Landuse
Overview
Albania is situated in southeastern Europe, west of the Balkan Peninsula, and covers an area of 28,748 km². Albania has 2,761,785 inhabitants. 59% of Albania’s population resides in urban areas, making it the country with the highest urbanization ratio in the Western Balkans. This urban concentration has implications for landscape fire management, as urban areas often interface with natural landscapes, increasing the risk of fires affecting people and landscapes.
Albania’s unique geography comprises mountains, hills, coastal regions and vast network of rivers and lakes, making it one of Europe’s most topographically and climatically diverse countries. A significant portion of Albania’s surface, around 90 percent, faces severe erosion due to steep slopes and challenging terrain. The country’s north, northeast, southeast, and central areas are hilly and mountainous, while the south along the Adriatic and Ionian coast is lowland.
Albania has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. Average annual temperatures range from 7°C in Vermosh in the North to 17.6°C in Saranda to the South. Lowland areas maintain a stable mean temperature between 14°C and 16°C, while maximum temperatures can reach up to 21.8°C in lowland and coastal zones and 11.3°C in mountain areas.
Precipitation is highest in the north, west, and southwest regions, with an annual average of 1,430 mm. The majority of rainfall occurs during the winter months. The most humid areas are the Albanian Alps in the north and Kurveleshi in the south, experiencing the highest annual precipitation at 2,935 mm in Koder Shengjergj, 2,883 mm in Boga, and 2,204 mm in Nivica.
As climate change intensifies, the frequency and severity of landscape fires may increase, necessitating landscape fire management strategies.
According to the Forest Resource Assessment (FRA) of 2020, Albania has 789,000 hectares of forest area, covering 28% of the country’s territory. The Albanian National Forest Inventory of 2004 recorded a forest area of 1,498 thousand ha and a bare land area of 557 thousand ha, with a net annual increment of 1.4 m³/year/ha.
Albania’s forests, both public and private, are divided into 36 administrative units. The total forest area in Albania is 1,498,957 hectares and is categorized as high forest, coppice forest, shrubs, and open forest. Forest degradation in Albania is influenced by factors like land conversion for agriculture, heavy grazing, population growth, wildfires, and increased demand for wood resources.
According to the Forest Law and Forestry Service, national forests are categorized into publicly owned and privately owned forests. Public forests are managed by the Directorate General of Forestry Service, local government bodies, and are further classified as state forests or communal forests. Around 15.8 percent of Albania’s forests are designated as protected areas. Albania also stands out with its forest ownership structure and it has the highest share of public forest among Western Balkan countries, at 97%. This public ownership plays a pivotal role in the formulation and execution of landscape fire management strategies.
Forest Fires in Albania
In the period between 2011-2021, the total annual burnt area in Albania was 226416 ha (EFFIS). Between 2004 and 2013, Albania experienced an annual average burned area of 2,731 hectares of forests, 50 hectares of protected areas (non-forest), and 2,000 hectares of other vegetation, including wetlands. Each year, approximately 200 hectares of olive trees and other agricultural crops were also affected by fires.
The most severe forest fires occurred in 2007 and 2012. In 2007, there were 1,190 fires in forests and pastures, resulting in the burning of 2,700 hectares of state forests, 2,860 hectares of communal forests, and 310 hectares of private forests. Around 6,263 hectares of pastures were also affected, with estimated damages of approximately EUR 20 million. In 2012, there were 440 forest fires and 47 pasture fires, causing 3,300 hectares of forest area and 1,300 hectares of pasture to burn.
Transboundary fires have impacted neighboring countries. Albania has signed agreements for fire suppression with Italy, Turkey, and Kosovo (UNSCR 1244/1999)*, receiving assistance from Italy, Germany, and Ukraine during the 2007 and 2012 fire seasons.
Several laws govern forest, pasture, and forest fire management in Albania, including:
- Law on Forests and the Forestry Service (No. 9385, April 5, 2005)
- Law on the Pasture Fund (No. 9693, March 19, 2007)
- Law on Civil Emergency Services (No. 8756, March 26, 2001)
- Law on Protection from Fire and Rescue (No. 8677, April 5, 2001)
- Law on Protected Areas (No. 8906, June 6, 2002)
These laws establish obligations for organizations managing forests and pastures, as well as private forest and pasture owners. Institutions responsible for forest fire protection include the Ministry of Environment, the Directorate for Treatment and Forest Protection, the State Inspectorate of Environment, Forests and Waters, national parks, forest and pasture users, and private forest owners.
Human activity is the leading cause of landscape fires in Albania. A comprehensive analysis reveals that 29% of landscape fires are ignited due to negligence, 9% through arson, and a substantial 61% are initiated by unknown factors, which are generally expected to be of human origin. Addressing these human-induced factors through public awareness campaigns, stakeholder involvement, educational initiatives, and strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration is essential to mitigate the incidence of landscape fires and increase the resilience of the landscape. Each canton in FBiH consists of several municipalities, which are divided into local communities