ALBANIAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY UNDER TRANSITION AND FUTURE CHALLENGES By Haki Kola

Introduction
Albania covers a total area of about 28,750 km2 and forests & pastures occupy as much as 50% of national territory (36% and 14% respectively). Contrary to its unique significance for the national economy, the forest sector continues to suffer from several transition-related problems. The resource base has been declining significantly for years on end, not only in terms of quantitative loss of forest cover (deforestation), but also in terms of even more widespread qualitative deterioration (forest degradation). While forest cover has been shrinking, and annual allowable cut was decreased from 1,416, 000 m3 in year 1991, on 864, 056 m3 in 2003, substantial amounts of mature timber are nowadays only to be found in the most physically inaccessible parts of the country. The estimated annual harvest (2,746,326 m 3) is three times higher than sustainable maximum. As the exploitation of Albanian forest continues unchecked, the already startling gap between supply and demand can be expected to widen ever further. To face this situation, DGFP with the support of the Albanian Government in close cooperation with international donors, has developed and is implementing a strategy to overcome the difficult situation and ensure sustainable development of the forestry sector according to the countrys demands and in line with principles of market economy. The Forestry Project of the World Bank (co financed and by the Governments of Italy, Switzerland and Japan, 1996-June30, 2004), has supported institutional reforms and policies in the forests and pastures sector in order to improve forest state and communal forest management, reduce illegal cutting, rehabilitate infrastructure, strengthen forest management and protection of natural resources. Despite efforts in recent years, forest governance is still weak and emerging institutional, legal and policy reforms still need to be fully implemented on the ground. In particular, there is a need for assistance in the continuation of the process of decentralization of forest management and forest service functions at regional and local levels
National strategy and programs

Based on the fundamental changes that have taken place in Albania since 1991, as well as the ever growing importance of agriculture in the national economy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has developed the Strategy for the Agricultural Development that is also known as the Green Strategy that has been approved by the Council of Ministers. Under the auspices of a multi sectoral board, DGFP reviewed and revised the Strategy for the Development of Forests and Pastures Sector, to propose a new decentralized structure for forest service and harmonize sector legislation. The current status is that a new strategy for the sector was adopted by the council of Ministers in the first half of 2004. A draft law on the forest and Albanian Forest Service has been developed but has not been approved.

Given the rather specific transition of Albania, which is characterized by a number of developments, challenges and opportunities, the Strategy is expected to have a substantial impact on administration, growth, development, management, protection and investments in the sector. Also, the strategy is aimed at: (i)establishing the main structure, institutional development, linkages and collaboration with other sectors of country's economy and foreign partners; (ii)promoting, training and motivating the forestry service personnel; (iii)overcoming uncertainties of the private sector.

The Biodiversity Strategy

Albania, with its varied topography and combination of Mediterranean and Balkan influences, is rich in biodiversity. The beauty of the landscapes makes the country a potential attraction for nature based recreation and the development of tourism. The Convention on biological variety, better known as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), was signed by Albania in January 1994. Although faced with the difficulties of a country in transition, Albania has endeavored to fulfill its obligations under the Convention. In 1998, the Albanian government charged the Ministry of Environment (the former Committee for Environmental Protection) to prepare the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) as a step towards implementing the Convention. Albania has been, and continues to be, a participant in European and regional initiatives related with the CBD, especially in the PAN-European Strategy on Biological and Landscape Diversity (PESBLD).

Programs
To implement the strategy and other forestry-related activities, the DGFP in cooperation with other institutions of the sector, has developed the following programs and action for (i) implementation of the Forests and Pastures Strategy;(ii) shifting the forestry sector toward market economy; (iii) for transferring state forests and pastures in use to communes, which is aimed at sustainable and participatory management of forests and pastures and strengthening of the local government by transferring 40 percent of the forest area and 60 percent of pastureland; and (iv) for controlling and limiting illegal activities in forests.

