Butrint National Park: Biodiversity and Global Heritage Conservation

The proposed GEF project aims to connect biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management with conservation of world heritage in the Butrint aquatic and wetland complex and to mobilize donor’s support for long term financing of the Park complex. The resulting MSP would seek to conserve a World Heritage site composed of a number of ecosystems but coastal wetlands are the main ecological system. The project would protect and rehabilitate about 13,000 hectares of coastal and aquatic habitats for endangered flora and fauna, piloting restoration work on degraded landscapes (natural, semi natural and agricultural). It will establish an endowment fund (the Butrint Conservation fund). The government would propose it as a Ramsar site too. 17 Oct 2005: The project is expected to make a direct contribution to ensure sustainability of protected areas network by developing and disseminating a local long term sustainable management model for Albania's coastal and marine protected area system. The Ramser wetland complex (totaling 13500ha) including the Butrint Global Heritage Site and National Park (2900ha) will be brought under effective protected areas management. In addition, the project will contribute to mainstream biodiversity in productive landscapes and sectors by incorporating biodiversity aspects into tourism, forestry, and pasture management plans around Butrint.