print mail AFFORESTATION OF DEGRADED AGRICULTURAL LAND PROJECT

The afforestation activities will cover 1.500 ha distributed over three regions that are among the poorest in the country, with a median poverty rate of 40%. The project concerns the afforestation (manual and mechanized) of degraded agricultural lands in the regions of Pukë-Mirditë, Laç-Lezhë and Berat, through the planting of native species. The total afforestation area included in the project is 1.500 hectares (net of roads and buildings etc.) and it is spread across two indicated regions.

The main technique applied is to exclude the selected sites from grazing. In addition to this, the planting of selected species is the main activity of the project. Mostly is employed manual work, machineries will be use for transportations and no fertilization will be used.
Thus, the project will be carried out through the following activities:
  • Nursery of plants
  • Transplanting of 2.000 plants per ha of the selected species to enrich species diversity;
  • Basic silvicultural works.
  • Sites protection from grazing
To protect the sites where the different supplemental planting or different silvicultural interventions are implemented, temporary fences will be realized with traditional techniques and material (product of thinning in shrubs). The areas will be protected from grazing during the period from 5 to 7 years in order to guarantee tree growth, after that time the risks of damage by the livestock is minimized. In some cases there is not the need of fencing since a strong agreement under the project was achieved among the shepherds, which decided to not graze within the project area. In those areas this kind of agreements can be more effective than physical barriers.
The forest species to be planted are determined according to the site and productive/protective scope of the plantation. In the project areas species to be used are native species (broadleaves, coniferous). Only the poplar can be considered exotic specie.

GHG offset

In the 30 years crediting period (2010 – 2040) the project will sequester the total of 36.130 tCO2.

Sustainability:

The project contributes to sustainable development of the regions involved through:
  • stabilization of impoverished soils through protection against wind and water erosion;
  • reconstruction of ecosystem affected by agriculture (Pukë-Mirditë);
  • generation of employment for afforestation works including the nursery management.

Current status

PDD is in preparation and project participants involved are CONSORZIO ABN a&b, Network sociale soc. coop. soc., Confservizi International – Italian Utilities scrl, Anteko s.r.l, Umbraflor s.r.l.

Estimated investment cost

5.415.000 EUR.

Local partners

Districts of Pukë-Mirditë, Laç-Lezhë and Berat.