On 5 June 2026, on the occasion of World Environment Day, UNESCO designated 14 new biosphere reserves worldwide, including Lake Shkodra in Albania. With this decision, the site joins the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, which now comprises 797 sites in 145 countries.

This is an important international recognition for one of Albania’s most valuable natural assets and an acknowledgment of its outstanding ecological, landscape and socio-cultural values. Its inclusion in the network confirms the importance of Lake Shkodra as an area where biodiversity conservation goes hand in hand with sustainable development and the well-being of local communities.

The nomination process was carried out within the framework of broader transboundary cooperation between Albania and Montenegro, aimed at strengthening the protection of the shared ecosystem of the Lake Shkodra/Skadar watershed and promoting its sustainable management in line with UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. The nomination dossier was finalized under an EU-supported project involving institutions and partners from both countries.

This development marks an important achievement for Albania, both in terms of safeguarding natural heritage and strengthening regional cooperation. It opens new opportunities for the long-term protection of ecosystems, the support of sustainable economic activities, and the international promotion of Lake Shkodra as an area of exceptional environmental and human value.