Albanian Alps and Korabi Mountain Biodiversity

Edited by:
Spase Shumka & Aleksandr Traje

Rr. Vangjush Furxhi, p.16, sh.1, a.10, Tirana, Albania | contact@ppnea.org | www.ppnea.org

THE ALBANIAN ALPS

I. The Albanian Alps and Korabi Mountain important
chains of the European Green Belt
The trans-boundary cooperation has been so far one of the aspects of protection and
conservation efforts in many countries. The first trans-boundary protected area was
established in the year 1932 and during the last decade it has becoming a very common
approach in nature conservation.
The Iron Curtain running from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea, divided Europe for
almost 40 years. No activity was allowed in the forbidden zone along this inhuman
barrier. While landscape all over Europe had been shaped and modified by processes of
the intensive agriculture development (all industrialized), many habitats in the vicinity of
the border line remained untouched: in the countries of former Eastern Block the
utilization of border land was mostly prohibited, whereas on the western side remote
border areas were less attractive for the investors, and no major traffic infrastructure was
needed (Ricken et al., 2006)
Albania is a small country located in South Eastern Europe. It has borders with
Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Greece, and its total area is 28,748 km. From the
fertile coastal plain along the Adriatic Sea, the land rises into hills and mountains to the
North (Albanian Alps) and East (Korabi Mountain). The country is traversed by small
rivers which run mostly from east to west. Although Albania is rich in water resources,
33% of the rivers catchments areas lie outside its state borders.
Almost all the north-eastern part of the country comprises a very important natural
chain in the designed European Green Belt. From the geographical and natural view, the
chain looks so uninterrupted and well-connected with the frontier natural entity. The
chain including the Albanian Alps, Korabi Mountain, Shebeniku and Jabllanica range,
Ohrid and Prespa ecosystem, Gramozi Mountain, and Sotira forest is well connected
with the ecosystems which lie in the neighboring countries. It is very difficult to conceive
such an entity as part of one, two, three of four sides. The functioning ecosystem does
not meet with the administrative or state boundaries. The barriers are human artifices.
Albania is distinguished for its rich biological and landscape diversity. This diversity is
due to the country's geographic position as well as its geological, hydrological, climatic,
soil and relief characteristics. The mountainous terrain combined with steep cliffs creates
ideal conditions for maintaining and protecting a large number of old species, some of
which are endemic or sub-endemic. The high diversity of the ecosystems and habitats
(marine and coastal ecosystems, wetlands, river deltas, sand dunes, lakes, rivers,
Mediterranean shrubs, broadleaved, conifers and mixed forests, alpine and sub-alpine
pastures and meadows, and high mountain ecosystems) offers rich habitats for a variety
of plants and animals. There are around 3,200 species of vascular plants and 756
vertebrate species. There are 27 endemic and 160 sub-endemic species of vascular
plants.

Box 1. The Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme

The present distribution of the Balkan lynx described as a subspecies of its own,
Lynx lynx martinoii is restricted to the southwest Balkans, mainly in the border
areas between Macedonia and Albania, spreading north into Montenegro and
Kosovo. The population is estimated to be less than 100 individuals. Biology,
ecology and history of the Balkan lynx are not well-known or documented, but
obvious threats have been direct persecution in the past, decline of prey
populations, and loss and fragmentation of the habitat.
The Balkan lynx has only survived because the border regions between former
Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece were areas with limited access and partly
protected. Today, important remnant nuclei of the lynx occurrence are found in
the protected areas, and the Green Belt Initiative offers the opportunity to
expand and improve the protected sites. The charismatic lynx is a flagship species
for the nature conservation in the Green Belt of the southwestern Balkan and it
can in turn directly profit from an improved protection of these areas. The main
target areas, known as potential lynx distribution sites in Albania, which are
included in the Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme, are Shebenik-Jabllanica range,
Albanian Alps and Korabi Mountain. One of the objectives of the BLRP is to
establish these sites as protected ones through a series of actions, so that they
can serve as core areas for the survival of the Balkan Lynx.
The aim of the Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme is to secure the survival of the
population through a series of protected areas and improved wildlife management
within and outside the PAs. For this aim, we need to generate a set of baseline
information and to establish a reliable monitoring programme. This implies a
strong partnership between governmental and non-governmental organizations
on national and international level, increased public awareness and public
involvement, and above all capacity building in nature conservation, wildlife
research, and management.
The BLRP covers the conservation activities for a three-year period starting in
2006. It will not be possible to recover the Balkan lynx into a viable population
within this short period of time. Such a recovery would imply a considerable
range expansion and hence an improved habitat and prey base outside the
remnant areas of occupation. However, the minimum goals to be achieved are:
1. to halt the further decline of the Balkan lynx population and to secure its
survival in the protected areas of the Green Belt;
2. to generate all knowledge needed for a sensible long-term conservation
programme;
3. to build the professional capacity needed for the maintenance of this longterm programme in the region; and
4. to create an atmosphere favourable to nature conservation through solid
partnership, public awareness and involvement.

Approximately 30% of all the European floras occur in Albania. The high Albanian
forests maintain communities of large mammals such as wolf, bear, lynx, and chamois,
and also characteristic birds communities.
Coastal lagoons and large lakes inside the country are important areas especially for
wintering migratory birds. During the winter in Albania there are annually met around 70
waterfowls and water-birds species with a total population of 180,000 individuals.
Albania is also an important crossroad for the migration of birds, bats, and insects.
In Albania there are found some 91 globally threatened species. These include the
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus),

and the Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), for which Albania is a country of particularly critical
importance.
In spite of the fact that a small number of species has become extinct during the past
century in Albania, the rate of loss of countrys biodiversity during the last 50-60 years is
believed to be increasingly high. Moreover, insufficient data and studies on a wide range
of flora and fauna do not allow an accurate historical evaluation of the biodiversity status
of Albania. Two species of plants and four species of mammals have gone extinct;
meanwhile 17 birds species no longer nest in the country's territory. During the last 25
years, approximately 122 species of vertebrates (27 mammals, 89 birds, and 6 fish) and
four species of plants are expected to have lost more than 50% of their population. The
number of rare and endangered species of plants and animals is high and it is expected
to be increased.
The international community, concerned with the increasing rate of biodiversity loss,
started to address the challenge through various processes. One of the most important
events was the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth
Summit) held on 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. The Earth Summit resulted in a set of
documents, including Agenda 21 and Rio Declaration that laid down principles of and
rules for a global environmental management. The UNCED process has also produced
important additions to international law including the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and
the Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious
Droughts and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, often referred to as the Rio
Conventions.
The UNCED and the adopted documents are of global importance and have
relevance to all the sectors. Thus, capacity development for global environmental
management has become an issue for all the countries that have made commitments
under these three Conventions. The issue is of particular importance to the developing
countries and countries with economies in transition, which, on the one hand, have
insufficient capacities to meet their commitments undertaken under the Conventions
while, on the other hand, the proper implementation of the instrument is vital for their
economic and social development.
In May 1999, the Capacity Development Initiative (CDI) was launched as a strategic
partnership between the UNDP and the Secretariat of the Global Environment Facility. In
the beginning of the year 2005, a project entitled National capacity needs selfassessment related to environmental management of global conventions (NSCA
Project) was approved for Albania. The objective of the NCSA project is to determine the
priority needs for capacity development in Albania in order to expand the country
capacity to meet commitments to global environmental management. The project also
focused on capacity related issues that are common across the conventions, assessing
the capacities needed to address these issues in a synergistic way.
Albania signed the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural
Habitats (Bern, 1979) on 31 October 1995 and ratified it on 2 March 1998. In 2001 the
Council of Europe invited Albania to start the EMERALD Network pilot project. The
project started on April 2002, according to the contract signed on 25 February 2002
between the Ministry of the Environment of Albania and the Council of Europe.
During the first phase, six sites were selected as ASCIs to be included in the
EMERALD Network. Those sites are: Llogora National Park, Tomorri National Park,
Divjaka National Park, Butrinti National Park, Prespa National Park and Allamani area

(proposed as a Strict Nature Reserve). The overall objective of the EMERALD Network
pilot project was to develop a pilot database, containing the fair proportion of the ASCIs
and to submit a proposal for the selected sites designation to the Standing Committee of
the Bern Convention. The pilot project phase was only a starting point that lays a basis
for the development of EMERALD Network at the national level. Recently (autumn
2005), a second phase of EMERALD Network has started to be implemented in Albania.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was approved by the Albanian
Government in January 1994. The Focal Point for the convention is the Minister of
Environment, Fishery, Forestry and Water Protection. Since that time Albania has
undertaken a series of actions to meet its obligations for implementing CBD, as follow:

Preparing the first National Report for the UNCBD Secretariat

Preparing the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP)

Establishing the National Council for Nature and Biodiversity

Monitoring program on Biodiversity

Establishing an interim Clearing House Mechanism

Establishing the Biodiversity Secretariat

WB/GEF Phase II Enabling Activity

Biosafety program

1.2 Protected areas as tool for in-situ conservation

In-situ conservation of biodiversity is a primary approach for the conservation of
biological diversity. In these terms, adopting an international effective system (IUCN
categories) will serve as mechanism for the protection of biodiversity, landscapes, flora
and fauna.
The administration and protection of the protected areas is based on the Law No.
8906 of the June 6th, 2002, On protected areas. The object of this law is the
declaration, preservation, administration, management and use of the protected areas
and their natural and biological resources; the improving of the conditions for the
development of environmental tourism, for the information and education of the general
public, and for direct or indirect economic profits by the local population, by the public
and private sector.
This law regulates the protection of six categories of the protected areas, applied in
the territory of the Republic of Albania. The categorization of areas, the status, and level
of protection for each area is based on the criteria of the World Centre of Nature
Conservation. The law pays special attention to forests, waters and other natural
resources within protected areas that shall be excluded from classification as forests for
utilization.
The management of forests and forest property, of waters and water property, as well
as other properties in state ownership located inside a protected area shall be performed
by the administration of the protected area. This administration shall exercise such
activities directly or through an authorized subject. In the areas where these properties
are in private ownership, they shall be managed and utilized by the owner and legal user
provided that this management is in compliance with the area management plan

approved by the Ministry of Environment.

For the first time, the Law on Environmental Protection presents the concept of the
MoEFFWP as the highest agency for environmental issues. This law presents a
synthesis of the main rights and obligations in the field of environmental protection of all
interested parties: the state with its central and local agencies, juridical and physical
persons, the public, and the obligations resulting from the international agreements. The
integration of the environmental protection into local and national sector policies such as
transport, energy, agriculture, tourism, industry, services, territory regulation, and
economic and social development as a whole, is the responsibility of respective local
and central agencies. According to this law, the broad public participates in
environmental protection directly or through the environmental NGOs. The NGOs have
the right to give opinions and to collaborate with the environmental protection agencies.
The law is followed by a series of Government decrees and regulations, as following:
a. Decree On the administration of protected areas, which defines that the State
Authority for the administration of the protected areas is the Directorate General of
Forests and Pastures, which must establish separate administrations for the protected
areas. The decree also defines the main duties and responsibilities of the administration.
Following this decree, the Directorate General of Forests and Pastures issued respective
orders for the establishment of the separate administrations for 11 National Parks and
11 Natural Managed Reserves.
b. Decree On the procedures for the proposal and declaration of protected areas and
buffer zones, which defines the procedures for the proposal and declaration of
protected areas and buffer zones, as well as the criteria and requirements for the
selection of these areas.
c. Decree On the re-declaration of some protected areas, which defines that
protected areas declared prior the enforcement of the Law No. 8906, date 06.06.2002,
"On protected areas", take the status defined by this law (Forest National Park became
National Park, Game Reserve changed to Managed Natural Reserve).
d. Decree On the establishment of Management Boards for the protected areas,
which defines that management boards are established for protected areas of II, IV and
V categories. The decree also defines the duties and responsibilities of the management
boards, as well as their composition. Management board members represent the
relevant stakeholders and monitor the implementation of the management plan for the
protected area and coordinate the activities of different agencies working within the area.
There are also several government decrees on the establishment of new protected
areas, such as: The protected landscape Vjos-Nart, Natural Managed Reserve of
Liqeni i Shkodres and Protected Landscape of Bun-Velipoj, as well as the
enlargement and joining of existing ones Dajti National Park, Mali me Gropa-Biz
Protected Landscape and Divjak-Karavasta National Park.
Until the 1990s, protected areas in Albania were small in number and size.
Recommendations that emerged from the ecological survey and the National
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan led to an important step in protected area planning
in Albania. A new system was adopted for classifying existing and proposed protected
areas, incorporating six IUCN management categories. The following table summarizes
the improved system of protected areas that already covers up to 10.42% of the country
total area (here are not included the new protected areas established after November
2007).

Management categories (IUCN, 1994)

Category
Description
I
Strict Nature Reserves
II
National Parks
III
Nature Monuments
IV
Managed Nature Reserves
V
Protected landscape
VI
Protected areas of multiple use
Total
Source, DGFP, 2007

Number of
protected areas
4
13
746
25
5
4
798

Area (ha)
9,500.0
109,595.6
3,490.0
62,848.0
95,864.4
18,200.0
299,498.0

Six protected areas identified as areas of special conservation interest-ASCI are

included in the first pilot phase of Emerald Network in Albania. During the second phase
of EMERALD Network project, that has started recently, other protected areas (ASCI)
will be added to the Emerald Network.
Some 19 sites along the Albanian coastline have been identified since 1996 (under
Coastal Area Management Program CAMP (UNEP/MAP, 1996) and proposed to be
given the status of specially protected areasSPAs.
Albania is a party to other International treaties, such as the Convention on Wetlands
of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention); the
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern
Convention); the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
(Bonn Convention); the Convention on the Conservation of World Cultural and Natural
Heritage (UNESCO).
CITES is ratified by the Albanian parliament with the law No. 9021, date 06. 06. 2003.
The law became effective on 25. 09. 2003 and it defines the scope, definitions,
conditions for import, export, re-export, transit of exemplars, commercial activities and
moving of exemplars, records, certification of the origin and unchangeable identification,
and it also identifies the responsible state administration bodies.
The legal framework for nature conservation does not take into consideration the
existing capacities and, for this reason, law enforcement is weak. The legal provisions
are not sufficiently implemented in relation to damage to biological diversity and violation
of national legislation (including the criminal code).
In situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity components is provided first of all at
the level of registered cultivars and hybrids. Conservation is provided primarily for
commercially used cultivars and hybrids. In-situ conservation of the original (old native)
cultivars of cultivated plant species is not sufficiently ensured. This poses threats of
genetic erosion and increases the vulnerability of the original (old native) genotypes of
plant species in Albania. This has to be addressed through a specific legal framework
that will be linked with the Rural Development Program, which gives more options for
utilization of land races and old cultivars, as well as for funding.
The principle problems of in situ conservation of genetic resources in the area are:
marginal attention paid to the issue, limited financial resources and consequently limited
capacities for the qualified implementation of measures.

Network of Protected Areas until November 2009

Source: DPPN

Fig. 1.1. Proposed network of the PA in 2009 by MoEFWA

Ministry of Environment (MoEFFWP) is the main institution responsible for the

protection of environmental values in Albania. According to the legal provisions,
MoEFFWP identifies protected areas and approves management plans. The law
provides the possibility to transfer the already existing administration of protected areas
to any new or different administration bodies or to the MoEFFWP itself upon the
approval of the Council of Ministers (CoM) (Art 23, 1-4).
Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MoAF) has been the major authority for the
management of forests, water, pastures, flora and fauna. It enforces its rights and
responsibilities through the Directorate General of Forests and Pastures (DGFP),
Directorate of Fishing (DF), Directorate of Waters, and Regional Directorates of
Agriculture and Food (RDoAF). The new government structure has set the DGFP and
Fishing Directorate within the MoEFFWP.
Historically, the mandate for protected area management lies within the General
Directorate for Forestry and Pastures (GDFP) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food
(MoAF) Forestry Department. The recently approved Law on Forest and Albanian Forest
Service (Art. 7 and 14) from 2005 confirms the mandate of GDFP for protected area
management.
Protected area management authorities (administrations) are established as part of
the DGFP for national parks and natural managed reserves. This demonstrates the
division of responsibilities in the protected areas between the Ministry of Environment
(MoEFFWP) and the General Directorate for Forestry and Pastures (GDFP).
According to the internal structure of GDFP, the Department for Protected Area
Management (DPAM) is responsible for the supervision of their activities. However, the
allocation and administration of funds for the Park Administration is under the
responsibility of the District Forest Service Offices (DFSO), which has no line of
command with DPAM. Because Park Administrations have no separate budget line, it is
treated as any other Forestry Sector in the District office. Due to this legal and
institutional set up for protected area management, the allocation of funds is not based
on the allocation of a budget, but is decided on a case-by case basis.
Within the DGFP, the Park Administration depends hierarchically on the Department
for Protected Area Management, but receives its funds from the District Forest Service
Office. Between the two structures there is no line of command although both are within
GDFP.
An important new element of the DGFP Park Management structures is the
Management Board, which is currently under development. It provides the setup for a
participatory management approach including all relevant technical structures, as well as
governmental structures at regional and local level. Also other stakeholders such as
non-governmental organizations and business associations are considered members of
the board.
For the in-situ biodiversity conservation, the responsibilities of individual organizations
are not yet clearly defined. In addition, activities are not well coordinated among sectorial
institutions, which manage and implement individual (particular) projects aiming the insitu conservation of biological diversity. The potential of project steering committees is
not always used efficiently.
The performance of individual institutions is limited by their capacities. Effectiveness

of their performance is assessed through checking the success or failure to accomplish

the tasks within the approved annual work plan, and possibly through assessing the
effectiveness of funds spent. There is no feedback on the effectiveness of institutional
performance on the biodiversity status and development.
Political support for the issues of conservation of genetic resources has decreased
since the time of accession of Albania to the CBD and consequently capacities in this
field have been weakened.
The administration of protected areas lacks in both number and capacities of
personnel. All the staff working in protected areas management is with a background of
forestry. Limited and inadequate staff is engaged in in-situ conservation. Competitive
and advantageous salary conditions influence the quality of staff at the expert level.
Staffing of posts in the public service is compromised and professional requirements
have been reduced. The lack of experts in such field as economic and social aspects of
biodiversity and related impacts and incentives is a specific problem. There is a need for
training courses for professionals aiming the exchange and increasing of knowledge in
the biodiversity field. Offers of foreign courses and training are used, but command of
the language of the course is the main limitation. In order to address the legal aspects of
the conservation of agricultural biodiversity, including issues of the access to genetic
resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from utilization, it is necessary to
train a group of experts for the identification and assessment of original (old native)
cultivars of plants.

PART ONE
PJESA E PAR

II.

Albanian Alps

Description of natural characteristics of the Albanian Alps Area

2.1 Physical-geographic features

2.1.1. Geographic position, borders and dimensions
The Albanian Alps are situated at the northeastern part of the country with quite clear
boundaries. In the south they are extended till the Drini Valley (in the sector between
Fierza and Vau i Dejs), which separates them from the Puka highlands; in the east and
northeast they are bordered with Tropoja catchment and the valley of the down flow of
Valbona river, that separate them from the highlands of Gjakova and Hasi, which are
parts of the Central Mountain Region; while at the west they descend at the plain of
Mbishkodra. The state border between Albania and former Yugoslavia marks the
northern and northeastern border of the Albanian Alps, but their structures continue even
beyond the state border. In all their extension, the Alps have a maximal length of 64 km,
between Maja e Zhihovs in north and Megulla e Gjerkajve in south, and a maximal
width of 60 km, between Qafa e Morins in east and the village Jeran (Katundi i
Kastratit) in west. Total area of the Alps is 2020 km2. The extension of the Alps at the
northern part of the country, in a linear distance of 40 km from the Adriatic Sea, the
radial directions of the valleys and the surrounding mountain ranges have conditioned
both the sea and continental influence. The sea influence comes through the valleys of
Drini, Kiri, Cemi and Prroi i That. At the same time, the continental influence
penetrates in the Alps, which is more present in the northern and northeastern part.
Among the above mentioned factors, a specific role plays the altitude that is expressed
through vertical gradation of all the physical and geographic elements. Because of the
interaction of these influences and their different emphasis in some particular areas, the
Alps are distinguished for the diversity of their physical and geographic landscapes. In
general, though the Alps have a broken and high relief, they are not inaccessible. The
dense net of valleys, gorges and passes facilitates the crossing through them to the
most remote parts.

2.1.2. Geological composition

The Albanian Alps, from the geological view, are situated totally in the area of the
North Albanides and they belong to three tectonic zones: the Gashi zone, the Alps
proper, and the Cukali zone, which overmount up respectively above each-other in the
southwestern direction with the intercession of a schist belt.
Regarding the area, the major part is occupied by the tectonic zone of the Alps, and
then by that of Cukali zone in south, whereas the Gashi zone lies only at the northern
and northeastern extremity. These zones differ from each-other not only due to the
lithological composition, but also from the structural construction, particularly the Gashi
zone.

