In a dedicated two-day field campaign across Shkodra and Malesi e Madhe Municipality, we joined forces with the Regional Agency of Protected Areas Shkodër staff and volunteers from Drini Times and Well Point Association to distribute QR code stickers which connect citizens with real time information on advancing the Lake Shkodër Watershed Towards a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve! QR codes bring citizens directly into the project webpage https://skadarlake-tbr.org/ and so providing them with real-time information and updates from the project activities to support the submission of the Nomination dossier into UNESCO MAB.
The field campaign began in Malesi e Madhe Municipality, reaching the communities of Koplik, Vrakë, Omaraj, Culaj, and Grizhë. Strategically placed in public spaces, along high-visibility roads, and within agrotourism sites and local businesses, the QR codes serve as an accessible gateway to information. Beyond distribution, our team actively engaged with business staff and community, sharing insights into the ambitious initiative to designate Shkodra Lake as a UNESCO Transboundary Biosphere Reserve — an achievement that would drive both development and sustainability for the region.
Following our work in Malesi e Madhe, the campaign extended into Shkodër, spanning from Zogaj to Shiroka and the city center.
As you cross the Buna Bridge and walk along Shëtitorja Molos—a vibrant and busy pedestrian street—you will notice white round or square QR code stickers. If you come across one, we encourage you to pause, scan, and explore the vision for the Shkodra Lake Watershed, discovering the ongoing efforts dedicated to its preservation and sustainable future.
More then 100 QR codes are distributed, 6 rural areas and 2 urban areas are reached with the field campaign, citiznes where directly reached in conversations about the project and inititiative so that we transmit them not only with information but at the same time a wide understanding of the process and its benefits and outcomes.
This initiative is not one we undertake alone. The future of Shkodra Lake is a shared responsibility, a collective effort to safeguard one of the Balkans’ most unique natural treasures. For the local residents, the lake is more than a beautiful landmark— it is a meaningful part of their identity, daily life, and culture.
Local stakeholders, deeply committed to conservation and sustainability, have been crucial in supporting this initiative. Their dedication, along with the collaboration of public institutions, has been vital in advancing the vision of Shkodra Lake as a successful Transboundary Biosphere Reserve. If realized, this designation would make it Albania’s second such reserve, following the Prespa-Ohrid Transboundary Biosphere Reserve.
Our work within the Shkodra Lake Watershed has reinforced an important truth—this is not just a project, but a shared vision. It is a movement toward a sustainable future, a collective commitment to protecting and preserve a natural wonder that defines the region. Together, we can ensure that Shkodra Lake thrives for generations to come!
