Enhancing Accessibility and Awareness in the Albanian Alps National Park

Two years after the “Albanian Alps” were proclaimed as a National Park, a significant milestone has been achieved through the installation of identification signs within the Kelmendi territory, marking the inaugural interventions in this newly established protected area. Positioned strategically in three key locations – Vukël, Selca, and Vermosh – these information boards represent the first tangible step towards enhancing accessibility and awareness within the park’s boundaries.

Functioning as entry points to the park via automobile routes, the newly constructed bridge in Muriq/Vukël, Fushë Loja in Selca, and the border crossing in Bashkim/Vermosh are focal points for residents and visitors alike. These boards, meticulously crafted over several months by a multidisciplinary team of experts from the GO2 Organization in collaboration with local communities and institutions, serve as comprehensive information repositories. Covering a spectrum of information, including location details, available services, trail maps, natural ecosystems, cultural heritage, and daily life, they aim to cater primarily to local communities and institutions, with provisions for English translations to accommodate international visitors.

Noteworthy is the level of detail embedded within the Geographic Information System (GIS) maps encompassing the entire National Park and specifically the Malësia e Madhe region. This depth of information surpasses conventional signage standards typically found in Protected Areas, enriching visitors’ understanding of the Park’s value offerings.

Constructed with durability and authenticity as the guiding principles, the signage structures boast robust wooden and iron materials designed to withstand the challenging climate of the Western Alps. They reflect traditional architectural elements as a testament to the blend of modern functionality with local heritage, ensuring their longevity and reliability. Credit is due to the esteemed masters and craftsmen behind their creation, including Bledi, Arbeni, Leka, Gjini, Erioni, Ardiani, and Alberti.

In addition to information boards, GO2 has added the reference points to the National Park on Google Maps. Initially, these mark the entry points to the Park via the main roadways, such as at Shkalla e Drenovës over Ostriçi of Selca, at the willows near the Muriq bridge in Vukël, at Gurra e Kolë Gjetos in Grykë Lugje, at the end of the shingle in Nderlyse and at the bridge of the Canyon in Shoshan. Among the other points are the one on Kamenica road, from Qafë Morina to Kamenica in Gegaj, in the Rrethi i Fluturit above Zharet e Mregut in Selca, etc. Together with the information, the exact coordinates, according to DCM No. 59, dt. 26.1.2022, as well as confirmed in the location with GPS, in some of these points, photos taken in the same place, such as the one of the Old Bridge of Tamara (Cultural Monument), of Muriq in Vukël, etc., have been uploaded.

Reference link: https://www.google.com/maps/search/Parku+Kombetar+alpet+e+shqiperise/@42.2375634,19.8372865,9z?entry=ttu

The same has been done with two other online map platforms that are also widely used by people, whether local residents or foreigners, who are potential visitors to our country. Getting preliminary information about the “Albanian Alps” National Park will help all users of these platforms to adapt the right approach to the field in relation to a national asset as a protected area.

However, updating the maps is a continous process, one that can never be considered completed as long as there is human activity on the earth, it is simply a part of life.

As these inaugural information boards are handed over to the local community, the residents are expected to diligently maintain their upkeep, alongside the Municipality of Malësi e Madhe and other stakeholders invested in the region’s development. Looking ahead, this initial step sets the stage for introducing thematic signs aimed at fostering greater awareness of the rights, obligations, and benefits associated with the “Albanian Alps” National Park, thereby ensuring its sustainable stewardship for generations to come.

This intervention, made possible through the support of PONT, not only fulfils immediate needs but also lays the foundation for future initiatives to raise awareness and foster community engagement.