Butrint National Park

 park, wetland, national park

The archaeological site of Butrint is located within the Butrint National Park. The importance of Butrint to the nation's cultural heritage was first recognised in 1948 when it became a "site of historical importance". In 1992 Butrint was designated as a World Heritage Site – a status that identifies cultural and natural sites of outstanding universal value. However it wasn't until 2000 that Butrint became a National Park of 26 sq km, affording it full protection within Albanian Law and in 2005 the Park boundaries were expanded to 86 sq km.

Butrint is not just famous for its physical cultural heritage – it is also a natural environment of international importance. The Park contains a wide variety of habitats – coastal wetlands, saltwater lagoons, rivers and open grazing lands, which are home to many rare birds, insects, amphibians, mammals and reptiles and in 2003 it became a Ramsar Wetlands Site of International Importance. Butrint is the richest site for bio-diversity in all of Albania and the Park shelters 26 species of global conservation concern, such as the marginated tortoise, the wolf and the white-tailed eagle.

The Butrint National Park exists in order to protect and conserve the historical monuments and the rich natural heritage. The Park also supports a vibrant community who engage in traditional husbandry and make traditional crafts for sale at the Park. The Park employs full-time Ranger staff and specialists in the archaeology, monuments and environment fields.