Butrint National Park’s Ambitious Vision: A Blueprint for Sustainable Cultural and Natural Preservation in Albania

The Ministry of Culture signed an agreement with the Foundation for the Management of Butrint to initiate the implementation of the Albanian government’s Integrated Management Plan for Butrint National Park.

The primary goal of this partnership is to ensure effective management of the World Heritage Site of Butrint through the establishment of a specialized foundation. The foundation’s board of directors will comprise representatives from the Ministry of Culture and the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF), and international experts.

AADF has reaffirmed its dedication to supporting and financing the implementation of a new management model for Butrint National Park. It has recognized the plan’s vision to transform Butrint into “a sustainable management model for sites with cultural and natural elements, becoming a hub for the regional tourism offer and providing visitors with a unique experience, engaging local communities and financial institutions, while also serving as a model for other parks in Albania.”

As part of the collaborative effort, a cooperation protocol has been established between the Foundation and the Institute of Archaeology to formalize their partnership. Under this protocol, the Ministry of Culture retains responsibility for the safeguarding and preservation of state-owned cultural assets, even in cases of shared management. Within the Albanian heritage framework, the administration of World heritage Sites requires approval from the Albanian Parliament, ensuring sustainability and transparency of the process.