NATIONAL PRIORITY: To establish an efficient market in the sale, purchase and leasing of agriculture land; to create an appropriate institutional framework to promote the efficient use of agricultural land; to elaborate sustainable land and natural resource managing policies.

STATUS REPORT: 75% of country's land resources are devoted to agriculture and forestry activities. Agriculture and associated rural economic activities presently account for over 50% of GDP and employment in Albania. Privatization and liberalization of markets and prices have been particularly rapid in this sector of the economy, which has been a main contributor to the resumption of GDP growth in 1993, 1994 and 1995. However, agricultural production remains mainly subsistence-oriented.

A programme to consolidate land ownership, promote effective land management, and develop an efficient land market is underway with the assistance of EU/PHARE, USAID and World Bank.

Implementation of the component for registration and cadastral services began in 1994. As of December 1995, land surveying and mapping was completed on 286,000 ha (40% of total land area). The work is underway for setting up a GIS.

Technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for the formulation of land legislation and policies. Studies have been carried out on various land policy issues (including policies to promote optimal land use). Several pieces of legislation were passed in 1995 to facilitate the establishment of a functioning land market, including the law for registration of immovable property, land lease and sale and establishment of full property rights to former state farms.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and its other institutions (Land Institution)

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: During the 1996-98 period, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food's agricultural policy, analysis and programme management capacities will continue to be strengthened. In particular, a unit for formulating and analyzing policies for European integration is being set up under the Agricultural Projects Office (APO) with EU/PHARE assistance. In addition, the Ministry plans to improve its collection and analysis of agricultural data. There is also a need to expand the programme of staff training in all aspects of the Ministry's work.

3. Major Groups: Government and its research institutions; NGOs; different farmers and producers associations,

Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT)

4. Finance: The Government of Albania, IDA, EU/PHARE

5. Regional/International Cooperation: The programme to develop research and extension land services will continue. The national extension programme will be extended, and a medium-term strategy will be prepared. Additional foreign financing will be required.

NATIONAL PRIORITY:

A rehabilitation and improvement of forest resources should be achieved, in order to avoid further degradation of forests: - to promote appropriate and sustainable conservation and management of forestry resources: - to support the establishment of an efficient forestry management service: - to facilitate the privatization of commercial forestry and wood industry operations (Italy, IDA, USA, Switzerland, Japan). Rehabilitation of forest roads network.

STATUS REPORT:

Albania is a country where forests cover 1,0447 million ha (about 36% of the total land resources of the country). Approximately 80% of the forests are located in the eastern mountainous area on land with slopes of 20-50%, and thus, highly susceptible to erosion. In this regard, forests play a very important role in the protection of soil throughout the country. About 95% of the forests are State-owned.

The main problems related to forests, which were evidenced during the former political and economic regime and/or in the last years can be listed as follows:

Forest cut for opening of new agricultural lands;

Forest cut for terracing;

Forest cut for heating and cooking. Fuelwood used to provide 90-100% of the demand for heating and cooking in all rural and urban areas.

Forest cut for construction, mining, wood processing;

Illegal deforestation cut. 5000 ha were cut down from 1991 to 1992;

Overgrazing of goats. During the last decade 300,000 ha of forest were transformed into cultivated and pasture lands. This problem is more evident in the Southern part of the country, where goats are more spread per each ha of forest. The more endangered are especially the re-pruned oak forests, those reproduced by seeds and the ones which have undergone the first phase of exploitation.

Despite measures taken, about 560 fires ocurred during 1993. Fires have covered an area of about 4,000,000 ha and have burned 250 ha. 509 fire cases were reported in 1994, which burned an area of about 400 ha.

