TIRANA, June 27/ATA/ Albania officially joins the International Union for Conservation of Nature becoming the 87th member country of this organization. The membership follows the official approval of the statutes of this organization. This step shows Albania's commitment to global conservation efforts.
The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has been designated by the state as the official liaison with the IUCN Secretariat.
"As Albania joins the IUCN, along with the rich biodiversity we also bring a firm commitment to environmental protection and this membership offers us a valuable platform to collaborate and learn from global best practices, strengthening efforts and our conservation policies", emphasized Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro.
"Albania has created a model for the protected areas by declaring the Vjosa National Park of one of the last wild rivers in Europe. Also, Albania has created new parks such as the "National Park of the Alps" in the north of the country. These protected areas are key assets for our ecotourism, perfectly embodying the slogan "Albania All Senses". With over 21.4% of the territory under protection and other initiatives, our partnership with IUCN will strengthen our capabilities, merge traditional knowledge with modern science and contribute significantly to local and global environmental goals. We are optimistic about the mutual benefits that this cooperation will foster by strengthening our biodiversity conservation practices and advancing sustainable development", concluded Kumbaro.
Over the past two decades, IUCN has worked closely with the government and civil society in Albania, helping to strengthen the institutional framework for nature conservation, improve the national system of protected areas and increase the level of community engagement.
At the regional level, Albania is engaged as an active member of the Biodiversity Task Force for the Western Balkans (BDTF BB). This regional body advises the Regional Green Agenda Working Group (GAWB) for the Western Balkans on implementation of the Nature and Biodiversity Protection Pillar of the GAWB Action Plan.
As Albania joins IUCN as its newest member state, both sides are committed to further joint efforts in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, community engagement, climate change adaptation and environmental governance. /k.s/p.s./