Albania's forests are shrinking every year, due to fires, illegal logging and the failure to plant new trees. From over 1.1 million hectares, forest area has fallen to less than 970 thousand hectares. This disappearance gradually weakens the ecosystem and increases the risk to the environment and communities.
There are fewer forests in Albania. Fires and illegal logging on the one hand and the failure to plant new plants on the other are shrinking the country's green area year after year. From over 1.1 million hectares by 2022, last year the area with pine trees, oaks, oaks or shrubs was limited to less than 970 thousand hectares.
The 18 percent decrease in forest area was also influenced by the fact that the area of forest and pasture land located within protected areas was not calculated.
Data from INSTAT, meanwhile, show that the majority of the forested area in the country consists of fruit trees, followed by shrubs and conifers.
Along with the shrinking area, the volume of forests is also decreasing. From around 55 million cubic meters by 2022, last year the total volume of forests shrank to just over 53 million cubic meters.
Volume is the most significant indicator of the situation in forests, which have been shrinking for years as a result of indiscriminate exploitation, burning, or illegal logging of hundreds of thousands of hectares every year.
According to data from the General Prosecutor's Office, between 2017 and 2023, 134 people were prosecuted on charges of intentional forest arson. On the other hand, data from the District Courts show an extremely low number of people convicted. Only 2 in the last 6 years!
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