Prokletije Research Articles

The first elements of contemporary architecture in the Albanian Alps

The Albanian Alps, with an elevation ranging from 285 m to 2694 m above sea level, like all the high mountain areas, have experienced isolation until recently and consequently, time has stood still there, maintaining a slow development. Until the 1990s, settlements in the mountainous areas were in complete harmony with a cultural landscape and architecture entirely traditional for the time. After the fall of totalitarianism, these areas underwent massive migration due to the difficulties in lifestyle and the lack of services and roads. It was precisely the 50-year totalitarian isolation and the abandonment during the 25-year transition that caused a “pause” in the development of the region, which is also reflected in the architecture of the area. With the exception of 4-5 buildings that try to bring a more contemporary architectural style, the rest remains a continuation of ‘Vernacular Mountain Architecture’. Stone kullas, Albanian term for dwelling in mountainous areas, with their typical vernacular Alpine style, minimalist in form and in perfect harmony with nature, vastly dominate the cultural landscapes of the settlements in the Alps. Sometimes they are found in ruins and degraded by time and sometimes they are grouped together in hamlets or neighborhoods.

The Potentials for the Ecological Management of Landscape Connectivity Including Aquatic Ecosystems in Northeast Albania

At the landscape level, freshwater ecosystems are linked at various spatial and temporal scales by movements of different fauna components adapted to life in water. We review the literature on the state of landscape connectivity and related aquatic species that connect different types of freshwater habitats, focusing on linkages from streams, large rivers and standing water bodies. Based on existing evidence, it is clear that biotic linkages throughout current mosaic have important consequences for biological integrity and biodiversity. The recent developments with regard to urbanization, expansion of urban centers, infrastructure development, and hydropower plant construction in Albania are in line with global destruction and fragmentation of habitats resulting in the parceling up of landscapes that, in this very case, have been caused by human population growth and development activities. The primary aim of this article is to address the landscape connectivity in a wider northeastern part of Albania considering various protected areas. The landscape connectivity is a pillar component of connectivity conservation that has emerged as a response approach to a range of threats to biodiversity, which include habitat degradation and destruction, fragmentation and climate changes. The approach analyses of landscape connectivity were defined from a human perspective in a linkage among different protected areas, including National Park Albanian Alps, Nature Park Korrab-Koritnik, National Park ShebenikJabllanica, Pogradec Landscape Protected Areas and National Park Prespa. The basis of this analysis lies in the Network of Protected Areas (NPAs) of Albania. Cumulatively, the protected areas connectivity, aquatic ecosystem linkage and individual movements connect populations within and among landscape mosaics and contribute to national and regional diversity and resilience to disturbance. This study highlights the importance of considering both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems connectivity in conservation planning and management.

Environmental Landscapes in the "Albanian Alps" in Kosovo in the Development of Local Tourism

Environmental Landscapes in the "Albanian Alps" in Kosovo in the Development of Local Tourism

THE VALUES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE RUGOVA REGION IN PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN KOSOVO

Culture is conceived as a complex whole, as a conceptual system in learning. The Rugova region is geographically located in the "Albanian Alps" which is a territory that includes a special set of cultural activities developed between generations. These intangible (spiritual) identity values include: language (dialect), tradition, traditional food, traditional clothing, symbols, natural-cultural monuments, festivals, rituals, customs and traditions, religion and the folklore tradition of the Rugova region. The overall purpose of the paper is to assess the cultural heritage and how to use its potential for sustainable development in the Rugova region. The cultural dimension of heritage and the possibility of cultural perspective consists of recognizing the new reality and changing dynamics of community life. Another goal is to deepen the knowledge about the organization and functioning of the cultural heritage of the Rugova community towards tourism. Literature research by local and international authors, data collection and analysis is built from the field through questionnaire, interview. Interdisciplinary methodologies have been used such as: ethnographic method, method of direct field observations which has been used to get acquainted with socio-cultural heritage and tourism objects. The development of the cultural tradition of food preparation, the way in which the inhabitants give a worldview for the heritage in the service of the development of tourism are parts of interest in this topic.

