Decision No. 451 on the management of caves

1. The explored and non-explored caves in the territory of the Republic of Albania are protected and managed by the state, as a national natural wealth.

2. The Committee of Environmental Preservation and Protection (CEPP) is the appointed authority caves supervision. CEPP coordinates the work with the Institute of the Cultural Monuments, Institute of Archaeology and karstic and speleological associations.

3. The exploration of caves by native or foreign institutions and associations, specialised in this field, is permitted after they forward their request and be provided with licence by the Committee of Environmental Preservation and Protection. For cave exploration, regarded as culture monuments the Institute of Culture monuments also issues a permit.

4. The foreign teams should be accompanied by Albanian specialists when studying or exploring the caves. It is not permitted that in the same area and at the same time-more than one group of speleologists perform explorations.

5. The tariffs for foreign exploration and study-teams up to ten persons will be the amount of 20 USD and for more thirteen persons 30 USD for each day entering the cave. The amount or the tariff is worth for exploring or studying one cave in that day. In the case of exploring or studying more than one cave per day, the tariff mounts respectively, referring to the above amount. The tariff is paid in leks converted in the daily rate of the bank where the Committee of Environmental Preservation and Protection has its account number.

6. It is forbidden to take various objects discovered in the caves. Also, it is prohibited to cause any kind of pollution, to throw wastes or to mistreat the caves. 7. 70 per cent of the income incurred from the tariffs is deposited in the account of the Committee of Environmental Preservation and Protection for the establishment of the Environmental Funds, while 30 per cent in the state budget. The funds created according to point 5 of this decision are used for: a. good management and organisation of such cave systems which have access to visitors; b. research purposes in relation to archaeological findings in the caves; and c. provision of the specialists with special supplies necessary for the exploration of the caves;

8. The Committee of Environmental Preservation and Protection issues detailed regulations for the implementation of this decision.

9. The Committee of Environmental Preservation and Protection, Financial Police and General Directory of Customs are the responsible bodies for the implementation of this decision. These bodies have the authority to take relevant measures in consistence with the legal dispositions in power, when they notice that the activity of the exploration of caves is performed in opposition to the dispositions of this law. This decision comes into power immediately.