Outline of the Project

Project Name

Project for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Divjake-Karavasta National Park with Participation of Local Governments and Stakeholders

Country

Albania

Subject:

Nature Conservation
-Conservation of Biodiversity
-Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Date of R/D signed:

12 December 2011

Term of Cooperation

30 April 2012 to 29 April 2014

Implementing Organization

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration (MoEFWA)

Background

Government of Albania aims to conserve of biodiversity through the designation of new Protected Areas (PAs) or extension of existing ones, based on the national Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) of 2000. The increase of the PAs coverage in the country from 5.8% in 2005 to 13.17% in 2011 actually is a good indicator of the effort. In this context, the elaboration of management plans of PAs, as well as its implementation is the government's priority.

The National Park Divjake-Karavasta is one of the extended PAs in Albania. The actual coverage of the park is about 22,230 hectares. The park is one of the most beautiful and preferred places in the sea coast, excellent for ecotourism, relaxing, research and study, for diverse ecological landscape and biodiversity characteristics. Furthermore, the park is the part of the coastal area of the country which is estimated as the most important and valuable from the economic in two aspects: the sustainable development and the environment protection. Furthermore, the Divjake-Karavasta ecosystem including registered site of Ramsar, so, it is an internationally important site.

Increasing number of visitors to the park is recently concerned as a potential threat to biodiversity of the area. Therefore a better management based upon sustainable development is needed urgently. However, the Park Management Plan has not set up for the Divjake-Karavasta Park yet. Though the Government of Albania is trying to elaborate management plan for all national parks including this park, the Government of Albania faces limited experience and capabilities of staff, lack of equipments and budget. In this context the Government of Albania requested the Government of Japan for technical cooperation to manage the Divjake-Karavasta Park appropriately by applying useful experience to manage PAs in Japan.

Overall Goal

The methodology of elaborating national park management plan and its implementation for conservation and sustainable use is extended to relevant authorities of the other protected areas (including national parks) as a good practice.

Project Purpose

System for conservation and sustainable use of the Divjake-Karavasta National Park based on a management plan is established with active participation of local governments and stakeholders.

Outputs

1. A management plan of conservation and sustainable use of Divjake-Karavasta National Park is elaborated with participation of local governments and stakeholders.
2. Implementation know-how of the National Park management plan is understood among targeted group through some actions based on the management and action plan.
3. The elaboration and implementation methodology of national park management plan for conservation and sustainable use is disseminated to stakeholders of other protected areas (including national parks) of Albania.

Activities

1-1.	Set up Technical Coordinating Committee.
1-2.	Support the operation of the official National Park Management Committee
1-3.	Collect existing information and/or conduct additional survey on natural and socioeconomic issues.
1-4.	Identify necessary rules and actions for conservation and sustainable use with active stakeholder's participation.
1-5.	Prepare draft management plan.

2-1.	Elaborate an action plan for the National Park management with schedule.
2-2.	Implement and evaluate some activities with participation of local governments and stakeholders.
2-3.	Prepare report of activity progress and evaluation.

3-1.	Invite and receive stakeholders of other protected areas (including national parks) to observe major activities mentioned 1.3, 1.4 and 2.2 above.
3-2.	Prepare a "Record of management plan elaboration".
3-3.	Organize seminars and workshops to disseminate the methodology of this project.

Inputs

Japanese Side

1. Two Experts
   Chief advisor/national park management, Project coordinator/participatory planning
2. Training in Japan/in other country
3. Project staff (interpreter(s) and driver(s))
4. Equipment and materials
   Vehicles, office equipment (computers etc.)
5. Activity cost
   For survey, trainings/workshops, printing, etc.

Albania Side

1. Counterparts
2. Activity cost (Salaries and expenses of the Albanian official personnel cost (as annual budget) for the Forestry Service an Lushnje including Divjale-Karavasta National Park Management Office)