Fig. 2.1. View from Thethi

The main strata constructing these tectonic zones are carbonatites of Mesozoic that
consist up to 60% of the general area, schists of Paleozoic and Paleocene and the
magmatics (intrusive and effusive) of Mesozoic, both of which consist up to 40% of the
Alps territory.
Carbonatite rocks, which occupy the major part of the tectonic zones of the Alps and
Cukali, have a dolomitization thickness and are mainly thick strata massifs. Just at these
rocks, the highest and the sharpest ridges of the alpine relief are formed, like Bjeshkt e
Namuna, Block of Jezerca, Kollata, Grykat e Hapta, Maja e Madhe (Ismet Sali Bruaj),
Mali i Hekurave etc. Directly after the carbonatites, the terrigenous stratum follows, the
major part of which is too schistose by the metamorphism. The most distinguished parts
are particularly the flysch ring of the Cukali tectonic zone, the Paleozoic schists at the
tectonic border between Cukali and the Alps, and the mainly flysch belt in the northern
and northeastern part of the Alps. Quite different from the calcareous strata, which are
very resistant to the erosion, these rocks are much more destructed. To this fact should
be added the high rate of their tectonic fragmentation due to their extension at the
forefront of the above mentioned tectonic zones. Those two characteristic features have
caused that the lower and much erosive reliefs to be formed just over the terrigenous
strata.
Magmatic intrusive (granitoid massif of Trokuzi) and effusive rocks lie almost entirely
in the Gashi tectonic zone (at the most northeastern extremity of the Alps), and they are
found less in Cukali and in north of Vermoshi. Regarding the relief, they have two quite
different appearances. In the sectors where they are much destructed by the detaching
tectonics, it is created a relief that is relatively lower and very much degraded (around
the catchment of Cemi, namely in the vicinity of the overmounting tectonic contact of the
Gashi zone above that of the Alps). In the sectors where they are less affected by the
tectonic detachments, high and sharp reliefs are formed. It is worth mentioning the

mountain range between the Gashi river and Tropoja (Koritat e Dobrdolit and Kreshi i
Kocajve).
An important place in the Albanian Alps is occupied by quaternary depositions,
conditioned by the intensive neotectonic development and erosive-denudative processes
that characterize this region even nowadays. They are situated mainly in the terraces
and gritty earths of the fluvial valleys, in the different deluvo-proluvial terraces, at the
bottom of the slopes and alpine steeps, and in the troughs, grooves and glacial cirques.
The Albanian Alps are also distinguished by an intensive and very complicated
tectonics, in which the detaching processes are more noticeable than the corrugating
ones.
The activity of the consecutive orogenic phases in this region has caused a
permanent regeneration of the structures, which has given to them much diversified
shapes. Particularly, the new alpine orogenese of plioquaternary, as everywhere in our
country, has had a strong differentiating character. Thus, the main morpho-structures of
the Alps are blockish, in the type of horst-graben, and scaly. These two types of
structures are reflected very well even in the main shapes of the relief of this region. One
of the distinguishing structural particularities of the Albanian Alps, like the northern part
of Central Mountain Region, is the deviation from the main northwest-southeast
direction, which is typical for the structures of Albanides. So, the structural direction of
the three above mentioned tectonic zones is northeast-southwest. This abrupt deviation
is due to the old transversal fragmentation between Shkodra and Peja. However, it
should be underlined that the general concentric direction of the main elements of the
Alps relief does not coincide with their structural direction.
Regarding the corrugating structures, which have clear morphological features, it
should be pointed out that they are present mainly in the tectonic zone of Cukali. Here it
is formed a mega anticline with carbonatite nucleus and flysch flanks. This structure is
very well presented in the relief (thus, the relief is wholly consistent with the structure). In
Cukal the detaching structures are also represented very well, due to the strong
pressure by the tectonic zone of the Alps proper in northwest, and by that of Mirdita in
southeast.
The tectonic zone of the Alps proper, from the structural view, in general constitutes a
strong plate in the shape of a big monoclinal, with a very wide central part, and with a
smooth depression (10-15o) towards northwest. The intensive neotectonic differentiating
movements in the conditions of a carbonatite composition have given to this structure a
very clear blockish and scaly character.
The tectonic zone of Gashi, from the structural view, resembles more to that of
Cukali, because its structures are highly destructed from the intrusion of the granitoid
massif of Trokusi. This massif crosses traversally this zone (from northeast to
southwest), dividing two anticline structures, that of the schists in northwest and the
effusive one in southeast. In relief, these structures are reflected in different manners:
consistent with the effusive structure and inconsistent with that of the schists.
Paleogeographic development of the Alps originates from the Paleozoic, when they
were representing a unique entity. Later on, during Mesozoic, their differentiation started
in the Alps ridge and in the Cukali trough. In the tectonic zone of the Alps, a terrigenous
scrappy material was initially collected, which later on was replaced by the carbonatite
material. Meanwhile, in the tectonic zone of Cukali, terrigenous materials were being
deposited during all this period. Between the middle and upper Triassic, the Alps territory

emerged over the water, thus exposing to the continental conditions. This emergence
was accompanied by the bauxites stratum that can be found nowadays in this region.

Fig. 2.2. Albanian Alps

During the middle Jurassic, the tectonic zone of the Alps was differentiated in two
subzones, in that of Malsia e Madhe with the features of e ridge, and in that of Valbona
with the features of a continental slope. Meanwhile, the Cukali zone continued to get
deepened more and more, and was connected with the Alps through the subzone
(continental slope) of Valbona. During the upper Jurassic, the ridge of Malsia e Madhe
emerged over the water, and this is testified by the stratum of bauxite clays. In this
period it also happened the differentiation of the Cukali tectonic zone in the deeper
eastern part (the current geographic zone of Cukali), and in the western part with the
features of a continental slope.

At the end of the Cretaceous, in the Valbona subzone, and a little bit later (during the
Paleocene) in Malsia e Madhe and Cukali, the creation of the flysch started, and this
eventually concludes the geosynclinals cycle of the Albanian Alps development. After
the flysch development, the new orogenesis of the Eocene lifted eventually over the
water the structures of these zones, by entering thus in a continental development
regime.
The starting time of the current relief is related to the erosive neogenic structures that
were intensively deformed by the new tectonic movements of plioquaternary. The
amplitude of this orogenesis has increased more and more the differences of levels
among the mountain ranges and fluvial valleys. This amplitude reaches 2-2.5 km
between the bed of sinking basins and the more elevated blocks in the relief, while the
difference amongst these elevated blocks is up to 500-600 m. Such an elevation is
expressed clearly in the altitudes above 1500 m, where the fragments of erosive
neogenic surfaces are found nowadays (in the mountains of Dubina, Kollata, and Grija
etc.). The strong depressions of the Mbishkodra, Tropoja and Peja basins are
accompanied at the same time with as strong as elevations of the mountain ranges. The
extension of these basins in the shape of a semicircle, as well as the higher elevation
that has occurred in the central part of this region (Bjeshkt e Namuna-Jezerc) have
determined even the distinguished radial direction of the ranges and valleys, starting
from a single point (the block of Jezerc-Bjeshkt e Namuna). That occurs because the
above mentioned basins have been serving as a basic level for all the external reliefforming factors of this mountainous region, particularly for the fluvial activity. These
basins, which later on were transformed into lakes, (Shkodra Lake is preserved even
today), have been serving as collecting places for the waters of the Alps fluvial net. This
net, through the regressive erosion, has reached until the center of this region, giving to
the fluvial valleys as well as to the mountain ranges a clear radial direction.
Later on, after the last glaciation, these lakes should have been dried due to the
elevating movements and their filling with considerable materials brought by the fluvial
net. The development of a considerable number of canyons and terraces from the Alpine
Rivers, when these enter to the basins, especially the typical canyons of Prroi i That,
Shkalla e Thethit, Grunasi and Valbona, testify for the elevations that the structures of
this region are undergoing even today. These elevations, in return, have caused a more
and more deepening of the disparities in the Alps relief, as a result of the regeneration of
the fluvial and karstic activity. They are also reflected in the quick evolution of the relief,
which is testified by the big quantity of coluvial and proluvial materials collected in the
different levels of the slopes.
One of the most important events in the Alps history is their inclusion by the
quaternary glaciation. As e result of their northern geographic position, high elevation
above sea level, and high quantity of the precipitations, the glaciation in our Alps was
more intensive compared with the other regions of Albania. Its activity has been so
intensive, as the tracks of glacial relief are still preserved widely in this region. The
glaciers that were acting in the Alps have been of mountainous and valley type.

2.1.3. The relief

The Albanian Alps, more than any other region of our country, are distinguished for
the deep disparities of the relief, which are expressed in the big difference between the
bed of the valleys and the surrounding alpine ridges, a difference that reaches up to
2000 m. Almost all the mountain ranges and the fluvial valleys start from the center, and

end directly at the surrounding basins by gradually descending. The mountain ranges
elevate immediately in an altitude up to 1500-1800 m. Sometimes the ranges take the
shape of blocks (Blloku i Jezercs, Kollata, Bjeshkt e Namuna, Kunora e Lohs, Mali i
Hekurave etc.), some times that of plateaus (plateau of Veleik-Bradish), and
sometimes the shape of sharp alpine ridges with salient disparities among them. The
ridges themselves are composed by several separated peaks in the shape of pillars,
pyramids and rugged columns, which fall steeply in the inter-mountainous troughs in
different altitudes. The deep mountainous valleys, which are confined by the steeps of
the surrounding ranges, sometimes are widened and take the shape of chutes, and
sometimes are shrinked and form very deep ravines and canyons. Just these salient and
abrupt morphological fragmentations of the Alps, are the reason of their harsh alpine
nature. The development of this characteristic complex has to be searched in the
peculiarities of the geologic evolution, and in the variety of the external relief-forming
factors.
The high mountainous character of this region is clearly expressed by the
hypsometric curve. This curve shows that the average altitude of the Alps is 1140 m., i.e.
almost 1.5 times more than the average of all the country (200 m). This also shows that
the major part (73%) of the relief is occupied by the altitudes of 600-1200 m. This
indicator shows clearly the strong neotectonic elevation that the Alps have undergone.
The altitudes over 2000 m that occupy 7% of the total Alps area are spread in their
central part, just where they have undergone the higher elevation. The altitudes of 4001000 m have also a relatively wide distribution; they mostly belong to the very wide
fluvial valleys due to their glacial origin. One of the distinctive peculiarities of the altitude
curve of the Albanian Alps is that 90% of it is occupied by main hypsometric curves, i.e.
200-800 m (29%), 800-1400 m (34%) and 1400-2000 m (27%). In the first floor the
valleys altitudes are spread, in the second one the major part of the mountainous blocks
and in the third floor the highest ranges of the Alps. This is a very clear indicator of the
blocky differentiating tectonics that characterizes the Alps structures even in current
days.
With the vigorous elevations and the domination of the carbonatite rocks, it is linked
even the high rate of vertical fragmentation of the Alps relief, which values varies in wide
ranges (400-950 m/km2). The carbonatite composition has facilitated very much the
fluvial erosion in depth and it is related to the morphological disparities.
The horizontal fragmentation is closely related with what we described above, and its
development is more determined from the lithologycal composition and the rate of the
vertical fragmentation. This is the reason that the lower values of this fragmentation are
met in carbonatite rocks (0.1-0.9 km/km2), while the higher values (3-5 km/km2) are
found in schist and magmatic strata. Here can be mentioned the basins of Nikaj-Mrturi,
Shala, Shoshi, Selca trough, Gashi zone, Vermoshi etc.

2.1.4. The structural erosive relief

This type of relief is mainly related with detaching structure, because the scaly and
blockish character of the structures of this region has reduced the role of the corrugating
processes in relief-forming, and they do not display tangible morphological features.
There can be excluded the anticlines of Shklzeni and Cukali that are clearly
distinguishable even in the present relief. The gravitated scales ripped off by the
detaching movements that give to the relief a harsh alpine character are widely present
here. There should be mentioned those of Bjeshkt e Namuna, those of the two slopes

of Valbona valley, that of the northeastern slope of Shklzeni etc. Their formation is
closely linked even with their carbonatite composition that is typical for such a
phenomenon.

2.1.5. The karstic relief

The karstic processes are conditioned by the wide distribution of the carbonatite
rocks with big thickness, vigorous neotectonic activity and detaching structures formed
by them, as well as by the big amount of precipitations, both rain and snow. The freeze
and snow activity is intermingled with karstic processes; therefore the relief forms
shaped by them are called nivalo-karstic forms. They lie in altitudes of 1400-2000 m,
whereas the forms created by the rainfalls are found below the altitudes of 1200 m. The
territories that are distinguished for their typical karstic relief are those of Veleik-Bridash
plateaus (karstic field of Troshani, Fusha e Zez, Gropat e Vrrinit, Fusha e Lqethit,
Fusha e Krekzs, that of Meksezs and Kunora e Lohs with steepness of Repishti,
Kosani etc).
Besides the karstic superficial forms, in the Alps there are present also underground
ones, due to the continuous uplifting they have undergone, and, related with this, the
perennial deeper depression of the basic level of the karstic erosion (i.e. of the basic
level of underground waters). Such underground forms like caves, grottoes, different
pits, galleries, chimneys, water-sucking points etc., there are found all over the Alps.
Among the most important caves of the Alps are those of Kakverri and Bravniku in the
northeastern slope of Maja e Kakis, Shpella e Zez and that of Drela in Curraj i Eprm
village, the cave of Drogani in Shkrel (valley of Prroi i That), cave of Zhyla in Pekal,
cave of Mbilqethi in Cukal, cave of Kllogjeni and cave of Bora (in the western slope of
Kunora e Lohs) etc.

2.1.6. The fluvial relief

This type of relief is represented by the mountainous river net, terraces, cones and
flysches etc. In fluvial relief, as well as in the karstic one, many features of the glacial
morphology are preserved, particularly in the upper flows of the rivers. Other relief forms
are terraces that present difficulties for their discernment. More clear tracks of them are
found in the middle parts of valleys of Shala, Kiri, Valbona and Cemi i Vuklit. Generally,
the first and the second level of terraces are of accumulative type, whereas two other
levels have erosive accumulative character. The flysch cones are found mainly at the
coves of main streams branches. The high inclination of their beds, abundant
precipitations, strong influence of the freeze and, as a consequence, intensive
processes of the slope development make these streams to transport a big amount of
scrappy materials.

2.1.7. The glacial relief

Even though many forms of this type of relief are caused by the postglacial aquatic
erosion and other external factors, they are present in the Alps. The best preserved
glacial relief is found at the altitudes of 1600-1800 m (in the western and southern
slopes), whereas in northern and eastern slopes it is preserved until the altitudes of
1300-1500 m. The most typical forms are the glacial valleys, karstic-glacial excavations,
troughs, cirques etc. Quaternary glaciers have exploited the different negative forms of

relief shaped by the fluvial and karstic erosion before the glaciation. The glacial
morphology is typical for all the upper parts of the fluvial valleys, like those of Boga,
Thethi, Valbona, Vermoshi, Curraj, Dobrdoli and Sylbica.

2.1.8. The erosive - denudative relief

These forms are actuated by the favorable lithologycal conditions (effusive schists),
and climatic ones (precipitations on the slopes). The main forms of this activity are
coluvial cones, the slithered blocks, stony torrents etc.

2.2. Physical Geographic Regionalization of the Alps

Based on the interior natural variations, the Alps can be divided in two big zones: the
western Alps and the eastern Alps. The boundary dividing these two zones passes
through Shala valley and Runica trough; this boundary marks important variations of the
nature of these two major parts of the Albanian Alps.
The Western Alps are extended between Shala valley and trough of Runica in east,
Mbishkodra plain in southwest, Drini valley in south and the state line border in north and
northwest. Their total length from north to south is 64 km, and from east to west 20 km.
Regarding the lithologycal composition, the Jurassic and Cretasic carbonatite strata
are dominant in this zone, which are mainly extended in the central part, and schisty
terrigenous ones that are extended in south and north. The main structural organization
of these strata is the scaly one with a general overmounting direction from northeast to
southwest. Among them, the most important ones from the morphological view are the
scales of Marlula, Vita, Gjarpri i Vuklit and Bishkaz-Biga e Gimajve. Directly after them,
there are the blockish structures like Bjeshkt e Namuna and Biga e Gimajve-Troshan.
The general direction of the mountain ranges and fluvial valleys in this zone is northeastsouthwest in accordance with the structures direction. This phenomenon is conditioned
by the subsidence of the Shkodra Lake karstic-tectonic basin in southwest. The
subsidence of this basin is accompanied by the lifting up of the mountainous ranges over
the plain of Mbishkodra in southwest, with the interposition of structural threshold of the
Posriba, Rei and Kastrati hills. The new tectonic differentiating movements have
caused that all the mountain ranges of this zone, starting from their central part of
Bjeshkt e Namuna Biga e Gimajve with altitude of 2200-2500 m, to descend gradually
towards south and southwest until the altitudes of 1500-1700 m. This is very well
expressed even in the disparities attenuation and depth decrease of the vertical
fragmentation of the relief in the same directions at altitudes from 1300 to 800 m.
The Eastern Alps lie at east side of Shala valley and Runica trough, with an extension
of 40 km from north to south, and 32 km from east to west. In the Eastern Alps, unlike
the western ones, the magmatic (infusive and effusive) rocks are more widely spread,
whereas the terrigenous ones cover a very small area. The dominating structures are
the blockish ones such as Kollata, Jezerca, Maja e Hekurave, Grykat e Hapta, Kakia
etc., whereas the scaly ones are extended in the border dividing the tectonic zone of
Gashi with the Alps proper (between eremi and Bradoshnica), and the last one with
Cukali (between the passes of Kolci and Agri). Among the corrugating structures, the
anticline of Shklzen-Radesh can be mentioned, where the structure are in accordance
with the relief.

The major part of these mountain ranges has an altitude more than 2200 m and a
more salient alpine relief, mainly associated with the higher elevation that the structures
of this zone have undergone and with the prevalence of the carbonatite rocks. Due to
these main factors, the values of the horizontal fragmentation are generally minimal,
whereas the relief energy has the highest values in all the Alps.
The mountainous ranges and river valleys have a general direction from north to
south, except for Valbona valley that has a direction from northwest to southeast. This
direction is conditioned by the southern extension of the Tropoja grabenic basin and
Drini valley, where the mountain ranges are abruptly interrupted.

2.2.1. The Western Alps

The Shala Valley
The Shala Valley lies in the center of the Alps and it is traversed by the river with the
same name, which is formed by two main branches, Kaprei stream and Stupja stream at
the right side. From its river-head at the Thethi trough in an altitude of 1200 m until the
cove of Stupje stream, the valley has a north-south direction, whereas from that point
until its conflux with Drini River it turns immediately towards southeast. In east it is
bordered with valleys of Valbona and Nikaj, whereas in west with valleys of Prroi i
That (Boga) and Kiri. The constructive strata of this valley are Mesozoic calcareous
stones and terrigenous sediments, which are much destructed by the new tectonic
breakings. The relief is distinguished for the disparities of the alpine nature between the
surrounding crests and its winding riverbed.
Four levels of terraces are discernible in this valley, particularly in its right side. At the
exit of Breglumi, this valley forms a very beautiful and typical narrowing that is called
Portat e Shals. The narrowing occurs because the valley there enters in old and
massive carbonatite strata. After the place called Portat e Shals, the valley widens
again forming the catchments of Shoshi that is different from that of Shala. This
difference has to do with its positioning in two tectonic zones, the Alps zone and that of
Cukali. Just for that reason, the slopes of this catchment go down gradually and become
asymmetric. This occurs due to the structure of the Shala River and its stronger erosion
than that of Kiri River, because of the lower basic level.
The length of Shala River is 376 km, its catchment area is 269 km2 and the riverbed
inclination is 22 m/km. It has two main branches: the stream of Kaprei (Lumi i Zi) and the
stream of Stupje (at the right). The river begins at the southeastern bottom of Maja e
Radohins (sources of Okoli in Theth) and flows almost in north south direction until it
meets the valley of Drini. Its average annual flow reaches up to 33.7 m3 per second, thus
surpassing that of Valbona, although the Shala catchment is 2.5 times smaller.
The mountain range between Shala valley and Kiri valley
This mountain range with a north-south direction is extended between valley of Shala
in east and that of Kiri in west, from the southern bottom of Biga of Gimajve until the
northern bottom of Cukali Mountain in south.
The main features of this range relief are determined by its extension between two
tectonic zones, the Alps zone in north and Cukali zone in south, which have different
lithologycal formation and structure. This range starts with Maja e Elbunit (1960 m) that

is detached from Biga e Gimajve in the shape of a gravitative scale. The range is
distinguished by a diverse relief that is related with its schistose and calcareous
structure. Its relief descends immediately when it detaches from the carbonatite wing of
the Dukagjini anticline, and enters into its schistic nucleus. A distinguished feature of the
relief in the sector constructed by schists is the interweaving of a row of relatively
smooth peaks and not that high passes, which connect the Shala valley with the Kiri
valley. Among its peaks, Maja e Boshit and Kunora e Lotajt are more distinguishable,
and here the Permian calcareous massifs appear.
The view of the range changes after its entering into carbonatites of the Cukali
tectonic zone, where the relief gets a very harsh character, especially in the height of
Maja e Bigs (1314 m) and that of Bualli (1378 m).
The Cukali Mountain
The Cukali Mountain lies at the southern extremity of the Western Alps and it is
separated from them by well-defined natural boundaries, because it is surrounded from
all the sides by mountainous valleys like valley of Shala in northeast, valley of Kiri in
northwest and valley of Drini in south and southeast.
The general direction of its extension is northwestsouthwest with a length of 24 km
and a width of 8 km. The Cukali relief fits wholly with its corrugative structure and
lithology. As a whole, Cukali can be considered like a miniature of the Alps because its
central part, as it occurs with the Alps, is very elevated, meanwhile in the periphery it
descends gradually. Its semblance in the shape of a block that comprises the basic
morphological feature of this mountain is conditioned by its own structure and
lithologycal composition. It is totally formed in the carbonatite nucleus of Cukali anticline,
whereas the peripheral descent occurs in the flysch wings of the structure. The height of
this block is due to the neotectonic elevations and two strong rifts, that of Shkodr-Pej
from the south and Prekal-Ura e Shtrenjt in northwest, which are still active.
The central part of Cukali has the semblance of a highly fragmented vault by the
dense net of the streams. As a consequence of this fragmentation, in the relief of the
highest part of Cukali there is created a series of peaks with moderate shapes separated
from each-other by not that high passes. Almost at the central part of these peaks the
trough of Fusha e Liqethit lies, surrounded by Mbilqethi Peak (1734 m), Cukali Peak
(1723 m) and some other peaks. The northwestern and southeastern slopes are
asymmetric due to the different heights of the basic level of Drini and Kiri rivers.
In the central part of Cukali block, in the altitude of 1325 m, one of the most
interesting troughs is found, Fusha of Lqethit. Its formation on the top of Cukali structure
is facilitated by the local tectonic rifts and later on it is shaped by quaternary glaciation.
After the glaciers melting, it was transformed into a lake, which got dried due to the
karstic processes and the backward erosion of Bena stream. Cukali is distinguished for a
very developed karst.
The mountain range between Kiri valley and Prroi i That
This range is extended from Pass of Tthore in north and reaches to mountain of
Maranaj in southwest, and has a length of 25 km. In eastern side it descends in a steep
way over the Kiri valley and Kaprei stream (branch of Shala River), whereas in northwest
it descends over the valley of Prroi i That. The range is composed by the mountain

block of Rrab-Troshan, which extends until the Pass of Trthore (1660 m), as well as
by Biga e Gimajve (2231 m) and Ndreu Peak (1918 m). The last one, at Maja e Ndreut is
separated in two branches, one ending in south of Maranaj Mountain, and the other in
southwest of Kunora e Lohs (over the plain of Postpoja). The range lies in the boundary
between the tectonic zone of the Alps and that of Cukali, which has directly influenced
on its morphological development. The very harsh relief that characterizes this range is
expressed in the series of consecutive calcareous crests, which are surrounded by very
high scarps (600-800 m). This alpine feature of the relief is due to the normal
detachments and their composition almost wholly by the Triassic carbonatite strata.
In some parts of this range there are also found many forms of glacial relief. From the
Biga e Gimajve Peak until Maja e Ndreut, this mountain range forms a unique body. At
Maja e Ndreut, it is separated in two branches through the tectonic-erosive valley of
Rrjolli stream; the southwestern branch ends at Kunora e Lohs (1848 m), whereas the
next branch continues together with the main body towards south until Maja e Maranajt
(1577 m). The ridge between Biga e Gimajve and Maja e Ndreut forms a monoclinal
crest, which descends gradually towards southwest, interrupted by the tectonic erosive
passes of Shtogu and Paruni. Among these gorges, four glacial grooves are formed.
Along with grooves, the relief of this range has also some nivalo-karstic troughs like that
of Kamsholli, Paruni etc.