Legal framework
The change of systems necessitated the change of all legal frameworks in the forestry sector. The DGFP, in collaboration with other institutions and based on experience of our country as well as the international experience, created and established the new legal framework that is comprised by the following laws and regulations:

The Law On Forests and Forest Service Police (No. 7623 dated 13/10/1992) The Law On Pastures and Meadows (No. 7917, dated April 1995) The Law On Environmental Protection (No. 7664, dated January 1993) The Law On Forest Revenues (No. 8302, dated March 1998)

The Law On Leasing the Agricultural Land, Forests, Meadows and Pastures that are Property of State (No. 3318, April 1998) The Law On the Protection of Wild Fauna, and Hunting (No. 7875, dated November 1994) Regulation On the Transfer of Forests and Pastures in Use to Communes (No. 308, dated January 1996)

The experience gained with implementation of the above laws during the recent years, has necessitated the amendment of specific articles as well as a better integration with the legislation of other forestry and natural resources-related sectors. In the context of DGFP decentralization, the Council of Ministers through the forest sector strategy and reforms document, has sanctioned the establishment of several Regional Directorates. These directorates will coordinate the activity of Service Departments at districts level with the DGFP.Under the new organization, DGFP will be responsible for the strategic decision-making and orientation, development of policies and identification of priorities, assignment of human and financial resources, monitoring and coordination of activities at regional level. Meanwhile, the Regional Directorates will be in charge of adopting strategies at regional level, coordination of activities with involved actors, distribution of resources at district level, supporting and monitoring the activities and results of the District Forest Service structures, keeping the DGFP informed on the developments in the sector. The District Forest Service will be in charge of supervising the activities as well as managing resources (plans, manages, guides and controls).

Experiences and problems encountered during decentralization and restitution process

The Albania Forestry Project (closed June 30,2004) has supported the transfer of user rights and management of forest and management of forest and pastures from state to local communities through assistance in the adoption of the regulatory framework and support to mapping work. Other agencies have made a significant contribution toward supporting the objective of this project (USAID, WFP, SNV etc). It has shown that poverty reduction and sustainable natural resources management are compatible and interdependent. 30% of total forest and pasture land , comprising 140 communes, has been transferred to local communes to date and this has resulted in a dramatic increase in forest cover and decrease in erosion where project investment have been made. Forest and pasture Users associations have been established and they have developed management plans and invested membership dues in improving the resource. Introduction of market-based methods in the forestry sector and involvement of private sector in forest activities (forest harvesting, forest improvement, and undertaking of various studies including preparation of management plans), has led to a better management of forestry resources. However, this sector still has limited intellectual and financial capabilities to face the rules of market economy. Meanwhile, the still high level of illegal activity in forests continues to be the main concern of DGFP

Restitution of private forests to ex-owners is another important problem. Until now 10,000 hectares or 1 percent of the forest fund has been restituted to ex-owners. According to official data before 1946, about 5 percent of the forest area was private property. Lack of original documentation for restituting the private forest to ex-owners as well as pending disputes between ex-owners and local community;

International cooperation and European integration

The DGFP has been successfully collaborating with a number of foreign partners in terms of experience sharing and implementation of several projects especially those aimed at forestry staff training. The Forestry Project funded by the World Bank and the Governments of Italy and Switzerland, with the technical assistance of the FAO, is being implemented in Albania since five years. Thanks to the considerable support of this project, the Albanian forestry sector has achieved a remarkable development in terms of both institutional development and the improved forest situation after the difficult period of transition. During the period 1995 2000, the Private Forestry Development Program funded by USAID, provided a substantial contribution to the establishment and strengthening of private and communal forestry in Albania. The Project funded by the GTZ aims at providing technical assistance for improving the technical and scientific level in the Faculty of Forestry Sciences. The program supported by INTEREC aims at strengthening trans-boundary cooperation for managing forests especially in the environmental aspects. Concerned about the deterioration of the countrys natural resource base and building on the positive experience of Albanian Forestry Project, the Government has requested the World Banks continued support to expand community based management of the country. One project of Natural Resource Development, with the global objective to reverse severe degradation of upland and mountainous erosion prone- lands, through rehabilitating and sustainably managing natural resources is under preparation during this year. Future challenges include the need to adopt watershed management frame work, ie to combine measures to restore land productivity with those that provide income, to strengthen further the user associations capacity, to transform communes user-right into property rights and to complete the decentralization and restructuring of forest administration