LPIS Pilot Project Successfully Completed in Albania

The Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) pilot project (Berat county) at the Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development (ARDA) was successfully concluded on December 10, 2024, in Tirana. The final meeting, attended by GEO-WB6, Joint Research Centre D.5 staff, EU Delegation and UNOPS representatives, reviewed the comprehensive results of the initiative, which captured approximately 35,000 hectares of agricultural land in a new LPIS dataset based on physical block reference parcel rules. Through continuous technical assistance and oversight from the GEO-WB6 team, which provided high-quality training in QGIS for parcel delineation, ARDA staff gained valuable operational experience in LPIS digitization methodology, team organization and quality control procedures. The team also examined cross-comparisons by quantifying differences, checking consistency with the digital cadastre and reviewing outputs from DigiFarm, DelAny, and Super Resolution. The meeting wrapped up with discussions on lessons learned and the path forward for LPIS implementation, representing an important step in enhancing Albania's agricultural land management capabilities essential for Chapter 11 (Agriculture and Rural Development) within the EU accession framework. The GEO-WB6 Centre was able to leverage its proven track record in regional capacity building throughout this successful initiative.