Adaptation of an ecological and pastoral diagnosis to the Albanian context: challenges and lessons learned

The European Life+ Program "Mil'Ouv" (standing for MILieux OUVerts/open landscapes) has developed an innovative method of diagnosis to allow an efficient management of pastoral resources that is both environmentally sustainable and economically profitable. Indeed, in France, lots of diagnosis methods are already in use by technicians and extension services. However, most of the time, these methods are either too general or too specific and do not combine ecological and pastoral dimensions. Thus, the diagnosis proposed by Mil'Ouv is based on a multiscale analysis crossing the two perspectives. Each diagnosis is therefore carried out by a naturalist, a livestock specialist and the breeder him/herself. This method was designed in and for the Mediterranean part of France. There was a practical and analytical issue of extending and adapting it to another context. With a research-action program BiodivBalkans, it was decided to adapt this method to the Albanian situation, which was, in a way, the farthest from the reference model. From this adaptation process, three main results can be highlighted: (1) strengthening of arguments and examples to launch a "pastoral debate" in Albania (ignored until today) (2) recognition of the local knowledges of the Albanian breeders as an unavoidable element for a sustainable pastoral management (3) identification of eco-pastoral elements to be included in the Code of Practice of a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) on a kid goat meat from a local breed. De la France à l'Albanie, adaptation d'un diagnostic éco-pastoral