Deforestation is a major environmental problem in Albania. It is a serious problem in peri-urban and rural areas of the country and one of the most visible evidence of poor resource management. It is especially pronounced in the more accessible forest areas and less in the less-accessible mountainous areas. Though measures have been taken in the last 50 years to protect the forest areas, the reforested area is estimated at only 150,000 ha. It has consisted mainly of species with rapid growth such as pine, robinia, poplar, willows and chestnut. Over the last 20 years the country is estimated to have lost 20% of its forests, while in 31% of it, the density is only 0.5-0.6 (tree crown).

New energy policies such as the introduction or increased use of alternative energies (gas, kerosene, electricity) for heating and cooking are expected to reduce the need for fuelwood. The use of synthetic materials has also decreased the demand for wood for furniture. In fact, in 1994, the official exploitation of forest resources decreased, while the illegal cutting for firewood and construction continued.

In order to improve the situation the enforcement of the "Law on forests and forest service police" for the control over forests users, perfection of methods of exploitation, as well as searching for new ones are indispensable. Besides, in order to avoid the consequences and to re-establish the normal state it is necessary that work foreseen in the relevant programmes for sanitary cutting, regeneration and reforestation be done. Among other measures, the study of the grazing areas and the legal definition of the areas where grazing is and is not allowed as well as a more correct implementation of the regulations for grazing are expected to be efficient measures for combating deforestation. These measures could be complemented by the application of economic instruments (tax system) to encourage the raising of animals which do not destroy the forest.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, General Directorate of Forests and Pastures and other institutions.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Formulating appropriate policies and a legal framework for better use of forest resources; establishing effective forestry extension, information services and training of forestry staff; developing private forestry and community management of forest and pasture land.

3. Major Groups: The Government; Research Institution; NGOs for forestry conservation and management.

4. Finance: From the Albanian Government, Italy, USA, IDA, Switzerland, Japan.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Additional funds will be required to initiate activities for combating and preventing erosion in forests and for afforestation, pasture development and protective planting and research.

NATIONAL PRIORITY:

STATUS REPORT:

International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification

Particularly in Africa has not been ratified.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

NO AREAS AFFECTED BY DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Committee of Environmental Protection

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Faculty of Agronomy, the Institute of Soil Research.

3. Major Groups: No information

4. Finance: No information

5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information

STATISTICAL DATA/INDICATORS

Latest 199_

Land affected by desertification (Km2)

Other data

NATIONAL PRIORITY: A high proportion (most) of the country is mountainous and hilly. Nevertheless, these areas are not especially focused on "mountain development". Part of these regions, especially in the remote northeastern districts, are targeted for poverty alleviation, rural development, combating deforestation etc.

STATUS REPORT: Not much has been planned for sustainable mountain development in the National Environmental Action Plan and the Environment Strategy Study. This issue has been indirectly dealt with when the discussion or plans on Forest development arise. This is mainly due to the fact that forests are generally located in the areas high above the sea level.

Regarding the hill side, terracing for opening of new agricultural land has been detrimental to the environment. The problem is regarded to be not only the fault of the improper terracing, but rather the inadequate resources available to farmers for the maintenance of hill side terraces. Besides, in areas where hill side terraces are near the grazing lands, they constitute a further pressure on erosion.

Typical erosion problems are reported to have occurred in the districts of Diber, Elbasan, Pogradec, Korce, Tirane, Shkoder, Berat, Tropoje, Fier where extensive orchards are grown on terraced steep land.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Committee of Environmental Protection.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Faculty of Forestry Engineering, the Directorate General of Forests and Pastures, the Institute of Forestry and Pastures Research.

3. Major Groups: No information.

4. Finance: No information.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: A Pilot Project on Dajti mountain national park, is being financed under the PHARE 1993 Program.

Zones of middle relief having a height of 1,000-2,000m include 13,559 (31.9%)

NATIONAL PRIORITY: The major aim of the policy in the agriculture sector is to create a conducive environment for private investments to take place. For such an environment to be in established, appropriate policy incentives, regulatory and legal framework, working infrastructure, an efficient land market and financial system are required.

