Constraints and opportunities to forest policy implementation in Albania

Although forest statutes are formulated with the intent of achieving selected goals and objectives, the gap between such intent and the actual implementation remains wide in Albania. Even though the current unstable political and economic situation has made forest policy implementation uncertain and disordered, it is still possible to fit the process into models and frameworks. In a ‘top-down’ approach, the constraints that lead to implementation failures are identified and assessed by analysing factors or variables thought to influence the process. An active involvement of the stakeholders in the formulation of forest policies will considerably facilitate the process of choosing effective policy tools according to criteria adopted. Policy makers in Albania should utilise more incentive-based approaches in addition to punitive measures that dominate the current forest legislation. Developing the evaluation capacity of forestry-related institutions will assist in the formulation of appropriate policies and increase the chances of successful implementation.