Degradation of natural resources (forests and pastures) in some areas of Albania remains a major constraint. This creates a negative impact on economic growth, as well as environmental loss of vegetation and biodiversity, high erosion in mountain areas, loss of water sources, and flooding. 

Through the FLED project, implemented from 2014-2019, CNVP Albania has demonstrated that sustainable management of natural resources in general, and forests/pastures in particular, brings benefits that include erosion control, increased economic activities/incomes for rural communities, restoration of landscapes, and enhance biodiversity conservation. 

FLED project supported numerous activities such as; trainings, meetings, coaching, mentoring, assisting, advising monitoring and/or small investment schemes the cultivation of bare and abandoned lands with MAPs such as sage, mountain tea, lavender, oregano, thymus, wild apple, laurel, etc., as well as nut trees such as chestnut, hazelnut and walnut, and fast-growing tree species for wood biomass, including poplar, acacia, and willow. Such plantations have a multi-functional purpose that includes:

• increased production and economic benefits for local producers;
• soil conservation through prevention of soil erosion and flooding;
• increased biomass production and carbon sequestration;
• increased flowering area for bees; and 
• positive effects on biodiversity, the environment, and climate change. 

 A core intervention during the FLED project is using sustainable harvesting of products/resources, preventing damage and degradation by respecting technical rules and calendar, as well as increasing the possibility for their cultivation, thereby improving the environment generally.