PPNEA coordinated the “Conservation and Community Engagement Week” across the regions of Kukës, Theth, and Curraj i Epërm, part of the Albanian Alps, focusing on trail maintenance, wildlife monitoring, and public awareness on ecological corridors.
During this week, volunteers from the Butterfly Foundation collaborated with local stakeholders to maintain and clean four mountain trails, as well as to support wildlife monitoring through the deployment of camera traps and bird identification equipment.
Immediate results were recorded in Theth, where camera traps captured, within 24 hours, the presence of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) and a Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica), providing valuable data for species monitoring. In addition, 12 questionnaires were completed by local residents regarding the presence of wildlife, offering useful insights into human–nature interactions in these areas.
Beyond field activities, the initiative also engaged 50 individuals from the local community, including local guides and visitors. The sessions addressed topics such as the conservation of ecological corridors and species, as well as sustainable ecotourism practices.
