What do citizens in these territories think about their living benefits and challenges?
How do they see their home shelter as a future UNESCO Transboundary Biosphere Reserve?
This information and pretty much more is now available to all interested actors through the baseline public survey report, our first project publication.
The baseline Public Opinion Survey was conducted during August – September 2023 in the Albania – Montenegro transboundary area. 355 inhabitants took part in the survey and they are distributed randomly in 10 Municipalities and their 124 units (villages/towns/communes etc.). Data analyses and interpretation resulted in interesting findings. In the report they are presented in graphs, intercorrelated analyses and visual graphs, and are described with interpretation and not only a narration of figures.
84.9% of respondents have been living near the Shkoder Lake and its rivers since their birth and 65% declared that they definitively like living there. The proximity of the border Albania – Montenegro is considered for majority of the citizens (80% of them) as positive and an opportunity in their life. Clean air, beautiful nature and good food are identified as the biggest touristic attractions of the area. Ecotourism activities are mentioned as potential future businesses that locals would like to invest for their future economic life. 70% of respondents would like their village/area to become part of the Biosphere Reserve. 26% of participants are not interested, and only 4% of participants would not like their village/area to become part of the Biosphere Reserve.
We invite you to read more in the report and take the best of these figures and use them for your own interpretations!