Developing a Pilot Governance Model for Ecological Corridors in Albania

Ecological corridors are living landscapes shaped by wildlife, forests, traditional livelihoods, local knowledge, and the communities that depend on them. Understanding these complex relationships was at the heart of the Connectivity Conservation Areas (CCA) project.

Over three years, the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) and the Institute for Change and Leadership in Albania (ICLA) have worked together across several ecological corridors in northern and north-central Albania. These include the Cukal-Munellë-Balgjaj-Martanesh corridor, Pukë and Fushë-Arrëz, Fushë-Bulqizë and Valikardhë, the Albanian Alps in Tropoja, as well as the Kukës, Skavicë, and Lurë regions. These landscapes are not only important for biodiversity and ecological connectivity but are also deeply intertwined with local identities, livelihoods, and cultural traditions.

Throughout the project, one lesson emerged clearly: ecological connectivity cannot be effectively conserved without understanding how people perceive, use, and value the landscape.

Walking the Corridor: Understanding the Landscape Beyond Protected Areas Boundaries

To gain a stronger understanding of this this socio-ecological reality, PPNEA and ICLA applied an innovative participatory methodology known as the Transect Walk. The methodology was co-designed by an interdisciplinary team bringing together ecologists, field researchers, mammal specialists, educators, anthropologists, social scientists from PPNEA, and sociologists from ICLA. Rather than relying solely on meetings or desk-based assessments, stakeholders were invited to walk through the landscape together, observing habitats, discussing land-use practices, sharing local knowledge, and reflecting on challenges and opportunities for conservation.

Over the course of the project, Transect Walks became a cornerstone of stakeholder engagement, helping build trust and establish a shared understanding of the landscapes that ecological corridors seek to connect. They revealed several important socio-ecological patterns that later informed the development of the Governance Action Plan.

Across diverse regions, communities expressed strong pride and identity linked to their landscapes. In many cases, local conservation values were rooted not in regulations, but in cultural memory, traditional practices, and emotional connections to particular species, forests, springs, and mountain landscapes. In several locations, local actors increasingly viewed biodiversity and landscape conservation as opportunities for economic development through agro-tourism, guiding services, local products, and destination branding.

At the same time, participants identified significant challenges, while discussions also revealed concerns about land fragmentation, unclear tenure arrangements, infrastructure development, mining activities, unsustainable harvesting of natural resources, and the ecological impacts of rural depopulation.

Learning from a Regional Experience

A key milestone in the process was a three-day study visit to the Pindus Mountains in Greece, organised in early March 2026 in cooperation with PONT Connect, Pindos Perivallontiki, and the Balkan Chamois Society. The visit brought together representatives from protected area authorities, municipalities, national institutions with PPNEA to learn from successful conservation practices implemented in Greece. Participants gained first-hand insight into how effective governance structures, community engagement, ecological monitoring, and sustainable tourism can support the long-term conservation of interconnected landscapes and biodiversity.

Field visits to North Pindos National Park and the Vikos-Aoos UNESCO Global Geopark provided practical examples of how conservation objectives can be successfully linked with local development and community participation.

Building a Shared Vision jointly with Stakeholders

PPNEA initiated a broad consultation process to better understand local perspectives and identify opportunities for stronger cooperation in the management of Munellë Nature Park and its ecological corridors. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with representatives of national and local institutions, protected area administrations, municipalities, civil society organisations, and community members, including shepherds, teachers, and women living within the landscape.

The consultation process helped identify both challenges and opportunities related to protected area governance, stakeholder cooperation, and the management of ecological corridors. To further advance this dialogue, PPNEA organised a multi-stakeholder workshop on 24 April 2026 in Rrëshen, bringing together representatives from institutions, municipalities, civil society organisations, and local communities. Through presentations, discussions, and group work, participants explored the governance of Munellë Nature Park, the importance of ecological connectivity, and potential mechanisms for strengthening collaboration and information sharing.

Towards a Pilot Governance Model: The Munellë Connectivity Stewardship Partnership

Prepared with the support of ICLA partners, the document proposes a new governance approach centred around the creation of a Munellë Connectivity Stewardship Partnership. Rather than establishing a new institution, the model promotes voluntary collaboration among protected area authorities, municipalities, local communities, tourism operators, civil society organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.

The proposed framework combines multi-stakeholder coordination, thematic working groups, local stewardship dialogues, and innovative field-based learning mechanisms that encourage regular interaction and adaptive decision-making. By fostering trust, shared responsibility, and continuous cooperation, the model aims to strengthen the conservation of ecological connectivity while supporting sustainable local development.

With the support of PONT and project partners, PPNEA laid the foundation for a collaborative approach that can inspire similar initiatives across Albania and the Western Balkans, demonstrating how ecological corridors can be conserved through partnership, stewardship, and a shared vision for the future.

By: “Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA)”