Lake Shkodra is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula, traversing the border between Albania and Montenegro. The lake’s ecosystem and the associated wetlands,
floodplains and karstic formations support a rich and unique flora and fauna, making it a hotspot for biodiversity in Europe.

The abundant archaeological, historical and cultural sites testify to the rich cultural he-ritage of the Lake Shkodra region dating
from prehistoric times. Currently there are about 600,000 inhabitants in the Lake Shkodra basin, 170,000 of which live in the
Albanian part.

The economic activities in the region, in particular agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tou-rism and recreation are closely dependent on the use of the region’s natural resources which in turn affects the lake ecosystem. To ensure the protection and sustainable use of the lake’s ecosystem and natural resources, Albanian and Montenegrin authorities have established
protected areas covering the lake and part of its watershed.