Improving the Management of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas National Marine Park Karaburun-Sazan NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2020 ISSUE 14 MCPA2 PROJECT – ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES The MCPA2 o Combating marine Project is closing its litter campaign, as a 3rd year of very serios threats to IN THIS ISSUE: implementation, the NMP K-S. and it is time to o International provide an insight consultancy has of what has been shared important ideas MCPA2 Project – achieved and the next goals and challenges. with the RAPA administration and all other Achievements and A. Strengthen and Complete the Model of tourism sector stakeholders, discussing main Challenges__________ 1 Practice for MCPAs in Albania understandings of ecosystem on-the-water A.1. Strengthen Regional Administration of sustainable tourism, exchanging views on Protected Areas (RAPA) capacities for better tourism activities in Vlora region and potential Monitoring of physical & controlling and management development of sustainable tourism sector. chemical parameters__ 2 o Strengthen RAPA Vlorë patrolling capacities, o SWOT analysis for the Vlora region provided a enabling provision & operation of a new laconic picture of the destination’s assets and speedboat for surveying MPA K-S. shortcomings and revealed the opportunities Unusual destinations of o Maintain the Anchoring and Signaling buoys, and challenges it faces. autumn____________ 2 providing also assistance to Inter-institutional o The Manual on Ecotourism in MPAs provided Maritime Operations Centre and Naval Force. forms of environmental best practices currently o Provision of a diving course for RAPA used by ecotourism operators. The Code of Llogara National Park monitoring staff and students & professors of Conduct was developed and shared with RAPA. Day_______________3 Vlora University, Department of Biology. A.4. Fishery Sector o Undertake water quality monitoring activities The main findings from the analyses and (physical and chemical parameters). assessment phase, capacities & impacts, were Main trails in Karaburun o 5 promotional professional video documentaries closely attended in roundtables organized and were Peninsula___________3 for celebrating the 10th anniversary of the park. flag-shipped through development and publication o Capacity building tools for RAPA staff (e- of relevant guides/handbook. learning platform, training on performance B. Strengthen Governance-based Institutional Waste management in assessment instruments (METT and FSS) Capacity and Management Committee NMP K-S___________4 o Gender issues in Protected Areas, pinpointing Institutional governance capacities for the the main approaches of women role and management of the Park is strengthened and the involvements on MPA management activities Management Committee is supported together with Marine mosaics under A.2. Support functionality of the Visitor’s Center the technical secretariat RAPA Vlorë. threat_____________4 o Assistance to Radhima Visitor Center – C. Strengthen and apply the NMP K-S Model involvement of Junior Experts and media, o Continuation of national and international information collection, processing and consultancies Climate changes and NMP dissemination, education & communication, etc. engagement. K-S_______________5 o The Sea Turtle o Follow up and Rehabilitation provision of Your Voice, Your Center jointly recommendations to Choice_____________5 operated and implement more coordinated with integrated activities at Visitors approaches of the How you can help protect Center in Radhima. assessment methods & technologies. our oceans__________6 o Visibility, branding, o The GIS reporting is finalized, and all ArcGIS awareness and education means (14 electronic package is delivered with the data from NMP newsletters prepared and issued to partners and K-S monitoring protocols. related stakeholders). The info-point at the o A series of webinars on scientific research and Visitor Center is maintained and enriched with experience exchange were conducted. pertinent touristic and environment information. A.3. Tourism and Eco-Certification Project response to the COVID 19 pandemic o The analysis of visitors’ number data during the impacts into ongoing partnerships and stakeholder This edition is prepared last 3 years shows that is 2020 there is a involvements was focused on anticipating activities by decrease of 71%. Almost the entire tourist flow and adopting to likewise forms of in Vlora Bay had as destination the sea and, accomplishments; specific relevant activities were UNDP Project on primarily the NMP K-S. Promotion of the new identified and implemented according to COVID Marine and Coastal trail “The Breeze of 2 Seas”. country protocol (specific guidance by UNDP on