Policy and investment planning in FOLU in Albania to support the utilization of the climate change mitigation and sustainable development potential of the sector
Albania’s forests and pastures cover approximately 65% of the national territory—46% forests and 19% pastures—constituting one of the country’s most critical natural resources. These ecosystems support both environmental integrity and socio-economic development, with forests playing predominantly productive roles and pastures supporting seasonal livestock activities. This land use sector—Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU)—is vital for its significant contribution to achieving Albania’s climate targets and sustainable development goals.
According to Albania’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), Albania aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20.9% by 2030. Of this target, 61% is attributed to the energy sector, while FOLU accounts for 37%, mainly through land use categories such as cropland and grassland. This positions the FOLU sector as a major national contributor to climate mitigation efforts.
Despite its strategic relevance, the sector is currently hampered by fragmented governance, insufficient strategic planning, weak institutional coordination, low private sector engagement, and limited technical capacities at both central and local levels.
