European Union and Albania Launch “EU4Forests” Project to Align Forestry Sector with EU Standards

The European Union and the Government of Albania, in partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched EU4Forests, a €16 million programme to strengthen sustainable forest management and strengthening climate resilience in Albania. EU4Forests will also support Albania meet EU environmental and climate standards, which are key for its accession process under Chapter 27.

Forests cover around 36 per cent of Albania’s territory, and are essential for water security, biodiversity, rural livelihoods, erosion control, and climate regulation. However, unsustainable land use, logging, arson, overexploitation, lack of inspection and monitoring, and limited investment have led to a 32 per cent decline in forest volume over the past two decades. 

EU4Forests, funded by the EU (€12.7 million), with contributions from Italy (€3 million) and the United Nations Development Programme (€0,26k), supports Albania’s forestry sector in moving toward sustainable forest management, stronger institutions, and long-term planning. The programme will support reforestation, improve fire prevention and strengthen institutions responsible for managing forests. A key focus will be at the local level. Municipalities will receive support to develop forest management plans.

EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato said: “Albania’s forests must be protected to secure a sustainable future and EU4Forests is a concrete step in that direction. Albania’s forestry sector needs a decisive push to align with EU environmental and climate standards and to reverse the effects of deforestation, fires, and climate change. The EU is here to help Albania reach these standards and preserve the country’s green lungs.”

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Environment, Sofjan Jaupaj, stated: “Albania has undertaken important reforms to align the legal framework with the European Union acquis, including the new law on forests and the strengthening of relevant institutions. We are currently working on the establishment of the State Forestry Enterprise, as a key instrument for professional and sustainable management. One of the main priorities of the Albanian government is the creation and functioning of state plant nurseries, which will guarantee the production of quality and certified planting material.”

AICS Acting Director, Letizia Fischioni, reaffirmed “Italy’s commitment to supporting Albania in the forestry sector, with particular attention to wildfire prevention and civil protection, as key pillars for environmental resilience and risk management”.  She also emphasized Italy’s contribution, noting that “the expertise of CREA and CIMA Foundation will provide added value to the intervention and help deliver tangible results on the ground”.

The UNDP Resident Representative, Randi Davis, highlighted the project’s people-centred approach: “EU4Forests invests in both nature and people—building resilience, creating opportunities and ensuring forests benefit generations to come.”

Over five years, the project will provide technical and operational support to improve forest governance, including alignment with EU standards, strengthening the Albania Forest Information System, and building national and local capacities. It will also support the development of 10 municipal forest management plans and a national afforestation and reforestation plan, alongside concrete actions in ecosystem restoration and forest fire prevention. A grant scheme for municipalities will be organised to support actions at local level and to raise awareness and encourage behavioural change in order to better protect forests.

Implementation will be led in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, the National Forestry Agency and relevant public institutions, with municipalities, local communities, private sector actors—particularly SMEs in wood processing—academia and civil society as key partners. The project promotes participatory approaches, public–private partnerships and innovative tools, including GIS-based monitoring and AI-supported wildfire risk assessment.

EU4Forests contributes to Albania’s commitments under the EU Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, the EU Forest Strategy for 2030 and regional cooperation frameworks, supporting both environmental protection and economic development while advancing Albania’s EU integration. 

EU4Forests reflects the strong, shared and long-standing commitment of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and UNDP to working together in Albania across the environment, protected areas, and disaster risk reduction sectors.