Protected Areas o Integration of marine ecosystems management travel and movement restriction). actions with sustainable ecotourism approaches © UNDP Project Team For questions or to subscribe to the newsletter, please write to us at: [email protected] or visit www.karaburunsazanmpa.com | Page 1 MONITORING OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN VLORA BAY Every month, the marine waters UNDP project team inside and around together with the NMP K-S. The Regional monitoring is Administration of focused on Protected Areas measuring the Vlorë carries out the values of several monitoring of the physical and physical and chemical chemical parameters in Vlora parameters such Bay with specific focus on the National Marine as (pH, temperature, salinity, electrical Park Karaburun-Sazan (NMP K-S), where it is conductivity, TDS, TSS, DO, etc.) at the samples taken the majority of samples (13 out of 17 in taken in the area, as very important indicators of total). The remaining four sampling points are water quality. These parameters may vary due to located in Vlora Bay. different natural and anthropogenic processes. They can be used to determine the impact of groundwater and riverine water on the state of aquatic The main objective of the monitoring is to provide ecosystems, and sometimes can be used to identify a clear picture of the environmental situation the source of water pollution. Changes in these through the assessment of pollution degree of the parameters can be harmful to aquatic organisms. UNUSUAL DESTINATIONS OF AUTUMN The National Marine as a Park Karaburun- communication Sazan (NMP K-S) is station for all one of the most sailors, while visited destinations the Bay of during the summer English was a season, thanks to destination for the attractions it the English provides. Since army in 1943- sunny days prevail 1944 and is the pearl of this tour. Following on, even during the only 40 minutes hiking, you will find the Cave of autumn months, English, another there is not only natural wonder natural beauty in its with millions of bays but also history, with historical traces of the years old Roman period or before Christ. Such are Grama stalactites and Bay as well as the Cave and Bay of English, which stalagmites, are located in the western part of the Peninsula. which has served It will only take three hours by boat to learn as an office for about them and history. Grama Bay used to serve the British mission during World War II. For questions or to subscribe to the newsletter, please write to us at: [email protected] or visit www.karaburunsazanmpa.com | Page 2 LLOGARA NATIONAL PARK DAY Promoting nature and biodiversity through trails Llogara other trails in the park you have the opportunity National to enjoy the variety of relieve formations and Park was biodiversity. You can also enjoy the beauty of the proclaimed Lightning Violet (Viola acrocheraunensis) which is on one of the park’s endemic plants, as well as many November other endemic plants. In Llogara Park you have the 21, 1966. opportunity to carry out one of the main activities The park is such as camping, which gives you the pleasure to characterized by a large variety of relieve enjoy nature and fresh air. Llogara National Park is formations, landscapes, vegetation, wild mammals one of the and birds, and as such it serves as an important most attraction for Vlora Region. On the 54th beautiful anniversary of the proclamation as a National parks in Park, the Visitor Center hosted the promotion of our the latest trail "Breeze of two seas". This is a country, trail where it is best shown that the sea and where you mountain become one and this natural wonder is have space found only in Llogara Park. Along this trail as in all for many outdoor activities. MAIN TRAILS IN KARABURUN PENINSULA Karaburun Peninsula Some of the main trails are: is the place where - The Adriatic Trail, starting from Pashaliman tourism finds the base to Cape of Gjuhëza. This trail is considered right terrain to special as it provides the opportunity to be develop throughout accessed by bike. all year’s seasons. - Duk Gjoni Cave Trail, starting from Orikumi Even after the lagoon to Duk Gjoni Cave, the latter being summer season this classified as Natural Monument. place offers - Brisani Bay Trail, starting from Marmiro church pleasant surprises to Brisani beach. for anyone visiting - Dafina Bay Trail, this trail requires also it. The variety of transport by sea from Radhima Visitor Center to trails where natural elements such as flora, fauna the second Ragusa, then crosses Ravena to and geological formations intertwine with Dafina Bay. historical and cultural elements such as bunkers, - "Breeze of two seas" is the newest trail that churches and mosques, are a precious asset of has been added to Karaburun Peninsula.