Geographia Technica, Vol 21, Issue 1, 2026, pp. 95-104
DEFORESTATION AND COASTAL EROSION IN ALBANIA ASSESSED BY REMOTE SENSING
Medjon HYSENAJ 
, Dritan RUSTJA
ABSTRACT: This study investigates forest loss and coastal erosion in Albania between 2000 and 2025 using satellite-based remote sensing methods. Landsat time-series data and the Google Earth Engine platform were applied to detect vegetation decline, tree cover loss, and shoreline changes across different segments of the Albanian coastline. While several coastal areas were analyzed, the research concentrated on two representative zones the central coast around Golem beach and the northern coastal wetland of Viluni Lagoon where shoreline retreat and land-use pressure are most evident. In parallel, large-scale deforestation was examined across the country, with a focus on northern Albania, where forest loss has been particularly intense in mountainous regions. Results indicate widespread forest degradation combined with erosion-driven land loss along exposed coastal stretches. These findings highlight the urgency of adopting sustainable forest management and integrated coastal protection strategies to mitigate ongoing environmental degradation in Albania.
Keywords: Deforestation; Coastal erosion; Remote sensing; Google Earth Engine; Landsat imagery; NDVI; MNDWI.
Full article here