On 21 November 2018, CNVP Albania organised a closing event for the Sida-funded Forests for Local Economic Development (FLED) project (2014-18) being implemented in 10 regions of Albania, including 21 municipalities and 24 Local Government Units (LGUs). FLED built on earlier projects implemented by CNVP Albania in support of forestry and natural resource management.

Participants at the event included representatives from: the Swedish Embassy; the Ministry of Tourism and Environment; the Albanian Parliament; the Agency for Protected Areas; Municipalities (Forestry and Agriculture Departments); the Association of Local Autonomy; the Forest and Pasture Users’ Associations; the Regional Federations; the National Federation; producer groups; donors (e.g. World Bank); and CNVP’s Country Directors, advisors and beneficiary stakeholders from Kosovo and Macedonia.

Introductory remarks were made by: Petra Butcher (Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Tirana); Almira Xhembulla (Member of Parliament); Adelina Farici (Executive Director, Association for Local Autonomy); Ross Bull (CNVP Executive Director); and Janaq Male (CNVP Albania Country Director).

FLED has worked annually with 60 local trainers, the staff of regional and national federations and the participation of more than 5,500 people to:

1. improve the decentralised management of natural resources by strengthening the capacities of LGUs, securing property rights, supporting forest registration to the IPRO office (about 100,000 ha), and supporting the collection of fees and tariffs and establishing a reinvesting fund;
2. strengthen civil society structures and enhance their relevance by improving their structures, supporting democratic elections of their boards, with special attention to women representation, and building their capacities to deliver services and meet grant application requirements from different donors;
3. develop non-timber forest product producer groups, by supporting income generation opportunities, marketing and networking, communication within the value chain, and marketing products based on EU standards;
4. strengthen multi-objective use of forests, by promoting use of biomass for heating, creating new models with fast growing species, and integrating forest management practices in school education; and
5. improve policies, as well as the legal and institutional framework for the management of forests and pastures by contributing to more equitable and sustainable development.

An important impact of FLED has been the increased interest of local residents to protect their forests which is reflected in the rehabilitation and improvement of about 80% of the forests transferred to municipalities (with an average annual increment of 3-4 m3/ha), and the increased income generation of local farmers from diversified forest produce.   

After the event’s presentation, there was an open session for discussion where participants expressed their gratitude for the support they had received from CNVP Albania to make them stronger as a result of introducing innovative approaches and multi-stakeholder processes in natural resource management.

Event participants were able to taste traditional products from 21 municipalities and talk to project beneficiary farmers, as well as exchange information, ideas and networking opportunities.