{"document_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Agency_of_Protected_Areas_(Albania)"}
The National Agency of Protected Areas (Albanian: Agjencia Kombëtare e Zonave të Mbrojtura, abbreviated AKZM) is a government agency in Albania. Its main duties are focused on the management, protection, development, expansion and operation of the protected areas in the country, which today account for about 16% of the territory of Albania. AKZM was established on February 4, 2015 and took many of the functions and duties of former local Forestry Police which was abolished. The newly created local Protected Areas Administrations (AdZM) on a county level are: AdZM Tiranë, AdZM Durrës, AdZM Shkodër, AdZM Kukës, AdZM Dibër, AdZM Lezhë, AdZM Elbasan, AdZM Berat, AdZM Fier, AdZM Korçë, AdZM Vlorë, AdZM Gjirokastër.

Organization and Mission

The agency is under the authority of the Minister of Tourism and Environment. It specializes in defending Albanian agroforestry heritage, safeguarding the environment and landscape. It complied with the fulfillment of security services as well as the control of the territory, with particular reference to rural and mountainous areas.

The AKZM have as primary role to safeguarding the wooded areas, but also have other numerous and varied institutional tasks, which is part of a wider context of protection of the environment and the territory, human health, animal protection, flora and landscaping, conservation biodiversity. It is also charged to protect the Albanian National Parks; marine protected areas and protected areas.

Some of important duties of the AKZM are: