NEWS: First Monitoring Activity Conducted in Divjakë within the JOINABLE Project

On 14 November, the Environmental and Territorial Management Institute (ETMI) carried out its first monitoring activity in Divjakë, in cooperation with the Municipality of Divjakë (Bashkia Divjakë), within the framework of the JOINABLE project.

The monitoring was conducted along the Divjakë coastline, an area of high ecological value that is increasingly exposed to pressures from human activities. The activity brought together ETMI experts, representatives of the municipality – both project partners from Albania – and external experts involved in the project.

The monitoring followed a standardized beach litter monitoring protocol, focusing on the observation and recording of the presence, types, and quantities of marine litter. The main objectives of the activity were to:

• assess the current levels of waste and identify potential sources and pathways of litter,

• record the types and quantities of waste items found within a 100-metre transect,

• gain a better understanding of the impacts of litter on the coastal and marine environment.

During the activity, participants jointly collected, sorted, and categorized the waste in line with internationally recognized monitoring procedures. A total of 636 items were recorded per 100 metres of coastline. Overall, 28.8 kg of waste was collected, including 17.04 kg of plastic waste and 11.75 kg of other waste materials, indicating a significant presence of plastic litter within a relatively limited area.

The results of this monitoring activity will contribute to a better understanding of marine litter dynamics in the Adriatic-Ionian region and support the development of targeted measures within the JOINABLE project framework.