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15 Prill 2021

Project: Networking of Albanian Alps’ shepherds with hut in mountains for nature protection and the model of green economy as a sustainable income for farmers.

The project: The project addresses the need for an environmental monitoring system that is integrated throughout relevant government institutions and that uses international monitoring standards for indicator development, data collection, analysis and policy making. The project builds on existing technical and institutional capacity in Albania to align management and monitoring efforts with global monitoring and reporting priorities. Increased capacity in this area will improve sustainable development through better-informed environmental policy.

By achieving these results, it will be possible to protect nature from those who have direct access and use it as an environmentally friendly economic resource. Advocacy to protect forests and pastures from deliberate fires as low-cost livestock feed throw network of shepherds who can self-protect all mountain area of Albanian Alps. The economic development of these farmers is also related to the reduction of costs necessary to maximize profit. These costs are related to livestock food, transportation of livestock products to markets, lack of social life due to distance from residential areas. Technological equipment for storing dairy products requires electricity which cannot be provided in those conditions. Providing technological equipment for the production of environmentally friendly alternative electricity is the model that orients these farmers to reduce costs while protecting nature. And the other benefit of the energy gained from alternative sources is the creation of the necessary conditions for diversification of income through shepherd’s hut as a “guest house” for mountain tourism.

Results of the project:

1. Establishment of a database for extensible livestock farmers with shepherd’s hut outside the inhabited centers in the mountains of Albanian Alps (with the focus Tropoja region) in order to develop a network in nature protection mainly from fires for new pastures and logging for firewood.

2. Reducing costs on livestock farms by promoting the use of alternative energy sources compatible with nature in regions with lack of infrastructure3. Promotion of mountain tourism in the farms with shepherd’s hut in the Tropoja Mountains and other areas in Albanian Alps.

Activities completed during November 2020-April 2021;

Activity no.1 Identification of farmers who deal with livestock in an orientation meeting where they will talk mainly about all their problems and the ways they treat nature. In this meeting participated about 30 farmers and two representatives of local government..

Activity no.2 Advocacy meeting with stakeholders in Albanian Alps to create a network of livestock farmers, green economy through cost reduction on livestock farms. Farmer that participated were around 30 livestock farmers. Farmers or/and their family members were from different age and gender in order to cover all possible groups in the region.

Activity no.3 Identification of the farmers (shepherds) that were supported by the project with 10 solar panels. So far 10 farmers are be supported with the solar panels.

Activity no.4 Advocacy meeting with stakeholders in Albanian Alps to create a network of livestock farmers, green economy through cost reduction on livestock farms. In this meeting will be aimed all farmers/shepherds in Albanian Alps to advocate about their common concerns/problems to local and central government.

Activity no.5 Training with focus on identifying alternatives that exist today in the market for the use of natural resources in a sustainable way and without seriously damaging it. Around 90 farmers are trained through face-to face and meeting organized virtually in zoom platform. In this trainings was give the clear message that nature is the responsibility of all actors although not in the first line of interaction with it. Another element addressed in those trainings was the structure of economic activity of farmers who raise livestock and also the cost of living for their families. All of these are important to convince them in the new and profitable way sustainable in harmony with the nature.

Activity no.6 Establishment of networking of livestock farmers in Albanian Alps in a typical formal organization as an important interest group in nature protection and cost reduction for their farms. Also, are installed in their mountain stalls 10 equipment for the production of electricity with solar panels for farmers, selected to meet the conditions for a green economy.