Fig. 2.3. Bjeshket e Namuna

The Kiri valley

This valley is extended between the mountain range of Biga e Gimajve Maranaj
Mountain in west and the range of Elbun Cukal in east. The general direction changes
two times: in the upper sector until Prekali village, it has an almost north-south direction,
whereas from the village of Prekali until its cove it has a southwestern direction. The
major part of the valley is composed by carbonatite strata (of Mesozoic) and the other
part by terrigenous strata (mainly schisty), which are vigorously destructed by the new
tectonic rifts (Prekali-Ura e Shtrenjt), and by the overmounting (in the upper sector of
the valley). The valley relief has an alpine nature with salient disparities between the
basin and the surrounding ridges. Considering the different morphological features in
this valley, two sectors can be distinguished: the upper sector and the lower one.
The upper sector starts from the Kiri river sources and extends until the village with
the same name. It is formed transversally the schist structure of the Alps and its shape
resembles more to a basin than to a valley. In this sector the disparity between the
surrounding slopes is quite distinguishable due to the different lithologycal structure.
The lower sector of the valley starts immediately after its exit from the Kiri village.
Here the valley is narrowed instantly in the carbonatite strata of Prekali anticline, passing
almost parallel with the axis of this structure. The valley slopes are distinguished not only
for the salient asymmetry, but also for the different morphology. The right slope, due to
the lithologycal variations (calcareous and schist), has an escalating shape.
The Kiri River is shorter than that of Cemi, with a length of 52 km, its catchment area
is 261 km2 and the slope inclination of the riverbed is 27 m/km. It springs from the
southern bottom of Elbuni Peak and it flows in north-south direction until the Prekali
village.
The valley of Rojlli
This valley is extended between Kunora e Lohs Mountain in west and BishkazMaranaj range in east. It is formed in the tectonic rifts of Rjolli, with which it is related its
strong penetration in the carbonatite structure of the surrounding crests and the big relief
disparities. The valley starts at the Paruni trough between Bishkazi Mountain and
Kunora e Lohs, and it goes on with a continuous deepening through many thresholds
until the Prekali notch.
Bjeshkt e Namuna and karstic Plateau of Veleik-Bridash
This entity is extended from Veleiku in southwest until Maja e Langojve in northwest
with a total length of 26 km. Its southeastern border is formed by the valley of Prroi i
That, Thethi and Runica groove, while in northwest it is bordered by Cemi i Vuklit and
Lpusha troughs. At the southwestern extremity it descends gradually in the hilly karstic
relief of Kastrati, whereas in northeast it is interrupted abruptly in the catchment of Gucia
(in Montenegro territory).
Bjeshkt e Namuna occupy the northwestern part of this range between Cemi i Vuklit
in west, Peja Pass and Thethi trough in east, Trthore Pass and upper flow of Prroi i
That in south. In southwest it is separated from the plateau of Veleik-Bridash by the
Kozhnja trough.

In general, these highlands have the particularities of a block, representing one of the
highest territories in the Albanian Alps. The reasons of their blockish character,
immediate lifting up and roughness are the new tectonic elevations and their wholly
calcareous composition. The main morphological elements of this block are the troughs
and sharp ridges in between them. The main troughs in northwest are Gropa e
Shterpave, that of Kllogjeni, Livadhi i Bogs etc., whereas in southwest there are Runica
groove and Radohina trough. All these troughs are formed during quaternary and have a
karstic-glacial origin.
The territory between Maja e Langojve and Shniku Peak forms one of the roughest
and sharpest ridges of these highlands due to the monoclinal depressions and the
massive character of the lime stones.
The karstic plateau of Veleik-Bridash occupies the southwestern part of this range. It
is separated from Bjeshkt e Namuna by the Kozhnja and Mekzeza troughs (over Boga).
Its whole composition of carbonatite rocks and the strong tectonic fragmentation are
reflected at the morphology development, which is characterized by a very intensive
development of the karst. All the interior part of this plateau, with an area of 114 km2, is
characterized by small differences of altitude levels that might be related to a neogene
erosive surface.
The almost totally absence of the hydrographic net in this plateau have caused that
the rate of the vertical and horizontal fragmentation to be very low. Only in the
northwestern side, the two left branches of Cemi River, - Kozhnja and Suha streams, have formed valleys with a canyon shape.
The valley of Prroi i That
It represents one of the most interesting valleys from the geomorphologic point of
view, and is extended between the range of Rab-Biga e Gimajve-Kunora e Lohs in
east and that of Radohin-Veleik in west. The pass of Trthore and Shtegu i Dhenve
(2040 m) connect it with Thethi valley. It starts at the western side of Trthore Pass and
until Ducaj village it forms an arc with southeastern direction. From village of Ducaj and
until it flows in to Lake of Shkodra, it is extended in southwestern direction. Its length is
about 33 km. Inside the Alps this valley lies from an altitude of 1300 m (Okoli i Bogs)
until 180 m at Dedaj village, i.e. at the entrance of Postpoja plain. In this territory the
valley is wholly composed by calcareous rocks that are much destructed from the karst
and tectonics formed by the anticline of Prroi i That.
The upper part that is known with the name Boga valley, from Okoli i Bogs until
Ducaj village, it has the shape of a semi-ark with almost symmetric slopes and has
broken through the strong carbonate mass in a deepness of about 1300 m. This part of
valley is typically glacial, and this is demonstrated by its shape like a trough. It is
elaborated by a big glacial lump that has descended from the Alps (perhaps by
Radohina) during the last glaciation.
The mountain range of Dubin-Golish-Berizhdol
This mountain range is extended among the valley of Cemi i Vuklit in south and that
of Cemi i Selcs in north. The northwestern part of this range is that between Dubina
Peak and Poniku Pass, which is totally composed by calcareous rocks, whereas the
southeastern part is composed chiefly by flysch. The different morphological features are

related to the different lithologycal composition. The part from the beginning of this ridge
until Zagoni Peak is very sharp, with consecutive abysses and steeps. Between Zagoni
Peak and tectonic erosive Pass of Ksteci, this range has the features of a monocline
crest. At Dubina Peak (1734 m), above the altitude of 1300-1500 m, some carbonate
steeps are abruptly uplifted. In the top part, a somehow regular surface is formed with a
slight steep towards the northeast, until it breaks off at Pass of Ksteci (1600 m). These
morphological features and its formation over a flysch sediment show that it represents a
neogene flattening area.
The valley of Cemi
This valley is composed by two main branches, Cemi i Vuklit and Cemi i Selcs. At
the exit of Tamara village, these two branches are jointed and form the unique valley of
Cemi. The valley of Cemi i Vuklit lies among two above mentioned branches and is
characterized by original morphological feature closely related to monocline structure
and carbonatite composition. The Vukli catchment that is narrowing from northeast to
southwest has very asymmetrical slopes and a fragmented relief. At the northeastern
part of this catchment, where the lime stones contact with the flysch, a series of deep
troughs are formed like those of Jama, Fusha e Liqenit and Dershena.
The Cemi of Selca valley starts at an altitude of 1200 m and descends until 235 m.
The two above mentioned valleys are joined at Tamara Bridge thus forming a unique
body that ends at Moraa River (in Montenegro territory). By passing and breaking
through the entire carbonatite mass in a deepness of 900-1000 m., this valley, watched
from Leqet e Hotit, has an impressive view.
The mountain range among the Cemi of Selca and Vermoshi valleys
This range is one of the fewest in the Alps that have an almost wholly flysch structure.
Its direction is from east to west and it is formed in a synclinal structure surrounded by
two tectonic breakings. Along with Cemi of Selca valley and that of Vermoshi, this valley
has also as a natural boundary the valley of Skrobotusha and that of Lpusha (the right
branch of Vermoshi River). In east the range continues with Grebeni Peak (1840 m),
where one branch of the Lpusha stream divides it in two ridges, one of them continues
towards northeast until Pjeshka Peak (1820 m), while the second one goes on towards
southwest and is closed in at Bordoleci Pass (1320 m). In general, the top of this range
is very sharp because of the intensive destruction of the flysches.
The valley of Vermoshi
In its formation, this valley is influenced by tectonic breakings that have determined
the northwestsoutheast direction. It starts from an altitude of 1300 m., where
Skrobotusha stream begins, and descends till an altitude of about 1000 m, just beneath
the cove of Lpusha stream. It is totally composed by flysch rocks that are spread along
Marlula scale (the tectonic zone of Gashi), which has caused their strong tectonic
destruction. After joining with Lpusha valley, the valley of Vermoshi is immediately
narrowed, forming thus the canyon of Bashkimi. This canyon is 1 km long, 30-40 m
deep, 1.2-1.8 m wide until it exits in Gucia catchments.

The mountain range of Marlul-Maja e Bojs

This range lies on the left side of Vermoshi valley and represents the most northern
extremity of the country. It is formed in the scaly effusive sedimentary structure of the
Gashi tectonic zone over that of the Alps and has a northwestsoutheast direction. The
abrupt lifting up of the range over 2000 m occurs because of the new tectonic elevations.
The range begins with Zabeli Peak (2135 m) and after the tectonic erosive Pass of
Mojani (2056 m), it elevates immediately in Marlula Peak (2186) and Maja e Madhe
(2195 m). In northeastern side of this range, separated by the valley of Harusha stream,
Zhihova range is spread, across which the state border passes; its highest peak reaches
2174 m and it is the most northern edge of our country.

2.2.2. The Eastern Alps

The blocks of Jezerca and Kollata
These blocks are situated between eremi catchment and stream in east, upper
valley of Valbona in south, Thethi, Pass of Peja (1700 m) and Runica trough in west,
whereas in north they continue beyond the state border.
Though these blocks are separate and divided by the Pass of Valbona e Vogl (2100
m) and the valley of Kukaj stream, Jezerca and Kollata have e series of common
features. They are totally constructed from the Mesozoic calcareous, have a blockish
structure and are surrounded by strong tectonic breakings. Their relief is among the
roughest of the Albanian Alps, with sharp pyramidal ridges and steeps that descend
vertically some hundred meters over the surrounding grooves, valleys and troughs. A
common characteristic of them is the poor plant cover.
The block of Jezerca represents the highest and the most gorgeous part of the
Albanian Alps, and it lies in their center. Jezerca Peak is 2692 m high and presents the
highest point of the Alps. In the Jezerca relief, two main elements are distinguished:
grooves and ridges that have a radial extension. In grooves of Jezerca and Kolaj there
are found even glacial lakes such as the Big Lake (Liqeni i Madh) and Lake of Lohjani.
The Big Lake of Jezerca is the biggest among the others of the Alps and it is situated at
an altitude of 1792 m. It has an extended shape with a length of 443 m, average width of
178 m and a depth of 3.5 4 m.
The block of Kollata is situated between the valley of Kukaj stream and the Pass of
Small Valbona in west, the upper valley of Valbona in south, the eremi catchment in
east and the state border line in north.
The catchment of Nikaj-Mrturi and surrounding mountains
The catchment of Nikaj-Mrturi and the surrounding mountains present the biggest
entity of the Eastern Alps and one of the biggest and the highest ones of the Albanian
Alps. It is situated between the Valbona valley in northeast, the Drini valley (from the
cove of Valbona until that of Shala) in south and the Shala valley in west; its length from
north to south is 30 km, and its width from east to west is 24 km. The catchment of NikajMrturi is closed up by the surrounding mountains from the three sides and it is opened
towards southeast in the Drini River valley. The arc begins with Kore e Mrturit (1758 m)
that lies between the coves of Valbona and Nikaj in Drin; after the Kolci Pass (1260 m) it

elevates immediately in Shtylla e Gris (2095 m) over the Tropoja catchment, reaching
finally the highest point at Maja e Hekurave (2560 m).

The valley of Valbona

This is one of the most known valleys, which is situated in the center of the Eastern
Alps between the Jezerca block, Kollata and the mountain range of Qypi i Gracit-Rup in
north, and the mountain range of Maja e Boshit-Maja e Hekurave in south and
southeast. From Shoshani Bridge until Fierza, the valley passes through the Tropoja
catchment and the hilly relief between Bujani and Tplani. In all its length, the valley
forms a semi-arc with the concave side in southwest. The start of this valley coincides
with the glacial groove of Vali that is situated among the Peak of Alia and that of Popluka
in southwest of the Jezerca block. In this mountain range, the carbonatite rocks are
dominant and only in the villages of Valbona and Dragobia the schist nucleus of the Alps
appear.
The springs of Valbona are at the bottom of the eastern slope of the pass with the
same name, where it originates from some karstic springs in the altitude of 1450 m.
The mountain range among valley of Valbona and valley of Gashi
The major part of this mountain range is composed by carbonatite strata and partly by
schist (Dragobi-Bradoshnic, erem), effusive (Rupe) and granite (Trokus, Markofoc).
Its general direction is from northwest to southeast and it gets widening until the Peak of
Gjarpri-Rupe. Its height is gradually increasing from Qypi i Gracit (1344 m) until Peak of
Gjarpri (2210 m) and that of Rupe (2266 m). The slopes are very broken due to many
gravitative blocks that have given to the range a typical alpine character.
The valley of Gashi River
This valley is situated in northeast of the Eastern Alps and it starts from the glacial
groove of Dobrdoli in an altitude of 1600 m and ends at the Tropoja catchment in an
altitude of 244 m. The lithologycal diversity is reflected in the morphological variety of the
valley, especially in its widenings and narrowings, separated between them by
thresholds of mainly tectoniclithologic origin. On the left of this groove the glacial Lake
of Dashi is situated, which is the third with regard to its size, after Sylbica Lake, and the
first in all the Alps with regard to its altitude (2175 m). Its total length reaches up to 275
m, whereas its width is 255 m.
The mountain range among valley of Gashi and valley of Tropoja
This mountain range is extended at the most eastern extremity of the Eastern Alps
among the deep erosive troughs of Gashi and Tropoja valleys and the catchment with
the same name. The abrupt lifting up of this mountain range until the relative altitude of
2000 m is related with the new tectonic elevations and the depression of Tropoja
catchment. Its spreading has a southeastnorthwest direction from Shklzeni Mountain
(2407 m) until Kreshi i Kocajve (2397 m), in the shape of the letter T. It is formed by

two ranges with quite different lithologic, structural and morphologic compositions, that
are separated between them by the tectonic-lithologic Pass of Erusha (2020m); the
range among Erusha Pass and Kreshti i Kocajve is wholly composed by magmatic
(effusive and intrusive), and it has e scaly structure.
The valley of Tropoja
This valley is situated at the most northwestern extremity of the Eastern Alps and it
starts at the glacial trough of Sylbica. In Tropoja valley a series widenings and
narrowings are distinguished, separated between them by thresholds with different
altitudes and inclinations. The valley intersects several strata and structures that are part
of two tectonic zones. All its upper part until Shkalla e Sylbics comprises a hanged
glacial trough.

III. Climate particularities of the Albanian Alps

3.1. Climate characteristics of Albania

The climate features of a certain and especially isolated area, besides the specific
topographic conditions, orography, vegetation and presence of water bodies, is mainly
determined by the climate-forming factors of the wider area. Because of that, it is
important that firstly to be described these climate-forming factors and later on the
climate regime of the concerned region.
The climate regime of Europe is determined by three main factors, ranked as follows:

The high variation of polar air temperature in north and subtropical air in south;

The position of the continent, more precisely, its terra-sea being bordered in west
with Pacific Ocean, in east with Asian continent, and in south with Mediterranean
Sea and African continent;

The heavily developed orographic barriers like Alps, Pyrenees and Scandinavian
mountains.

These factors have different influences in different places, somewhere strong and in
other places moderate. Due to this complexity of factors and different intensity of their
impacts in various regions, there can be distinguished high variety of climate
particularities.
Regardless of this high variety of climate particularities, in many areas of the
European continent are present various indexes and parameters of the elements of
meteorological regime such as solar radiation, precipitations, air humidity and
temperature, wind with its both components (velocity and direction), atmospheric
pressure etc., which create the possibilities of a climatic zoning or regionalization
according to already accepted standards by the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO).
In this framework, even in Albania several studies are conducted in the field of
climatology and climatography for all the territory of the country and for particular areas
as well.
Albania is situated in the southwestern part of Europe and is confined in the western
side by the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The countrys relief is very broken and there are
three main morphometric forms: mountains, hills and western lowland. The average
altitude of the Albanian territory is 728 m above sea level.
Besides the above mentioned climate driving factors regarding the Europe, there are
some others that influence directly in shaping the climate features of Albania such as the
cyclones that come from the north Atlantic, and those that originate in the Mediterranean
sea (particularly the cyclone of Genoa bay), and anticyclone of Azores.
Due to the interaction of all the climate driving factors, Albania is characterized by a
typical Mediterranean climate. In general, the climate features of Albania are
characterized by soft and wet winters, and dry and hot summers.
Based on the studies carried out by the Albanian climatologists and synopticans, it is
noticed that almost during the major part of the year (188 days in a year) Albania is

under the influence of anti-cyclonic activity. This situation is a direct consequence of the
stressed activation of the Azores anticyclone activity, which is expressed in the
development of hummocks and cores, emitted by anticyclone of Azores towards
Mediterranean and Central Europe, according to the so-called western axle. It is clear
that those are the reasons for creation of the regional western displacements.
Likewise, by these studies it is noticed that during about 177 days in a year Albania is
under the cyclonic influence, accompanied with closeness and precipitations (see Table
3.1). The development of the anti-cyclonic activity is more stressed during the summer
and more specifically in July and August. During these months higher frequencies of the
centers with extended anticyclones activity are appeared, respectively from 8 to 25
centers per month. A lower frenzy for the appearance of such centers takes place during
November and December, respectively 5 and 11 centers per month.
Tab.3.1. Annual dispersal of cyclonic and anticyclonic influence (per day)
Baric activity

II

III

IV

VI

VII

VIII

IX

XI

XII

Year

Cyclonic

15

15

17

14

15

10

12

19

20

177

Anticyclonic

16

13

14

16

16

20

25

25

22

19

11

11

188

Considering what was mention above, and the very broken relief of the country, the
distance from the sea and the altitude above sea level, specific regions of Albania are
characterized by very different values of climate elements. Based on these significant
differences, Albania is divided in four main climate zones and thirteen subzones. For the
purpose of this study, it will be sufficient to mention only four climate zones:
Mediterranean Lowland Zone, Mediterranean Hilly Zone, Mediterranean pre-Highland
Zone and Mediterranean Highland Zone.
In the map where it is shown the zoning of the Albanian territory according to the
climate features, it can be clearly distinguished that the regions of concern are part of
the Mediterranean Highland Zone.
As it was mentioned above, the relief and particularly the altitude above sea level
presents a specific factor that influences in the climate variety.
From the analysis of plentiful information (for time series over 30 years for the main
meteorological elements) that the Albanian climatologists have gained through their
studies, it is evidenced that in altitudes higher than 1000-1300 m., high oscillations in the
climatic elements regime appear. Therefore, the Mediterranean Highland Zone,
according to the specific peculiarities of the climate elements, is divided in four
subzones: the northern Mediterranean Highland subzone, eastern Mediterranean
Highland subzone, southeastern Mediterranean Highland subzone, and southern
Mediterranean Highland subzone.

3.2. Climate features of the Albanian Alps

From the climate point of view, due to its geographical position, nature and relief, the
region of the Albanian Alps is part of the northern Mediterranean Highland subzone.
This subzone includes all the mountains that are spread on the right side of the flow
of rivers Valbona and Drini.

The different relief forms, valleys that penetrate deep in the region and altitudes that
are almost uniform, give to this subzone a particular character even from the physical
and geographical point of view.
The generalization of the climate features of this region is very difficult and
complicated due to the very distinguished variety of particular areas of the Albanian
Alps. Moreover, it should be pointed out that over the altitudes 1300 m above sea level
there is no any regular station in the framework of the national meteorological net,
referring to the standards of the WMO.
However, through the consultations with analyses and studies carried out by native
and foreign researchers, the general features of Albanian Alps can be evidenced.
The Alps are the coldest area of our country. They also present the most affected
zone by precipitations during the year and where the absence of humidity is less
occurring and, as a consequence, the forests cover their major part. The thermal
features of the area are determined mainly by the altitude above sea level.
The average temperature of January, the most representative month of the winter
season and at the same time the coldest one, in the lower part of this subzone, i.e. in the
territory with altitude less than 1250 m, has a value of 00 C or lower, but not less than -30
C. In those part of the Alps area that have an altitude more than 1300 m above sea
level, the average temperature of January fluctuates between - 40 C and 60 C. In some
other parts of the Alps territory with higher altitudes, particularly in those parts that have
no opportunely exposition to get more heat through direct solar radiation, the average
temperature of this month is 80 C.
Regarding the summer season, it can be said that it is cool and very distinct from the
other parts of the Albanian territory. Thus, the average air temperature in July, the most
representative month of the summer season and at the same time the warmest one,
varies from 15 to 180C. In some particular areas of the Alps, this temperature reaches up
to 210 C.
It should be emphasized that in some parts of this region, particularly in those that
have higher altitude above sea level, the average temperature has positive values during
more than 7 to 8 months of the year.
The superabundant precipitations and the low values of temperature in this region are
evidently strong premises for the presence and long duration of the snow. So, at the
gauging meteorological station of Dragobia a snow thickness of 250 cm is registered.
Another parameter that expresses the climate particularities of the thermal regime of
this region is also the average annual temperature. In the lower part of this subzone this
parameter is fluctuating between 7 and 110 C, whereas in higher part of the region it
fluctuates from 4 to 6 0 C.
In the thermal regime of this region, a specific role in the climate analyses plays the
evidence of the specific features of the extreme values that are well presented by the
absolute extreme values, particularly by the minimal temperatures. From the multiannual analyses gathered by the meteorological stations that are installed in this region
(we will describe it in the following part), the absolute minimal values for the lower part of
the region are between -10 and 13 0 C, whereas during some years with extremely
cold winter these minimal values have reached up to -20 and -22 0 C. Depending on the
relief forms, they can come at even lower values. In the higher altitudes, the minimal
values can drop till -27 0 C.

The harshness of the winter season in the Albanian Alps can be seen also by the
number of days with frost during the year; in the lower parts there are about 100-110
days with frost, meanwhile in upper parts about 150-170 days.
The vegetation period in the Albanian Alps is quite short compared with the other
regions of Albania. In the lower parts, the average temperature goes above 100 C only in
the third decade of April or in the begining of May, meanwhile the period with average
temperature above 70 C starts at first decade of April and ends at first decade of
November. It is a well-known fact that in the Albanian Alps region there is high amount of
rainfall throughout the year. From the data obtained during many years, we can
conclude that the Albanian Alps are one of the wettest regions in Europe. This is mainly
due to the geographical position and especially because of the exposition towards wet
air masses and high altitudes above sea level. The average rainfall in the Albanian Alps
is 2000 2005 mm per year. In general, most of the rain falls in the cold half of the year
(November March). It is worth mentioning that in some parts of the Alps during specific
years are registered more than 3500 mm rainfall, and some meteorogical stations have
registered even 4000 mm per year. The slopes exposed towards west have the biggest
amount of rainfall. In eastern slopes it is noticed a decrease of the amount of rainfall.
The number of days with more than 1 mm of rainfall is usually 110-140 each year for
the entire region.
It is obvous that the high quantity of rainfall combined with the specific thermic regime
of low temperatures, creates favourable conditions for the snow-cover, which in the
lower altitudes can last 60-100 days per year and in higher parts 130-160 days per year.
In particular parts of the region, especially in high altitudes, the snow-cover is permanent
throughout the year.
The maximal level of snow-cover is directly dependant on relief formations of the
region. From the climatological analyses of the information collected during several
years in the meteorological stations located at the lower part of the Albanian Alps, we
can conclude that the maximal thickness of snow is usually 1.5-2.5 m. In the upper parts
of the Alps the maximal level can reach up to 4 meters.
The air movement regime, known in meteorology as wind, is dependant on the period
of year, baric formations that pass through the region and especially on relief formations.
Climatological studies based on the amount of information collected, have shown that
during the period May-October the predominant winds are from south and southwest,
whereas during the cold half of the year the main directions of the winds are from
northern and eastern quadrants.
In the Albanian Alps a characteristic wind is formed, called murlan that, depending
on its origin, can be classified as cyclonic or anti-cyclonic wind.
It is obvious that the description of the climatic features of an area should be done
through the climatological analyses of the main meteorological elements. This analysis
requires the collection, elaboration and statistical treatment of the main meteorological
elements time series, which can be derived from surveys and recordings in
meteorological stations set up according to the International Meteorological
Organization. In table 3.2 are given the meta-data about meteorological stations taken
into account for the climatic studies of the Albanian Alps.
The key to the above table:
Rp- Total solar radiation

T Air temperature
R- Atmospheric rain, any type of rainfall
L- Air humidity
E- Wind
D- Sunshine period
SH- Horizontal view
V- Cloudiness
Tab. 3.2 Meta-Data of meteorological stations
Meteorological
Station
Bog
Dragobi
Theth
Razm
Rapsh
Vermosh

Geographical Position
(dg,min) (dg,min)
42
24 19
39
42
26 19
58
42
23 19
47
42
21 19
34
42
24 19
30
42
35 19
43

Meteorological elements

hs (m)
1000
525
740
1050
750
1143

T,R
T,R
T,R
Rp,T,L,R,E,D,V,SH,N
T,R
T,R

Survey period
Start
End
1941
1950
1950
1961
1970
1950

3.3. Solar radiation and sunshine period regime

The information for total solar radiation and the period of sunshine collected over
several years in the Razma actinometrical station has been analyzed for the evaluation
of solar energy regime in the study area.
The inter-monthly range of the total solar radiation over the horizontal surface of the
area (Wh/m2/day) and apportion of monthly sunshine period, are taken into account for
evaluating the heat coming from the sun over time.

