The Technical Advisory Working Group has finalized and presented the nomination file for Shkodra Lake to be recognized as a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO.

The final presentation took place at the KUB Pyramid Center in Tirana. The event aimed to review the nomination file one last time before the upcoming bilateral presentation with Montenegro and the official submission to UNESCO.

The Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Shkodër emphasized its active involvement since 2023. It has contributed essential expertise related to cultural heritage within the proposed nomination zone, which falls within the Lake Shkodra Watershed Basin.

Albania and Montenegro will jointly submit the nomination. This cross-border project seeks to generate long-term benefits for local communities by fostering sustainable development. It aligns closely with UNESCO’s “Man and the Biosphere” Programme.

If approved, the lake will gain protected status under UNESCO. As a result, it will benefit from higher management standards and deeper cooperation between the two countries.

Shkodra Lake is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. Located on the border between Albania and Montenegro, it stands out as one of the region’s key tourism and ecological destinations.

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