First data about cave fauna from the Albanian Alps

In September of 2021, a Polish expedition took place in the Valbona Valley in the Albanian Alps (Kocot-Zalewska et al. 2021) During the expedition, a project study of invertebrate cave fauna had begun. The main purpose of this presentation is to show the preliminary results of a study on the invertebrate fauna in the Albanian Alps. Within 14 days, arthropods were collected in subterranean habitats between 1500 and 2300 m a.s.l. The study was led on the left and right sides of the Valley. On the left side of the Valley, we explored bauxite mines and Spella Huxhise Cave; on the right side, the Ice Cave, Spella de Akullt, Spella e Valbones, and Spella Sportive caves were explored. Mainly, the direct searching method was used. However, pitfall traps with baits were used in one cave and one tunnel. Altogether, from five caves and a complex of four tunnels, 102 arthropods belonging to insects (beetles, flies, and crickets), millipedes, spiders, harvestmen, and springtails, have been collected. Flies and beetles are the most numerous groups. The majority of the collected specimens have been determined to the species level. Among these, many are new to Albanian fauna. Particular attention should be paid to the species highly related to the subterranean environment and those found in ice caves. This project will continue in the year 2022. We plan to explore the next caves in the studied area and re-examine the previously visited sites.

Geotechnical Management of Isolated Sustainable Alpine Communities

The Albanian Alps are situated in a mountainous block in the Northern Albania region, in the counties of Shkodër (also known as Shkodra or Gegëria) and Kukës (Kukësi). The nature of the mountainous terrain formation has led to the creation of isolated communities. The need for integrating these scattered communities into a cohesive co-operating community for area sustainability is now possible by using the Internet to link them all onto an online system. To deal with natural catastrophes, disaster management cells will be created which will serve as hubs. These hubs will be located at geographically strategic positions that will enable a predetermined geofenced region for evaluation of different disasters viz. forest fires, landslide, flooding, avalanches, the burial of villages under heavy snowfalls, etc. These cells will connect the particular case with the most appropriate disaster relief, rescue service and EMR (Emergency Medical Responder), first aid services (e.g. Green Crescent/Red Cross) and EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) personnel. The cells shall be managed by locally trained human resources with the necessary equipment to provide the monitoring/analyses and first aid assistance in case of need. The technology needed for the monitoring and geotechnical management of the isolated Alpine communities will be described. The socio-economic impact of the deployment of these technologies aiding in the sustainability of these vulnerable communities will conclude the research.

Diversification within ploidy-variable Balkan endemicCerastium decalvans(Caryophyllaceae) reconstructed based on genetic, morphological and ecological evidence

AbstractThe Balkan Peninsula is a hotspot of European biodiversity, harbouring many endemic species. Cerastium decalvans is a heteroploid species endemic to mountainous areas throughout the Balkan Peninsula. It is morphologically extremely variable, and multiple infraspecific taxa have been described. Mostly tetra-, octo- and hexadecaploids have been reported, but their distribution and relationship to morphological differentiation remain unknown. To disentangle relationships among 62 populations sampled across the distribution of the species, we applied an integrative approach. Using flow cytometry, we show that tetraploids are the most widespread cytotype, whereas octoploids are limited to the south-east of the distribution area and hexadecaploids occur mostly in high mountains of the central–eastern Balkan Peninsula. The main genetic break revealed by AFLPs separates uniformly tetraploid populations from the Dinaric Mountains in the north-west of the distribution area from the south-eastern populations. Based on our data we hypothesize multiple (auto)polyploidization events leading to the origin of octoploid populations and two allopolyploidization events leading to the origin of hexadecaploids. By combining genome size, AFLP and morphological data, we suggest recognition of five subspecies, of which we here describe hexadecaploid C. decalvans subsp. doerfleri subsp. nov. endemic to the Albanian Alps. In addition, the presence of several phylogenetic lineages and multiple ploidies with pronounced morphological variability in the southern and eastern Balkan Peninsula points to pronounced environmental stability of this area throughout the Quaternary, enabling survival and divergence in situ, and further supports the role of the Balkans as a sanctuary of plant diversification.

