Albanian Natural and Cultural Heritage

Abstract

The highly diverse nature of the country, often described as “a great natural museum,” has conditioned many natural phenomena and objects with extraordinarily unique values ​​on a global and national scale, also considered natural heritage sites.Two natural sites in Albania have been registered in the World Heritage List: Lake Ohrid (part of the mixed site of Lake Ohrid Region) and the ancient and primeval beech forests of Rrajca and Gashi. There are four Albanian wetlands in the Ramsar List. The Prespa-Ohrid Transboundary Biosphere Reserve is part of the World Biosphere Reserve Network. Some protected areas are part of the European Green Belt, the Emerald Network, the Parks Dinarides Network, and the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas Network.The national natural heritage network consists of sites of various categories of protected areas, municipal sites, and the Aos-Vjosa eco-museum.The rich and diverse Albanian cultural heritage is related to the ancient population and the social, economic, and cultural development throughout the centuries. Cultural sites from Albania are also registered in the World Cultural Heritage List: the ancient city of Butrinti, the city of Gjirokastra and Berati, as well as partly the mixed site of the Lake Ohrid Region. The two codices of Berati have been registered as monuments of world culture in the UNESCO World Memory register, while the Albanian iso-polyphony was proclaimed “Masterpiece of the Oral Heritage of Humanity.” The list of national cultural heritage also includes archaeological, historical, architectural, artistic, ethnographic, religious, and environmental monuments (like traditional bazaars and museum cities). The material and spiritual heritage in unity with the geographical environment manifests the Albanian culture and identity.KeywordsWorld Heritage ListAlbania Sites in the UNESCO World Heritage ListTransboundary Biosphere ReserveRamsar ConventionGreat natural museum The national natural and cultural heritage The municipal natural parks Cross-border eco-museum