Lake Shkodra at UNESCO/ Cross-border institutions are preparing the dossier

2025-06-26 15:03:00, Qyteti im CNA

After the Vjosa River, a project between Albania and Montenegro to include Lake Shkodra in UNESCO is ready. The two neighboring countries held their first joint meeting at the conference "The Lake Shkodra Watershed, a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve".

This conference aims to accelerate the work to finalize the UNESCO nomination file for Lake Shkodra, said the representative of the Ministry of Environment, Klodiana Mirakaj.

" A year ago in September we submitted the nomination file for the inclusion of Vjosa in UNESCO and we have received the preliminary notification which has already been approved. I hope that this September we will complete the file for Lake Shkodra and crown it with success. Biosphere reserves primarily focus on the communication part, the conservation part, the sustainable development part and the interconnection part. The joint efforts of the two countries are not only to preserve and protect nature but are also to enable sustainable development at the local level. The inclusion of this biosphere reserve in UNESCO will give a better impetus to the sustainable use of natural resources, fishing, agriculture, natural landscapes and at the same time will give an opportunity for development to the cultural side. This joint effort will improve the management part which also consists in setting common standards regarding natural resources, water pollution, soil pollution and so on. It will serve as a positive experience to share concerns and to improve the management of this shared reserve while preserving its great natural values. The Ministry of Environment has supported this initiative from the beginning to enable the local population to grow, strengthen their capacities and achieve as much good as possible ”, said Mirakaj.

The Deputy Mayor of Shkodra Municipality, Rudin Beka, said that it is in a good phase and in compliance with ecological certification.

" For me, this project is special and is fully in line with the vision that the mayor of Shkodra has for the development of Lake Shkodra. We are in a good phase and it is in line with the ecological certification that we have initiated and we are probably the first to be certified as an ecological destination by a very well-known Dutch agency. The municipality has taken important measures regarding investments there. We have started with improving the infrastructure, building piers and one of the main points is to restore Lake Shkodra and the Buna River to navigability, starting from cleaning and freeing up spaces to the concept of economic development ," said Beka.

The Montenegrin side, despite full agreement on the request to be made to UNESCO for Lake Shkodra, is critical, demanding that the best ways be found to avoid destroying nature...

"It is a good opportunity for the lake to be a UNESCO protected reserve. This is important considering the cultural and environmental values. Today's meeting strengthens cooperation towards the success of this common goal. We are committed and will contribute towards the final objective ," said Montenegrin Minister of Environment, Aleksandra Stijovic.

" What is important when Lake Skadar is declared as such is to find better ways to develop our potential and resources in a qualitative way so as not to destroy nature. We have had examples from many countries and if it is organized properly, the benefits of this space will be very great. The biosphere reserve is a protected natural asset, but also the space around it. In Montenegro, many municipalities will be included and I do not know how many will be included in Albania. We need good cooperation between everyone to develop it because if we do not have this then it will not be realized ," said Aleksandër Mijovic from the National Park, Montenegro.

The project "Shkodra Lake Watershed - a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve" aims to strengthen cooperation between Albania and Montenegro for the joint conservation and management of Lake Skadar through the preparation of a nomination dossier for its declaration as a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

This project, worth 453 thousand euros, is financed by the EU within the framework of the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Albania-Montenegro!/ CNA