Long neglected diversity in the Accursed Mountains (western Balkan Peninsula):Ranunculus bertisceusis a genetically and morphologically divergent new species

AbstractSouthern European mountain ranges have long been recognized as important hotspots of genetic diversity and areas of high endemism. Reflecting the geographical complexity of these mountain ranges, many European high-mountain species exhibit disjunctions on a variety of geographical scales. One of the long-neglected, poorly investigated and unresolved taxonomic problems concerns Apennine and Balkan members of Ranunculus section Leucoranunculus. According to the most recent taxonomic treatment, this section includes Ranunculus crenatus, distributed predominantly in siliceous massifs of the Carpathians and the Balkan Peninsula, but with a highly disjunct partial distribution area in the eastern Alps, and Ranunculus magellensis, which is usually considered a calcicolous endemic of the central Apennines. However, R. magellensis has also been suggested to occur in the carbonate ranges of the Albanian Alps, which would render this species amphi-Adriatic. We used complementary molecular methods (sequences of the nuclear ribosomal ITS region and of plastid DNA and amplified fragment length polymorphisms), relative genome size measurements and morphometric analyses to elucidate the relationships in Ranunculus section Leucoranunculus. Specifically, we asked if it comprises only a single, widespread and morphologically variable species or several narrowly distributed species with constant morphology. The results of our study showed that populations growing on limestone in the Albanian Alps in northern Albania and southern Montenegro are divergent and should be recognized as a new species, Ranunculus bertisceus Kuzmanović, D.Lakušić, Frajman & Schönsw., sp. nov. These populations differ not only from R. crenatus s.s., which grows on silicates, but also from the calcicolous Apennine endemic R. magellensis. The eastern Alpine populations of R. crenatus, which occur very locally in the Niedere Tauern area, originate from immigration from the Bosnian mountains.

The Impact of Tourism on the Economic Development of Kosovo

The Tourism sector of Kosovo’s Economy is dominated by small and medium economic agents(operators), meanwhile large economic agents(operators) are still under privatisation processes, for this reason there is a necessity for a more favorable sectorial strategy which will provide long term stability to tourism operators, oferring a diverse tourism product portfolio. Based on the methods and models of stabile developments in tourism presented in this paper, tourism operators will find it easier to coordinate with their respective communities and the public sector to promote the clear message to the tourist regarding the tourism products offered of specific tourist destinations. The analysis shows opportunities for the application of, and potential for integration of those operators in the planning of tourism on a significant scale. Following a theoretical review, a model is proposed in the planning of tourism based on their respective communities. To analyse the differences between the theoretical model and practical application, we examine the Tourism Region of the Albanian Alps of Kosovo.The findings in this study highlight the challenges of institutions in seeking to identify appropriate responsibilities and coordination strategies of all agents involved in the processes of the planning and development of a stabile tourism sector. The Tourism Region taken for example in this paper offers critical evaluation on how to help tourism strategists on their approach in the composition of tourism policy with the aim of helping agents (operators) improve their planning and development methods of tourism, in full cooperation of their respective communities, while also giving aid in guiding organizational direction in seeking new tourism regions in Kosovo.

Reasons and Benefits of Seasonal Migrations in the Villages of Rugova

This study deals with seasonal migration as a special frame of migration. These migrations date back to the early days and consist of the movement of the population for a certain period of time, which are mainly related to the grazing of animals in the hilly-mountainous areas for higher productivity. In the territory of Kosova, as well, this sort of migration is quite emphatic, specifically in Rugova Mountain (Albanian Alps). The basic purpose of this research is the evidence of the main reasons of seasonal migration and the benefits of it. It is quite apparent that the main reasons are economic in nature, therefore through this research the key factor why the migrations reside those high mountain areas during warm seasons have been analyzed. Moreover, beside those migration reasons, a special emphasis in this study is given to the benefits those migrations have been bringing to the immigrant country, as well as to the migrant one.