Diellzimi (orex10)
Rrezatimi (Wh/m2/dite)

7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
I

II

III

IV

VI

VII

VIII

IX

XI

XII

Muajte
rrezatim

Diellzimi

Figure 3.1. The monthly apportion of total radiation and sunshine period

We can conclude that the Albanian Alps are one of the regions that receive lesser
heat from the sun. The average amount of solar energy received from one unit of
horizontal surface (1 m2) in the Alps region is 1364 kWh/m2, meanwhile for the entire
country it is 1500 kWh/m2, whereas in southern and southeastern regions it is over 1535
kWh/m2.

From figure 3.1 we can note that the monthly average value of total radiation has a
maximal value in July and a minimal one in December. This occurrence has similar
features with the astronomic daylight continuance.
From the analyses of the monthly apportion of solar energy quantity per unit of
surface, we can see that the value ranges from 1481 kWh/m2 in December to 6371
kWh/m2 in July. Meanwhile it is noted that the average value of total solar radiation is
higher in the spring season (4146 kWh/m2) than in autumn (3023 kWh/m2).
The monthly apportion of sunshine hours follows more or less the same order. It is
worth to clarify that a sunshine period is that time interval of the day where the intensity
of the total radiation is not less than 120 W/m2.
From the detailed analyses of the monthly average values of sunshine periods, it is
noted that the study area has the lowest values in the country, and this happens due to
the regions orography. In Razma station there are recorded on the average 2210 hours
with sunshine compared with 2800 hours in the Western Lowland of Albania. The Alps
region has 315 hours of sunshine during July and only 100 hours in December.

3.4. Thermal regime of the region

To define the regions thermal regime, air temperature time series of the six
mentioned monitoring stations have been analyzed (tab. 2.1). As it was previously
mentioned, the geographical location of the area creates favorable conditions for low air
temperatures. More precisely, the air temperature in Vermosh is 6.80 C, in Thethi 9.9o C,
in Rapsh and Dragobi is almost the same, 10.60 C. The monthly distribution of average
temperature is clearly distinguishable. Even in this case this distribution (Fig. 2.2) is
closely correlated with a co-sinusoidal trigonometric function.
25

T. mes (0C)

20
15
10
5
0
I

II

III

IV

VI

VII

VIII

IX

XI

XII

-5

Muajt
dragobi

rapsh

theth

vermosh

Figure 3.2 Monthly distribution of average air temperatures

The lowest average air temperature values in the above meteorological stations are
noticed during the winter period; more precisely, the average temperatures of January
(the coldest month) for the four stations are: Vermosh 2.90C, Dragobi 0.40C, Theth
00C and Rapsh 2.3 0C.

The highest temperatures in the Albanian Alps are observed during summer period.
The warmest month in this region is July with a slight difference from August. The
average temperatures in July can vary from 15.70C (Vermosh) to 20.40C (Dragobi).
Furthermore, the autumn season results warmer than the spring season. If we take
into consideration the average season temperatures of Thethi monitoring station, it
results that in spring the average temperature is 9.0 0C, whereas in autumn it is 11.20C.
The same features are observed for the average minimal temperatures.
The average air temperatures in the Albanian Alps are dependent on the altitude, and
it there is an obvious decrease of the temperature when the altitude is higher. In this
region, it has been observed a decrease of 0.62oC for every 100 m of altitude above sea
level. In this regard, to obtain plausible information over the thermal regime in the
Albanian Alps, it is necessary to calculate the average monthly temperatures of the
meteorological stations with a gradient of 0.62oC per altitudes of 100 m above sea level.
The presence of temperatures below 00C is another important parameter of the
thermal regime. From the information available up to now, it is known that these
temperatures are usually present since the second decade of October till the first decade
of May.
An important feature that should be taken into account for the Albanian Alps is the
wide range of extreme temperature values. For example, in Dragobi the higher air
temperature of 37.5 0C has been recorded in 15.08.1963 and the lower value of 20.00C
in 25.01.1963. Similarly, in Vermoshi station the above statistics are as follows: The
higher value of 33.90C was observed on 07.08.1978, and the lower value 22.00C was
recorded on 19.11.1985.

3.5 Atmospheric precipitations

An important element of a regions climate is rainfall. The evaluation and analyses of
this element have high practical values for the exploration and management of natural
resources. The regime of atmospheric precipitations in this area has a Mediterranean
character, taking also into account the geographic position of the region. In other words,
most of the precipitations are concentrated in the colder period of the year, meanwhile in
the warmer period there are less precipitations. In this region there is an ampleness of
rainfalls and, as it was mentioned previously, the Albanian Alps are the area with the
most precipitations in the territory of Albania. On the average, there is 2400 mm rainfall
per year; meanwhile the overall country average is 1450 mm.
A significant parameter that expresses Mediterranean climate features is the
proportion of rainfall during the cold season compared to the yearly amount of rainfall. In
this case (according to the data available from several years) this proportion varies from
68 to 72%.
The analysis of monthly amount of rainfall shows that the wettest month is November
with 360 mm of rainfall on the average. On the other hand, the driest month is July, with
only 88 mm of rainfall on the average. In figure and table 33 it is shown the monthly
distribution of atmospheric precipitations for the stations of Boga, Dragobi, Rapsh, Theth
and Vermosh.

Rreshjet (mm)

500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
I

II

III

IV

VI

VII

VIII

IX

XI

XII

Muajte
boge

dragobi

rrapsh

theth

vermosh

Figure 3.3 Monthly distribution of atmospheric precipitations

As we can see from this figure, the monthly distribution of rainfall in each
meteorological station has more or less the same character. From the analyses of this
information it results that there is a significant increase of the rainfalls depending on the
altitude above sea level. The results for this region show that there is a rainfall increase
of 50 mm for every altitude of 100 meters above sea level.
Another indicator that characterizes the atmospheric precipitations regime is their
intensity. In the Albanian Alps there are several records of huge amounts of rainfall
within 24 hours. As an example is Boga on 15.12.1963, where it has been a rainfall
amount of 420.4 mm within 24 hours, and this represents the highest value for the entire
meteorological network in Albania.
The expected values of heavy atmospheric rainfalls, and periods of their repetition
have been calculated approximately with bi-exponential distribution, bearing in mind the
importance of intensive rainfalls for several branches of economy and particularly for
planning and building hydro-technical objects.
Table 3.3. Maximal 24 hour-rainfalls (in mm) for different repetition periods

Station
Bog
Dragobi
Theth
Vermosh
Rapsh

5
189
164
242
124
158

Repetition period (years)

10
20
50
216
242
276
191
216
249
281
319
367
139
153
172
178
198
224

100
301
274
404
186
243

The analysis of the annual data of snow precipitations is useful for defining the
climatic features of a region, and especially for evidencing water sources and their
character. It is obvious that due to low temperature values during winter months, snow
precipitations is something common that occurs every year and represents an important
water resource for the region.

3.6. Wind regime

Due to the geographical position and various relief features of the area, it is very
difficult and complicated to assess precisely the regions wind regime. In spite of the
usual factors that influence the creation and intensification of air movement, the
orographic factor plays an important role for this region. It is worth mentioning that the
density of climatological stations in this region is quite low and this often influences the
credibility and quality of the obtained information, which is more evident regarding the
wind data. In this region there is an intense periodic weaving of mountainous winds,
valley winds, etc.
However, the description of the wind characteristics with its two components, speed
and direction, for the Razma station, is quite interesting for researchers of various fields.
For this purpose, combined wind roses have been created for January and July (as
more representative months of their seasons), and for the entire Year.

Razem - July (Q=61.4%)

Razem - January (Q=46.1%)

N
20
NW

15

N
15

NE

NW

10
5

NE

10

E
W

SE

SW

SW

SE
f

s*2

s*2

Razem - Year (Q=52.3%)

N
20
NW

15

NE

10
5
W

SW

SE

f
s*2

Figure 3.4. Combined wind roses (Razma station)

IV. Flora and Vegetation of the Albanian Alps

Introduction
As a result of diverse relief, geographical position, geological factors, land formations,
hydrological net and climate conditions, the Albanian Alps are distinguished among other
parts of the country for their rich biodiversity, high number of flora and fauna species.
The Albanian Alps represent the top wealthy site of the country in terms of its flora
reaches. On the other side, compared with other European countries, Albania represents
one of the countries with high number of species in terms of a small territory. So, from
aprocsimately 11 000 plant species that are registered at the Flora of Europe, in Albania
there are found about 3 250 species that constitute 30% of the European Flora. Among
them there are 180 sub-endemic species and 400 Balkan. In the Alps region there are
recorded more than 1000 plant specie that comprises 31% of the Albanian Flora, 22% of
the Balkan Flora and 11% of the European Flora. These species belong to different
families and genera of the world vegetation.
Albania is offering very diverse nature conditions that are followed by a rich diversity
of endemic plant species, sub-endemic and relicts, and some other elements related to
Mediterranean flora. The Vegetation in Albania originates from the Tertiary period and
this is shown up through some relict species. Up from this time can be considered
Wulfenia baldacci, which can be found in the Albanian part of the Alps and it presents a
quite interesting habitat for that.

4.1. Vegetation zones

The high number of species and landscape diversity has been precondition for the
creation of many habitats that are different among them, and are accompanied by
various plant associations and vegetative communities. The habitats are quite influenced
by the varied climate conditions of the surrounding area. Looking to the vertical
distribution of the vegetation in the Alps area, there can be distinguished three zones as
following:

The oak zone

The beech zone and

The alpine pastures zone.

The oak zone starts at the altitudes about 400 m and reaches till 800 m. The oak
zone is mainly spread in the hilly and pre-mountainous regions. The main
representatives among mesophile species are: Quercus petraea (Turkey oak), Q.
cerris (turkey oak) and xerophile oak species like Q. pubescens (pubescent oak),
Q. trojana (oak) and Q. fraineto (Common oak). For this area, it is important the
presence of chestnut (Castanea sativa) in Tropoja and in the valley of Kiri,
Rrjodhi and Rei. In the higher part of this zone, in the section where the oak

meets beech, there are found some endemic species like Ranunculus hayekii,
and rare ones like Viola kosanini (Gorge of Rapshe).

The beech zone is the second zone and it is spread over the oak zone in
altitudes till 1800 m above sea level, like in the areas of Vermoshi, Cukali, Thethi,
Fushzez etc. In this zone, except the beech (Fagus sylvatica), in altitudes over
1400 m, which are characterized by Mediterranean-mountainous climate, some
other wood plant species are present like maple tree (Acer obtusatum), fir (Abies
alba), Bosnian pine tree (Pinus leucodermis) and Norway spruce (Picea abies).

Compared with the oak zone, this zone is characterized by a diverse plant
associations, where the endemic specie of Wulfenia baldacci (Parun, Qaf e Shtogut
and Shtegu i Dhenve), and a large number of sub-endemic species are of specific
scientific interest.
These formations are widely distributed and they have significant scientific and
economic importance. In these forest areas many bird and mammal species with
particular importance are present.

The alpine pastures zone. In this zone, about 12% of the Alps region flora is
present. It is situated over the beech zone, where the Mediterranean mountainous
climate dominates with the presence of continental climate, mainly in the calcareous
rocks and less in serpentine ones. The flora is mainly herbaceous with the high
presence of species from family Graminaceae and some shrub species like Salix
setosa, Dryas octopetala, Daphne oleoides, Arctostaphillos uva-ursi, Juniperus
communis subsp. nana etc., are present.

In floristic spectrum, it is characteristic the presence of endemic species (1.4% of the

flora in the zone, and 25% of the Albanian endemic species), like Ligusticum albanicum
(Bjeshkt e Namuna), Petasites doerfleri (Bjeshkt e Namuna, Jezerc), and of about 50
sub-endemic species: Asperula doerfleri, Silene macrantha, Edrianthus serpyllifolius,
Aquilegia dalmatica, Wulfenia carinthiaca (blecici).
The most important corological groups are: Mediterranean species 24%, Eurasiatic
20.5%, European 19%, boreal 13% (alpine and sub-alpine), Balkan 7%, cosmopolite etc.
The area, which extends from the fluvial valleys 400-500 m high till the altitude of
2700m (Jezerca Peak), is characterized by a high diversity of ecosystems and habitats,
mountainous rivers, shrubs, coniferous and deciduous woodlands, alpine and sub-alpine
pastures, high mountains etc.
This vast habitats diversity together with the broken relief are a good shelter for the
conservation of a considerable number of rare, endemic and sub-endemic species. So,
from 26 endemic plant species which are found in Albania: (1. Arenaria serpentini, 2.
Polygonum albanicum, 3. Ranunculus degenii, 4. Lunaria telekiana, 5. Sanguisorba
albanica, 6. Alchemilla albanica, 7. Genista hassertiana, 8. Astragalus autrani, 9.
Hypericum haplophylloides, 10. Viola dukadjinica, 11. Ligusticum albanicum, 12.
Forsythia europaea, 13. Moltkia doerferi, 14. Alkanna sandeithi, 15. Ajuga piskoi, 16.
Stachys sericiphylla, 17. Stachys albanica, 18. Wulfenia baldaccii, 19. Asyneuma
comosiforme, 20. Petasites doerfleri, 21. Centaure koaninii, 22. Centaure candelabrum,
23. Crepis bertiscea, 24. Colchicum pieperanum, 25. Festucopsis serpentini, and 26.
Crex markgrafi), 4 (four) of them (Wulfenia baldaccii, Petasites doerfleri, Ligusticum
albanicum, and Ranunculus hayekii) are present in the Alps zone.

From 180 sub-endemic species that are present in Albania, about 40 species are
present in the Albanian Alps area with a common distribution space in Montenegro and
Kosovo, like Asperula doerfleri, Campanula albanica, Viola kosanini, S. macrantha,
Edrianthus serpyllifolius, Geranium dalmaticum, Aquilegia dinarica, Wulfenia carinthiaca
(blecici), Plantago reniformis, Teucrium arduinii, Tanacetum cinerarifolium and some
other relicts like Taxus baccata, Corylus colurna, Dryas octopetala etc.; the main part of
them is preserved in the Alps area and Shkodra region. The major number of subendemic species is concentrated in the Alps area. From a survey about the floristic
elements of the northern part of the country, it results that there are present many
European, Eurasiatic and boreal species, which demonstrates an influence of various
climate types. This can be stated even from the data of biological spectrum, where the
hemichryptophytes and geophytes together comprise about 55% of the regions flora.
The therophytes comprise 25% of the regions flora, and are typical for the areas with
Mediterranean climate; this again shows the high importance of the Albanian Alps in
these terms.
Due to the human intervention and other influences on the nature, it is not difficult to
point out that there is an overexploitation of habitats and species, which in many cases
have caused degradation and impoverishment of ecosystems, damages over flora and
fauna and, as a consequence, there are threatened and endangered species. Therefore
it is necessary the rate of human intervention over the nature to be defined, and the
measures for protecting nature values and ecosystems to be undertaken.
Based on flora situation and the rate of endangered communities, a classification of
endangered species of Albania is made. According to different surveys, in the Albanian
Flora there are 320 endangered and rare species, or 10% of them.
In the Alps flora, there are about 60-70 species, or 4% of the Albanian Flora, that
belong to 60 families.
According to IUCN categorization, endangered plant species include various plants
that belong to different groups which are rare and in some case not well studied.
In Albanian Red List (1995) Rare and endangered plant species of Albania (Ruci et
alt.) and in the REC (Regional Environmental Center) publication on Plants, plant
associations and endangered flora species, there are listed different categories with
different status that should be considered for their protection. According to the IUCN
Categories, 320 plant species are included in this list, which are rare and endangered for
the Albanian territory and for the Alps area, and they are as following:
Critically Endangered

(CR) 16

5%

Endangered

(EN) 58

12%

Vulnerable

(V)

20

6.3%

Lower risk

(LR) 194

28.6%

Data deficient

(DD)

32

7%

From the Alps flora, in the first category (CR) there are listed 3 endemic species
(Wulfenia baldaccii, Ligusticum albanicum, and Ranunculus hayekii), 1 sub-endemic
(Viola kosanini) and one Tertiary relict species (Taxus baccata).
The reasons of being endangered are the restricted or limited area of distribution
(Wulfenia baldaccii, Ranunculus hayekii, Viola kosanini etc.), overexploitation by the
human activity (medicinal, industrial and oil bearing plants etc.), or very limited number

of individuals. There are more plants listed within category four (LR), which are mostly
Balkan.
The Albanian Alps are distinguished and for the species that are protected by
international convents such are Bern Convention and Directive of Habitats (Annex II (b)
and Annex IV (b)), where most important are Buxbaumia viridis (Moug. ex Lam. & DC.)
Brid. ex Moug. & Nestl., Ramonda serbica Pancic; Geum bulgaricum Panc. Cerastium
dinaricum G. Beck & Szysz and Arabis scopoliana Boiss. In this area are naturally
growing and 32 plant species that fulfill criterions to be important plant species. Their
endangered national and international conservation status is given in the table 3. 4.
Table 4.1 Threatened species at IPAs in north Albanian Alps. Criterion A

Taxon Name
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Aquilegia dinarica G.Beck.

Campanula albanica W itasek
Carduus ramosissimus Pancic.
Cerastium dinaricum G. Beck & Szysz.
Crepis albanica (Jav.) Babc.
Crepis baldaccii Halacsy.
Crepis bertiscea Jav.
Edraianthus serpyllifolius (Vis.) DC.
Fritillaria messanensis Raf. ssp. gracilis (Ebel) Rix.
Geranium dalmaticum (G.Beck) Rech.fil
Geum bulgaricum Panc.
Ligusticum albanicum Jav.
Lunaria telekiana Jav.
Melampyrum doerfleri Ronniger.
Minuartia velenovski (Rohlena) Hayek.
Petasites doerfleri Hayek.
Phyteuma pseudorbicularis Pant.
Pinus heldereichi H.Christ var. leucodermis
Antoine.
Plantago reniformis G.Beck.
Ramonda serbica Pancic.
Ranunculus hayekii Dorfl.
Rhamnus intermedius Steud.et Hochst.
Sesleria robusta Schot ssp. scanderbeggii (Ujhelyi)
Deyil.
Sesleria wettsteinii Dorfl et Hayek.
Silene macrantha (Pancic) H.Neumayer.
Stachys beckeana Dorfl. & Hayek.
Teucrium arduini L.
Thesium auriculatum Vandas.
Thlaspi mycrophyllum Boiss. et Orph.
Viola elegantula Schott.
Viola kosaninii (Degen) Hayek
Wulfenia baldaccii Degen.

IPA
Criterion

Conservation
Status

A(i)
A(iv)
A(i)
A(ii)
A(i)
A(i)
A(i)
A(iv)
A(ii)
A(iv)
A(ii)
A(i)
A(iii)
A(i)
A(i)
A(i)
A(i)
A(i)

R
E
R

Ex/E
CR
R
R
R
R
R

A(i)
A(ii)
A(i)
A(i)
A(iii)

R
R
Ex
R
E

A(iv)
A(i)
A(i)
A(i)
A(i)
A(iv)
A(i)
A(i)
A(i)

E
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
Ex/E

R
R
R
R
E
R

The conservation of these species will be more effective through their in-situ
conservation, i.e. habitats conservation. For this purposes, CORINE habitats are

determined in Albania considering the floristic composition and the rate of threatening by
different factors. The protected areas in Albania (10.4% of the territory) are related to
different habitats and species of concern. In the Albanian Alps, actually there are
proclaimed only three protected areas: National Park of Thethi (2630 ha), Valbona
National Park (8000 ha) and Strict Nature Reserve of Gashi (3000 ha).
Regarding the work for protecting the species and habitats, the National Strategy for
Biodiversity Conservation and an Action Plan are prepared (in the framework of activities
for implementation of the Biodiversity Convention), and some short-term and long-term
actions are foreseen. According to the Strategy, the extension of protected areas system
with Bjeshkt e Namuna (including Thethi, Valbona, Vermoshi, Lpusha, erem, and
Curraj) as a new National Park is proposed.
This can be also conceived as a trans-boundary protected area. Thus it will include
the forests composed by fir, pine tree species, oak species, and alpine pastures,
mountainous streams and very valuable wildlife species. This is the only area where the
habitats of Picea abies can be found; the central European element is distributed just
there. Also, mammal species like brown bear (Ursus arctos), wolf (Canis lupus), lynx
(Lynx lynx), chgamoise (Rupicapra rupicapra), roe dear (Capreolus capreolus), and wild
boar (Sus scrofa) are present there, whereas among the birds there should be
mentioned Tetrao urogallus and the eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). The zone also presents a
mountainous important plant area (IPA). In the stream waters of Valbona and Shala
rivers the globally endangered mammal species of otter (Lutra lutra) is living.
Besides its high scientific values, the area is also important for its potential tourism
development, particularly mountainous and alpine tourism.
Albania is part of several international agreement and conventions, such as: The
Convention on Wild habitats and wildlife fauna of Europe (Bern Convention), the
Convention on migratory wild species (Bon Convention), the Convention on world
heritage protection (UNESCO), and the Convention of Biological Diversity etc. The
extension of the Alps protected areas will enable the fulfillment of the national
commitments in the framework of these international documents.
In Bern Convention there are included 18 plant species that are growing in Albania,
while in the Habitats Directive (in its annex 2(b) and IV (b)) there are listed 9 other
species that are found in our country. From the species included in these lists, three of
them are present in the Albanian Alps.
EUNIS habitats of the Albanian Alps are presented in the table 3.5, as parts of two
Important transboundary Plant Areas (IPA): Rrapsha Gorge and Northern Albanian
Alps.
Table 4. 2. EUNIS level 2 habitat types in transboundary IPAs. Criterion B
EUNIS
Level 2
Code
C2
E1
E2
E4
F3
F4
G1
G3

Botanical Richness Assessments for Northern Albanian IPAs

EUNIS Level 2 Habitat
C2 Surface running waters
E1 Dry Grasslands
E2 Mesic Grasslands
E4 Alpine & sub-alpine grasslands
F3 Temperate & mediterraneo-montane scrub habitats
F4 Temperate shrub heathland
G1 Broadleaved deciduous woodland
G3 Coniferous woodland

G4
H2
H4

G4 Mixed deciduous & coniferous woodland

H2 Screes
H4 Snow or ice-dominated habitats

The Albanian Alps are an important part of one of the most important biogeographical zones in our country. It is worth mentioning that there are still some virgin
areas, which calls for urgent action for conservation purposes.
The global strategy for plant conservation (GSPC) that requests to ensure the
protection of 50% of the important plant areas until 2010 is another premise for
undertaking new protection measures in the Albanian Alps.