STATUS REPORT: Following a sharp decline after the collapse of the centralised agricultural production system, Albania became dependant on food aid imports. Nevertheless, especially in the last two years, the country has achieved enormous progress towards reforming the agricultural sector. Already, practically all of the land previously controlled by state-run co-operatives and state farms has been fully privatised, and major reforms in price and trade liberalisation have been achieved. As a result, last year agriculture was growing at an annual rate of more than 14%.

About 50% of the labour force is employed in agriculture and forestry (705,000 people in primary production and additional 100,000 in related sectors) and two thirds of the population live in rural areas.

Prior to the privatisation of arable land, state farms held 25% of the agricultural land, usually of higher quality, and the remainder was held by co-operatives. It is estimated that the privatisation of state farm and co-operatives has resulted in about 500,000 farms of an average size of 1,4 ha.

The Government has initiated a rapid campaign of privatisation of the agricultural marketing and processing sector. The entire system was in a very distressing situation, and factories were working at 5-20% of their 1989 capacity. During 1996, some very positive signs of recovery within that system were registered.

Presently, the rural credit system cannot service the needs of the emerging private sector. The Rural Commercial Bank, created to take over the deposits, capital, and performing assets of the former Bank for agricultural development, has been set up as a joint stock company and has been placed under the banking law.

Irrigation is crucial for the development of agriculture. Since 1991, maintenance of irrigation infrastructure and drainage systems has been reduced considerably and construction work on new or improvement schemes stopped. Under the central planning, the irrigation network was supervised and maintained by district Water enterprises and by specialised state-owned construction companies controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Water enterprises must now make deliveries to about 500,000 farmers and collect charges from them as well as maintain the network of channels.

Agricultural activities could have a serious impact on the environment through soil erosion and degradation through deforestation. The steady increase in livestock over the past two years could lead to overgrazing that in turn could exacerbate soil erosion. Hillside terracing has been widely practised over the past 30 years and has lead to soil erosion. Past excessive use of state subsidised pesticides and fertilisers has lead in some areas to excessive concentration of chemicals in the soil amounting to an average of 468 kg fertiliser/ha and of 9 kg of pesticide and herbicide/ha in 1990. Nevertheless, fertiliser and pesticide consumption has decreased considerably recently.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, its institutions, Local Government and other ministries for especially focused issues (the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Construction, etc.).

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The programme for improving agricultural vocational education, which is the joint responsibility of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture, is included in the programme for vocational education under the education sector.

Further training support will be required to support the programme to develop institutional capacities at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

3. Major Groups: The Government (central and local); interest groups (farmers, etc.); research institutions.

4. Finance: From the Albanian Government; the EU/PHARE Programme, USAID, WB, FAO, IFAD, Islamic Development Bank; the Governments of Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, France.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Projects have been financed by the Albanian Government and multi- and/or bi-lateral donors.

NATIONAL PRIORITY: Preparation of a strategy for biodiversity conservation

STATUS REPORT:

The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed in 1994.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora has not been signed.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

Considering the small size of the country, Albania is rich in biodiversity. There are still species in Albania which are endangered at the European level. The loggerhead turtle has been found along the Ionian coasts where the narrow virgin beaches are suitable sites for laying eggs. The Dalmatian Pelican is a threatened species which has its only nesting site in the Karavasta Lagoon. The population is actually estimated at 200 couples. The monk seal, which is practically extinct in the Mediterranean, except for some isolated parts of the Aegean and Adriatic, is found in Albania. 63 mammals, 215 birds, 31 reptiles and 13 amphibians species are reported. Many of them are endangered or threatened species. Dynamite fishing and the use of drift nets are still used in the territorial waters of Albania.

The mountain alpine forest ecosystems are also rich in biodiversity. The higher areas are dominated by beech and pine forests and preserve a large number of endemic and sub-endemic plant species.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Committee of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The Committee on Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Institute of Biology Studies, the Institute of Forests and Pastures Research, the Institute of Fisheries Research, the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

3. Major Groups: No information.

4. Finance: No information.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Within the PHARE and Life Programmes of the European Union and the GEF.

