CNVP Albania has been supporting family forest users/owners in Gjirokastra Region to develop and improve forest management practices on two sites:

• Badlonje village, Permet Muncipality; 24.5 ha of family forest legally owned; and
• Shtepez Village, Gjirokastra Muncipality; contracted 25 ha to use the forest area for 99 years.

CNVP Albania is supporting farmers to understand better the multi-product and multi-functional benefits of forests and trees. This has created a unique combination of forest and farm resources which is managed and operated by a family to ensure that: all family labour is linked to several areas of rural development; and forests are kept healthy and productive.

On 29-31 August 2018, CNVP Albania invited forest specialists together with the Forest Users Association and forest owners to visit and share ideas and experiences on both sites. Participants discussed opportunities for replicating the model in other villages, as well as how to create a system of certified family forests which meets standards of sustainability for multiple purposes. The demonstration model feeds into capacity building activities such as training, module development, sharing and learning.

The activity was funded through the Forests for Local Economic Development project that is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Tirana and implemented by CNVP Albania.