4.2. Protection and management

From the above analyses of the Alps as an IPA, we can say that even though there is
less human influence in the region, there are interventions to some extent like
woodcuttings that damage the forests, destructions from the fire, etc. Furthermore, the
potential development of tourism in the future could bring overexploitation and habitat
fragmentation.
Another recent disturbing phenomenon is the lack of garbage management, which in
a near future will cause more complicated problems like underground water pollution.
A vast and important portion of the Albanian Alps region is not yet included in the
existing network of protected areas. This means that in the future we might have an
overexploitation of the forests, and this will result in a loss of information about important
plants in the area.
It is obvious that there is an urgent need that the entire region receives a protection
status considering also the near future developments. The recent improvements in the
country infrastructure, especially in roads construction and rehabilitation, will create
favorable conditions for overexploitation and mismanaged development in the area, with
negative consequences from the ecological point of view.

4.3. Management responsibilities

The protection and preservation of the important plant areas is a legal obligation for
every level of governance and for every government. This obligation derives from the
fifth objective of the Worldwide Strategy for Plant Conservation, where it is envisioned
that until 2010 50% of the areas classified as important for plants should be protected.
Our opinion is that the Albanian Government, through the Ministry of Environment,
Forestry and Water Administration, in its short- and medium-term objectives should
foresee the identification of IPA-s and the re-evaluation of the up to now achievements
(existing protected areas) in order to include in the protected areas network IPA-s like
Natura 2000 and Emerald sites, which do not have yet a protection status.
The requirements and obligations that derive from the European Strategy for Plant
Protection (target 2.14), applied in the National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity
Protection, clearly define the species and priority habitats that should be taken into
consideration.
The Strategic Action Plan for Plant Conservation in Protected Areas and IPA-s,
applied through several studies and projects, emphasizes the importance of a

management system in Protected Areas; the acceleration of work for the proclamation
and enlargement of PA-s would create favorable conditions for Local Action Plans,
achieving thus the fulfillment of standards in a national level.
This strategy includes several important issues regarding the conservation actions:

The status and need for in-situ and ex-situ conservation of endangered plants.

This consists in identification of institutional and legal responsibilities for the

measures to be undertaken in habitat and ecosystem conservation. It is also important to
mention the role of people awareness about this issue, so that they can see it not only
as a source of profit, but also as a part of natural heritage.

The need and the potentials for the implementation of an information

exchange system

Such a mechanism would help for a more rational and sustainable use of biological
resources, always keeping in mind the protection status and needs.

Assessment of capacities and monitoring selectivity of the specific threats

towards plant diversity

The main threats to plant diversity are present in forest ecosystems. Here could be
mentioned trees drying, fires, infections and pests. Also human activity has a big impact
in this matter (illegal woodcutting, overexploitation, etc.). The area of the Albanian Alps
is quite exposed to these threats and mainly to illegal woodcutting. Therefore it is
urgently needed to undertake protection measures through interagency cooperation and
exchanges, as this phenomenon is directly linked with socio-economic problems of the
communities living in the area.

Measures to eliminate the threats to Biodiversity

In the Albanian Alps there are several important parts which need as soon as
possible a detailed action plan as there exist various threats related to the human factor,
lack of protection status, ineffective administration, lack of monitoring, etc. This can be
achieved through:

Consolidating the protection and monitoring system by involving the local

administration and communities.

Improving the economic situation as well as poverty reduction through

financial initiatives for a sustainable development and biodiversity
conservation.

Building local capacities for increasing knowledge and awareness among

local population about environment and biodiversity protection as an
important part of natural and socio-economic values.

Although a lot of work has be done for data collection about flora species, definition
and distribution of endemic, sub-endemic, rare and threatened plants, and for their
protection in our country, we think that much more work should be done in the future.
For example, there is a lack of information about the distribution of many endemic and
rare species, and their actual status or conditions, especially for species that are found
in high altitudes and are almost inaccessible (Wulfenia baldacci, Ligusticum albanicum,
Petasites doerfleri, etc.), like in Bjeshkt e Namuna. This issue has been emphasized
even by foreign botanists (Montenegro, Kosovo, etc.).

Therefore, undertaking a trans-boundary initiative involving Montenegro, Kosovo, and

any other country with the purpose of a complete study about rare and threatened
species and their conservation is a necessity. This approach is also considered as the
backbone for the creation of the Peace Park an initiative among Albania, Montenegro,
Kosovo and international partners (Balkan Peace Park) aiming to promote sustainable
development and biological diversity conservation in the region.

4.4. Balkan Peace Park (BPP)

International Peace Parks are natural areas expanding over two or more countries,
equally protected in each side of the borders, where each part profits without menacing
the borders integrity or interests of the other. In the World there are more than 600 parks
of this kind. The idea for a peace park in the Balkans came as a result of the political and
economical developments in the region by the end of the 20th century. The conflict
situation and political instability of that time caused nature degradation in each of the
three countries.
As an opponence to these negative developments, the civil society environmental
NGOs along the three sides of the borders, together with many activists for peace from
Colgate University in USA and Bradford in UK is endeavoring for several years to
promote the idea for the creation of a trilateral Peace Park in the region.

4.4.1. Vision, mission and strategic objectives of the Balkan Peace Park
Vision:
Promotion and enhacement of peace, harmony, free movement, cultural and natural
diversity, sustainable development and prosperity of local communities in the region
between Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo.
Mission:
The Peace Park among Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo offers the only possibility
for protecting this alpine region, with high biological diversity and considered as the last
untouched natural wilderness of Europe, and as an important tool for promoting and
securing peace in the region.
Three strategic objectives:

To preserve natural, cultural and spiritual diversity in the border area between
Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania

To promote peace and harmony among people and nature, and free movement
beyond political borders and barriers.

To enhace local sustainable development based in organized family eco-tourism,

organic farming and traditional stockbreeding, handicraft, proper management of
natural rescources, development of peoples potential in creating common
visions for neighbouring communities, cultural exchanges and cooperations in
the frame of socio-economical, political and security in the mountains and valleys
of the three countries.

4.5. The Albanian Alps National Park

The Alps National Park is composed by a variety of ecosystems, from forests to high
alpine areas, untouched landscapes and formations, which comprise an important
natural heritage for the future.
There are important forest areas to be protected in forest ecosystems, like many
virgin forests dominated mainly by beech (Fagus sylvatica), bosnian pine (Pinus
heldreichii), white Fir (Abies alba), balkan pine (Pinus peuce), norway spruce (Picea
abies), mountain pine (Pinus mugho), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), Chestnut
(Castanea sativa), hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia), etc.
The vertical amplitude varies from 1200 to 2500 m above sea level. Consequently,
there is a high variability of the climatic factors. In this regard, two belts of vegetations
are present in the area: (i) the broadleaved-mix mesophyllic forest belt, represented by
beech massifs (Fagus sylvatica), Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii), White fir (Abies alba
Mill), balkan pine (Pinus peuce Griseb), norwey spruce (Picea abies (L) Karsten),
mountain pine (Pinus mugho Tuura), sessile oak (Quercus petreaea (Mattuchka), and (ii)
alpine pastures belt dominated by Sesaleria (Sesaleria comosa Velen), panicled fescue
(Festuca paniculata (L) Schinz&Thell).
In this region, three main vegetation regions are distinguished:
The oak zone: Expanding from 600-800 m above sea level, it is generally much
degraded.
This zone can be encountered in the margins of the mountain slopes like in Thethi
field, Okol, Valbon, Rragam, etc. Here mixed oak forests are found (Quercetum
mixtum) like: turkey oak (Quercus cerris), hornbeam (Ostrya carpionifolia), hornbeam
(Carpinus orientalis), montpellier maple (Acer monspessulanum), hungarian maple(Acer
obtusatum), white ash-tree (Fraxinus ornus), whitebeam (Sorbus aria), hazel-tree
(Coryllus avellana), cornel-bush (Cornus mas), red cornel(Cornus sanguinea), hawthorn
(Crataegus monogyna), black juniper (Juniperus communis), red juniper (Juniperus
oxycedrus), (Citisus sp.), clematis (Clematis vitalba), meanwhile a typical under-forest
element up to 750 m altitude is wig tree (Cotinus coggygria), which together with
common hop (Humulus lupulus) are representatives of the Mediterranean flora.
Much diverse is the herbaceus vegetation in mixed oak forests. Among the most
important representatives we can mention perenial rye-grass (Lolium perene), hard
grass (Dactylis glomerata), bulbous meadow-grass (Poa bulbosa), violet (Viola odorata),
trefoils (Trifolium pratense, T. compestre, T. reptans), vetches (Vicia grandiflora, V.
villosa), meadow vetchlig(Lathyrus pratense), white melilot (Melilotus alba), savory
(Saturea montana), wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys dhe T. arduni), thyme
(Thymus striatus), clematis (Clematis vitalba), (Drypis spinosa), tacine (Rinanthus
minor), two-eard broom-grass (Andropogon gryllus), cornoflower(Centaure sp.),
ranunculus (Ranunculus sp), shefereds purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).
In springtime, there may be found efemers and efemeroids which bloom immediately
after the snow melting, like: primrose (Primula Verna),bolbous corydalis(Corydalis cava),
lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), small grape flower (Muscari sp.), saffron (Crocus
veluchensis), multifid hellebore (Helleborus multifidus) etc.
In the upper parts of the Alps, close to rivers and in humid places (Vermosh, Okol,
Gjecaj, Rragam, etc.), small patches of broadleaved forests can be seen. These include
white willow (Salix purpurea), grey willow (Salix cinerea), common alder (Alnus

glutinosa), which can be associated with ash-tree (Fraxinus), elm-tree (Ulmus glabra),
wild apple (Malus silvester), wild pear (Pirus amygdaliformis) etc.
The beech zone: This zone lies above the oak zone from 700 m up to 1900 m
above sea level.
As a consequence of favorable climatic and soil conditions, the beech forests
comprise most of the forest cover in the Albanian Alps. The dominant species in this
zone is beech (Fagus silvatica), which may form pure beech forests (Fagetum silvaticae)
and, to a less extent, mixed forests. These forests are mainly composed by thick and
high woods with the presence of younger and denser woods in altitudes above 1400 m.
Besides beech, more scarcely the white fir can be encountered in this zone (Abies
alba), mountain maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), wild poplar (Populus tremula), wild willow
(Salix caprea), elsbeere (Sorbus umbellata), wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana), alatern
(Rhamnus fallax) etc.
The beech forests are very dense and create a constant shadow making the under
forest vegetation very scarce. In springtime, before the leafing of the beech, halophilic
plants can be encountered in open meadows like: cowslip (Primua verna), wind flower
(Anemona nemarosa), fumitory (Corydalis cava), lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria),
dogs tooth violet (Erythronium dens -canis) etc.
The summer vegetation that grows in beech forests shadow comprises typical
sciophyles like: purple woodruf (Asperula odorata), woodruff (Oxalis acetosella), wood
spurge(Euphorbia amygdaloides), birdsnest orchid (Neottia nidus - avis), (Cephalanthera
rubra) etc. In open meadows, peony can be met (Paeonia mascula), multifid hellebore
(Helleboru multifidus), banewort (Atropa beladona), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), bilberry
(Vaccinium myrtillus) etc.
In the upper parts of the beech zone, the Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii) is present,
which can grow up to altitude of 2200 m, forming the higher border of wood vegetation
and often considered as a separate vegetation belt (Pinetum heldreichii). The Bosnian
pine forests are pure and the vegetation cover is composed by xerophilous plants.
Elements of the under-forest that can be encountered are: mountain avens (Dryas
octopetala), globe daisy (Globularia bellidifolia), (Cotoneaster tomentosa); among the
herbal vegetation we can mention fern (Pteridium aquilinum), asphodel (Asphodelus
microcarpus), hard grass (Dactylis glomerata), many headed wood-rush (Luzula
multiflora), primrose (Primula verna), prforate st.johns wort (Hypericum perforatum),
scendet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odotatum), moorgras (Sesleria nitida), northern
meadow-grass (Poa alpina), greyish white thrift (Armeria canescens), feasants eye
(Narcisus poeticus) etc.
The alpine pastures zone: This zone lies over the beech zone up to 2300 m
above sea level.
Typical for this zone is the absence of the forests. The dominating vegetation is
composed by herbs and, to a lesser extent, shrubs like (Juniperus nana), obtuse-leaved
willow(Salix retusa), drya octopetals (Driada octopetala), cespitose (Globularia
bellidifolia) etc.
The main species are from the Graminacea Family: northern meadow- grass (Poa
alpina and P. ursina), alpine cats tail (Phleum alpine), moorgrass(Sesleria nitida),
fescue grass (Festuca varia and F. sulcata), wooly-stalked feather-grass (Stipa
pennata), splendit hair-grass (Koeleria splendus), scendet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum

ododratum), grass bent (Agrostis vulgaris); from the Papilionaceaea family: alpine trefoil
(Trifolium alpestre), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), minor milk vetch (Astragalus
depresus); from the F. Compositaea: hairy hawkweed (Hierarcium seriocophyllum, H.
waldsteinii), alpine haweks beard (Crepis alpestris), comoflower(Centaurea hyanaldii),
alpine aster (Aster alpinus), sky-blue murgwort (Artemisia eriantha); from the Rosaceeae
family: apennine cinquefoil (Potentilla apenina); from the Campanulacea family:
montpeljer camfoor plant (Campanula rotundifolia and C. albanica); from the Crucifere
family: alpine rock gress (Arabis alpina); from the Ericacea family: alpine bearberry
(Arctostaphyllos alpinus) etc.

Fig. 4.1. Zoning concept of Albanian Alps PA (MoEFWA)

In flat areas with average humidity and with acidic soils mat-grass (Nardus stricta)
can be encountered, the nutrient value of which is low and animals do not consume it.
The vegetation cover of this part is low and rare; consequently it has a low economical
value.
Typical for the altitudes above 2300 m in the Alps is the presence of mountain pine
(Pinus mughus), a species of pine tree shrub-like that can grow up to 3 m.

As we can notice from the above description, the area is very rich with endemic, rare
and threatened plants.
The Albanian Alps include important ecosystems relatively well preserved from the
vegetation point of view, with some parts that can be considered real virgin forests. It is
the only place in Albania where the Norway spruce (Picea abies) and the wild pine
(Pinus sylvestris) can be encountered.
The Albanian Alps offer good opportunities for an improved living of local
communities, and for the scientists, students, environmentalist, hikers, climbers, etc., to
fulfill their aims and in the same time to really experience the Albanian traditions and
culture.
From many studies carried out until now, the Albanian Alps region has been classified
as one of the most important IPA-s of Albania and it is planned to be managed as a
National Park area (II category, according to IUCN). Based on this classification and its
features, a potential zoning is required to be implemented inside the area. According to
the above mentioned considerations, we propose a potential zoning as follows.
a. Strict natural reserves (core areas)
These areas may include the higher and less human-influenced parts of the region,
covered by virgin forests of beech (Fagus silvatica), Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii),
white Fir (Abies Alpba Mill),ballkan pine (Pinus Peuce Griseb),norwey spruce (Picea
Abies (L)Karsten),mountain pine (Pinus mugho Tuura), which lie in high altitudes above
sea level. These areas are mainly in higher parts of the alpine valleys and include many
endemic species. Some of the areas are Vermoshi valley, eremi valley, Curraj i Eprm
valley, Thethi valley, Gashi valley, Bear Meadow valley (in Vermosh), Paruni i Rrjollit
(upper part), Curraj-Theth (Derza pass, Kakija peak, etc.).
Purpose: These areas should be preserved untouched and undisturbed, because
they include natural habitats, virgin old-growth forests, and endemic floristic and faunistic
species. The activities allowed in this zone should not modify or influence in any kind the
natural conditions of the area. The visitors can enter but should not leave tracks and
open trails. Such areas have to be left to grow spontaneously and free. Every action has
to be previously authorized and strictly monitored.
b. Recreation areas (general reserve areas)
Here may be included areas in the fluvial valleys, designated for eco-tourism and
winter sports, like the alpine villages and their surrounding territory (erem, Vermosh,
Lpush, Theth, Rragam, Bog, and Curraj). This zone has to be the best example of a
harmonious co-existence between humans and nature, and a good management of the
future NP; it includes huge areas of forests and pastures traditionally used by people,
but not seriously modified. In this zone, traditional activities can be allowed but with strict
monitoring and a rational usage of natural resources. Visitors will find good conditions for
tourism and recreation.
c. Sustainable Use areas
These areas are designated for graze, medicinal plant collecting, etc. In the current
conditions they are the most overexploited by men and there is an urgent need for
undertaking measure to preserve them. Every activity in these areas should be under
control and regularly monitored from the park administration. Farming and stockbreeding
can continue as usual. This sub-zone is considered as a profit zone and includes areas

of villages in the medium part of the valleys, like Selca, Valbona, Lekbibaj, Ducaj, Shala,
etc.
d. Traditional development areas
These areas include parts of the lower and middle sectors of the Alps valleys, like
traditional sylvan-pasture systems and agricultural lands. Here the development of
tourism is more widely allowed, so that it can help the socio-economic needs of the area
communities and will prevent the damages in zones a, b and c. For a better
management, this zone may be divided into three sub-zones:
d1 Inhabited sites (centers of communes like Kelmend, Shal, Shosh, Lekbibaj,
Bujan, and Shkrel)
d2 Accommodation facilites (information centres, family tourism, hotels, restaurants)
d3 Organization of the PA (center of the National Park administration)

V. Entomofauna of the Albanian Alps

The Albanian Alps present high diversity forms of the relief, where dominate the
alpine mountainous crests over 1400-1500 m above sea level with a rich vegetal cover,
but in the middle of them there are spread even field reliefs with a variety of plants. Their
altitude goes up to 2555 m above sea level (Radohima Peak). The mountain ranges like
the block of Bjeshkt e Namuna, that of Kunora e Lohs, Valbona, or the plateaus likes
that of Veleik-Bridash, and more rarely those of sharp mountainous crests, make a big
contrast between them. One of the most spread types of the alpine relief is also the
glacial relief. Its most typical forms are: the glacial valleys, glacial troughs, karstic
hollows and grooves.
The mountainous Mediterranean climate of the region and the water regimen make
the Alps to have harsh and wet winters, a long period of frost, and rich precipitations of
rain and snow, cool summers and relatively wetter than the other areas of the country.
The vegetal cover of the Alps is rich and various. Like nowhere else, here are found
even today plants like: alpine star (Astrus alpestris), mountain pine (Pinus mughus), two
kinds of willow (Lalix retusa and Lalix reticulate) etc.
The natural factors, especially the earth-climatic ones and those of the relief, have
determined a very clear vertical escalation of the vegetal cover. The Mediterranean
shrubs floor goes up to 300-400 m. In this floor there are also found evergreen shrubs
like heath or arbutus berry tree. The major part of the oak floor lies in the altitudes of
200-1100 m. The beech floor is the most important one for its economic values and the
spacious spreading (after the alpine pastures). It lies on very wide vertical borders that
go up from 400 to 1800 m.
Entomofauna of the Albanian Alps demonstrates a wide distribution throughout all the
Alps area, by being present in the forests that cover the major part of their territory, in
the lawns created by them, in the various meadows and pastures, even in the different
agro-biocenoses.
Many species are linked directly with the forest leafy and coniferous woods, with the
lichens that cover the trunks of the woods, with the vegetation of the forest floors, with
the herbal vegetation of meadows and pastures, with the cultivated vegetation, and with
the different watery surroundings. Other species are linked indirectly with the forests,
with areas covered by shrubs and herbs, because they serve to this entomofauna as a
habitat for different phases of their ontogenesis, for diapauses undergoing, for living out
in the unsuitable atmospheric conditions etc.
Being completely fitofagous, polifagous and oligofagous (very rarely, monofagus), the
flora of the Alps offers at the same time variety and diversity, keeping in its bosom many
rare and endangered species of the Albanian fauna (See: Red Book of the Albanian
fauna).
However, the area of the Alps, with its physical-geographical features, its flora and
fauna complex, offers much more diversity in every corner of it, and this highlights
ecological problems of the ecosystem. From the above mentioned surveys, many
species are included in The Red book of the Albanian fauna

5.1. Phylum Arthropoda, Class Insecta

The class Insecta, with regard to the species, is the richest of the whole animal
kingdom. Concerning our country, there are national surveys about some orders of this
class, and here are included even those of the Alps that are listed in the respective
charts.
Entomofauna of the Alps is rich in species and various on its plenitude. The forests,
meadows, pastures, streams, rivers, even its agro-biocenoses have been objects of
different entomofaunistic expeditions. The collected material is elaborated and
inventoried, by differentiating the species of economic value as defectors, as well as rare
and endangered species, which are included in the Red Book of the Albanian Fauna.
However, like many other areas of our country, the Alps have an entomofauna that
needs further studying. It is interesting and valuable for the human economy and for the
nature economy itself, because it is one of the key links of all the nutritive chains of
those biocenoses. On the other hand, the forest woods that dominate the Alps economy
have defectors that cause damages sometimes (not as much as fires), therefore they
must be known regarding their composition as species, as well as their distribution.
Thus, in the woodland area of Bordoleci Pass we have met the butterfly Arctia caja
which is surprisingly negligible, whereas in some European countries it appears as a
defector.
Hereinafter there are listed some of the endangered species that are found in the
Alps: Libelloides longicornis L., Erynnis tages L., Hesperia comma L., Parnassius apollo
L, Parnassius mnemosyne L., Pieris krueperi Strg., Thecla betulae L.,
Palaeochrysophanus hippothoe L., Maculinea alcon Den.&Schiff., Maculinea arion Pall.,
Polyommatus eroides Friv., Coenonympha tullia Mull., Erebia aethiops Esper., Erebia
medusa Den.&Schiff., Brenthis hecate Den.&Schiff., Melitaea cinxia L., Mellicta athalia
Rott., Zygaena loti L., Euplagia quadripunctaria Poda, Callimorpha dominula L., Tyria
jacobaea L., Calosoma sycophanta L., Lucanus cervus L., Purpuricenus kaehleri L,
Rosalia alpina L.

No.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Order
Dermapter
a

Neuropter
a

7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53

Family
Labiidae

Genius
Labis.

Forficulidae

Forficula

Anechura
Diladirae

Anechura.
Dilar

Hemerobiidae
Chrysopidae

Myrmeleontidae

Ascalaphidae
Orthoptera

Hemiptera

Osmylis
Boriomyis.
Megalonus
Notochrysa..
Chrysopa.

