27 January 2018 was the 95th anniversary of the Albanian Forest Service. To mark this occasion, CNVP collaborated with Gjirokastra and Korca Federations of Forest Users’ Associations to organise a meeting of forestry specialists and regional experts.

The focus of the meeting in Gjirokastra town on 26 January was how to strengthen collaboration between key actors, in order to improve forest policies and develop lowland agro-forestry systems by introducing fast growing species. The example discussed was Paulownia, a fast growing species that is appropriate for lowland areas, (as is Poplar).

In 2015, CNVP helped to plant 1 ha. of Paulownia. This model increased farmers’ interest to create similar plantations of Paulownia on abandoned land. Today, 12 ha. of Paulownia has been planted in Gjirokastra Region. As Paulownia is a newly introduced tree in Albania, with little knowledge of the species, CNVP is monitoring carefully the model’s results, bearing in mind that these plantations are not currently combined with crops.

The meeting’s participants discussed how to plant more fast growing species through the development of agro-forestry systems that integrate crops and wood in lowland areas. The participants also discussed the requirement to integrate nuts, fruits, trees and crops, in order to meet the need for shelterbelts, forest gardening and firewood, as well as use them as riparian and upland forest buffers.

This activity, reported on national television’s “Top News” programme, was supported through Forests for Local Economic Development, a Sida-funded project that is being implemented by CNVP Albania.