mayor Safet Gjici, for its contribution to nature conservation along the Balkan Green Belt. Kukës played a very active role in the designation of the Korab-Koritnik Nature Park ten years ago and has continued to be involved in the region ever since. Albania closed itself off completely under communist rule and its heavily guarded border areas became a refuge for many endangered animal and plant species.

The European Green Belt Association also congratulated Mayor Gjici on the designation of the Albanian Tulip (Tulipa albanica) as a natural monument. The plant is found only in high altitude regions of Albania and is threatened by mining activities.

Mayor Safet Gjici said nature conservation provides Kukës with great opportunities for ecotourism. The town’s administration is committed to low-impact development activities that do not destroy nature. EuroNatur and its Albanian partner organisation PPNEA welcome a strengthening of ecotourism, but also stress that such opportunities must go hand in hand with a responsibility to conserve nature.

How you can help

Donation

Future needs nature. EuroNatur cares for it. Please use your possibilities to help. With your donation you will make an effective contribution to a more livable environment.

Sustaining membership

EuroNatur focuses on long-term nature conservation projects instead of quick fixes. With your regular donations, you give us the planning security we need.

News

The entire Aoos River in Greece and its tributaries are now protected

An important step was taken today by the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy with the designation of part of the catchment area of the…

Milestone for the protection of European forests on EU-level

The EU forest monitoring law emphasises common standards for the systematic collection of data which aligns with EuroNatur’s stance advocating for the…

Still plenty of room for improvement in the Western Balkans

There is still a long way to go for all the countries of the Western Balkans if they want to become members of the EU - especially when it comes to…

EuroNatur Award 2023: Signal of support for the protection of rivers in Poland

++ Polish Save the Rivers Coalition has received the EuroNatur Award ++ Odra expansion must be halted ++ Optimism for nature conservation in Poland…

EuroNatur Award for Polish Save the Rivers Coalition

++ This year's EuroNatur Award goes to Koalicja Ratujmy Rzeki ++ The award is also a political signal for more nature conservation in Poland and all…

Illegal garbage dumps cause conflicts with bears

Illegal garbage dumps near settlements are not only a problem for the soil and the environment. They often attract brown bears. Being omnivores, the…

Urgent call to halt implementation of Odra Revitalisation Act

Construction will have devastating consequences for the Odra and surrounding areas. 51 projects aim to engineer the rivers, create artificial…

Skavica mega dam: Albanian court to scrutinise special law for U.S. contractor Bechtel

++ Constitutional complaint filed by NGOs accepted for trial ++ First milestone in fight against one of Europe’s largest reservoirs ++ Thousands of…

Growing opposition to Albanian airport

++ Bern Convention calls on Albania to stop airport construction near Narta Lagoon ++ Project in Vjosa Delta endangers thousands of migratory birds ++…