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Nature, Culture, and Tourism in Albania

A Poster Exhibition by Merita Dollma

02.05.2018 at 18:00 

Location: Rachel Carson Center, 4th floor lobby

Protected areas are a key component of any global conservation strategy. Tourism provides a crucial and unique way of fostering visitors’ connection with protected area values, making it a potentially positive force for conservation (IUCN).

Albania is a small but very beautiful country thanks to its landscape diversity. Within its territory, there are marine ecosystems, coastal ecosystems, lakes, river valleys, high mountain ecosystems, alpine and sub-alpine pastures and meadows, etc. High geodiversity and biodiversity have resulted in the need for protection, and the designation of 799 sites as protected areas, most of which are small natural monuments. The country’s total area under protection is 4,600 km² (16%) divided into six IUCN categories.

The natural and cultural heritage of Albania is a valuable asset for tourism development as one of the priority sectors of the country’s economy. The conservation, protection, and promotion of Albanian heritage for tourism development would create benefits for local communities, as well as sustainable development in the country. Unfortunately, the natural and cultural heritage of Albania is almost unknown to the rest of the world, due to its political isolation in the past and poor self-promotion today. To unveil the unknown Albania, a set of 30 posters will show its most beautiful natural and human landscapes. Merita Dollma, a current Carson fellow, has curated the exhibition.