Tirana- Eco-friendly Infrastructure for sustainable development Environment protection- the challenge of the century Harmonizing the increasing demands for development investments with the necessity for environmental protection is a complex challenge both in scope and action. Often times investments in major development projects, especially in infrastructure and urbanization, run against the indispensable need to protect the environment, especially from the of climate change perspective.

The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is an important phase of all programs the ADF implements on behalf financing partners such as the Albanian Government, the World Bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank, etc.

In recent years, the environmental component has become an integral part of every project in order to minimize the negative impact on the environment as much as possible and make the investment sustainable. In cases where the ADF is the commissioning authority of a project, the environment is of primary importance. When the intervention foresees expansion of the road ADF’s polices are in favor of the environment thus avoiding vegetation cutting.While for interventions affecting forests is determined that for every tree cut will be planting three trees. For infrastructure projects that ADF implement on behalf of other authorities, if greening is not included, ADF corrects the project by adding greenery within the initial budget. The ADF follows the maintenance of the decorative greenery during the warranty period until final project submission.

 

The Albanian Development Fund is working to bring further innovations in regard of environmental policies based on the practices and models of developed countries. Some of these innovations that are still in design phase aim to minimize air pollution and acoustic pollution in any construction site. ADF plans for the future alternatives which enable greening of the lateral parts of the road. The metal grids used to protect the escarpments should be replaced with ecological grids. Each project foresees greenery, plantation of wild fruit trees that are essential for fauna. It is necessary to foresee at the design phase, the ecological routes for animals, and the road signaling in protected areas with signage which shows the species of animals that inhabit this area.

These elements, together with a series of training for municipal staff, supervisors and contractors, aim to increase the importance of environment in any intervention, thus contributing to sustainable development.