Palpares
. Myrmeleon

Tettigonidae

Deleproctophylla
Libelloides
Polysarchus
Gryllus
Tettigonia

Miridae

Arcyptera
Stenobothrus
Gomphocerus
Podisma
Odontopodisma
Deraeocoris

Acrididae

Stenodema
Adelphocoris
Calocoris
Lygus
Lygus
Orthops
Liocoris
Cyphodema
Polymerus
Halticus
Orthocephalus
Globiceps
Plagiognathus
Lygaeidae

Nysius
Cymus
Macroplax
Trapezonotus

minor L.

Species

Location
Koprisht

auricularis L.
smyrnensis Ser.
obtusangula Ser.
bipunctata F.
turcicus Hog,

Kalc, Tamar, Vermosh

Sefere, Koprisht
Kalc, Qafa Bordolecit
Koprisht
Kalc

fulvicephalus L.
betulina Serv.
hirtus L.
italica Rossi.
vittata Wesm.
flava Scop
vulgaris Schn.
septempunctat W.
prasina Burn.
abbreviata Curt.
perla L.
libelluloides L
formicarius L

Vermosh
Vermosh, Kri djegur
Vermosh, Kalc, Q. Bor.
Kalc, Qafa Bordolecit
Tamar,Dopk, Lepush
Dopk, Q. Bordolecit
Lepush, Gropa Selcs
Kalc, Vermosh
Vermosh
Livadhi Arushs, Lepush
Tamar, Lepush, Kalc
Kal, Tamar
Kal

australis Fabr.
longicornis L.
denticaudus Charp.
campestris L.
viridissima L.
caudata Charp.
fusca Pallas
nigromaculatus Ks
sibiricus L
pedestri L.
albanica Ramme
ruber L.
serenus Doug&Sc.
laevigatum L.
lineolatus Goeze
angularis Fieb.
pratensis L.
rugulipennis Pop.
kalmi L.
tripustulatus Fabr.
instabile Lucas
mendosum Mont.
unifasciatus Fabr.
apterus L.
ferrarii Reut.
saltator Mul&rev.
fulvicollis Reuter
arbustorum Fabr.
fulvipennis Kirch.
senecionis Schi.
claviculus Falle.
melanocephalus Fi.
preyssleri Fieb.
ultrichi Fieb.

Gropa Selcs, Vermosh

Livadhi i Arushs
Q. Bordolecit
Razm
Razm
Tamar
Razm-Bog
Vermosh
Tamar, Razm-Bog
Livadhet verore
Livadhet verore
Shalabak-Theth
Razm, Bog, Theth
Shalabak
Theth
Shalabak, Bog
Razm,Bog, Theth
Fusha Zez-Razm
Shalabak-Theth
Shalabak, Bog
Razm, Bog
Tamar, Vermosh
Razm, Shalabak-Theth
Livadhet Theth
Theth, Bog
Fush Zez-Razm
Shalabak-Tal
Theth, Bog
Theth, Razm
Livadhet-Theth
Tropoj
Tropoj
Shalabak-Tal, Theth
Shklzen

54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71

Coreidae

Stictopoleurus
Pentatomidae

Graphosoma
Aelia
Eusarcoris

quadratus Fabr.
lateralis Germ
hyoscyami L.
Parumpunctatus Sch
subrufus Gmell.
abutilon pictus Fieb.
abutilon abutilon Ro
lineatum L.
rostrata Bohem.
fabricii Kirk.
inconspicuus Herr.
amoenus Brulle
purpureipennisD.G.
baccarum L.
lituratus Fabr.
longicornis L.

Shklzen - Tropoj
Theth
Valbon, Tropoj,Theth
Shalabak-Tal, Theth
Vermosh
Theth
Vermosh
Theth
Valbon-Tropoj
Tropoj
Tropoj
Theth
Shalabak-Theth
Tropoj
Tropoj
Livadhi i Arushs
Valbon-Tropoij
Livadhi i Arushs, VuklNikl
Broj, Fush
Zez,Valbon
Livadhi Arushs,Valbon
Vukl-Nikl, Lumi i Gashit
Broj, Buda, Razm,
Valbon
Theth, Q.Kolit
Lumi Gashit, Nikaj-Mertur
Livadhi Arushs, Lumi
Gashit
Vukl-Nikl, Valbon,
Shllak
Shllak, Lumi Gashit,
Valbon
Livadhi Arushs, NikajMertur
Sefere, Fush-Zez,
Valbon
Sefere, Fush Zez,
Valbon
Broj, Lumi Gashit,
Valbon
Liv. Arushs, Fusha
Zez,
Liv.Arushs, Broj,
Valbon
Liv.Arushs,Vuk.-Nik.,
L.A., Fasha Zez, Lum.
Gashit
Lum.Gashit, Nikaj-Mertur,
Lum.Gashit, Nikaj-Mertur,
Val
Liv.Arushs, F.Zez,
Valbon

Neuropter
a

Ascalaphidae

Stagonomus
Carpocoris
Dolycoris
Piezodorus
Libelloides

Lepidopter
a

Cossidae

Canthophorus
Zeuzera

impressus Horv.
pyrina L.

Cossus

cossus L.

Adscita

globularia Hbn
statices L.
vicia Den&Schif.

72
73
74
75

Xanthochilus
Camptopus
Corizus
Rhopalus

Zygaenidae

Zygaena

loti L
lonicera Sch.
carniolica Scop

76
77
78
Hesperia

comma L.

80

Ochlodes

venaum Br.-Cr.

81

Erynnis

tages L..

Parnassius

apollo L.

79

82

Hesperiidae

Papilionidae

mnemosyne L.

83
84

Papilio

machaon L.

85

Iphiclides

podalirius Scop

Leptidea

sinapis L.

87
88

Gonepteryx
Aporia

rhamni L.
crataegi L.

89
90

Pieris

ergane Geyer.
krueperi Strg.

91

Anthocaris

cardamines L.

86

Pieridae

92
93

Nymphalidae

Limenitis

reducta Strg.

Nymphalis

polychloros L.
antiopa L.

94
95

Inachis

io L.

96

Aglais

urticae L.

97

Polygonia

egea Cr.

98
99

Argynnis

C-album L.
paphia L.

Mesoacidalia

aglaja L.

Fabriciana.

adippe Den.&Schif

10
0
10
1
10
2
10
3
10
4
10
5
10
6
10
7
10
8
10
9
11
0
11
1
11
2
11
3
11
4
11
5
11
6
11
7
11
8
12
0

niobe L.
Brenthis

hecate Den.&Schif.

Issoria

lathonia L.

Melitaea

phoebe Rott.

L.Arush., Vuk.-Nik.,
Lum.Gash
L.Arush., Broj, NikajMertur
L.Arush.,F.Zez, Lumi
Gashit,
L.A., F.Zez, Nikaj
Mertur,
Broj, Vukl-Nik, NikajMertur
L.A, Vukl, Lumi
Gashit,Valbo
Vukl-Nik, Nikaj-Mrtur
Kri djegur, L.Gashit,
Valbon
L.Ar.,F.Zez, L.Gashit,
Theth
Broj, Valbon, NikajMertur
L.Gashit, Valbon,
Shllak,Raz
Valbon

cinxia L.

Shllak, L.Arushs, Fusha

Zez
L.Gashit, Vuk.-Nik,
Broj, Ve
Gasturan

Mellicta

athalia Rott.

Qafa e Kolit

Melanargia

galathea L.

Broj, Qafa Bordolecit,

Tamar
Qafa Bordolecit, Kri
Djegur..
Shllak, L.Gashit, NikajMertur
Nikaj-Mertur, Valbon
Razm
Razm, Broj, Fusha Zez

larissa Geyer.
Hipparchia

fagi Scop
semele Hfn.

Chazara

briseis L.

Arethusana

arethusa D..&Sch.

Erebia

ligea L.

L. Arushs, VuklNik,Theth
L.Arushs, Q. Bordolecit

aethiops Esper.

Lekbibaj, Theth

medusa Den&Schif

L.Arushs, Sefere,
Vermosh
L.Gashit, Valbon, NikajMertu
Q. Bordolecit, Tamar,
Razm
L.Arushs, Fusha Zez,
Broj

ottomana H.- Sch.

Maniola

jurtina Esp.

Hyponephele

lycaon Kuhn.

Coenonympha

12
1
12
2
12
3
12
4
12
5
12
6
12
7
12
8
12
9
13
0
13
1
13
2
13
3

pamphilus L.
tullia Mull.
arcania L.

Pararge

aegeria L.

Lasiommata.

megera L
maera Hbn.

Lycaenidae

Vermosh, Tamar, Q.
Bordolec
Shllak, Buda-Vermosh,
Broj
Gryka Selcs,
Tamar,L.Arush
L. Arushs, Q.
Bordolecit,Raz
V.-Nik, Q. Bordolecit,
Tamar
L. Gashit, Valbon, NikajMert
Liv.Arushs,Razm, Broj

Thecla

betulae L.

Quercus

quercus L.

Nordmannia

ilicis Esp.

Strymonidia

-album Kh.

Palaeochrysoph
anus
Scolitantides

Hippothoe L.

Maculinea

alcon Den.&Sch.

Polyommatus
Lycaeidas
Malacosoma
Macrothylacia

arion L.
eroides Friv.
idas L.
neustria L.
rubi L.

Cidaria

nebulata Treit.

Ematurga
Phalera
Furcula
Leucoma
Arctornis
Lithosia

otomaria L.
bucephala L.
furcula Cl.
salicis L.
L-nigrum Muell
quadra L.

146

Arctia

villica L.

147
148
149
150
151

Tyria

jacobea L
caja L.
quadripunctaria Pod
dominula L.
segetum Schiff.

Valbon, Theth
Qafa e Kolit
L.Arushs,F.Zez, Tamar
Broj,Shllak, L. Gashit
Q.Bordolecit, Vermosh,
Broj
Razm, L.Arushs, VuklNik
Livadhi Arushs
Buda-Vermosh,F.Zez
Broj, Q.Bordolecit, Razm
Vermosh, Livadhi Arushs
Fusha Zez, Kri Djegur,
Vukl-Nik, L.Arushs,
Shllak
Qafa Bordolecit, BudaVermo
Theth
Qafa e Bordolecit -Vermosh
Gasturan
Gasturan
Qafa Bordolecit, Razm

134
135
136
137
138

Lasiocampidae

139

Geometridae

140
141
142
143
144
145

152

153

154

Notodontidae
Lymantridae
Arctiidae

Coleoptera

orion Pall.

Shllak, BudaVermosh,Razm
L. Gashit, Valbon, NikajMert
L.Gashit, Valbon, NikajMertu
Qafa e Koli
L. Gashit, Valbon,
Q.Bordolec
Razm, Theth, Bog

Noctuidae

Euplagia
Callimorpha
Scotia

Carabidae

Calosoma

sycophanta L.

Vermosh

Carabus

coriaceus L.

Bog

scabrosus Fabr.

Re, Rrapsh

155

hungaricus F.

Bog

156

intricatus L.

Razm

157

Leistus

feruginaus L.

Re, Rrapsh, Bog

158

Omophron.

limbatum F

Rrapsh

159

Scarites

terricola Bon

Vermosh

160

Clivina

fossor L

Vermosh

161

Bembidion

varium Olivier

Bog

tenellum Erich

Bog, Vermosh

162

163

Trechus

quadristriatus Schra

Rrapsh, Vermosh, Selc

164

Chlaenius .

spoliatus Rossi

Bog

165

Abax

carinatus Druft.

Razm

166

Oodes

helopioides F.

Vermosh, Qafa Bordolecit

167

Zabrus

incrassatus Ger

Razm

168

Harpalus

affinis Schik

Bog

latus Quensel

Buda-Vermosh

169

170

Diachromus

germanicus L

Bog, Theth

171

Paradromius

linearis Oliv

Vermosh, L.Arushs

172

Brachynus b

crepitans L

Bog, Theth

173

Histeridae

uncinatus Illiger

Vermosh, Q.Bordolecit

unicolor L

Razm, Veleik

Atholus

bimacolatus L.

Buda-Vermosh, Theth

Silpha

tristis Ill.L

Razm, Q. Bordolecit

Necrophorus

mortuorum F

Vermosh

Paederus.

litoralis Grav

Vermosh

179

Staphylinus

fossor Scop

Vermosh, Veleik

180

Stenus

longipes Heer

Theth, Vermosh

181

maculiger eise

Bog

182

morio Gravenhorst

Vermosh

Lucanus

cervus L

Q.Bordolecit, Theth

Dorcus

parallelopipedus L

Razm-Veleik

Geotrupes

vernalis L

Buda

186

silvaticus Ponz

Rrapsh, Bog, Vermosh

187

spiniger Marsh

Q. Bordolecit, Gryka Selcs

188

mutator Marsh.

Bog, Theth, Vermosh

affinis Brulle

Q. Bordolecit, Vermosh

sacer L

Kri Djegur, Theth, Veleik

174

175

176

Silphidae

177

178

183

Staphylinidae

Lucanidae

184

185

189

190

Scarabaeidae

Scarabaeus

191

Onthophagus

192

193

Gymnopleurus

194

nuchicornis L

Rrapsh, Vermosh

verticornis Laich

Razm

geoffroyi Fuesol

Theth, Razm

mapsus Pall

Bog

195

Sisyphus

schaefferi L

Tamar, Vermosh

196

Copris

hispanus L

Theth, Selc

lunaris L

Kri Djegur, Razm

197

198

Oniticellus

fulvus Steph

Vermosh

199

Amphicoma

vulpes Pall

Q. Bordolecit, Tamar

200

Oryctes

nasiconis L

Vermosh

201

Phyllognathus

excarvatus Forst.

Bog

202

Rhombonyx

aurata Forst.

Vermosh

203

Pentodon

idiota (Hbst )

Q. Bordolecit

204

Rhombonyx

aurata Fabricius.

Q. Bordolecit

205

Anomala

vitis Fabricius

Theth, Vermosh

206

Phyllopertha

horticolla L.

Razm, Q.Bordolecit

207

Anisoplia

erichsoni Reitter

Vermosh, Shllak

tempestiva Erichson

Shllak. Razm

208

209

agricola Poda

Tamar, Buda-Vermosh

210

austriaca Hbst

Theth, Bog

211

Melolontha

Melolontha L.

Q. Bordolecit, Theth

212

Rhizotrogus

aesticus Olivier

Rrapsh, Bog

213

Amphimallon

solstitalis Linne

Tamar, Buda

214

Homaloplia

marginata Fuessly

Bog

215

Hoplia

graminicola F

Theth, Vermosh

216

Trichius

fasciatus (L

Bog, Theth

217

Epicometis

hirta Poda

Q.Bordolecit, Valbon

218

Oxytherea

funesta Poda

Buda-Vermosh

219

Cetonia

aurata aurata L.

Razm, Theth

220

Potosia

metallica Hbst

Q. Bordolecit, Razm

Lampyris

noctiluca L

Vermosh, Valbon

Cantharis

fusca L

Bog, Rrapsh

livida Linne

Theth, Selc, Skrapatush

Rhagonycha

fulva Scopoli

Buda-Vermosh, Bog

221

Cantharididae

222

223

224

225

Melyridae

Malachius

spinipensis Germar

Tamar, Q.Bordolecit

226

Cleridae

Trichodes

apiarius L.

Razm, Selc

227

Elateridae

Agriotes

lineatus Linne

Vermosh, Razm

228

Buprestidae

Capnodis

tenebrionis Linne

Veleik, Kri Djegur,

cariosa (Pallas)

Skrapatush, Valbon

Coccinella.

septempunctata L.

Veleik, Sefere

231

Epilachna

Argus Fabr.

Vermosh, Bog, valbon

232

Thea

vigintiduopunctata L

Buda, Selc

233

. Adalia

bipunctata L.

Bog, Vermosh

Melo

proscarabaeus L

Vermosh

rugosus Marsh

Q.Bordolecit, Razm-Veleik

quadripunctata L.

Buda-Vermosh, Razm

crocata Pall

Bog, Razm-Veleik

. Epicauta

erythrocephaia Pall.

Valbon, Theth, Razm

229

230

234

Coccinellidae

Meloidae

235

236

Mylabris.

237

238

239

Tenebrionidae

Gnaptor

spinimanus Pallas

Vermosh, Valbon, Selc

240

Cerambycidae

Ergates

faber L.

Lugina Valbons

Rhagium .

inquisitor L

Lugina Valbons

sycophanta Schr.

Lugina Valbons

sanguinolata L.

Lugina Valbons

dubia Scop

Theth

241

242

243

244

Leptura

245

Strangalia

246

quadrifasciata L.

Bog

aurulenta Fab.

Bog, Theth

247

Cerambyx

cerdo L.

Razm

248

Aromia

moschata L.

Lugina Valbons

249

Rosalia

alpina L.

Lugina Valbons

250

Purpuricenus

kaehleri L

Lugina Valbons

251

Oberea

linearis L.

Dragobi

Lema

melanopus L

Vermosh

253

Labidostomis

Humeralis Shneid

Razm, Theth

254

Lachnain

sexpunctata Seg

Q.Bordolecit, Buda

255

Chrysomela

violacea Mull

Bog, Valbon

Bombus

pomorum Panz

Livadhe alpine

257

hortorum L.

Vermosh, Shllak

258

ruderatus fabr.

Shklzen

259

argillaceus Scoip.

Shllak

260

ruderarius Muller

Vermosh, Shklzen

261

soroensis proteus Ge

Qafa Kolit, M. Hekurave

262

mastrucatus Gerst

Vermosh

252

256

Chrysomelidae

Hymenopte
ra

Apidae

263

Formicidae

264

Myrmica .

ruginodis Nyl.

Shllak

Aphanogaster

subterranea Latr.

Vermosh

ovaticops Em.

Vermosh

265

266

Tetramorium

debilis Em.

Vermosh

267

Pheidole

pallidula Nyl.

Lekbibaj

268

Formica

rufibarbis F.

Vermosh

269

fusca L.

Shllak, Vermosh

270

cinerea Mayr

Vermosh

271

gagastes Latr.

Shllak

272

lemoni Bond.

Shllak

273

sanguinea Latr.

Vermosh

niger F.

Vermosh

truncatus Spin

Sllak

274

Lasius

275

Bibliography
1. Misja K., 2005. Albanian butterflies (Monography). Edition of the Science
Academy, Tirana.
2. Striniqi A. 2004. Coleopterofauna of Malsisa e Madhe (Science Leader Prof. K.
Misja).

VI. The Vertebrates of the Albanian Alps

6.1. Fishes of the Albanian Alps

Atlantic trout, according to Anonymous (2003), are called the trout of Salmo genus
LINAEUS 1758. (Family salmonidae, subfamily salmoninae).
Almost the synonyms with the genus Salmo are genera Salmothymus BERG, 1908
and Acanthlongua HADZISCE, 1960.
There are very few data on trout species of Albania published by POLJAKOV et al.,
1958 and RAKAJ (1995).
Practically, it is very difficult to understand the taxonomy of family Salmonidae and its
zoo-geography as well. DHORA and SMAJLAJ (2007) have studied the trout in the
rivers of the Albanian Alps, precisely in Vermoshi, Thethi, Kiri and Valbona.
Salmo trutta fario LINAEUS, 1758. Species status (VU)
It is caught in Vermoshi River, a branch of Danube River (Figure 6.1).

Figure 6.1. Salmo trutta fario (Vermoshi river)

One of the exemplars of trout Salmo truta fario has been analyzed. Some features of
this trout have been measured and here they are:
Total length: 23 cm, weigh: 111 gr., the number of scales above the lateral line: 33,
the number of scales below the lateral line: 34, head height on occipital: 32 mm, head
length: 53 mm, eye diameter 10 mm, the height of anal fin: 4 mm, the length of
abdominal fin: 23 mm, the tongue with 7 teeth, vomer with 11 teeth, anal fin with 11
lines, abdominal fin with 11 lines. With slim and short pyloric cecume. The body at the
upper side and the both sides above the lateral line are dark and spotty; underneath it is
silver and white. A few red and orange marks with white edgings. A few black dots over
the body, but more like bigger spots. This has been evaluated like a species of its own,
and this has been widely supported by the authors since 50 - 60 years ago. This species
is distributed in Europe and in western Asia.
Salmo fario LINNAEUS, 1758, - mountain trout, - is evaluated by some authors like
form (Salmo trutta morpha fario) or like subspecies (Salmo trutta fario). It was found in

Vermoshi River. Rakaj in 1995 treated it like subspecies easily found in Albania, in
mountain rivers fluvial flux. Many authors consider it as a synonym to Salmo trutta.
Even Salmo lacustris LEINNAEUS, 1758, - lake trout, - is synonym to Salmo trutta.
ANONYMOUS (2006) and Rakaj (1995) considered this like subspecies to Salmo trutta,
found in Shkodra lake.
Salmo fariodes KARAMAN, 1938. Species status (VU)
This trout has been cached in Thethi, Valbona, Cemi and Kiri Rivers. The features of
the analyzed exemplars in these four rivers are almost the same, e.g. one of the cached
exemplars in Valbona River (a branch of Drini River) had these data:
Length: 25.5 cm, weight: 205 gram, the number of scales above the lateral line: 25,
the number of scales below the lateral line: 26, head height in occipital: 40 mm, head
length: 56 mm, eye diameter: 10 mm, the height of the anal fin: 30 mm, the length of the
abdominal fin: 28 mm, the tongue with 8 teeth, vomer with 14 teeth, anal fin with 11-12
lines, abdominal fin with 9 lines, without short and slim pyloric cekume. The body at the
upper side is grey-green, dark, whereas underneath is chalky. All over the body, except
the head, there are red dots with white edgings and more black spots. Trout of the Cemi,
Thethi, Kiri and Valbona rivers are the same and they belong to species Salmo farioides.
Salmo farioides KARAMAN, 1938 is known as Drini trout, or mountain trout. Some
authors consider this trout as subspecies of Salmo trutta LINNAEUS, 1758,
ANONYMUOS (1995). KOTTELAT (1997) considers it like a species, though he is
doubtful.
ANONYMOUS (2006) and other authors consider it like a separate species. It is
included as a special species in the list of Shkodra lake fishes (Dhora 2005) and (Dhora
and Smajlaj 2007), but in the list of the Albanian trout it is considered like a species of its
own. It has been found in rivers flowing to Adriatic sea, in Krk river (Croatia), in Radica
branch of Black Drini (Macedonia), in Bistrica near to Peja and in Bistrica near to Prizreni
branch of White Drini river (Kosovo), in the streams that flow to Ohrid lake; in Valbona
river, Thethi river, Kiri river, all of which are branches of Drini river, in Cemi river,
Crnojevica river, Klosi river a branch of Mati river etc.
During the last 10-15 years both of the above mentioned kinds of trout have been
damaged a lot because of the illegal fishing. The local residents have used continually
explosive for fishing, which is very harmful because it kills not only adult exemplars, but
also the little ones and even the eggs (during the reproduction season). Besides the
explosive, electricity is also used to catch the trout, which is as harmful as the explosive;
(in some cases even people have been damaged by this illegal fishing). Another way of
fishing is catching the trout with baskets especially in those places where the trout
spawn; this kind of fishing should be prohibited during the reproduction period,
(December - January).