NATIONAL PRIORITY: Selectively determining the national needs for bioproducts and setting up a related environmentally sound biotechnology.

STATUS REPORT: During the communist regime in the country, the totalitarian State pursued the policy of producing everything relying on its "own efforts". Within the framework of this policy, particular attention was given to the production of bioproducts, which were considered by the former regime as "strategic goods". Therefore, many research institutions were involved in bio-research-developed production lines for bioproducts. The technology adopted for this purpose was Chinese, and as a matter of fact, most of the bio-production lines were installed and began to function during the years of Albanian-Chinese friendship.

Bioproducts such as vaccines, antigens, serums were produced by the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (currently called the Institute of Public Health) and the Institute of Veterinary Research, serums for reproduction purposes by the Institute of Animal Breeding Research, and production of antibiotics by the Antibiotic Enterprise in Tirana.

Smaller scale biotechnology lines were also installed in other institutions such as the Institute of Potatoes and Vegetables, Biomass Station, etc.

There was little interest shown by the State to improve the biotechnological lines, especially in view of their possible impacts on the environment. In many cases, the by-products of the bio-lines underwent no special treatment and were discharged into the municipal sewage or dump sites.

Generally, the control of bioproducts for their harmlessness, sterility and other safety parameters was performed by units within the production units themselves thus not allowing an objective evaluation of the final product. Therefore, in some cases, the bioproduct turned out to be a contaminant at the final destination.

Considering that there was no proper market demand for bioproducts, their production and distribution was performed in a centralized way and in many cases the delivered aliquots were not used at all and after expiring, were not always returned to the delivery center for treatment as wastes.

Following the fall of the communist regime and the onset of the free market society, most of the state-controlled biotechnology lines underwent a deep crisis. Due to their obsolete technologies, their final products were of low quality and safety and very costly, and therefore unable to compete with the imported bioproducts. As a result, some of the biotechnology lines were forced to close down their activities.

In some cases, the State was unable to properly manage the biotechnology production lines which resulted in their privatization such as the case of the Antibiotic Enterprise in Tirana. In some other cases, the state-owned biotechnology lines (esp. vaccines production lines) reduced their production activities and acquired the position of distributors of imported bioproducts by keeping a certain commission for the performed activity.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Health and Environment

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The Institute of Public Health (former Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology), the Institute of Veterinary Research, the Institute of Animal Breeding Research, the Antibiotic Enterprise, the Institute of Potatoes and Vegetables Research, the Biomass Station, Faculty of Natural Sciences, etc.

3. Major Groups: No information.

4. Finance: From the State Budget. Grants from Abroad.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Very reduced cooperation.

NATIONAL PRIORITY:

STATUS REPORT:

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea has not been ratified.

See also the attached tables on the next pages.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Committee of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Public Works, Territory Adjustment and Tourism.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Same as above and the Institute of Hydrometeorolgy and the Institute of Nuclear Physics.

3. Major Groups: No information.

4. Finance: No information.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information.

NATIONAL PRIORITY:

STATUS REPORT: Albania has abundant water resources, composed of rivers, lakes, underground waters, springs and coastal waters. The basin of the Albanian hydrographical network is settled in the South Western part of the Balkan peninsula. The rivers of Albania are short in length and have small hydrographical basins because of the meridional position of the country.

Lakes are important components of the Albanian hydrographical network. In Albania, there are 247 natural lakes of various types and dimensions. The general water area of the Albanian lakes is 461 km2.

Albania is a water-rich country, and much of its economic activity is dependent on the utilization of water resources. Over 90% of the energy production is from hydropower plants, while agriculture is critically dependent on irrigation. However, the inadequate and poorly maintained infrastructure in each of the water-using sectors and the absence of institutional co-ordination has resulted in the lack of water supplies becoming a key constraint to many economic activities and to satisfying basic social needs.

