Managing Flood Risk in the Shkodër Region Through Ecosystem-Based Adaptations
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Managing Flood Risk in the Shkodër Region through Ecosystem-based Adaptations Authors: Jakob Field, Christine Hovermale, Pedro Oporto, Katrina VanderVliet December, 2018 Managing Flood Risk in the Shkodër Region through Ecosystem-based Adaptations An Interactive Qualifying Project submitted to the Faculty of WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science By: Jakob Field, Christine Hovermale, Pedro Oporto, Katrina VanderVliet Date: 13 December 2018 Report Submitted to: Merita Mansaku-Meksi and Fationa Sinojmeri Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Professors Leslie Dodson and Robert Hersh Worcester Polytechnic Institute This report represents work of WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its web site without editorial or peer review. For more information about the projects program at WPI, see http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Projects iii ABSTRACT The Shkodër region in northern Albania has experienced severe flooding in the past decade, and flood risk is projected to increase due to climate change. Much of the land is farmed, and flooding degrades soil quality, reduces agricultural productivity, and negatively impacts the livelihood of the rural population. We worked with GIZ, the German development agency, to identify and explore the tradeoffs of two ecosystem- based adaptation (EbA) proposals aimed at reducing the impacts of flooding on farmers in the region. This was accomplished through semi-structured interviews with key informants, analysis of remote sensing data, and direct observation. The proposed EbAs could pose many benefits and challenges in the Shkodër region and need to include effective outreach to local stakeholders. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would first like to thank our We would also like to thank all of our Lastly, we would like to thank the sponsor GIZ, especially Merita key informants for opening their students of the Natural Life Sciences Mansaku-Meksi and Fationa Sinojmeri schedules to talk to us and taking time University in Shkodër. Not only did of the “Climate Change Adaptation in out of their days to show us areas of they take days off from class to come Transboundary Flood Risk the land and providing their knowledge on interview trips with us to translate, Management in the Western Balkans” for our research: but they also spent their time showing project, for being very supportive of all Aurora Dibra: Ecologist us around the city of Shkodër and our ideas and embracing our new Mirela Isufi: Ecologist opening up to us about their own perspectives and approaches to the Adi Garuci: Rural Planner personal experiences with the floods. project. Rasel Teli: Urban Planner We developed friendships that will be Sead Sadiku: Hydrologist sure to carry on even after our time We would like to acknowledge our Ismet Ueliuietaj: Farmer of Shirq here in Albania ends: advisors Professor Robert Hersh and Valentin Gocaj: Agronomist of Obot Professor Leslie Dodson for their M. Lukaj Ernest: Agronomist of Dajç Translators: advice and counseling throughout the Jonathan McCue: Sustainable Seas Eva Bujari project, as well as challenging us to Managing Director Elmedina Isufi understand and cogitate about the Denise Taipi many complexities of our project. Other Students: Besara Sula Jetmir Synaj v AUTHORSHIP Section Main Author(s) Secondary Editor(s) Author(s) Our whole group contributed to the Abstract Hovermale All All final report. Before writing any one of Acknowledgments VanderVliet N/A Hovermale the chapters, we sat down to Executive Summary All* N/A All brainstorm the main sections and Introduction All* N/A All content to be included in them. After The Shkodër Region and its Farming Practices: Hovermale the brainstorming phase, we divided Flood Risks to Agriculture: Oporto Background N/A All the writing and research between the Ecosystem-based Adaptations: VanderVliet Stakeholders: Field four of us to be completed by a set day and time to then go through each Objective 1: Hovermale other’s sections and comment on Methods Objective 2: VanderVliet N/A All diction, grammar, and content. Objective 3: Field, Oporto (*) When writing the introduction and Principles for Defining the Location of EbAs: Oporto executive summary, we each focused Principles for Designing the EbA: Oporto on the content we each wrote about in Findings Principles for Involving Stakeholders: Hovermale N/A All First EbA Case Study: VanderVliet the background, methods, findings and Second EbA Case Study: VanderVliet conclusions chapters. Limitations: Field, Hovermale Conclusions Ethics: Field, Hovermale N/A All Concluding Remarks: Field, Hovermale Formatting and Design: Oporto Final Proposal N/A N/A Title pages: Field Brochure VanderVliet N/A VanderVliet Video editing: Field Video N/A N/A Media Gathering: Oporto, VanderVliet vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................................................................................iv Authorship ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... v Figures and Tables ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... xi Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... xiv The Shkodër Region and its Farming Practices ........................................................................................................................................................ xiv Flood Risk to Agriculture .......................................................................................................................................................................................... xiv Understanding an Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) ........................................................................................................................................... xvi Stakeholders .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... xviii Objectives and Methods ........................................................................................................................................................................................ xviii Impact of Flooding on Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................................................... xix Potential Benefits of EbAs ........................................................................................................................................................................................ xix Potential Challenges and Limitations to EbAs ......................................................................................................................................................... xxi CASE STUDY 1: A Riparian Buffer Located Along the Buna River in Obot and Shirq .............................................................................................. xxii CASE STUDY 2: Wetland Reforestation and Restoration Located in Dajç.............................................................................................................. xxiv Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ xxvi Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 28 vii Background .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 The Shkodër Region and its Agriculture ................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Flood Risks to Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 36 Factors that Contribute to Flood Risk .................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Recent Floods ......................................................................................................................................................................................................