A new species of Crocus ser. Verni (Iridaceae) with 2n = 12 chromosomes from the Balkans

A Crocus population in the Northern Albanian Alps obviously belonging to C. ser. Verni was referred to C. heuffelianus, but closer field investigations revealed that it could not be identified with this or any other Verni species. The detailed description of a new species, Crocus bertiscensis, including morphology, leaf anatomy, cytology, and phylogenetic relationship is provided and illustrated. Phylogenetic analyses based on genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data obtained through genotyping-by-sequencing placed C. bertiscensis as clearly distinct from C. heuffelianus, supporting its rank as a species within C. ser. Verni. Morphologically, it differs from C. heuffelianus by showing paler and flatter perigone segments, short perigone tubes and leaf white stripe width of 1/7 compared to the leaf diameter. Finally, karyological and molecular analysis revealed that C. bertiscensis applies to the 2n = 12 cytotype of C. heuffelianus from Čakor Pass area reported by earlier studies.

UPPER TRIASSIC TO LOWER JURASSIC SHALLOW-WATER CARBONATES NORTH OF LAKE SHKODRA (NW ALBANIA, ALBANIAN ALPS ZONE): PART OF THE ADRIATIC CARBONATE PLATFORM BASEMENT

The palaeogeographic reconstruction of the Adriatic Carbonate Platform and its continuation to the south represents a helpful tool to understand the Mesozoic palaeogeography of the Dinarides–Albanides–Hellenides oro-genic system. In the present paper poorly known Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) shallow-water car-bonates from the Shkodra area in northwest Albania (external Albanides; Albanian Alps zone) were investigated, dat-ed mainly by larger benthic foraminifera. The microfossil associations as well as litho- and microfacies characteristics are equivalent to contemporaneous shallow-water carbonate successions of the Adriatic Carbonate Platform basement to the NW (in the High Karst zone). As a result of our study we clearly see a continuation of the Adriatic Carbonate Platform from the Dinarides to the Albanides. In the area north of Lake Shkodra no Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic hemipelagic sedimentary rocks, which could be a possible connection between the Budva Unit to the NW and the Cukali Unit to the SW, were detected.

A breathing city: Shkodra and its representative places on the water

The Albanian settlement and anthropic system highlights the current crisis in the relationship between urban settlements and natural landscapes of the contemporary city. This reality can be assumed as a field of experimentation to verify new grammars of the urban space and of the architectural forms able to establish a constitutive relationship with the forms of the natural landscape. Shkodra, located on the shores of the largest lake in the Balkans, in an area of transition from the Adriatic coast to the mountainous landscape of the Albanian Alps, is the most important "lake city", in which deep relationships among urban, natural and rural landscapes, the forms of water and the forms of urban settlement, are recognized. In this sense, the interpretation of the boundary between city and water is an opportunity to give identity to those marginal spaces assuming them as constituent and identifying parts of the urban form of Shkodra. The challenge contained in the research is to offer a model of intervention that can guide the strategic choices related to urban and environmental rehabilitation actions, towards those aspects of material and immaterial reality on which the economic and social reconstruction of Shkodra can be founded. This could combine the needs of local development with the most advanced sustainable tourism processes, recognizing for Shkodra a role of reference in the Adriatic basin as a gateway to the Balkans, accentuated by the presence of the great lake and its value in defining the identity of the city. In this sense, morphological operations conducted in the Shkodra abandoned territories such as the marshy margins, the Rom areas, the residual areas of infrastructures and commerce, allow us to experiment with new models of cities able to become instruments of proactive urban economic and social development.