The Government's role in the management of water resources has been to develop and implement policies and strategies which promote the conservation and efficient use of water. For that purpose, the Government has begun the preparation of a National Water Strategy (with funding by the EU) to set out polices concerning the efficient management and protection of water resources, and to specify an appropriate legal framework for the management of water resources.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The responsibility for developing water policies and strategies is vested with the autonomous National Water Committee. The administration and implementation of water strategies is undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works, and Territory Adjustment, in conjunction with Ministry of Mineral and Energy Resources.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The Government is committed to commercializing both water supply and sewerage services. This would require the introduction of an appropriate regulation framework to regulate the operations of privatized water companies.

3. Major Groups: The Government; the National Water Committee; Research Institutions.

4. Finance: From the Albanian Government, IDA, IFAD, Italy, Germany, Austria.

5. Regional/International Cooperation:

Additional resources will be required to rehabilitate water supply systems in areas other than Tirana and Durres, and to improve sewerage systems throughout the country.

NATIONAL PRIORITY: Legal and technical control on the production and use of toxic chemicals in the country and the elimination of toxic substances still present in the country.

STATUS REPORT: During the former regime, agriculture in particular made considerable use of toxic chemicals mainly fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides. While fertilizers were mainly produced in the country, herbicides and insecticides were generally imported. Since there was a tendency of referring to the cheapest offers for importing such goods, the pesticides which dominated the agricultural activities were organochlorine pesticides, known for their low biodegradability and the long persistence as residues in the environment. There were 70 different kinds of pesticides many of which highly toxic. There was no law that could impose restrictions on the type of the chemical allowed to enter and be used in the country. However in 1993, a law on Plant Protection Service was passed, which dealt with pest management. Since that time a decrease in the use of pesticides has been reported.

Apart from agricultural activities which played a major role in the release of toxic chemicals in the environment, industrial activities making use of obsolete technologies, contributed with their discharges of toxic chemicals as by products to the environmental contamination, such as the Caustic Soda Enterprise in Vlora, Metallurgic Combine Complex in Elbasan, The Battery and Accumulators Enterprise in Berati, the Cooper Smelter Enterprise in Rubik etc.

The onset of the free market economy brought about a considerable decrease in the use of fertilizers in agriculture and led to the reduction of their accumulation in soil and plants. Hence, soil contamination and its contribution to the contamination of water resources (surface and ground waters) was reduced as well.

Another factor which has contributed to the lessening of pollution from agricultural activities, is the rather low level of pesticides used in the last years, mainly due to the little concern shown by the farmers and the generally restricted possibilities for the elimination of agricultural crop damages. Thus, a reduction of soil contamination levels from pesticide tracks has been observed. However, a critical environmental issue is the presence of inherited pesticides which are located and deposited all over the country.

By the end of 1993, there were about 2,700 tons of used pesticides derived from the fund of the ex-agricultural cooperatives and enterprises or pesticides not used in their appropriate time. Out of this amount, a 465 ton stock of pesticides on the eve of expiration had come, in 1991-1992, as disguised aid from the former East Germany and was deposited mainly in Bajza station (Shkoder) and Milot. With the continuos insistence of the Committee on Environmental Protection and with the support of Greenpeace, the German Ministry of Environment took the responsibility to undertake actions and allocate funds for the pesticides repackaging and their return in Germany, in cooperation with the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture and Food. By the end of October 1994, these pesticides were taken away from Albania, avoiding a danger to the whole country.

Still at the end of 1994, about 1,500 tons of pesticides were in the country, not including another 600 tons from the Chemical Enterprise in Durres (wastes from lindan production). An adverse phenomenon that should be impeded, is the privatization of the pesticides warehouses which may cause environmental pollution or be misused by the new owners if their destination is changed.