SUPERIMPOSITIONS. Proposals for environmental systems implementation and biodiversity development in the Lezhë region through a multi- disciplinary approach

Abstract

Multiple hazards are present over the territory and their impact extends beyond the administrative boundaries, revealing the need for an integrated local - to national –regional approach with the aim of building resilience, as a response to uncertainties. Lezhë district – a region of 479 km2 located in the northwest of Albania – has a large diverse ecosystem (Gencer, 2014), its environmental and landscape features are of considerable importance and constitute intrinsic characteristics of the region itself. Therefore, disaster risks constitute an issue of prime importance. Extremely important phenomena impacting territorial safety are environmental process changes and sudden spatial transformations caused by climate change. Specifically, the region faces risks related to hazards like surface water flooding, due to extreme rainfall, sea level rise, rock falls, forest fires and also seismic-triggered events. The above-mentioned hazards combined with high levels of vulnerability are consequently followed by losses in terms of physical, economic, environmental and also impact on biodiversity. Facing such challenges, it is necessary to build a large-scale strategy to build territorial resilience through strengthening environmental systems. When dealing with complex issues where biotic and abiotic components are involved to propose a design strategy, a multi-disciplinary approach is a prerogative. This contribution is developed under the framework of the two- week workshop at POLIS University and proposes a macro-strategy that faces environmental and territorial issues, followed by specific project actions related to the implementation of blue and green assets with the objective of reducing disaster risk.