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The Albanian government did not take into account the suggestions of environmental experts contracted by it to carry out a study on Protected Areas, taking decisions to reduce these areas, mainly those with the status of 'National Parks'.
The Ornithological Association of Albania, AOS, announced on Monday that in the court session at the Administrative Court of Appeal, where 11 organizations have requested the annulment of two government decisions to reduce the areas of Protected Areas, the fact that 'the government has ignored expert recommendations'.
"Government decisions have ignored the recommendations of their experts and that the reduction was carried out to make way for HPPs, urban and tourist areas, infrastructure construction including highways, high voltage lines, intensive use of natural resources, etc. ” declared AOS after the session.
Gent Kromidha, one of the experts who testified at the hearing, when asked by BIRN, gave a softer version of the contradiction between the experts' study and the government's decision-making.
"In general, our recommendations have been taken into account, but case by case there are also deviations or changes from the proposals given in the study," Kromidha said.
The expert did not give a determination of how substantial these deviations were. "For example, in Divjaka, I don't believe they are essential, but I don't know what to say about the others, as our proposals must be confronted with those approved by the government," he added.
According to Kromidha, the study conducted in 2019 and the process of declaring/changing protected areas in 2020 and 2022 were two separate processes. However, he admits that "the study has served as a basis for the change process undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment".
Experts from environmental organizations have challenged these changes in court, where they seek partial annulment of decisions on changing protected areas. According to them, the changes have been essential and very different from what was suggested through the conducted study.
"We demand the annulment of these decisions since larger areas than the study's suggestions have been removed, such as the case of the Lure-Mali i Deja park, where 2,800 hectares have been removed from the 857 hectares that were suggested," the AOS representative told BIRN. Kristi Bashmili.
Also, AOS insists that the expert study suggested to the government that any reduction of the territory of a protected area should be preceded by detailed studies of 2-5 years for the evidence of the values of the area proposed for removal from the network.
"The government never carried out the studies recommended by its experts before the KKT decision-making in December 2020 and the decisions of the Council of Ministers in January 2022," the organization's response states.
Kromidha calls this position of AOS a misinterpretation, clarifying that the recommendation for further studies was related to existing protected areas, which, according to him, have lost their function and should be completely removed from the national system of protected areas, and conservation organizations should brought studies in favor of their preservation.
"It's not worth dwelling so long on what we have removed in terms of surface area...," he says referring to the testimony given in court, "but we should be concerned with the effectiveness and concrete results from the management of PAs for the conservation of habitats and types".
"We don't need large parks on paper, but for effective conservation and management of areas with high natural values," Kromidha added.
In November 2023, the Administrative Court of Appeal agreed to legitimize 11 civil society organizations, known for their pro-environmental activity, to oppose decisions that led to the reduction of areas and the reduction of the status of some of the Protected Areas.
These organizations oppose VKM no. 59 dated 26.01.2022, "On the Approval of the Change in the Status and Area of Natural Ecosystems of the National Park (Category II) of Environmentally Protected Areas and VKM no. 60 dated 26.1 .2022, "For the Declaration of Natural Ecosystems, Natural Reserves of the Park of Managed/Natural (Category IV)”.
Their concern is mainly related to the reduction of the surfaces of the national parks of Butrint, Divjaka, Dajti, Qaftshtama, Zall Gjoçaj, Shebenik, as well as the endangerment of the natural parks of Korab Koritnik, Bredhi i Kardhiqi, Karaburun, Kune-Vain Tale, Patok-Fushëkuqe. , Ishim, and Lake Shkodra.
According to environmental activists, the removal of the status of the protected area or the reduction of their surface could pave the way for possible investments or abuses of other natures in these areas. / BIRN
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