ALBANIA BIODIVERSITY AND PROTECTED AREAS, STATE OF PLAY

Albania is distinguished for its rich biological and landscape diversity. This diversity is attributable to the country's geographic position as well as geological, hydrological, climatic, soil and relief characteristics. The mountainous terrain combined with steep cliffs creates ideal conditions for maintaining and protecting a large number of ancient species, some of which are endemic or sub-endemic. The high diversity of ecosystems and habitats offers rich habitats for a variety of plants and animals. There are around 3,200 species of vascular plants and 756 vertebrate species as well as 27 endemic and 160 sub-endemic species of vascular plants present in the country. Approximately 30% of all European floras occur in Albania. The high Albanian forests maintain communities of large mammals such as wolf, bear, lynx, and wild goat, and also characteristic bird communities. In spite of the fact that a low number of species has become extinct during the past century in Albania, the rate of loss of country’s biodiversity during the last 50-60 years is believed to be increasingly high. Two species of plants and four species of mammals have become extinct. Meanwhile 17 bird species no longer nest in the country's territory. During the last 25 years, approximately 122 species of vertebrates and four species of plants are expected to have lost more than 50 % of their population. The number of rare and endangered species of plants and animals is high and expected to increase if appropriate conservation measures are not taken.