The National Training Workshop on Forest Biodiversity was held on September 25th, 2025 in Stebleva, in Central Albania. The workshop was jointly organized by Faculty of Forestry Sciences in Tirana and the Regional Administration of Protected Areas in Librazhdi with the support of the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD) within the framework of the project “Agriculture Policy Dialogue Germany-Southeast Europe/Support of a Regional Expert Advisory Working Group on Sustainable Forest Management in the Western Balkans.”
The workshop focused on presenting the regional experience on forest biodiversity integration in forest planning processes to the national key forestry and environmental stakeholders.
The Nature Value Assessment Field Form as an example of data gathering on forest biodiversity indicators discussed with relevant stakeholders on how it fits to the current data gathering within the framework of forest planning processes and what other forest biodiversity indicators can be integrated into the process of National Forest Inventory (NFI) and Forest Management Planning (FMP) processes.
Highlights – Key Recommendations
Forest Policy: Adopt close-to-nature forest management and integrate biodiversity data into national forest planning and inventories.
Data & Monitoring: Use standardized tools and ensure cooperation between forestry and nature protection institutions for shared biodiversity data.
Digital Tools: Upgrade ZANA and OpenForis platforms to include biodiversity assessment and management features.
Capacity Building: Train forestry professionals and strengthen research infrastructure to better understand and protect forest biodiversity.
Climate Action: Include biodiversity in adaptation strategies, reforestation, and management planning under changing climate conditions.
Policy & Financing: Secure political support and EU funding to implement biodiversity-focused forest management.
