Albania: Unprecedented momentum to strengthen the conservation of the Divjaka-Karavasta dune ecosystems

On June 9 and 10, 2026, the Tour du Valat and the Conservatoire du littoral, members of the Mediterranean Consortium for Biodiversity (CMB), conducted a monitoring mission in Divjaka-Karavasta National Park (DKNP), Albania, as part of the RESCOM project.

Focused on dune ecosystems—which remain understudied and are often underestimated in Albania despite their significant ecological value—this mission brought together teams from RAPA-Fier (the site’s managing authority), the NGO “PPNEA” (responsible for the ecological assessment), and several local stakeholders.

The field visits provided an opportunity to share the initial findings of the assessment, which confirm the site’s ecological richness, notably with the identification of a Little Tern nesting area requiring special attention. Discussions also highlighted the main pressures on the dunes, particularly uncontrolled vehicle and visitor traffic.

A consultation workshop was then held, bringing together technical partners, the municipality of Divjakë, representatives of fishermen, and tourism operators to identify solutions tailored to the local context. Among the options considered are channeling access points, developing parking areas, protecting the most sensitive areas, and guiding tourism activities toward more environmentally friendly practices.

This approach reflects a shared commitment to balancing the preservation of natural habitats, landscape quality, and local development. The partners will continue their work in the coming months to finalize the ecological assessment and define a pilot project that could be implemented starting in 2027.

The mission also included a visit to the two-hectare reforestation project supported by RESCOM in the surrounding hills—implemented by the NGO Iliria—as well as restoration efforts for the Dalmatian Pelican nesting islet in the Karavasta lagoon, the species’ only breeding site in Albania, led by the NGO “AOS”.

At the same time, on June 17, AOS organized and led an online technical workshop bringing together several international experts to discuss the findings of the ongoing feasibility study on the long-term conservation and restoration of the islet, in the face of climate change, which is heightening the risks of erosion and submersion. These discussions helped enrich the study and guide future conservation efforts.