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areas of permanent snow accumulation at Debeli
Namet (Ministry of Sustainable Development
and Tourism, 2015). However, predicted future
warming (especially in the summer) alongside drier
conditions might result in the disappearance of all
glaciers within the coming decades (Grunewald &
Scheithauer, 2010).
Land resources
The quality of soil and land has widespread
implications not only for agriculture but also for
the productive capacity of the land, and the risk of
soil and land degradation is likely to increase with
climate change. Increases in temperature, changing
precipitation patterns, floods and droughts directly
influence the properties and processes in soils, which
can lead to accelerated erosion, land degradation
and desertification (EEA, 2008). When droughts
(which are forecast to increase significantly during
the summer periods in the Balkans) are followed
by periods of intense rain on steep, unstable terrain,
the soil is not able to absorb rainfall, resulting in
excessive run-off, landslides and floods. Wildfires and
overexploitation of resources can further contribute
to desertification.
The Western Balkans is characterized by a
mountainous landscape and abundant forest
coverage; hence there are areas where desertification
and land degradation is a concrete environmental
issue. Degraded soils and land are unable to retain
as much water, leading to increased flooding, and
increased pollution and sedimentation in rivers
and streams. The loss of topsoil is a global problem,
which also affects the Western Balkan countries.
In Albania, erosion affects about 25 per cent of the
country, with the most critical areas being Shkodra,
Tropoja, Saranda and Gjirokastra. In Croatia,
about 90 per cent of the soil surface is exposed to
Satellite image of wildfires on the Balkan peninsula, 2007