Natural Heritage in the Republic of Kosovo: Looking for Potential UNESCO Sites

In addition to cultural heritage values, Kosovo is characterised by natural heritage values; these values identify different areas in Kosovo as potential sites for protection under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) program and the Convention Concerning the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage. These natural values (i.e. geomorphological, hydrological, biodiversity- and ecosystem-related) are found mainly in the massifs of Kosovo’s four mountain ranges, i.e. the Sharr Mountains, the Bjeshket e Nemuna (Albanian Alps), the Koritnik Mountains, and the Pashtrik Mountains. These regions provide the largest number of potential sites for nomination to the World Heritage List or the MAB program.Of the natural heritage values, 19 geomorphological areas of international importance were identified; additionally, 3 areas had regional (Balkan) importance, and 19 sites were caves. Furthermore, 152 glacial and nival lakes and a bifurcation (i.e. hydrological values), approximately 200 species and subspecies that are endemic to the Balkans, 8 locally endemic, 9 endemic and endemic-relict plant associations and 1 endemic animal species (i.e. biodiversity values), and ancient Beech forests (i.e. ecosystem values) were considered for conservation.Consideration of the above mentioned areas for protection under UNESCO would provide a legal framework for the protection of natural and cultural values in Kosovo as well as support their sustainable development.Additionally, protecting these areas would promote the development of environmental and educational projects and training as well as the research and monitoring of issues related to nature conservation and sustainable development at local, regional and international levels.

Karst and geotops of karst origin in Albania

Albania is one of the most karst-developed countries in Europe. Karst phenomena are related to soluted carbonate formations which cover of about 7300 km2 of Albanian territory and with sulfate evaporates rocks, which outcrop of about 500 km2. Typically alpine relief of average altitude 708 m above the sea level and high horizontal splitting are favorable for karst development. Karst and geological sites of karst origin are widespread mainly in Albanian Alps and in Ionian zone. In Albanides there are determined surfaces and underground karst forms which belong to the Neo-Pliocene-Quaternary age and deep karst forms belonging to the paleokarst in old formations. The most widespread karst forms in carbonate rocks there are valleys, caves, cones etc., while into salt rocks there are formed many karstic lakes and depressions. Up to now there are determined about 80 karstic caves, nice karst fields, valleys, plains, which represent geological sites of karst origin.

Long neglected diversity in the Accursed Mountains of northern Albania: Cerastium hekuravense is genetically and morphologically divergent from C. dinaricum

The Balkan Peninsula is a hotspot of European biotic diversity. One of its biogeographically most peculiar but poorly explored regions are the Albanian Alps (Alpet Shqiptare/Prokletije/Accursed Mountains) on the border between Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro, characterised by a high number of endemic species. A poorly known taxon from the Albanian Alps is Cerastium hekuravense, which was described from Mt. Maja Hekurave (Albania) in 1921, but later usually merged with C. dinaricum, a widespread endemic of the Dinaric Mountains, or connected with the arctic–alpine C. alpinum. Here, we used amplified fragment length polymorphisms to explore the phylogenetic position of C. hekuravense and particularly its relationship to C. dinaricum. Our data show that both species are genetically well differentiated, but their relation to other taxa remains unclear—they are either closely related to Alpine species of C. ser. Latifolia or to species co-occurring on the Balkan Peninsula, such as C. banaticum and C. decalvans. In addition, multivariate morphometric analyses show that C. dinaricum and C. hekuravense are morphologically well differentiated. Also their relative genome sizes, estimated using flow cytometry, differ. We propose a taxonomic treatment with lectotype designation for both taxa and provide descriptions and an identification key. Last but not least, these cold-adapted species mostly growing on northerly exposed humid screes are highly threatened due to the global warming and should be ranked endangered according to IUCN criteria. Cerastium hekuravense known only from three localities is likely one of the most endangered mountain plant species of the Balkan Peninsula.

The assessment of the rural tourism development in the Valbona Valley National Park

Mountain tourism takes place in rural areas, contributing to the protection of the natural, social and cultural environment. The purpose of the research is to support the development of sustainable rural tourism in the mountainous areas of Valbona. The survey is carried out by interviewing the most successful business owners, visitors and representatives of the local government. In the recent years, there has been a growing interest by tourists to visit the Albanian Alps. The number of domestic Albanian visitors is slightly higher than the number of foreign visitors. Tourists, who visit the area, mostly stay for a few nights. Hiking is the most popular activity. The tourists’ average expenditure (all included) per night is quite affordable. The number of inns, guest houses, hotels and tourists has seen important growth between 2004 and 2013. The total income generated by mountain tourism is considerable.

