Rudina Koci1*, Alma Imeri1, Lirika Kupe1, Alfred Mullaj2
1PhD, student, Department of Science and Plants Technology, Agricultural University of Tirana
2Tirana University, Faculty of Natural Science
*Corresponding author e-mail: bioalma_79@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Natura 2000 has a key role to play in meeting the 2020 target of halting and reversing biodiversity loss in the EU. Now that the network has largely been established, the focus is on effective management of the sites [2]. There are significant opportunities to involve diverse groups, including NGOs, and ways to engage local people in management of nature and protection of their natural resources. At the same time, there is a need to develop meaningful messages to convey the fundamental importance of interdependencies between man and nature. This is particularly true of current discussions to define the meaning of the concept and reality of ‘wilderness’ to support the management of protected areas [2, 3, 4]. Recently coastal science is going according the demands of European Union legislation. Coastal dune systems, cover small areas of the earth these habitats can host a high level of biodiversity. However, human pressure on coastal zones in Albania has increased dramatically in the last 50 years. In addition to direct habitat loss, the rapid extinction of many species that are unique to these systems can be attributed to landscape deterioration through the lack of appropriate management. In this paper, we propose to use of an ecosystem classification technique that integrates potential natural vegetation distribution as a reference framework for coastal dune EU habitats distribution. As an example, the present study analyses the EU Coastal Habitats distribution in Albania [7]. In total, 11 types of Associations were identified for the coastal of Albania, based on diagnostic land attributes. In Albania, coastal environments including all the beach area, mobile dunes and all the fixed-dune, Mediterranean forests as well as alluvial contain or could potentially hold at least one EU habitat of interest [10]. The precise information concerning these ecosystems distribution and ecological relationships that this method produces, makes it very effective in Natura 2000 European network assessment. This method facilitates the identification of areas to be surveyed under the implementation of EU Habitat directive..
Keywords: Natura 2000; EU Habitat directive; coastal dunes; mobile dunes; alluvial forest.
