Wild fauna has recovered substantially across the territory of Albania in just one year after the moratorium on hunting was established.

These were the findings of the today’s analysis of the Ministry of Environment, organized in the National Park of Divjaka on the effects this moratorium has had so far. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, American Ambassador to Tirana Donald Lu, MPs of Lushnja, etc.

Minister of Environment Lefter Koka recalled the initial skepticism for this Moratorium. In addition, he noted that today, a year later, the results achieved are spectacular. “Many thought this moratorium was unfeasible, while others thought that it would be impossible to put control across the country. In fact, a year after the decision was taken, the situation has completely changed and the result is spectacular. I believe that this was one of the good works done by the Albanian government”- Koka said.

As an MP of Divjaka, Erion Braçe praised the Prime Minister for keeping this promise made to social and environmental groups. While thanking residents of the area and hunters who supported the initiative of the Government to ban hunting for 2 years, Braçe expressed confidence that this deadline will go even further to give Albania a natural look and to make it attractive to Albanian and foreign citizens who want to spend their vacation in Albania. “I want to thank the residents of Divjaka, who even in the darkest periods, not only for Albania, but also for the environment, even for national parks, have defended the National Park, the largest national wealth, by doing of course their best to protect all living creatures of this park. So, a very big thanks goes today to all residents of the area who supported a great initiative of the Government of the Republic of Albania. They did it for themselves, but at the same time they have provided a more greater wealth to our beloved Albania.

I want to thank the Prime Minister for keeping a promise made during the time that we were in opposition”, MP Braçe said.

For US Ambassador Donald Lu, this moratorium is an impressive example of how governments can work with local residents to protect Albania’s delicate ecosystems. “The coastal areas of Albania were the last station for thousands of migratory birds. Many of them were shot and killed by domestic and foreign hunters who took advantage from the lack of rules and implementation. Today, we see how nature has rebounded and thanks to this Moratorium on Hunting, these migratory birds have been able to develop again on the shores of Albania’s beautiful coastline”, Ambassador Lu said.

Studies show that Albania hosts an average of 180 thousand species that come to winter. This is a high figure for a relatively small water surfaces of our country. Five Albanian wetlands, Karavasta, Nartë, Shkodra, Ohrid and Prespa are part of the great ecosystems of protected areas with rich biodiversity, and they meet the criteria for areas of international importance.