Based on a project developed under the 10-year Forest Moratorium and the Forestation annual season, reforestation of the degraded area along the river Shushicë, and the arrangement of the Shkumbin riverbed in the erosion area started today in Elbasan.

3000 young seedlings (acacia and poplar) will be planted in an area of 2 ha, where the effects of erosion have caused serious damage to the economy and infrastructure for local residents, effects that have impacted also the river Shkumbin.

The reforestation of the area, which for decades has suffered the destruction of the green spaces due to deforestation and arsons, will restore the lung of Shushice, in addition to significantly improving the air quality for the residents of these areas.

This important project undertaken by the Ministry of Environment provides, inter alia, the arrangement of the river nearby the bridges Polis, Vale and along its course, in addition to deepening the river bed, and cleaning it of inert materials.

The stage of the project implementation started today at the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Environment Lefter Koka, the Mayor of Elbasan Qazim Sejdini, MP Taulant Balla, representatives of local government, as well as project leaders and experts.

Fatmir Brazhda, a representative of the Regional Directorate of Protected Areas, explained that the phenomenon of flooding occurred recently is due to deforestation in the mountain Sopot, and also to corrosion and erosion. He said that the new project on planting seedlings, which is to be implemented, is an important preventive measure. “I want to thank the minister for his commitment to the forest moratorium. We have taken measures to plant 3000 acacia and poplar seedlings to mitigate somehow the phenomenon of flooding. This phenomenon is due to deforestation up in the mountain, and also to corrosion and erosion. The land is exposed when trees are cut, and erosion is a natural consequence. We should start from the top by arrangers the water system, so that soils and riverbeds will be protected from erosion.”

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Elbasan Qazim Sejdini informed that in addition to projects that are about to be implemented, the municipality has made all the required emergency interventions to minimize damages due to flooding, and to assist local residents.

Minister of Environment Lefter Koka said that multidimensional measures taken so far will be long-term, up to the full rehabilitation of the damaged areas. “This is one of the damaged parts after the rainfall. The most recent phenomenon that is occurring in Albania – besides the floods that has always occurred in the north of the country and in the foothills of Lezhe – has already started in the south, and also here in Elbasan. We have envisaged multi-dimensional measures, starting with the moratorium, which I consider an historic decision. We started the rehabilitation of some much degraded areas, such this one, but work will be carried out throughout the year”.

Considering the 10-year forest Moratorium as the only response to barbaric exploitation, Prime Minister Rama said that other important measures are to be taken against environment crimes, so that from 10 years from now Albania will have a whole new look in terms of natural balances.

“This is the terrible cost of the barbaric exploitation of many years. The moratorium is the only answer to restore all forests and the natural balances, without which no dam, no government can protect the people from water. Meanwhile the planting of seedlings will continue intensively to ensure protection at critical points, and will be extended to all areas that have been deforested in the past years. 3 licences for the exploitation of forest have been given per day by the former government, for a total of 2.600 forest exploitation permits, which is crazy. On the contrary, we have approved only 24 contracts in the last 2 years. Another step will be taken for rivers, in order to establish some stricter rules. We will soon pass also the Penal Code package related to environmental crime. Due to all these measures, things will be under full control within 5 years, regeneration will start, and 10 years from now Albania will have a very different look in terms of natural balances.”