The URBiodiversity project aims to conserve and sustainably manage urban biodiversity in Tirana and Librazhd. Through the creation of a citizen-participation monitoring system, the engagement of local communities, and increased public awareness, the project promotes local policies and practices that support the presence and study of biodiversity, while simultaneously developing a new urban green space.

This initiative aims to bring citizens closer to nature, improve quality of life in the city, and build strong foundations for long-term decision-making and action to protect and enhance nature in urban environments.

Main Objectives:

 – Developing and implementing a community-based urban biodiversity monitoring system, focused on birds, pollinators, mammals, and native flora. This system will be applied across 3–5 selected transects in Tirana and Librazhd, using questionnaires, digital applications, and trainings for citizen observers.

 – Regenerating an urban green pocket with native plants that attract pollinators and various bird species in one of Tirana’s neighborhoods.

 – Raising awareness among the local community and different stakeholders about the importance of urban biodiversity through communication campaigns, workshops, art exhibitions, and the use of the “Albania is Biodiversity” campaign symbolism.

 – Engaging and supporting local communities and schools to actively participate in monitoring and conserving biodiversity through educational activities, the creation of green spaces with native vegetation, and the organization of community events.

 – Strengthening cooperation with local authorities and institutions to integrate monitoring results into urban management policies and practices, promoting concrete measures for the creation of ecological corridors and green spaces in urban areas.

Target Groups:

 – Youth and youth groups

 – Schools, teachers, and students

 – Nature-engaged citizens in Tirana and Librazhd

 – Staff of various institutions

 – Local researchers and experts

 – Local media and artists

These groups were selected due to their proximity to the problem of nature loss caused by urban development in recent decades, as well as their capacity to contribute to improving biodiversity in Tirana and Librazhd.

Final Beneficiaries:

 – Citizens of the respective municipalities

 – Urban ecosystems and species affected by human interventions

 – Educational institutions and families benefiting from educational packages

 – CSOs and local communities

Key Activities:

 – Development of a monitoring methodology

 – Biodiversity monitoring and community engagement through citizen science

 – Regeneration of an urban green pocket

 – Organization of an exhibition dedicated to urban biodiversity

 – Implementation of an online communication and awareness campaign

Project Duration:

18 months

Project Partners:

HBS (Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Tirana)

Soek-in (Soek-in Youth Association)