Natural Socio-Economic Environment and Sustainable Development of Rural Tourism: Case of Albanian Alps

Tourism cannot be considered without the natural environment, economic and social development, while he has positive and negative impact on the environment. The tendency today is to minimize as much as possible the negative impact, with the aim to provide the needs of present and future generations. The environment is often used in his wider concept including various aspects such as natural environment, social and economic. The purpose of this article is to increase the knowledge of the readers about some concepts of the environment and tourism, to create a framework with some general and structural approach that can be widely used in practical management of sustainable development of tourism. This paper attempts to answer the following question: Have impact on sustainable development of rural tourism in mountainous and rural areas of Albania, natural and social economic environment? The methods that are used to test the hypothesis are explanatory methods. Using the empirical method (statistical) by means of statistical indicators as R2, R, ANOVA and regression equation simple, we have concluded that natural and social economic environment has impact on the sustainable development of rural tourism. In the wider point of view the natural environment and cultural heritage of history belong to community of every country and some of them belong to the entire humanity of the world, so they all have the right to understand, appreciate and preserve the values of their national and international. At the globalization time, the protection, conservation, interpretation, and presentation of the different natural environment of any particular region or country, is an important challenge for people all over the world. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n5p426

Rock glacier lakes – a distinct lake subtype: a case study at Hridsko Jezero, (Bogičevica Mountain, Montenegro)

This article presents a new concept on the genesis of a distinct subtype of glacial lakes. Hridsko jezero is one of the few lakes in the mountain Bogicevica in southeast Montenegro (part of Prokletije massif, along the borders with Kosovo and Albania). Situated at 1970 m a.s.l., the lake is suggested to fill depressions of a giant relict rock glacier, developed on the NW slopes of the peaks Hridski krs (2358 m a.s.l.) and Bogicevicki krs (2374 m a.s.l.). Such a theory should be accepted as a reconsideration of the older views on lake’s origin, which postulated that this was a glacial lake in a staircase cirque, formed after a several stadium retreat of Wurmian glaciers on Prokletije. Only very few lakes of such genesis exist in the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula. The article discusses on the main stages of rock glacier lake formation

Essential oil composition variability among natural populations of Pinus mugo Turra in Kosovo.

Pinus mugo Turra, is a native pine species in central and southern Europe, growing in high mountains area (altitudes 1.800–2.300 m.a.s.l.). In Kosovo, it is one of the native pines too, distributed in high altitudes in the Sharri Mountains and Albanian Alps Mountains. Its populations represent an important wealth of essential oil resources available, which make this species very important in terms of economic values. The chemical composition and yields of the essential oils of dwarf pine (Pinus mugo Turra) needles, twigs and cones from six wild populations in Kosovo were investigated with the aim to assess their natural variability. The identity of P. mugo was confirmed by morphology and DNA barcoding. Sixty-two compounds were identified representing 69–95 % of the total identified compounds. The yield ranged from 0.3–0.8 % v/w in needles, 1.0–2.4 % v/w in twigs and 0.1–0.5 % v/w in cones, depending on the origin of plant material and plant organs. α-Pinene (needles: 16.9–24.5 %; twigs: 4.5–8.8 %; cones: 3.1–5.6 %), β-pinene (needles: 1.5–5.4 %; twigs: 2.2–15.4 %; cones: 1.3–14.2 %), δ-3-carene (needles: 15.4–27.8 %; twigs: 24.0–51.6 %; cones: 10.5–31.5 %), limonene + β-phellandrene (needles: 1.9–5.9 %; twigs: 12.6–24.2 %; cones: 2.1–9.3 %), (E)-caryophyllene (needles: 4.4–8.9 %; twigs: 4.0–10.8 %; cones: 10.3–26.9 %) and germacrene D (needles: 4.0–8.3 %; twigs: 0.2–6.19 %; cones: 0.1–12.4 %) were the major components of the essential oil. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analyses (HCA) suggests that the population of P. mugo clustering is not related to their geographic location, but rather seemed to be linked to local selective forces acting on chemotype diversity. Low variability related to their geographic location has an economic importance since samples originating from different locations in Kosovo can treated with same standards.