Tirana, 6 June 2023 – The final event of the project “NaturAlbania: capitalization and valorization actions in the context territory and environment”, worth € 1.2M financed as a grant from the Government Italian for the protection of Albanian natural capital, was held at the Consulate General of Italy in Vlora. The Consul General of Italy in Valona Iva Palmieri and the Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in the Western Balkans (AICS), Stefania Vizzaccaro, were present. For the Albanian Government, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and the Environment, Vilma Bello, and the Director of the National Agency for Protected Areas, Daniel Pirushi, were present, as well as the directors of the Regional Administrations of the Protected Areas of the territories involved in the intervention.
The project activities, realized in partnership with the Italian CSOs VIS, CELIM, and CESVI, have focused on providing, through the implementation of 10 pilot actions, a model of territorial enhancement, intervening in an economic-environmental key on the management of protected areas, contributing to the improvement of the quality of services, increasing tourist accessibility, enhancing the operational capabilities of the technical-administrative staff and promoting the responsible use of natural resources, especially by local communities.
The second part of the event took place at the new Sea Turtle Recovery Center, built as part of the project with the dual function, on the one hand of providing veterinary assistance to sea turtles found during fishing and monitoring activities and on the other hand to sensitize the population on the importance of protecting and safeguarding this species.
Consul Iva Palmieri expressed herself positively regarding the project and the importance it has had in particular for the city of Vlora and the neighboring area.
AICS director in the Western Balkans Stefania Vizzaccaro reaffirmed AICS’ commitment alongside the Italian and Albanian partners in this development process, hoping that this project will provide new impetus in the country to promote sustainable tourism, attentive to the protection of the environment, and capable of preserving the ecosystem for the Albania of tomorrow.
Vice Minister Bello expressed her satisfaction with the results achieved by the initiative, hoping for the continuation of the commitment of the Italian Cooperation in the field of environmental protection in Albania.
The Director of the National Agency for Protected Areas Daniel Pirushi also underlined the importance of the interventions carried out, with special emphasis on the Vjosa ecological corridor, in terms of sustainable development of its communities and eco-tourism.
For more information: tirana@aics.gov.it
