Community Development Plan for the World Heritage Site of Butrint

Detailed description of project Back

Butrint National Park is located in southern Albania and occupies a total area of 9,424 hectares exhibiting a rich combination of hills, lakes, wetlands, salt marshes, open plains, reed beds and coastal islands. It contains also the archaeological World Heritage Site of Butrint.

The overarching priority of the Study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which the local-to-site community recognises the site of Butrint both as a symbol of national pride and as a focus of business opportunity. This involve communicating effectively to the local communities the plans being advanced for the site and the ways in which they can benefit from these. The aim is to enable the local communities to assist with:

• Protecting the integrity of the site;
• Managing change effectively;
• Supporting the local economy through the planned and managed use of the Park and Area A3 as a tourist destination.

The study must take cognisance of the recommendations contained in the Integrated Management Plan for Butrint and, by so doing, provide a clear, well-researched and supported programme of works for the Butrint Management Foundation to implement.

In effect, the outputs of this significant work will set in motion a programme of activity and monitoring which will see Butrint as being a leader in the field of climate resilience on protected sites and will help to ensure, over many years, the future of one of the world’s most significant archaeological and ecological landscapes.

Type of services provided

• Record the views of the local population regarding their contact with the site in terms of both current engagement and future potential. These are anticipated to reveal a number flaws and/or problems which will need to be addressed;
• From this baseline information the consultants are to produce realistic, deliverable recommendations to improve relationships between the BMF and the local population for the benefit of both in the context of the future World Heritage Site standards, including the training of all personnel to ensure that the recommendations are workable on the ground;
• A communications strategy and assocated costed Action Plan that can be implemented effectively by the BMF that will add to the success of the project as a whole.

Main staff provided:

• Team leader / International Expert in Heritage and Community Engagement (30 w/d);
• Local Expert in Heritage and Climate Change (40 w/d).