Albania is mostly a mountainous country with 60% of its territory consisting in mountains and more than 35% of its population living in these areas. The high biodiversity of these mountain ecosystems results from the sheer variety of micro-environments on the steep and varied terrain that demand new adaptations and favor the evolution of new species and varieties.

Generations of breeding work have given rise, over thousands of years, to a multitude of agricultural animal breeds and plant varieties that are optimally adapted to their specific regional environmental conditions.

The area of Velopoja close to the border with Monte-Negro hosts a great variety of wild and domestic animals due to a very diverse environment. The main objective of this project is the providing incentives through market-based mechanisms for the conservation of viable populations of local domestic breeds, mostly sheep.

The project is coofunded by GTZ and will consist in providing qualified assistance to local farmers regarding the conservation and improvement of local sheep and goat breeds, as well as organizing livestock shows and promoting ecotourism in the context of a fast growing tourism market in the area.