Sustainable Forest Management/Governance in Albania

Prepared by: Mehmet Metaj, PhD draft-study thesis, Albania, 2012.

Background (main problems or challenges to be addressed): Policy issues relating to forestry have been the subject of much debate in recent years, and many countries and international agencies have recently, or are currently in the process, of revising their policies for forestry. Much of this debate has implied that previous policies have failed or been much less successful than had been hoped. There is a tendency to think of policy as a matter for governments, but it is now more widely appreciated that all shareholders in the forestry sector have a legitimate interest in both the policy objectives and the means that will be used to implement it. This book is mainly concerned with the process of developing policy and the subsequent implementation, than in specific content, though many of the important issues which policies must address are discussed. It is based on a review of many case studies with which the author has been personally involved over the past 40 years. Objective/s (main and specific objectives to be achieved): Countrys sustainable forest resources management and rural livelihoods enhancement by revitalizing community forests resource rights and sustainable development.

Constraints and opportunities to forest policy implementation in Albania

Abstract Recently, Albania has had major transition from a state-controlled to a market economy. The economic reformation has led to widespread liberalization of prices, external trade, and domestic marketing. These changes have been positive for some segments of the economy, but to date the forestry sector has been negatively affected by the transition. The decline of forest resources accelerated and continues. Inefficiencies, price distortions, government fiscal austerity, rapid expansion of livestock, and illegal harvesting point to further deforestation. This study identifies the social and political factors leading to the decline of Albania's forest resource through an examination of relevant information. Then, using the process approach of policy analysis, it assesses the barriers and incentives that impede or distort the intended effect of the current policy implementation. Third, it suggests new policies and/or changes with the aim to manage the forests sustainability and to attract investments in Albanian forestry. Policy issues for areas and sectors important or related to forestry, including agriculture, livestock industry, tourism, and rural development are discussed. Successful implementation of forest policies will be achieved by encompassing all issues pertinent to rural development. The focus is on formulation of forest policy, the evaluation of the current forest law, the role of the statute in the policy process, and guidelines in the preparation of the laws. However, the enactment of laws alone cannot ensure the success of a policy. Special consideration is given to the implementation part of the process, especially interpretation, organization, application; tools (regulations, incentives, taxation), 1

opportunities/constraints, priorities and suggestions for successful implementation. Finally, the topic of evaluation is addressed: its intention, possible analytical techniques and standards of performance, role and expectations of participants and analysts, and major obstacles to an effective evaluation. Recommendations include changes in existing policies to allow the transfer of some state land to private and communal ownership, the expansion of the national parks to include more old-growth forests, and the adoption of concessionaires for the management of the state forests. Other policy proposals, such as a massive reforestation effort, promotion of community-oriented forest management, and forest certification, follow. Although forest statutes are formulated with the intent of achieving selected goals and objectives, the gap between such intent and the actual implementation remains wide in Albania. Even though the current unstable political and economic situation has made forest policy implementation uncertain and disordered, it is still possible to fit the process into models and frameworks. In a top-down approach, the constraints that lead to implementation failures are identified and assessed by analysing factors or variables thought to influence the process. An active involvement of the stakeholders in the formulation of forest policies will considerably facilitate the process of choosing effective policy tools according to criteria adopted. Policy makers in Albania should utilise more incentive-based approaches in addition to punitive measures that dominate the current forest legislation. Developing the evaluation capacity of forestry-related institutions will assist in the formulation of appropriate policies and increase the chances of successful implementation. Keywords: Forest policy; Albania; Policy; Forest policy implementation; Policy evaluation, forest governance, institutional framework, communal forest management,

Promoting Forest Peoples' Interests in International Forest Policy Making Forest Peoples Programme
This grant will support the work of the Forest Peoples Programme to ensure that international financial institutions and other international development agencies adopt and fully comply with social and environmental policies that are in line with international standards. Over the course of this grant, the grantee has successfully ensured that indigenous peoples' rights are protected and that effective consultation is now a key principle for multidonor funds that have been established to address forests and climate change. This project will maintain its bottom up approach by assisting forest peoples themselves to engage in policy debates and ensuring that the lessons learned are fed effectively into the advocacy process.

Mehmet Metaj PhD Candidate Address: ALBAFOREST, "Sami Frasheri" Street, Colosseo, Nr. 39, P.O.Box. 1544, Tirana, ALBANIA, Tel/fax: + 355-0-42-232 363, Mobile: 0682092008 www.albaforest.com, mehmet.metaj@gmail.com ; REFERENCES - Buys, Hans (1999- 2000) : Series of Reports finalized through FAO Technical Assistance, - Final Report on Albanias Forests and Pasture Sector Strategy, 1999-2000. - Manual on Strategic Planning, 2000. - Implementation Report of the Strategy, 2000. - Clausen, Robert; Metaj, Mehmet (1999) , USAID/APFDP : Action Plan of the FPSS, -Group of Authors (1998) : Strategy of the Forest and Pasture Sector Developement, prepared by the support of USAID/APFDP, 1998. - Naka, Kozma (1998) : Making Albanian Forestry Work, PHD Thesis, Blackburn, Virginia, USA, 1998. - Dr. J.G.Goldammer, Dr. F. Mattia, M. Metaj, G. Hoxhaj: A National Forest Fire Management Program for Albania, FAO Project GCP/ALB/004/ITA, Tirana, Albania, 2001. Group of Authors : Final Report of the Draft-Strategy on Forest and pasture Sector Development in Albania, 2003. APFDP/USAID : Documents on Policies and Strategies on Private Forestry Development in Albania, 1998-1999. ONF (1995) : Report on A Strategy for Directorate General of Forests and Pastures, 1995.