Biodiversity of Albania

Albania is a small country with a big variety of plants, animals, and natural places. It has mountains, lakes, rivers, and coastlines that create many different homes for living things. The Albanian Alps in the north are part of a larger mountain system that stretches along the Adriatic Sea.

The country's many landscapes, from sea level to high mountains, and its position near the Mediterranean Sea help it host a wide range of species. Albania has over 181 species that are important to protect worldwide, making it a key area for preserving nature. With many protected areas, including national parks and special spots for birds and plants, Albania works hard to care for its natural treasures.

Ecoregions

Main article: List of ecoregions in Albania

Albania is part of the Boreal Kingdom and lies within the Illyrian province of the Circumboreal Region. The country has four main land areas with different plants and animals. The Illyrian deciduous forests are found along the Albanian Adriatic and Ionian Sea Coast in the west. The Pindus Mountains mixed forests are in the Eastern and Southeastern Mountain Ranges. The Dinaric Mountains mixed forests cover much of the Albanian Alps in the north. The Balkan mixed forests stretch across the eastern part of the country.

Ecosystems

Forests cover a big part of Albania, making up about 29% of the land. They look different depending on where they are, with northern forests more like those in Continental Europe and southern forests similar to the Mediterranean Basin. Albania has many types of trees, with oak and beech being very common.

Albania also has many wetlands, which are special areas where water covers the land. These include marshes, lakes, and rivers. Some of the most important wetlands are along the coast, near the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. Albania shares several big lakes with its neighbors, which are important for many plants and animals.

Albania's rivers, like the Drin and Vjosa, flow into the Adriatic Sea. These rivers create estuaries, which are places where fresh river water mixes with salt sea water, making a home for many birds and fish.

Flora

See also: Ecoregions of Albania

Albania has many different kinds of plants because of its varied land shapes, water sources, weather, and rocks. The country has many types of natural areas, including forests with trees that lose leaves in winter and trees that stay green all year, wet lands, areas where rivers meet the sea, and grassy fields on mountains.

Because Albania is close to the Mediterranean Sea, it is a place where many unique plants grow. Albania is home to thousands of plant species, including over 3,000 that people can use for medicine. In lower areas near the coast, plants are often tough and bushy, while higher up, you can find forests of trees like oak, black pine, beech, and fir. On the highest mountains, there are special grassy fields. One plant group, called clover, has many different types in Albania, thanks to the warm coast weather. The country also shares some of its plants with areas closer to Anatolia.

Fauna

Birds

Main articles: List of birds and important bird areas of Albania

Albania has many different kinds of birds because of where it is located and its changing weather. Over 353 bird species have been seen in Albania, including 11 special birds that are hard to find everywhere else in the world. The country has many places like wetlands, lakes, and rivers that are perfect for birds. These areas help thousands of birds that travel between Northern Africa and Europe every year.

Albania is home to many types of birds of prey, such as eagles, hawks, falcons, and vultures. Eagles live all over the country, with the golden eagle being the largest and living in mountains and cliffs. Other birds include the white-tailed eagle, which lives near water, and the short-toed snake eagle, which prefers forests. There are also many kinds of hawks and falcons. Vultures can be found in certain areas, with the Egyptian vulture being one of the most important. Albania’s coastline has many seabirds, including pelicans and flamingos. The Dalmatian pelican is a rare type of pelican found here.

Mammals

Main article: List of mammals of Albania

Albania has a wide variety of mammals, with about 58 different species. The country’s protected areas, like national parks and nature reserves, help keep these animals safe. Albania plays an important role in protecting large carnivores, such as wolves and bears, which live mainly in the country’s forests, especially in the north and east.

Small land mammals in Albania include many different species, some of which are found only in the Balkans. The country is home to special cats like the Eurasian lynx and the European wildcat, both of which are endangered. Albania also has wolves, foxes, and jackals. The brown bear is one of Albania’s most famous animals and lives in many parts of the country. Other animals include otters, badgers, weasels, and martens. The Mediterranean monk seal, one of the world’s rarest seals, lives along Albania’s southern coast.

The coast of Albania, which is over 381 kilometres long, is home to several types of dolphins and whales. The short-beaked common dolphin and the common bottlenose dolphin are often seen in Albanian waters. The Cuvier’s beaked whale has also been spotted here.

The country has animals like roe deer and chamois. Red deer are no longer found in Albania, and fallow deer live only in captivity.

Reptiles

Albania has many kinds of reptiles, with over thirty-seven species recorded. The country’s coast has many different habitats, which helps support these animals. Several species of sea turtles nest on Albania’s beaches, including the loggerhead turtle and the green sea turtle. The hawksbill sea turtle, one of the world’s most endangered turtles, is also sometimes found here.

Albania is home to freshwater turtles like the European pond turtle and the Balkan pond turtle. The Hermann’s tortoise is common throughout the country. Lizards, such as the European green lizard and the Balkan green lizard, are also found here.

See also: List of snake species in Albania

Fish

Albania has many kinds of fish, with about 249 species in its coastal waters and 64 in its rivers and lakes. The Adriatic and Ionian Seas have salt water fish, while fresh water fish live in lakes like Lake Butrint, Lake Shkodër, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa, as well as in lagoons.

Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in the world, is shared by Albania and North Macedonia. It has many rare fish species, including the endangered Ohrid trout. Albania’s coastal waters also have many types of sharks, such as the small-spotted catshark and the nursehound.

Protected areas

Main article: Protected areas of Albania

Many parts of Albania are protected because they have special natural, historical, or cultural value. These protected areas help keep species, habitats, and ecosystems safe.

Albania has fifteen national parks, including one marine park. These parks stretch from the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea to the Albanian Alps and the Ceraunian Mountains. They are home to thousands of plant and animal species. Some of the most famous parks are Butrint, Divjakë-Karavasta, Karaburun-Sazan, Llogara, Prespa, Shebenik-Jabllanicë, Theth, and Valbonë.