Albania Factsheet About Future Investment in Biodiversity Conservation Projects in Albania by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF)

CONTACT:

Borut Rubinič CEPF Programme Officer for the Balkans T: +386 41 703282 E: [email protected]

Mediterranean Basin Hotspot

Albania Factsheet about future investment in biodiversity conservation projects in Albania by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF)

Dalmatian Pelicans flying over KBA Divjaka Karavasta © Eno Gace

Established in 2000, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l'Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.

Please visit www.cepf.net and www.birdlife.org/cepf-med for more information about our programs.

WHAT IS CEPF? When developing an Ecosystem Profile for a biodiversity hotspot, CEPF decides on a few

priorities, which are known as “Strategic Directions”. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) provides These are important to grant applicants because grants to non-governmental and private sector organizations to each project must address a Strategic Direction and help protect biodiversity hotspots. Since its establishment in one or more of its investment priorities. 2000, CEPF has awarded more than 2,120 grants in 92 countries and territories. A fundamental goal is to ensure For the Mediterranean, these are the current civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation. Strategic Directions: 1. Support civil society to engage stakeholders in demonstrating integrated approaches for the WHAT IS THE MEDITERRANEAN preservation of biodiversity in coastal areas. BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT? 2. Support the sustainable management of water catchments through integrated approaches for Stretching from Cabo Verde to eastern Turkey, the the conservation of threatened freshwater Mediterranean Basin is identified as one of the world's 35 biodiversity. biodiversity hotspots, earth’s most biologically rich, yet 3. Promote the maintenance of traditional land threatened, areas. use practices necessary for the conservation of Mediterranean biodiversity in priority corridors of CEPF has been active in the hotspot since 2012, and has begun a new 5-year investment phase in 2017, with US$ 11.2 million high cultural and biodiversity value. to invest until September 2022. 4. Strengthen the engagement of civil society to support the conservation of plants that are CEPF’s initial investment phase demonstrated that through Critically Endangered or have highly restricted funding, along with mentoring, partnerships and innovative ranges. communication strategies, civil society groups play an 5. Strengthen the regional conservation community important role in conservation efforts. through the sharing of best practices and knowledge among grantees across the hotspot.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT?

All NGOs, community groups, private enterprises and other civil society organizations may apply for funding. Our grant recipients range from small farming cooperatives and community associations to international organizations. What do they all have in common? They are dedicated to protecting biodiversity. For more details, please visit our page:

https://www.cepf.net/grants/eligibility A map of the Mediterranean Hotspot WHAT IS CEPF’S INVESTMENT STRATEGY? HOW DO I APPLY?

Before providing funding to a hotspot, CEPF develops an For information on how to apply, please visit: “Ecosystem Profile” that informs its investment strategy. In the https://www.cepf.net/grants Mediterranean, more than 500 civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the region were consulted over a period of Calls for Proposals are announced on the CEPF 6 months for this in-depth analysis, helping to develop a shared website at: https://www.cepf.net/grants/open-calls- strategy from the outset that has a bigger impact for nature. for-proposals

Please visit www.cepf.net and www.birdlife.org/cepf-med for more information about our programs.

Why is CEPF investing in Water pollution is also a factor that poses a risk to Albania’s Albania? habitats and people. Alteration of the natural flow regimes of rivers, especially hydropower development and persistent To protect priority Key Biodiversity Areas and species pressure of human developments in last remaining wetlands Albania’s coasts and freshwater environments are the home of many rare and are recognized as major factors contributing to loss of threatened species biological diversity and ecological function in aquatic ecosystems, including floodplains. CEPF investments in the country have played a part in combating the negative impact of such challenges. Many sites with associated animal and plant species have benefited from our grantee projects, from Shkodra Lake in the north, coastal lagoons of Patoku, Karavasta and Narta, to Butrint National Park in the south of the country.

Eligibility of projects in Albania: CEPF investment in Albania will focus on the following investment priorities: Strategic Direction 1: Coasts: Support civil society to engage stakeholders in demonstrating integrated approaches for the preservation of biodiversity in coastal areas with the following investment priorities: 1.1: Engage local stakeholders in conservation actions that address threats to key elements of biodiversity in priority KBAs in the coastal zone. 1.2: Engage private sector stakeholders to adopt sustainable practices that deliver positive impacts for conservation in priority KBAs in the coastal zone. 1.3: Support civil society to engage with local or national governments to mainstream biodiversity conservation into integrated coastal zone management, land-use and development planning processes. Strategic Direction 2: Freshwater biodiversity: Support the sustainable management of water catchments through integrated approaches for the conservation of threatened freshwater biodiversity by supporting the following investment priorities: 2.1: Enhance the knowledge base on freshwater biodiversity and its importance in maintenance of freshwater ecosystem services. 2.2: Take action to reduce threats and improve management A map of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in Albania & Kosovo of selected sites in priority freshwater catchments with the participation of local stakeholders. Albania’s highly diverse ecosystems and habitats are uniquely 2.3: Engage with government, private sector and other important for nature and people in the country and beyond. stakeholders to support integrated river basin management Biodiversity in Albania is extremely rich, including 27 endemic and practices that reduce threats to biodiversity in priority CMZs. 160 sub-endemic species of vascular plants, and 91 globally threatened species of animals – such as the Dalmatian Pelican Strategic Direction 4: Plants: Strengthen the engagement of civil Pelecanus crispus and the Sturgeon Acipenser sturio, for which society to support the conservation of plants that are critically Albania is a crucial stronghold. endangered or have highly restricted ranges through supporting the following investment priorities: Although rich in fauna and flora, the major challenge in Albania is 4.1: Increase knowledge and skills to support assessment collecting data regarding its biodiversity, especially in terms of and planning for the conservation of plants, and foster the numbers and distribution. Another huge challenge is loss and emergence of a new generation of young professionals in plant conservation. fragmentation of habitats; due to the recent infrastructural development, urbanization, tourism, deforestation, hunting, fishing, 4.2: Support integration of plant conservation into the soil erosion, energy and mining as the main sectors with great management of protected areas. impacts on the biological diversity. 4.3: Support innovative actions for the conservation of important populations of plants, working with landowners and managers.

Please visit www.cepf.net and www.birdlife.org/cepf-med for more information about our programs.

How can I get involved? Contact Information For questions specific to Albania grants, contact: Borut Rubinič, CEPF Programme Officer for the Balkans

Ljubljana, Slovenia - DOPPS - BirdLife Slovenia p.p. 2990, Tržaška 2, SI - 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija [email protected] / +386 41 703282

For general enquiries contact the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) (led by BirdLife International):

Liz Smith, RIT Manager, BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3QZ [email protected] / +44 (0)1223 279878

Web & Social Media www.birdlife.org/cepf-med www.cepf.net Facebook: @CEPF.MED / Twitter: @CEPFmed #CEPFmed

List of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in Albania

Please visit www.cepf.net and www.birdlife.org/cepf-med for more information about our programs.