Restoration of the banks of the Buna River using bioengineering techniques

Where?

The project is implemented in Shkodër County, along the Buna River. Shared by Albania and Montenegro, the river flows for around 44 km from Lake Shkodra to the Adriatic Sea, forming a dynamic and biologically rich delta. This delta hosts a variety of habitats, including wetlands, lagoons, and floodplains along the river corridor.

By whom?

EcoAlbania runs the project with the support of SISMAE. EcoAlbania is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Albania’s natural environment. Its mission is to conserve ecosystems and ecological processes by safeguarding wildlife and their habitats. The organization also works to stop environmental degradation and support the restoration of damaged areas, promoting a balanced and respectful coexistence between people and nature.

Which challenges?

The project addresses significant riverbank erosion along the Kiri and Buna rivers, leading to the loss of riparian land and ongoing ecological degradation. Climate-related morphological changes, including the disconnection of a secondary river branch, threaten habitat connectivity and biodiversity. The erosion also poses a direct risk to subsistence food plots along the riverbanks that are essential to local communities, particularly women. A key challenge is balancing the preservation of natural river dynamics with traditional agricultural practices while ensuring community participation.