Kick-off meeting for the Buna Delta Protection Project, implemented by IUCN for protection of this significant coastal wetland, was held yesterday in Shkodra, Albania.
In addition to marketing manager of IEC Tehnopolis, Aleksandra Mrkaic, the meeting was also attended by representatives of numerous regional and international organizations, such as IUCN, INCA, MAVA, Tour du Valat, PAP / RAC, MedWet and others.
Keynote speakers at the meeting were, Zamir Dede – Nacional Agency of Protected Areas, Mayor of Shkodra Municipality – Voltana Ademi, Luis Costa – MAVA Foundation Representative and Boris Erg, IUCN ECARO Director. They discussed main goals of the project, as well as the significance of Buna river protection for the biodiversity in this part of Mediterranean.
That being said, the Buna river delta is among the most important coastal wetlands in the Eastern Mediterranean, a designated Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar site). It has a variety of habitats supporting about 900-1000 plant and animal species, some of which are critically endangered. The site has been selected as one of the four sites for developing and demonstrating best practices in management of coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean.
The Buna Delta Protection Project will be implemented by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in partnership with – Priority Actions Programme/Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC), Global Water Partnership (GWP), Tour du Valat and Institute for Nature Conservation of Albania (INCA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration, Municipality of Shkoder, the National Agency for Protected Areas and Shkodra Regional Administration for Protected Areas.
