First National Documents on Spatial Planning in Albania

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The policies supported by
the <strong>National</strong> Plan in this
regard are:
1. Preservation
2. Consolidation
3. Modernization
energy, impact of the water system due to climate changes.
Policies of urban development densification and natural corridors along river valleys
are the primary policies, which the <strong>National</strong> Plan brings in support of this system.
The NSP marks the blue line for the protection of water sources from prohibited
uses and private use.
ʧ 200 m distance from the maritime shoreline and at the same time, 2 m izoipsos
for the flat seashore, and 60 m izoipsos for the rocky coast.
ʧ 100 m distance from the river shore for river flows, prohibition of every activity,
and the 1 km belt of natural corridors associating their flow is maintained only for
use with nature as priority.
ʧ Protection of the Vjosa Catchment Basin, declaring it an Area of Protected
Landscape. Vjosa is distinguished from other rivers in the Balkans for the high
level of water potential, geological construction of the formations along it, and the
diversity of landscapes across the valley.
ʧ Demands for the safe supply of inhabited settlements is closely linked to the
technical requirements of water supply infrastructure. In this regard, the document
introduces some of the legal requirements to be taken into account when drafting
territorial plans for safer potable water supply.
ʧ Furthermore, the NSP document introduces the risks and proposes measures for
the protection and adaption of the climate changes, especially for the water system.
1.11 Agricultural System
Agriculture has traditionally been one of the important branches of economic
development in Albania. Agricultural products are part of the formation of regional
identity of the country, with a wide range of environmental, natural, and climatic
changes. While technological developments will replace the human role in many
agricultural processes, this sector remains the primary source of economic income
and employment opportunities in rural areas. However, the agricultural sector will
have to face and adapt to the constantly growing customer demands as a result of
the modernization and restructuring of marketing typology and the consequences
of climate changes. Efficiency in the food and agriculture sector, together with
fisheries and forestry, as well as diversification of farmers’ activities are key
components of the rural economy.
ʧ Even in the agricultural system, the polycentric development of the country
highlights the need for defining and identifying the main agricultural poles of the
country. Given the geographical position of the agricultural land, classification
of local economies, the history of development in the agricultural economy, and
the connective infrastructure network, about 40% of the total area of Albania is
classified as agricultural land (24% arable land and 15 percent of pastures) and the
rest is divided between forests (36 percent) and other functions.
ʧ 43% of the agricultural land, almost half of it, is concentrated in the most
populated part of the coastal western lowland. About 34% of agricultural land lies in
river valleys and 23% in the mountainous area.
ʧ 20% of the GDP comes as a contribution of the agricultural sector, but the greatest
contribution of this sector is the number of employees therein, approx. 50%.
ʧ The highest challenge in the sector is the reduction of the commercial imbalance
in the ratio between the import of agro-food products (increased by 40% in 2012
compared to 2007, while exports are increased at an evenhigher rate, ie 75% for
respective periods).
Maximum preservation of the agricultural land fund - through policies of