In the small village of Zagrad, in the Dibër region of Albania, farmer Besmir Feta is trying something different. With the support of a small grant from the CNVP Albania project, he is growing wild rose on his land inside the protected area of Korab-Koritnik. 

He is a local farmer who has worked for years in agriculture, livestock, and collecting medicinal and forest plants. Like many other families in the area, he depends on nature for his daily life and income. But often, when wild plants are collected directly from the forest, they are not harvested in the right way. This can damage nature and reduce the number of plants growing in the wild.

Besmir wanted to protect the nature around his village, while also continuing his farming activity. So, with the support of the project, he started planting wild rose in a small field that belongs to him. This allows him to produce the plant in a safe and sustainable way, without taking it from the forest. It also helps increase the quality of the product and gives him a better income for his family. 

This small activity shows how farmers in protected areas can find ways to live in harmony with nature. By cultivating a plant that has high value, both for the market and for biodiversity, Besmir is showing that nature protection and farming can go hand in hand.

His work is also a good example for other farmers in the area, who may want to try similar ways to improve their income and protect the environment at the same time.

Through this project, Besmir is not only growing wild roses, he is also growing hope for a more sustainable future in his village and in the whole Korab-Koritnik protected area.

This activity is part of CNVP Foundation’s work to support local communities in protected areas, made possible with the funding of Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust - PONT.