On 23 October 2018, CNVP Albania supported a National Core Group meeting in Kruja Municipality on 2.3 ha. of a farmer forest with poplar of 6-8 years of age. Experts in the Group (including representatives from the Faculty of Forestry, the National Federation, Kruja Municipality staff and famers) used the opportunity of the field visit to discuss the potential of poplar forests and other fast growing tree species. A sample plot of the poplar forest was undertaken during the visit to measure forest growth. As CNVP Albania is promoting different models of forest management practices at farmer and municipality levels, including the delivery of training, the data collected will be used as reference for alternative forest models.

The possibility for using fast growing species is being proposed by the National Federation and other stakeholders to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, in order to increase forest cover on barren land where fast growing tree species can be a useful alternative.

The event was organized by CNVP Albania in the framework of the Forests for Local Economic Development project that is being funded by Sweden.