Published by Valuing biodiversity assets through ecotourism in South-East Europe A review of the situation in and recommendations for the trans-boundary region of Sharr/ Korab-Koritnik/ Mavrovo mountain areas. Published by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Registered offices Bonn and Eschborn, Germany Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe – Biodiversity (ORF-BD) Zmaja od Bosne 7-7a, Importanne Centar 03/VI 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina T +387 33 957 500 F +387 33 957 501 [email protected] www.giz.de As at November 2017 Cover Page design GIZ ORF-BD Prepared by Vivianne Rau, B.A. Political Science and Economics, University Freiburg Laura Weihrauch, Business Economist in Tourism, University of Applied Science Cologne GIZ ORF-BD team in charge Program Manager Gabriele Wagner ([email protected]) Reviewed by ORF BD – TEM Team The information and views set out in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the GIZ. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) 2 List of Abbreviations ANTA Albanian National Tourism Agency ATA Albanian Tourism Association BHA Balkan Hiking Adventure BNA Balkan Natural Adventures CABRA Conservation of Agrobiodiversity in Rural Albania (GIZ project Albania) CDI Community Development Institute CHwB Cultural Heritage without border COSiRA Competitiveness of the private sector in rural areas (GIZ project Kosovo) CSBL Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity at Lakes Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar (GIZ regional project Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro) D4D Democracy for Development EPW Development Cooperation with Private Sector GDP Gross Domestic Product GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit INCA Institute of Nature Conversation in Albania IPA Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature K-K Korab-Koritnik KATA Kosovo Alternative Tourism Association KEPA Kosovo Institute of Nature Protection KIESA Kosovo Investment and Enterprise Support Agency LAG Local Action Group LEIWW Rural development by integrated forest and water resource management in SEE (GIZ regional project South-East Europe) MES Macedonian Ecological Society NAPA National Agency for Protected Areas Albania NP National Park ORF-BD Open Regional Fund South-East Europe Biodiversity PA Protected Area PoB Peaks of the Balkan PPP Public Private Partnership PPNEA Protection and Preservation of natural environment in Albania PtoP People to People RAPA Regional Agency for Protected Areas Albania RDA Regional Development Agency REC Regional Environmental Center SARED Support to Agriculture and Rural Economic Development of Disadvantaged Mountainous Areas (GIZ project Albania) SEE South-East Europe SNP Sharri National Park SoRi Social rights for vulnerable groups (GIZ regional project South-East Europe) SWG RRD Standing Working Group for Regional Rural Development TEK Traditional Environmental Knowledge 3 TEM Transboundary Ecosystem Management (ORF BD Sub-project) TEM region Korab-Koritnik, Albania– Sharri National Park, Kosovo, Sar Planina and Mavrovo National Park, Macedonia UNDP United Nation Development Programme UNEP United Nation Environment Programme UNWTO United Nation World Tourism Organization WTTC World Travel & Tourism Council 4 Table of Content List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................ 3 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Context of the assignment and research questions .......................................................................... 6 1.2 Structure of report .................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Ecotourism - in Theory ................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Definitions and meanings ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.1.1 Evolution and relevance of Ecotourism ....................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 Ecotourism principles ....................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Ecotourism and Benefits for Nature Conservation.......................................................................... 11 2.2.1 Linking Ecotourism with nature conservation and biodiversity ........................................... 11 2.2.2 Ecotourism development and management in protected areas .......................................... 12 3. Ecotourism - in TEM region ......................................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Detailed findings sorted by countries and topics ............................................................................ 15 3.1.1 Albania ............................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1.2 Kosovo................................................................................................................................................ 26 3.1.3 Macedonia ......................................................................................................................................... 36 3.2 Comparative analysis .............................................................................................................................. 40 3.2.1 On-topic ............................................................................................................................................ 40 3.2.2 In short: Common Opportunities and Challenges................................................................... 44 4. Recommendations ................................................................................................................................ 45 4.1. Albania ...................................................................................................................................................... 45 4.2 Kosovo ....................................................................................................................................................... 46 4.3 Macedonia ................................................................................................................................................. 46 4.5 For development partners ..................................................................................................................... 47 4.6 For other stakeholders ........................................................................................................................... 49 5. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 51 6. References ....................................................................................................................................................... 52 Annex ..................................................................................................................................................................... 59 5 1. Introduction 1.1 Context of the assignment and research questions This report is the product of a three-month teamwork elaborated within the frame of an ASA assignment1 within the GIZ Open Regional Fund Biodiversity Project (ORF BD) and attached to its Transboundary Ecosystem Management (TEM) project. Focusing on the trans-boundary area of conservation areas stretching over North/East Albania, South/East Kosovo and North/West Macedonia and to some extent reaching out to Montenegro (Prokletije National Park), the TEM project aims at supporting inclusive regional planning, monitoring and management actions with focus on local benefits and engagement. There are three protected areas located in this TEM region: Natural Park Korab-Koritnik in Albania, Sharri Mountains National Park in Kosovo and Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia. A fourth key conservation area not yet protected is Sar Planina in Macedonia. This area is in a long-awaited process to be finally proclaimed as protected area. If proclaimed, this area will then constitute one of the largest coherent trans-border protected areas in Europe (Cvetanoski 2016). The future development of those pristine landscapes with its diverse flora, fauna and ecosystems and of the people living in and from the natural resources is highly dependent on how planning and management will consider a sustainable and integrated management approach. The natural and cultural assets of this trilateral conservation area may provide great potential for nature-based tourism development. Ecotourism is dedicated to a sustainable impact on nature and local people and is highly interrelated with well preserved and diversified nature. Hence, this report raises the question how the concept of ecotourism in TEM region is understood and used as an approach conducive towards nature conservation and improvement of the well-being of local people. This paper has the objective to contribute to ongoing and future