On International Forests Day, celebrated on March 21, Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro participated in the reforestation of 21 hectares of forest in the area of Krushovo, in the Municipality of Korçë, continuing the Year of Forests activities.
The mass planting of these areas, organized by the Municipality of Korça, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, and the National Forestry Agency, together with the Regional Administration of Protected Areas of Korçë and the Faculty of Forestry Sciences, was aimed at reforestation and regeneration of the vegetation damaged by fires caused years ago.
“I am very happy that we intervened in this area, severely burned in 2008. So we have come to apologize to nature for the disaster, but on the other hand to lend a hand to the natural regeneration,” said the Minister of Tourism and Environment.
Kumbaro added that about 50 municipalities have already joined the initiatives of the Year of Forests, with a mobilization throughout the country for the increase of forest areas and their good management. During the activity in the area of Voskopojë, where over 40 thousand saplings will be planted, Minister Kumbaro also highlighted the Municipality of Korça as one of the municipalities with the best performance based on the analysis of the National Forestry Agency, but there is still work to be done in terms of belonging to the management plan, as one of the municipalities with a significant area of forests.
“Korça has 14 forest industries. The potential is huge. Korça is a municipality where tourism is a priority. A very important component of this is nature tourism in all its elements, and forests and pastures are a very important element that must be used,” said the Mayor of Korça, Sotiraq Filo.
Kumbaro considered the partnership with the Agricultural University of Tirana to be very important in the Year of Forests. “When we talk about breeding plans, we need to review the methodology together, even though we are thinking with the Minister of Local Government to intervene with a national plan to help municipalities in the preparation of breeding plans. A better breeding plan helps with the management”, concluded the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro.
During the meeting, an agreement was also signed between the National Agency for Protected Areas and the Faculty of Forestry at the Agricultural University of Tirana, focusing on the restoration of protected areas and the monitoring of wildlife.