Figure 6.2 Salmo farioides (Valbona river)

Both trout of the Alps are considered like endangered species and, due to illegal
ways of fishing, they are being reduced more and more, therefore it is necessary the law
for trout fishing to be enforced, and the local populations to become aware for the very
harmful consequences of the illegal fishing; this kind of fishing should be prohibited
immediately, and this kind of trout should be protected. Obviously, catching trout is a
passion and enjoyment to the local residents, but this should be done only with licensed
means, with hooks and spinners, and only in the allowed season.
6.2. Amphibians of the Albanian Alps
The hydrology of the Albanian Alps has an original character. They are distinguished
for the quite developed hydrographic network due to very intensive precipitations rate,
carbonatite composition, the highland relief, a rich vegetation cover etc.
The Albanian Alps are in themselves a complex of different habitats very suitable for
the development of many kinds of livings.
This high biological diversity is related to some favorable factors including the
ecological and geographical particularities. In the Alps at least 8 species of amphibians
are found. The hydrology, as a specific feature, has made it possible that in this zone to
live and develop many species of amphibians, and some of them are of great interest
because they are in danger or very rare in number.
Suborder salamandroids
Family Salamandridae. The representatives of this family are real salamanders. This
family is distributed mainly in Euro-Asia and in Mediterranean basin western sides.
Salamandra salamandra (Salamnder). It is a typical representative of this family,
known as The beauty of the earth and lives in the terrestrial ecosystems. It often
copulates on the earth or in the water. Afterwards, the female lays about 70 developed
larvae into the water. This species has a large distribution in Albania. Salamanders are
found even in the Albanian Alps. More often it is met during springtime and fall, in soft
rainy weather. We have caught it in Vermosh, Broj, Theth, Valbon etc.
Salamandra atra (Black salamander). Species status LR(nt). It leads terrestrial life
and is ovoviviparous. It is distributed all over highland zones like in the European Alps,
but even in the Albanian Alps. It is black; the length of its body is 13 16 cm. It is met in

high areas, but comes down until the altitudes of 600 m. This species is found in alpine
lakes, humid environments, under stones, at the roots of the trees and bushes, where it
finds shelter. It lives in groups of 35 individuals. It is more active during the night, it
moves during the day only when it is raining. It is fed with insects, larvae and worms.
Individuals have been caught in Jezerca lakes and in Rikaveci Lake. It is a rare species;
therefore it must be under strict protection.
Triturus alpestris (Alps triton). Species status: LR(nt). The Alps triton has a grey dark
color; the abdominal part is yellowish red, the length of its body reaches up to 812 cm.
It can be met in streams, small lakes and ponds. It was found in Dobrdoli Lake, in
Tthore pass, in Jezerca lakes, in Rikaveci Lake, etc. The Alps triton gets away from
water only in summertime, in August. It is fed with water insects and their larvae. It is a
rare species and should be strictly protected.
Suborder Opistocelics
The representatives of this suborder have opistocelic vertebras. Here can be
mentioned Diskoglosidae Family which is the oldest. Bombina genus, the representative
of this family, is distributed in our country (in the Alps) with the species Bombina
variegata. It is a rare species that deserves to be protected.
Suborder Procels
Family Bufonidae. They are known as cow-sucker, lead terrestrial life and visit water
areas only during the copulation time. At the back side of head they have two glandule
zones called proteide glandules. The most distributed species is cow sucker (Bufo
bufo), which is found in Europe, continental Asia, in northwest of Africa and in Japan. It
is very common in our country especially in the Albanian Alps. Besides this species, in
our country there is another one, the toad (Bufo viridis).
Family Hilide. Species status: not well known. (DD). It lives in trees. The last falanges
of its fingers have a sticky disc. In Europe, this family is represented by the only one
species, Hyla arborea. The length of its body is about 5 cm. It is a common species in
the Albanian Alps
Suborder Diplasiocels
Family Ranide. It is the most widely spread family. In Europe this family is
represented only by genus Rana (frogs). Frogs, based on their color, are divided in
brown frog and green frog. As a representative of this family is the red frog (Rana
temporaria), it is found in the forests of high areas, like the forests of the Albanian Alps.
The length of the body is 7-10 cm. Thus it is a mountainous species, mainly watery one,
and of places with a high humidity. One of its characteristic features is the big
changeability of the colors, especially of its body spots. It is met in stagnant or flowing
waters with or without vegetation. It is harbored in humid habitats and in forests. It is fed
with insects and worms. Red frog is a rare species and should be taken under
protection. It is found in Vermoshi, Theth, Fushzez, Shklzen (Tropoj) etc.
6.3. Reptiles of the Albanian Alps
The natural habitats of the Albanian Alps for centuries have created convenient
conditions for much kind of species, thus even for reptiles. In the Albanian Alps about 23
species of reptiles are found, though their number might be higher. The most common
reptiles met in the Alps according to the families are:

Testudinidae family. This family includes terrestrial species and has a cosmopolite
distribution. The most typical of this family is the genus Testudo represented by Testudo
hermanni that is present in Mediterranean basin. Its status is LR(nt).
The lizards that are found in the Albanian Alps, according to the families, are:
Family Anguidae. It is distributed in America, North Africa, Europe, and southern and
eastern Asia. The only genus that has well developed extremities is genus Gerrhonotus,
which is found in Northern and Central America. All the other species are characterized
by the tendency of reducing, even of total disappearance of the extremities, giving thus
to the animal the shape of an eel (Anguilla), from where the family has gotten its name.
In Europe and in our country two kinds of appode (without feet) live, one of them is
Anguis fragilis that is very common in our country, and has a length of about 40 cm., and
the other is the grass-snake (Ophizaurus apodus). Its status is LR(nt).
Family Lacertide. It includes about 200 species distributed in Europe etc. They are
active during the day and are fed with insects. Their extremities are developed and very
agile. Their tail is long and ends with a tip. Many species have the ability to cut off their
tail and to regenerate it again. In Europe, especially in the Albanian Alps, there is genus
Lacerta, which is rich in many species. As common species we can mention: walls lizard
(Lacerta muralis), green lizard (Lacerta viridis), viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara) with
the status LR(nt), the house lizard (Hemidactylis turcicus), the lizard with three lines
(Lacerta trilineata), lazy lizard (Lacerta agilis) with status LR(nt), rocks lizard (Algyroides
nigropunctatus), grass lizard (Podarcis melisellensis). Except viviparous lizard (Lacerta
vivipara) and lazy lizard (Lacerta agilis), the other species are common in the Albanian
Alps.
The snakes, according to the families that are found in the Albanian Alps, are:
Family Kolubride. It is one of the richest as far as the number of species is concerned.
It includes about half of the actual snakes that are found in all the continents. This family
includes some subfamilies, which can be divided based upon the poisonous teeth.
a) Subfamily aglifs. They are called this way because they do not have poisonous
teeth. Among the most common species that are found in the Albanian Alps are:
the house grass snake (Elafe longissima), the motley grass snake (Elaphe situla)
with a status (CR), the grass snake with four lines (Elaphe quatorlineata) with a
status (CR), the big water snake (Natrix natrix), the slim snake (Coronela
austriaa) that is a threatened species (E), the long yellow abdominal arrow
(Coluber jugularis), the short arrow (Coluber gemonensis) with a status (CR), the
slim arrow (Coluber najadum) with a status LR (cd).
b) Subfamily opistoglifs. The representatives of this subfamily have poisonous teeth
that are placed at the back side of the upper maxillary. The most typical
representative in Europe and in our country is grass snake (Malpolon
monspenssulanus). It is a common species even in the Albanian Alps.
Viperide family. It includes poisonous species that present a threat even to the
humans. They are distributed in Asia, Africa, and Europe. In general, they are
ovoviviparous. In Europe, only genus Vipera with some species is found. In the Alps
Vipera ammodytes (horn adder) is widely present. In the altitudes over 1200 m, even in
localized zones, there are found mountain viper Mediterranean endemic species Vipera
berus with a status LR (nt) and Vipera ursinii with a status LR(nt). The vipers are
distinguished from columbrides due to their short tail; its head is like a triangle, pressed

in dorsa-ventral direction. Other species of the above mentioned reptiles are very
common.
6.4. Birds of the Albanian Alps, threaten species, actual situation and their
protection
The forest as an ecological complex system is composed of many elements that have
a mutual inter-dependence among them. The complexity of this ecosystem is increased
with the advance of its age, and it is expressed with the increase of flora, fauna and
biotic factors diversity.
Birds as one of the main elements of forest biocenosis, with their qualitative and
quantitative indicators, offer information about the ecosystem situation and at the same
time they contribute to its preservation. The data about the ornitofauna of the zones
covered with beech forests (Fagus selvatica) in the Albanian Alps have a qualitative
character and to gather them in terrain, the bird-watching method was used. Some data
have also been gathered from rangers, foresters and forest technicians, also literature
sources are used.
The species that live in the Albanian Alps have been classified based on the time
criterion, that is to say, how long a species stays in our coutry or in what period of time
that species can be found in our country. Based on this criterion, birds are classified into:
permanent (Pr), summery (St), wintering (Wt), and migratory (Ps). It is also assigned the
species status, according to Bern Convention, Annex II, and European status. For some
of the species even the national status is assigned. In the survey, the kinds of the forests
woods essences and the forest areas of the forest economy are also taken into
consideration. From the data collected regarding the forest birds or linked with the forest,
it results that in all the forest areas of the Albanian Alps there are ascertain 40 species of
birds, which are listed below in the Table 6.1.

Nr

1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

6.

7.
8.

Latin name

R. Accipitriformes
Hieraetus pennatus
Buteo buteo
Accipiter nisus
R. Columbiformes
Fam. Columbidae
Columba palumbus
Rendi Cuculiformes
Fam. Cuculidae
Cuculus canorus
Rendi Strigiformes
Fam. Tytonidae
Strix aluca
Rendi Piciformes
Fam. Picidae
Picus viridis
Picoides major

English
name

Season
al Status

Status of
Bern C.

Europ
ean
Status

Nat.
Stat.

Booted eagle
Common buzzard
Sparrowhawk

St
Pr
Pr

II
II
II

R
S
-

EN
VU

Woodpigeon

Pr

Cuckoo

St

Eurasian towny owl

Pe

II

Green woodpecker
Pe
Great
spotted Pe

II
II

D
-

DD
DD

9.

Picoides medius

10

Picoides minor

11
12.

36.

Dryocopus martius
Dryocopus leucotos
Rendi Passeriformes
Fam. Motacillidae
Anthus trivalis
Fam. Laniidae
Lanius cullurio
Fam. Corvidae
Corvus monedula
Corvus corax
Fam. Troglodytidae
Troglodytes
troglodytes
Fam. Prunellidae
Prunella modularis
Fam. Sylvidae
Hippolais icterina
Sylvia atricapilla
Phylloscopus
collybita
Phylloscop. sibilatrix
Regulus ignicapillus
Fam Muscicapidae
Ficedula albicollis
Ficedula hypoleuca
Muscicapa striata
Fam. Turdidae
Phoenicurus ochruro
Turdus merula
Turdus philomelos
Fam. Paridae
Parus palustris
Parus lugubris
Parus caeruleus
Parus major
Fam. Aegithalidae
Aegithalos caudatus
Fam. Sittidae
Sitta europaea
Fam. Certhiidae
Certhia brachydactyl

37.

Fam. Fringillidae
Fringilla coelebs

13.
14.
15.
16
17

18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.

woodpecker
Middle
spotted
woodpecker
Lasser
spotted
woodpecker
Black woodpecker
No common name

Pe

II

DD

Pe

II

DD

Pe
Pe

II
II

S
-

DD
DD

Treepipit

St

II

Reedbacked shrike

St

II

Jackdaw
Raven

Pe
Pe

3
3

S
S

Trogladyte minjor

Pe

II

Dunnock

Wt

II

Icterine warbler
Blackcap
Chiff chaff

Ps
Pe
Pe

II
II
II

S
S

Wood Warbler
Firecrest

Ps
Pe

II
II

S
S

Collared flycatcher
Pied flycatcher
Spotted flycatcher

St
Ps
St

3
II
II

S
D

No common name
Black bird
Song thrush

St
Pe
Wt

II
3
3

S
S
S

Marsh tit
Sombre tit
Blue tit
Great tit

Pe
Pe
Pe
Pe

II
II
II
II

S
S
S
S

DD
DD
-

Long-tailed tit

Pe

II

Nuthatch

Pe

II

Short-toed
treecreeper

Pe

II

Chaffinch

Pe

II

38.
39.

40

Coccothraustes cooc
Fam. Emberizidae
Emberiza cia
Rendi Galiformes
Fam. Tetraonidae
Tetrao urogallus

Hawfinch

Pe

II

Vu

VU

Rock bunting

Pe

II

Vu

Copercaillie

Pe

II

Vu

Table 6.1. List of Bird species

In order to determine the character of the forest ornitofauna, the identified species
have been analyzed based upon their seasonal status, in other words, based on the
time criterion. As we mentioned above, this status takes into account how long one
species stays in our country, or in what period of the year it is found in our country. From
this survey results that out of 40 ascertained species, 28 species or 70% of them are
permanent (Pr), i.e. they stay in our country all the year round. It is noticed that 7
species or 17.5% are summery birds (St), two species or 5% are winterer birds (Wt) and
3 species or 7.5% are migratory birds (Ps). These figures show that the Albanian Alps
forest economy has mainly permanent species. Histogram Number 1.
We think that this number in the future will grow along with the extension of birdwatching and surveys in this region. The analysis of the above mentioned species
according to Bern Convention shows that 31 species or about 77.5% of them are
included in Annex II of this Convention. This annex provides a strict protection to these
species. Regarding the species evaluated according to European status, we have
assigned the sensibility in one area. European status classifies the birds species
according to the following categories: endangered (E), rare (R), decreased (D)
vulnerable (V), and in a stable situation (S). In this way the sensibility level of an area
can be assigned, taking into account the categories E, R, D, and V. The ratio in
percentage (%) between these species towards the total number of all the ascertained
species shows the sensibility of the area in ornithological aspect. This analysis makes
clear that 6 species in the Albanian Alps forests economy do not have the stable status
S, so the value of the sensibility of this region results to be about 18%.
Besides the forest as a very complex ecological system, in the Alps in open habitats
and around the rocks there live other birds of clearings and rocks like golden eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos), common crone (Grus rus), blue rock pigeon (Columbia livia),
Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo), carrion crow (Corvus corone), brambling (Fringilla
montifringilla), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), European jay (Garrulus glandarius),
common tree-creeper (Certhia familiaris), griffon vulture (Gyps fulves), rock partridge
(Alektoris graeca), Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops) etc., which, without doubt, increase
a lot the ornitofauna diversity of this regions.
From the survey it results that in the Albanian Alps forest economies there are found
40 bird species. The most part of these birds belongs to the permanent category. This
fact underlines the importance that has the protection of the forest ecosystem for the
ornitofauna in this region. In general, the whole number of bird species is 52.
The necessity to have a more fully and quick knowledge about ornitofauna situation
of the Albanian Alps calls for a better cooperation with the forest engineers, technicians
and rangers.

The protection and preservation of the forest becomes even more important because
77% of those species are included in the Bern Convention, Annex II, which provides a
strict protection to these species. Likewise, according to the European status, the
Albanian Alps forests have a sensibility of about 15%.
The protection of the forests economy should be a priority of the Government. In this
point of view, a very important role should be played by the state institutions that run and
study forests and woods.
The population awareness and especially the enforcement of the law: On forests and
wild fauna are actual priorities if we take into account the heavy damages that are done
in the forests. By protecting forests, we protect their irreplaceable climatic, economical,
esthetical and medicinal values.

6.5. Bio-ecological and systematical data on the Albanian Alps mammals

In the following histograms there are given detailed systematical and bio-ecological
data, as well as date about geographical distribution, actual situation and the status of all
the mammals that are found until now in the Alps into orders, families, genera and
species. The targets of this study are 35 species of mammals: 5 insectivores
(Insectivora), 6 rodents (Rodentia), 9 bats (Chiroptera), 11 carnivores (Carnivora), 3
even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla), and 1 rabbit (Lagomorpha). Their belonging to
orders and species, as well as their actual status, according to IUCN (1994), are given in
the Table number 6. 2. Data about the species amount according to the orders and an
evaluation in percentage of the species amount are given in histograms number 6.1 and
number 6.2.
Nr.

1
2
3
4
5

6
7
8
9
10
11

12

Latin name
Order Insectivora

English name
Insectivores

Fam. Erinacidae
Erinaceus cocnolor
Fam. Talpidae
Talpa caeca
Fam. Soricidae
Suncus etruscus
Crocidura leucodon
Crocidura suaveolens
Order Rodentia
Fam. Sciuridae
Sciurus vulgaris
Fam. Gliridae
Glis glis
Fam. Muridae
Apodemus sylvaticus
Apodemus flavicollis
Apodemus mystacinus
Mus musculus
Order Chiroptera
Fam. Rhinolophidae
Rhinolophus

Hedgehogs
Eastern hedgehog
Moles
Blind mole
Shrews
Pygmi white-toothed shrew
Bicoloured white-toothed shrew
Lesser white-toothed shrew
Rodents
Squirrels
Red squirrel
Dormice
Fat dormouse
Lemmings and Voles
Wood mouse
Yellow-necked mouse
Rock mouse
House mouse
Bats
Horseshoe bats
Greater horseshoe bat

Species status

VU(D2)
DD
DD
DD
DD

Common
DD
Common
Common
Common
Common

Common

13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

32

33
34
35

ferrumequinum
Rhinolophus euryale
Rhinolophus blassi
Fam. Vespertilionidae
Miniopterus schreibersi
Myotis myotis
Myotis blythi
Myotis capaccinii
Pipstrellus savii
Fam. Molossidae
Tadarida teniotis
Order Carnivora
Fam. Ursidae
Ursus arctos
Fam. Canidae
Canis lupus
Vulpes vuples
Fam. Mustelidae
Mustela nivalis
Mustela putorius
Martes martes
Martes foina
Lutra lutra
Meles meles
Fam. Felidae
Felis lynx
Felis silvestris
Order Lagomorpha
Fam. Leporidae
Lepus capensis
Order Artiodacyla
Fam. Suidae
Sus scrofa
Fam. Bovidae
Rupicapra rupicapra
Fam. Cervidae
Capreolus capreolus
Total

Mediterranean horseshoe bat

Blasiuss horseshoe bat
Vespertilionid bats
Schreibers bat
Greater mouse-eared bat
Lasser mouse-eared bat
Long-fingered bat
Savis pipistrelle
Free-tailed bats
Free tailed bat
Carnivores
Bears
Brown bear
Dogs and foxes
Wolf
Red fox
Weasels etc.
Weasel
Western polecat
Pine marten
Beech marten
Otter
Badger
Cats
Lynx
Wild cat
Rabbits, Hares
Rabbits and hares
Brown hare
Even-toed ungulates
Pigs
Wild boar
Cattle, Sheep and Goats
Chamois
Deer
Roe deer

VU(C2b)
VU(B2d)
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
DD

VU(D1)
VU
Common
Common
EN(D1)
VU(D1)
Common
VU(D1)
EN
CR(C2a)
EN(C2a)

Common

LR(nt)
VU
VU(A1b)
35

Table 6.2. Species list of the Albanian Alps mammals

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Insectivora

Rodenti a

Chiroptera

Carnivora

Lagomorpha

Artiodac tyla

Histogram 6. 2: Species according to the orders of the Albanian Alps mammals

BATS: Order Chiroptera

3%

9%

14%
Insect ivora
17%

Rodentia
Chiropt era
Carnivora

31%

Lagomorpha
Artiodactyla
26%

Histogram No. 6. 3: Species in % of orders of the Albanian Alps mammals

General: The bats (order Chiroptera) in Europe are represented by three families:
Rhinolophidae, Vespertilionidae and Molossidae. The three of these families belong to
suborder Microchiroptera. Species of the Chiropteres that are found in the Albanian Alps
are given in the Table number 6. 3.
Nr.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Latin name
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
Rhinolophus eurylale
Rhinolophus blasii
Minipterus schreibersi
Myotis myotis
Myotis blythi
Myotis capaccini
Pipstrellus savii
Tadarida teniotis

English name
Greater horseshoe bat
Mediterranean horseshoe bat
Blasiuss horseshoe bat
Schreibers bat
Greater mouse-eared bat
Lasser mouse-eared bat
Long-fingered bat
Savis pipistrelle
Free tailed bat

Table 6. 3. The species of order Chiroptera

The most common species is Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, and then it is Miniopterus

schreibersi. Regarding the species diversity they offer, Shpella e Pllumbave (Doves
cave) presents higher values with 5 species. The values of this cave are really
interesting and consist in the fact that the mixed colonies of the five species found there
reach up to 9000 individuals; about 5500 of them belong to species Rhinolophus
ferrumequinum, and about 1500 belong to species Rhinolophus blasii.
CARNIVORES: order Carnivora
General: The carnivores are of different size and look. Bears, weasels, cats and dogs
are all carnivores, but most of them are predators, adapted especially for first capturing
and then feeding upon relatively large prey, especially prey that cannot be swallowed at
once. They all have continuous rows of teeth, and each row is sharp and divided
according the line of demarcation into: three small incisors, large conical canines often
crooked backwards, and a variable number of jugal teeth (premolars and molars) with a
sharp pointed crown, known as the carnassials. The carnivores coat is generally soft
and dense, and most species have been extensively hunted and trapped for their fur.
Many species have also been seriously reduced through persecution for the sake of
farming stock or simply through hunting. Some of them, such as the red fox and the
weasel, have withstood to these persecutions and remain abundant, but many
carnivores are amongst the rarest and most endangered of the European mammals.
Most carnivores are secretive and nocturnal and live at much lower population densities
than their prey, even when they are unmolested. As a consequence, it is very difficult to
detect and observe them. Indirect sings like footprints and droppings are useful for
locating their regular paths and dens.
This order in Europe is represented by 6 families (Corgert G. & Ovenden D., 1980):
Ursidae, Canidae, Mustelidae, Viverridae, Procyonidae and Felidae. In our country there
are found 4 from the 6 above mentioned families (Ursidae, Canidae, Mustelidae and
Felidae). Object of this survey have been 11 species of carnivores, caught or watched
during observations in the terrain of the Albanian Alps. This order is represented by the
biggest number of the species; from 35 species found in the Alps, 31% of them belong to

order carnivora. 8 from 11 species described in the Table number 4 results to be

endangered.
Nr.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Latin name
Ursus arctos
Canis lupus
Vulpes vuples
Mustela nivalis
Mustela putorius
Martes martes
Martes foina
Lutra lutra
Meles meles
Felis lynx
Felis silvestris

English name
Brown bear
Wolf
Red fox
Weasel
Western polecat
Pine marten
Beech marten
Otter
Badger
Lynx
Wild cat

Table 6. 4. The species of order Carnivora

6.6. Some conclusions about mammals of the Albanian Alps

Based on the data, in the Albanian Alps there are identified about 35 species of
mammals that belong to six orders (Insectivora, Rodentia, Chiroptera, Carnivora,
Lagomorpha, Artiodactyla).

The high diversity of the species that are found in this region, comprising about
42% of the Albanian Mammal fauna, and the likelihood of finding much more
other species (about 6 species of Insectivore, 5 species of rodent and 10 species
of night bats), highlight the special values of their mammal faunistic, giving to
mammal fauna of the Albanian Alps a very special importance in the framework
of the countrys mammal fauna.

