How can collaboration between local communities, public institutions and environmental organisations help protect Mediterranean coastal ecosystems in the long term? Representatives from public administrations and different relevant stakeholders of the area met on 16 April 2026 in Shkodra, Albania, to discuss environmental stewardship strategies for the Buna River-Velipojë Protected Landscape. The meeting was organised within the framework of the COASTRUST project, funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme, and included the participation of SUBMON as a project partner specialised in marine and coastal environmental stewardship.
Now in its third year of implementation, COASTRUST brings together organisations from across the Mediterranean to establish environmental stewardship strategies in pilot sites that support biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource use and the long-term management of natural areas. So far, each pilot site has developed its own stewardship strategy together with local stakeholders, adapting these approaches to the ecological and social realities of each territory. At this stage of the project, partners are also beginning to implement concrete stewardship actions within their pilot sites.
One of these pilot areas is the Buna River-Velipojë Protected Landscape (BRVPL), located in northwestern Albania. The area forms one of the Adriatic’s most important ecological corridors and includes the Buna Delta, one of the few remaining undisturbed large wetland systems along the Adriatic coast. Its river, coastal and wetland ecosystems host important biodiversity while also facing increasing environmental pressures.
A consultative meeting on environmental stewardship in Shkodra
As part of this work, Albanian partner INCA (Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania) organised a consultative meeting in Shkodra focused on the environmental stewardship strategy developed for the Buna River-Velipojë area. Through this initiative, INCA aims to strengthen environmental conservation in the pilot area through the involvement of local stakeholders in a long-term stewardship approach coordinated together with the Municipality and the Prefecture of Shkodra.
The meeting served as a platform to discuss the priority areas identified within the strategy and the first concrete measures that could be implemented in the territory. Representatives from local administrations, environmental organisations and other stakeholders participated in the discussions, addressing governance approaches that can support the long-term conservation and sustainable management of the area.
Since environmental stewardship remains a relatively new approach in Albania, the meeting also created a space for exchanging experiences related to stewardship agreements and collaborative governance approaches in coastal and river environments. As a partner in COASTRUST, SUBMON shared its experience in marine and coastal environmental stewardship initiatives developed in Mediterranean contexts. SUBMON representatives and environmental consultant Jordi Pietx shared experiences related to the administrative and practical aspects of stewardship agreements in marine and coastal environments. Cristina Sánchez, manager of SEO/BirdLife Catalonia, presented experiences related to river stewardship.
During the discussions, participants explored how different stewardship approaches are being applied across Mediterranean territories and reflected on how these experiences could help inform future actions within the Buna River-Velipojë Protected Landscape. Representatives from the Municipality of Shkodra, the Prefecture and the regional Water Agency participated actively in the exchange, highlighting the importance of cooperation between institutions, organisations and local actors in the long-term management of natural areas. As part of these exchanges, the Catalan Network for Nature Conservation (XCN), which includes the stewardship network in Catalonia, was also presented as an example of collaborative environmental governance involving NGOs, public administrations and local stakeholders. The XCN currently brings together 207 member organisations.
Visiting the Buna River-Velipojë Protected Landscape
Ahead of the meeting, representatives from SUBMON, together with environmental consultant Jordi Pietx and Cristina Sánchez from SEO/BirdLife Catalonia,visited different parts of the Buna River-Velipojë Protected Landscape together with INCA representatives and staff from the protected area. The visit provided an opportunity to learn more about the ecological value of the area, the current conservation challenges affecting the territory and the ongoing work being carried out locally.
The exchanges held in Albania highlighted the growing interest in stewardship approaches as tools for collaborative environmental management and long-term conservation. Through pilot actions, stakeholder collaboration and exchanges between Mediterranean partners, the COASTRUST project continues promoting environmental stewardship approaches adapted to the ecological and social realities of different coastal and river territories across the region.
As part of this process, SUBMON contributes to the project through its experience in marine and coastal stewardship methodologies, collaborative conservation and stakeholder engagement developed through its work in Mediterranean environments.
