Planting has begun. After on-the-job training and the introduction of new field equipment, teams have started planting acacia seedlings across degraded slopes in the Drin River Basin as part of the Integrated Forest Management (IFM) project.

Acacia was chosen for its fast growth and ability to stabilise erosion-prone ground. The species adapts to poor soils and its root system helps bind soil in places where rain and runoff have stripped topsoil away. Planting now targets the most degraded pockets and smaller catchments where vegetation will most quickly reduce sediment flow into downstream lakes and rivers.

Before planting, workers completed a short practical course on using and maintaining the gasoline-powered hole opener and on safe field procedures. The equipment has sped up hole digging and lowered the physical burden on teams, allowing more seedlings to go in the ground each day while keeping staff safer and more productive.

These planting activities are part of a larger package of erosion-control measures under IFM. Restoring tree cover will reduce soil loss, increase biomass and carbon storage, and improve water quality downstream as less soil reaches watercourses. In time, improved vegetation will also support local biodiversity and make the landscape more resilient to extreme weather.

This phase of work is focused, practical and results-driven: get seedlings in the ground, protect the soil, and monitor recovery. CNVP Albania will continue supporting maintenance and follow-up activities to ensure high survival rates and lasting impact.

The IFM project is funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation, implemented by CNVP Albania, and initiated by ICEP – Association for Global Development.