The wind that moves across the Novosej Plateau carries more than cold mountain air. It carries memory — of families who have lived on this land for generations, of forests and pastures shaped by time, and of communities now working to build a future where both people and nature can endure together.

Across these protected landscapes, life continues, but the balance between survival and long-term sustainability remains fragile. Through the PULSE project (Protecting Unique Landscapes & Species in Albania and North Macedonia), CNVP Albania has introduced the 4 Returns Framework to support communities in shaping a more resilient and sustainable future.

On 20 May 2026, local institutions, farmers, environmental experts, and community representatives gathered in Kukës for a workshop focused on the future of the Novosej Plateau. Beyond technical presentations, the meeting created space for dialogue, bringing local perspectives into a shared conversation about long-term landscape development.

Despite their different roles, participants were united by a common concern: how to protect the landscape while creating viable opportunities for the communities that depend on it. Using the internationally recognized Commonland methodology, they assessed the landscape through four interconnected dimensions — inspiration, social impact, nature restoration, and financial sustainability.

The discussions combined optimism with realism. Participants highlighted strong community ties to the land and a growing willingness to engage in restoration efforts, while also acknowledging structural challenges such as limited economic opportunities, weak infrastructure, and ongoing youth migration. From this reflection, a shared long-term vision emerged: “Revitalized nature, strong communities, sustainable economy.”

Working groups then translated this vision into practical priorities. These included strengthening agriculture and livestock production through improved infrastructure and local processing, promoting the sustainable cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants, and developing small-scale, family-based agritourism linked to hiking routes and nature-based experiences. Environmental protection remained central, with reforestation, erosion control, renewable energy, irrigation systems, and improved waste management identified as essential for long-term resilience.

Held at the Regional Administration of Protected Areas (RAPA) in Kukës, with financial support from the Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), the workshop reinforced a central message shared by all participants: landscape restoration cannot succeed without the people who live within it. Protecting nature is inseparable from sustaining livelihoods, local identity, and the future of rural communities. Through the PULSE project, CNVP Foundation and PONT will continue supporting community-led solutions that connect ecological restoration with long-term local resilience across the Novosej Plateau.