ANALYSIS OF THE QUALITIES OF THE CLIMATIC, LAND AND WATER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS IN THE KOPLIK AREA, MALËSI E MADHE

Medicinal and aromatic plants are one of the most interesting advantages for Albanian agriculture and this is due to the fact that in Albania there are hundreds of medicinal and aromatic plants that grow naturally around the country, becoming a source of income for thousands of farming families, but on the other hand also with a high demand for these kind of plants in the world market. These types of plants find use in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries, while the process of their preparation goes through different stages starting from natural collection, or in plots where they are cultivated, drying in special environments, their selection from unnecessary waste and finally packaging in special bags for their preservation until sale or export. Albania has about 330 different species of medicinal plants that are possible for export with the destination of use in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industry. The study for qualities of the climatic, land and water environment for the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants took place in the Koplik area, Malësi e Madhe, which is located on north of Albania well known for the cultivation of medicinal plants, where sage and lavender are mostly cultivated and other plants in smaller quantities such as rosemary, thyme, etc. The study aims to assess the climatic and physic-chemical parameters of the soil and water in the Malësi e Madhe area and to identify their impact on medicinal plants and to create a more effective management of the area for this kind of plant production.