Carnivora is the order with the highest number of species (11 species), then
there are Chiroptera with 9 species, Rodentia with 6 species, Insectivora with 5
species, Artiodactyla with 3 species and Lagomorpha with only one species.

The great number of the species of Carnivora that are found, 11 from 12 species
reported until now, shows that the Albanian Alps offer to these mammals quite
preferable natural habitats.

Among the mammals found in the Albanian Alps, there are 8 species included in
the list of globally threatened species (Rhinolophus euryale, myotis capaccinii,
Apodemus mystacinus, Meles meles, Mustela putorius, Felis lynx, Martes
martes, Felis silvestris.)

The major part of the species in the Albanian Alps have e wide horizontal and
vertical distribution, such as: Erinaceus concolor, Talpa caeca, Crocidura
suaveolens, Sciurus vulgaris, Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus flavicollis,
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Vulpes vulpes Martes foina, Mustela nivalis, Sus
scrofa and Lepus capensis.

6.7. Recommendations:
Insectivora is the order that is still less known and less studied among the mammals of
our country. Only 6 out of 11 species of this order have been reported until now.
Further studies are required in order to find out more data about this order and the status
of the species reported up to now.
It is necessary that to some areas, caves, tunnels, holes etc., be given a special status
to protect all the threatened species.
Besides mammals, a special attention must be given to other vertebrates, especially to
birds because it is quite possible that their number to be higher.
There is a real need to know more about the situation of vertebrates in the Albanian Alps
and this need calls for a better collaboration with rangers and speleologists.
In the future, along with the efforts to know more about the species less known until now,
the studies of the vertebrates must pursue other aspects like ecology, etiology, migration
etc.
Bibliography
BEGO, F., 1997. Kontribut n njohjen e gjitarve t vegjl (Mammalia, Rendet: Insectivora,
Rodentia dhe Chiroptera) t Shqiperis. Disertacion, 162 faqe.
SMAJLAJ, RR. 1999. T dhna sistematike dhe bioekologjike pr Gjitart e Malsis s
Madhe. Disertacion, 122 faqe.
CORBET G. & OVENDEN D., 1980. The Mammals of Britain and Europe, 253 p.
CORBET G., OVENDEN D., 1985. Guida dei Mammiferi d`Europa. Prima edizione.
DHORA, DH & SMAJLAJ, RR. 2007. Hulumtim mbi troftat Salmo LINNAEUS, 1758 t
Shqipris. B.SH. i Universitetit L. Gurakuqi, Seria e Shkencave Natyrore, 167-179.
PEJA, N. & SMAJLAJ, RR. Ornitofauna pyjore e Malsis s Madhe. B.SH. i
Universitetit L. Gurakuqi, Seria e Shkencave Natyrore, 167-179.
Libri i kuq i fauns Shqiptare, Tiran, 2006.
KRUTAJ F., GRUDA GJ., KABO M., MECAJ N., QIRIAZI P., SALA S., ZIU F., KRISTO V.
& TROJANI V., 1991. Gjeografia Fizike e Shqiperise, 21-67.
CORBET G. & OVENDEN D., 1980. The Mammals of Britain and Europe, 253 pp.
CORBET G., OVENDEN D.,1985. Guida dei Mammiferi d`Europa. Prima edizione. Franco
Muzzio & Co. Editor. Padova (Italy), 288 pp.

VII. A SOCIO-ECONOMICAL STUDY OF THE ALPS

7.1. The landscape
The Albanian Alps are located in the northern region of Albania, on the right side of
the Drini River, 1500 m above sea level, but certain peaks reach up to 2000 m above
sea level. The highest peak is that of Jezerca, 2692 m above sea level. The Alps are a
craggy region with high peaks, deep troughs, wonderful valleys, as well as fascinating
meadows such as the meadows of Boga, Thethi and Jezerca. The climate of the region
is healthy and the landscapes are amazing, with jagged canyons, remarkable waterfalls,
and crystal rivers. On the peaks, the tourists can see the snow all the year round.
The entire region has good conditions for the development of summer and winter
tourism. The Albanian Alps have a typical alpine flora that is characterized by numerous
pastures.
7.1.2. Climate
The Alps are one of the coldest regions of Albania, with the most abundant annual
rainfall and with the least humidity. The heating conditions are determined in a great
degree by the altitude.
7.1. 3. Temperature
The Albanian Alps are the most northern region of the country. This region, as well as
the eastern ranges of the mountainous area, is the territory which is characterized by the
lowest average annual temperatures. In this region, the factor that determines the
temperature changes is the altitude.
The average temperature of January, the coldest month of the year, at the altitudes of
1100-1300 m above sea level, has values between 0C and -2C, and over 1300 m
above sea level, its values are -4C and -6C; in certain places, it reaches up to -7C
and -8C. The average temperature during the July varies from 15C to 18C and in
certain locations it exceeds 20C. The abundant precipitations and low temperatures of
this region contribute to the depth of the snow layer.
The harshness of winters in this region can be judged by the number of the freezing
days during a year, which in certain high locations reaches up to 150 - 170 days.

7.1. 4. The precipitations

This region is recognized for the abundant precipitations. In the Alps, the average
precipitation per year is 2000 2500 mm, and it occurs mainly during the coldest time of
the year. In no rare occasions the amount of precipitation exceeds 3000 mm annually,
sometimes even 4000 mm. The western slopes are subject to the greatest amount of
precipitations.
In certain regions of great altitude, the layer of snow is permanent. The maximum
depth of the snow layer depends on the contours of the relief. In the lower locations, the

depth of the snow is between 1.5 2.5 m, while in the higher regions, the snow has a
greater depth, which, sometimes, can reach up to 3 - 4 m.
7.1. 5. Wind
The northern wind called murlan is characteristic in winter. The main direction of the
northern wind is north-east or east-northeast. The northern wind blows throughout the
whole of Albania, but it is more present in northern and northeastern Albania. The
northern wind is cold and dry, because it comes form the inner regions of the continent.
In special cases, it can reach up to 30 m/sec.
7.2. The Albanian Alps are the northernmost part of Albania. They include:

THETHI NATIONAL PARK

NATIONAL PARK VALLEY OF VALBONA

KELMEND

7.2.1. National Park VALLEY OF VALBONA

The Valley of Valbona has the status of a national park. It was proclaimed a protected
area in 1996. The National Park Valley of Valbona lies among high mountains and its
area is about 8000 hectares.
This National Park is situated in the center of the Albanian Alps, in the district of
Tropoja, 25 - 30 km in northwest of the city of Bajram Curri. This valley, 820 m above
sea level, is considered the miracle of the Albanian Alps.

Population and villages

Margegaj commune has 10 villages.
Table 1
Villages
Margegaj
Fush Lume
Koanaj
Shoshan
L. Paqes
Bradashnic
Dragobi
erem
Valbon
Rragam

Population
Male
265
58
342
297
68
52
197
110
126
53

Female
298
67
344
293
70
59
188
99
113
66

Total
553
125
686
590
138
111
385
209
239
119

Table. 7.1. The family structures

Number of
families
185
34
182
163
43
33
118
68
70
27

Family Structure:
The family nucleus is stable, dependent on the economic status, and its structure has
been simplified. In the past, the family was patriarchal, and the family nucleus consisted
of the parents and their male childrens families, and all of them shared the same roof.
Today the family consists of the parents living at home with their unmarried children.
Married girls live in their husbands home. Married boys choose to live on their own, but,
usually, the youngest son shares the house with his parents. As shown in the table
above, the average number of family members is 3 4.
Migration:
Regardless the beautiful nature, a part of the population has begun migrating toward
other cities and countries. After years of emigration, some of them have returned and
invested in numerous enterprises, mainly in tourism.
Traditional values and culture:
Cultural attractions of the region include mainly the traditional clothes, churches,
characteristic houses, and the way of living.
Traditional clothing consists of xhubleta for women, and xhamadani and tirqet for
men. Women use traditional veils; brides use red veils with light colors, whereas the
other women use black veils tied to the throat. Men use woolen traditional hat called
ksul.
Characteristic houses are built from stones and their wooden roofs, built from wooden
stripes, are very sloping to avoid snow. The windows are very small and have protective
loopholes. The houses are 2-3 floors high, with stairs located at the external part of the
house that take you up to the second floor because the first floor is usually reserved to
the animals. The second floor is used as the guest room and for the other members of
the family.
The local population is very hospitable. Many of them have already begun to receive
tourists from Albania and abroad in their houses.
In Albanian villages, the tradition of crafting and decorating small wooden objects still
is widely spread among the villagers. Thus, the shepherds decorate their crooks,
distaffs, spindles, etc., while others, more skilled in the art, construct baby cribs,
traditional chairs, musical instruments, wooden boxes, etc.
Agriculture and livestock:
Agriculture and livestock are the main employment options of this region. The
shepherds and stockbreeders are focused on sustaining their families. A part of the wellknown agricultural production such as chestnuts, honey, nuts, etc., is sold in the market.
Forestry:
This valley has high biodiversity values. In the forests of this park, one may find
beech, black and white pine, oak, spruce, lime trees, as well as alpine meadows, and
forests of chestnuts. The fruits that primarily grow in this region are plums and nuts.
Tourism and recreational activities:

The climate, with cold winters and fresh summers, is favorable for tourists. In the
valley of Valbona, one may have unforgettable trips among the wonderful nature, and
exercise different sports such as: hunting during the hunting season, climbing, horse
riding, etc. Camping is another activity, but information about the right places is needed.
Valbona is one of the most beautiful places in Albania and segments of its valley can
be a real challenge for the passionate people of extreme sports.
Tourist attractions: The Canyon of Shoshani is situated near the Shoshani Bridge, at
Valbona valley, 400 m above sea level. It is formed from calcareous and karstic
processes, and the rivers erosion. It is 1.1 km long, 30 - 40 m deep and 2.5 m wide.
The Cave of Haxhia is situated in Maja e That, near the Valbona village, at Margegaj
commune, 1630 m above sea level. It is 2 - 3 m high and 120 m long.
The Cave of Ice is situated near the Valbona village, at Margegaj commune, 2230 m
above sea level. Its explored length is about 250 m, its width is 50 m, and its depth is 1015 m.
The Cave of Dragobia is situated near the Dragobia village, 1200 m above sea level.
It has karstic strata, and it is 8 m long, 3 - 4 m wide and 2 - 4 m high. It is also known as
The cave of Bajram Curri, because the national hero Bajram Curri was hiding there.
The Hanging Glacial Valley of Kukaj is situated near the Rragami village, 1200 m
above sea level. It is a hanging glacial-karstic valley created during the tectonic
processes. It is 2.7 km long and 100-150 m wide. The Hanging Glacial Valley of Motina
is situated among Mali i Hekurave and Grykt e Hapura, near the Dragobia village, 1100
m above sea level. It is a hanging glacial - karstic valley, 2.5 km long and 100-150 m
wide.
The Mountain Pass of Valbona, from where the Valbona River and Dragobia can be
seen.
Hunting and fishing
The National Park Valley of Valbona houses protected mammals such as: the brown
bear, wolf, bobcat, wild goat, roebuck, etc., while the wild fowls consist of the rooster,
wild chicken, eagle, etc.
In the waters of Valbona dwell an animal on the verge of extinction, the otter (lutra
lutra).
Trout can be found in the cold waters as well as in kartstic lakes of Valbona.
Landscape
The voyage in the valley of Valbona is unforgettable. It is the Valbona River, with its
clear waters, that has given its name to this valley. The national park of Valbona is
abundant in flora including the pine, beech and oak. The fauna of Valbona valley has
some species that are rare in the Balkans.
The village of Valbona is an important touristic attraction. The valley through which
the Valbona River passes is distinguished for its attractive landscape, composed of

forests, pastures, diversity of plants, characteristic houses, and the hospitable

inhabitants, thus creating the proper conditions for tourism development.
7.2.2. National Park of Thethi
Thethi has the status of a national park. It was proclaimed a protected area in 1976.
Thethi is 70 km far from Shkodra city, positioned at the northern part of Shala commune,
700-950 m above sea level. The National Park of Thethi has an area of 2630 ha, from
which 1699 ha are forest and the rest is a rocky area.
The valley of Thethi is surrounded by the Mountains of Radohima, Shenik, and
Papluka, as well as from the mountainous Passes of Peja and Jezerca, the Sheep Trail,
the Black Peak, and the peak of Zorgji. The villages of this region lie on both sides of the
river.
Population and villages
Shale commune has 11 villages.

Villages
Breg Lumi
Nicaj Shal
Abat
Lekaj
Pecaj
Vuksanaj
Theth
Gimaj
Ndrlys
Nnmavriq
Lotaj

Table 2
Population
Male
Female
84
102
19
197
131
134
306
334
67
63
249
267
402
377
346
301
195
203
298
327
207
224

Total
186
393
265
640
130
516
779
647
398
625
431

Number of
families
70
204
106
169
60
163
261
256
128
193
149

Table 7.2. Family structure in Thethi

The family nucleus is stable, dependent on the economic status and has been
simplified. In past, the family was patriarchal, and the family nucleus consisted of the
parents and their male childrens families, and all of them shared the same roof. Today,
the family consists of the parents living at home with their unmarried children. Married
girls live in their husbands home. Married boys choose to live on their own, but usually
the youngest son shares the house with his parents. As shown in the table above, the
average number of family members is 3.
Education:
The first American Red Cross School was opened in 1921.
Migration:
The inhabitants of this region have tendency to migrate to urban areas, but, during
the summer, they return, thus demonstrating their attempts to develop family tourism. A
part of the young people has had the tendency to immigrate to other countries, but in
recent years, they have returned to invest in their country.

Traditional values and culture:

Cultural attractions of the region of Thethi begin with the traditional clothes, churches,
characteristic houses, and the way of living.
Traditional clothing includes xhubleta for women, and xhamadani and tirqet for
men. Women use traditional veils, brides use veils with roses and light colors, whereas
the other women use black veils tied to the throat. Men use woolen traditional hat called
ksul.
Characteristic houses are built from stones and their wooden roofs are very sloping,
to avoid snow. The houses are 2-3 floors high, with stairs located at the external part of
the house that leads to the second floor because the first flat is usually reserved to the
animals. The second floor is used as the guest room and for the other members of the
family.
The local population is very hospitable. Many people have already begun to receive
tourists from Albania and abroad in their houses.
Agriculture and livestock:
The inhabitants of Shala cultivate their land and fields for only half of the year, in
order to sustain themselves and their families. The diet of this region includes mainly
meat and diary products such as cheese, butter, and cottage cheese. These products
have a high quality because of the clean environment and the fertile soil.
Forestry:
The beauty of this region is reflected in the forests of beech, black pine, maple, and
ash tree. The greatest part of the plant life of this region includes immense forests of
beech, which roughly comprise 90% of the area. Some centennial beeches with a
diameter of 1 1.5 m are found here. Also the oak trees are widely present.
A myriad of flowers are present in this region. The most noteworthy is the Wulfenia of
Baldai, an endemic plant that grows only in Theth.
Tourism and recreational activities:
You can walk through marvelous paths and ways in Thethi, though it is advisable to
be always accompanied by a guide, which in the span of a few days can lead you to the
local churches, graveyards, power plants, and nature monuments.
It takes three hours to reach Thethi and there are many more sights worthy to be
seen during the way: the cemetery of Treci, the valley of Shala, the rugged mountains of
the alpine region etc. From the mountain of Jezerca you can view the peaks of Dukagjini
and Bjeshkt e Namuna. From here, it is possible to continue the way towards Tropoja
and Curraj zones, walking through Valbona Pass to Dragobia, through the passes of
Thora and Peja, and finally ending up in Malsia e Madhe.
Mountainous cycling can be conducted from Koplik to Thethi and from Thethi to
Shkodr. There are nearly 100 km of mountainous road in Thethi that will satisfy cyclists
fond of natural beauties.
In Theth, the passionate people can parachute and use the delta plane.
During spring and fall, when the rivers of Thethi become tempestuous because of the
accumulated snow, canoeing can also be practiced in these waters.
Tourist attractions:

The Waterfall of Grunas, 30 m high.

The Water Sources of Okol, from where the Shala River springs.
The Arapi Cave, 120 m long, with tectonic shapes and water wells. There are many
undiscovered graves in this area. Inside the cave, there are three small lakes.
The cave Bira e Rrathve, which has many underground lakes, galleries, siphons,
stalactites and stalagmites.
The big Canyon of Grunasi, with carbonatite strata. It is 2 km long, 30-60 m deep,
and 2-3 m wide.
Rieci grave, which is the point from where one can see Okol, the mountainous pass
of Peja and that of Shtegu i Dhenve on the left side.
The Denelle Area, with glacial lakes and other aspects of the relief.
Hunting and fishing:
National Park of Thethi has an area of 2630 ha, from which 1699 ha are forests and
the rest is rocky area. The fauna of the region is diverse. There can be found 50 species
of birds, 10 species of reptiles and 8 species of amphibians.
The rocky area is populated by wild goats, while the woodland is populated by wild
boars, bears, wolves, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, hawks, eagles, wild roosters, as well as
several species of woodpeckers, alpine salamanders, and butterflies.

Fig. 7.1. Shkodra district

There are many places along the Shala River, as in Ndrlys, where one can fish.
Waters:

A small hydroelectric power plant has been built on Thethi River. During the raining
season, the volume of the water raises up to 15 m3/sec.
Landscape:
Thethi lies at the head of the Shala Valley and is located in the district of Shkodra.
Nature has given to this region a beautiful, fascinating view. Thethi is characterized by
its natural biodiversity which includes: forests, alpine and sub-alpine pastures, craggy
mountains, and deep valleys.
The lowest point is 700 m above sea level. In the north, the grey and treeless peak of
Arapi rises 2217.2 m above sea level, a preferable peak by the alpinists for its difficulty
according to international standards. In the east, you can see Jezerca Mountain, 2692 m
above sea level. There are some other peaks such as: peak of Alia, 2471 m high, the
peak of Pullaka, 2569 m high, etc. These mountains are positioned one after the other,
and are full of snow. On the west side of the peak of Arapi is the peak of Rrushbull, 2431
m high, going down to the peak of Zorgji, 1663.8 m high, and the peak of Biga e
Gjimajve, 2230 m high. From the peak of Radohima, Bjeshkt e Namuna and the entire
mountainous region of the Alps can be seen.
The clean climate and the numerous natural beauties make this region attractive to
the tourists. Thethi welcomes visitors all the year round, including mountain climbers,
botanists, fishing amateurs, speleologists, as well as those passionate of mountain
cycling.

Fig. 7.2. Kuksi disrict

7.2.3. KelmendiI
The area of Kelmendi is rich in tourist attractions which include coniferous and beech
forests and verdant pastures. These forests are populated by wild goats, roebuck, bears
and eagles. The Cemi River, which cuts through Kelmend, has cold water, cyclopean
rocks, and is full of trout.
Logu i Bjeshkeve is a very important event for the local community and it occurs
every year during the August. Spectators to this event come from various districts of
Albania: Shkodra, Malsia e Madhe, and even from Tirana. This event consists of
several fairs which display different products: handicraft items, silver jewelry, as well as
characteristic agricultural and livestock articles. Different sportive activities are also
organized from which the race of equitation strikes out.
The coronation of all these activities is the beauty pageant of the young girls of the
region. Participants come from the surrounding regions and are judged by a selected
jury. The girls are placed in the center of a natural amphitheater and are dressed with
traditional costumes to display the grace and wealth of their heritage. This competition is
organized to demonstrate the traditional and cultural values of the region.
Population and villages
Commune of Kelmendi has 8 villages.
Table 3
Villages
Selc
Broj
Tamar
Vukl
Kozhnj
Nik
Lepush
Vermosh

Population
Male
644
379
263
682
123
276
261
730

Female
588
389
256
696
118
268
260
719

Total
1232
768
519
1378
241
544
521
1449

Number of
families
183
142
180
179
60
126
121
350

Family structure:
The structure of families has been simplified. In the past, the family nucleus
consisted of the parents and their male childrens families and all of them shared the
same roof. Today, the family consists of the parents living at home with their unmarried
children. Married girls live with their husbands home. Married boys choose to live on
their own, but usually the youngest son shares the house with his parents. As shown in
the table above, the average number of family members is 5 6, but there are villages
where this rate is lower.
Education:

Elementary students have the possibility to attend classes in their own villages,
while for their secondary classes they must attend a school in Malsia e Madhe or in
other major cities.
Migration:
A part of the population, mainly young people, has begun migrating toward the
other cities. In addition, a considerable number of people, including whole families, have
chosen to emigrate.
Traditional values and culture:
Cultural attractions of the region of Kelmend include mainly the traditional
clothes, churches, characteristic houses, and the way of living.
Traditional clothing includes xhubleta for women, and xhamadan and tirqet
for men. Women use traditional veils, brides use veils with roses and light colors, and
the other women tie black veils to the throat. Men use woolen traditional hat called
ksul.
Characteristic houses are built from stones and their wooden roofs are very
sloping, to avoid snow. The houses are 2-3 floors high, with stairs located at the external
part of the house that leads to the second floor, because the first floor is usually
reserved to the animals. The second floor is used as the guest room and for the other
members of the family.
The local population is very hospitable. In addition to the hotels, the houses of
some inhabitants may also be used for accommodation.
In Albanian villages, the tradition of crafting and decorating small wooden objects
still exists amongst the villagers. Therefore, the shepherds decorate their crooks,
distaffs, spindles, etc. Others, more skilled in the art, construct baby cribs, traditional
chairs, musical instruments, wooden boxes, etc.
The women are also expert artisans in wool processing, and they can skillfully
produce various items, such as woolen covers, different clothing items for their family
members, etc.
Agriculture and livestock:
The inhabitants of Kelmendi cultivate their lands and fields for only a short period
of the year, in order to sustain themselves and their families. The diet of this region
includes mainly meat and diary products such as cheese, butter, and cottage cheese.
These products have a high quality because of the clean environment and the fertile soil.
Medicinal Herbs:
The region of Kelmendi is home to various medicinal herbs such as: blueberry,
juniper, cornel bush, etc. The herbs are often used by the inhabitants of Kelmendi; they
use the blueberries to produce syrup and jam, while the cornel and juniper are used to
produce an alcohol drink called raki. The chestnut honey is also famous for its
nutritional and medicinal values.
Tourism and recreational activities:
The natural monuments of Kelmend are noteworthy. Among them we can
mention: the Beech of Gerza with historical values, the Beech Forests and Meadows of
Harusha, a unique collection of trees, and the Eulfemis of Baldaci and other rare plants
on the verge of extinction.

Tourist Attractions:
The Balcony of Rrapshi, 800 m below it the Cemi River flows.
The Pass of Bordoleci, a magnificent landscape, from where high mountains,
canyons, meadows, and beech forests can be seen.
Hunting and fishing:
In Tamar, where the rivers Cemi i Selcs and Cemi i Vuklit meet each other,
there is an excellent location for fishing trout.
Landscape:
The region has some magnificent landscapes. This is an unforgettable view for
everybody that passes through for the first time. The clean environment and the
numerous natural wonders make this region a tourist attraction. This region is
distinguished for the high snow covered mountains, green pastures, dense forests,
wonderful valleys and numerous water sources. The natural monuments created by the
limestone and karstic processes can be seen throughout the region. This wonderful
nature invites every traveler to return and explore its wonders.