Afforestation & Reforestation of Refused Lands in Albania BioCarbon Fund Project

The objective of the project is to increase carbon sequestration through afforestation and reforestation of highly degraded land in Albania, leading to enhanced sources of livelihood and incomes in poor rural areas, reduced soil degradation and improved water quality and conservation of biodiversity. The project will adopt a participatory approach within the community to reach a common agreement on the protection of the selected area from grazing and to plan the interventions needed to accompany this change. Interventions may include fencing, limited silvicultural work and development of alternative sources of livelihood for those whose livelihood may be affected. These activities can be considered additional, and the carbon sequestered could result in Certified Emission Reductions under the Clean Development Mechanism. Concerned with the deterioration of the country's natural resource base and building on the positive experience of the Forestry Project, the Government has requested the World Bank's continued support to expand community-based management of the natural resource of the country. This led to the identification of the concept of the Natural Resource Management Project (NRDP). The objective of the NRDP will be to assist communes in establishing sustainable natural resource management practices in hilly and mountainous lands that are prone to erosion and resource degradation. As currently envisaged, the NRDP, which will be implemented by the MAF, includes a Carbon Stock Enhancement component, which will build on the results of the project proposed under this PIN.