World Environment Day 2024

 

The earth is our home – the only home we know.

Every year, World Environment Day is observed to raise awareness about climate change, global warming, deforestation and loss of biodiversity. As we gear up to celebrate the special day, here are a few highlights  that we at CNVP foundation are implementing which contribute to environment protection and climate change mitigation:

Albania

Environmental protection and living in harmony with nature is at the heart of CNVP Albania, which is implementing several projects funded by different donors such as Embassy of Sweden in Tirana Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust Fund and Austrian Development Agency. CNVP promotes the cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants on abandoned or unused lands which reduces soil erosion, enhances biodiversity, biomass production and carbon sequestration. It also encourages sustainable harvesting of wild MAPs and works in close partnership with MAP companies, producers as well as government agencies.  CNVP is also supporting the afforestation of over 20 hectares of degraded and damaged lands in Shkoder and Puka.

Only in the last four years, CNVP Albania has supported the plantation of over 15 most market demanded MAP varieties resulting in the cultivation of over 170 ha of land planted with MAPs and about 60 ha planted with fruit trees. These interventions not only contribute to climate change mitigation, biodiversity and environment protection but also to generating employment and incomes for the rural communities.  

The innovative drying systems for MAPs piloted in six regions in Albania, flat bed green house, solar tunnels, drying chambers operating by using renewable energy sources, production of pellets from MAPs residues have also had a great positive impact on the environment.

 

North Macedonia

All projects implemented by CNVP North Macedonia contribute to environmental protection across various regions. Here are some key initiatives:

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Korab, Koritnik, Shar and the Albanian Alps: This project, financially supported by the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), promotes the sustainable use and responsible collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and the development of nature-based tourism.

Empowering Women for NTFP Development in Prespa is project Implemented by CNVP North Macedonia and financially supported by PONT, this project significantly influences the protection of mountain tea in the Prespa region by empowering local women in NTFP development.

Integrated Forest Management (IFM) along the Drin River Basin, a three-year regional project implemented by ICEP (Association for Global Development) and CNVP, and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). This project aims to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable development along the Drin River through strengthened IFM practices.

 

Kosovo

CNVP Kosovo is addressing climate change and environmental protection through its many projects among which Sustainable Use of Natural Resources for Environment and Economic Development (SUNREED) which aims at:

• addressing issues related to climate change adaptation and biodiversity; 
• developing forest product market systems, including wood biomass (wood chips); 
• providing incentives for proper forest management and income generation for Private Forest Owners (PFOs); and
• reducing greenhouse gas emissions.