Shkodra - 25 January 2018 - Project partners of the Buna Delta Protection Project, funded by the MAVA Foundation, introduce the project and its objectives.

The project will be implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in partnership with – Priority Actions Programme/Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC), Global Water Partnership (GWP), Tour du Valat and Institute for Nature Conservation of Albania (INCA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration, Municipality of Shkoder, the National Agency for Protected Areas and Shkodra Regional Administration for Protected Areas.

The Buna river delta is among the most important coastal wetlands in the Eastern Mediterranean, a designated Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar site). It hosts a variety of habitats supporting about 900-1000 plant and animal species, some of which are critically endangered. The site has been selected as one of the four sites for developing and demonstrating best practices in management of coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean.

The Buna Delta Protection Project will run for almost 5 years focusing on the River Buna-Velipoja Protected Landscape, with support of approximately 2 million EUR from the MAVA foundation. The project is open to cooperation with organisations across sectors at both national and local level, such as the Costal Agency, Fisheries Management Organization, farmers’ association and tourism operators, local civil society organizations, as well as education bodies. These stakeholders will be consulted and involved in all project activities in order to ensure participation, local ownership and sustainability of project outcomes. The project will improve management of the site and, through a project grant scheme, will foster sustainable business development for local communities, business and organisations.