Today, countries worldwide celebrate International Biodiversity Day. This day honors the precious treasure of protected areas.

The United Nations General Assembly declared this day. It marks May 22, 1992. On this date, the text of the Biodiversity Convention was adopted. Albania is a party to this convention.

Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, shared images today on social media. She showed the wealth of Albania’s protected areas.

“On International Biodiversity Day, here is a collage from our protected areas,” Kumbaro wrote. “These areas are the precious home of diverse biodiversity.”

Albania aims to expand its protected areas. The goal is to add more biological diversity elements. This supports sustainable development and conservation.

Protected areas are biodiversity oases in Albania. They now cover 21.5% of the country’s territory.

Expanding protected areas will strengthen their integrity. These areas remain untouched compared to other parts of the country. They protect high biodiversity and rare habitats.

Protected areas have also become popular tourist destinations. Visitors admire their natural beauty and diverse landscapes. In 2024 alone, protected areas attracted 5.5 million visitors.

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