Environmental Ethics & Anti-Corruption Governance Policy

We plant native species only, propagated from locally collected seed. No exotic or invasive species enter our nurseries or our plantings.

We do not convert natural pasture to plantation, and we do not plant on habitats of conservation value.

Harvesting never exceeds the annual allowable cut set in the management plan, regardless of demand or price.

We retain deadwood, protect springs and watercourses, and avoid all works during the principal breeding season except emergency fire response.

Where our monitoring shows a measure is failing, we report it in the annual report rather than quietly dropping it.

The association does not offer, give, solicit or accept any bribe, kickback, facilitation payment or improper advantage, to or from any person, whether public official or private party.

Gifts and hospitality of more than nominal value may not be accepted in connection with the association's activity. Any offer must be reported to the executive committee and recorded.

No officer, employee or their close relative may hold a commercial contract with the association for logging, transport, construction or supply, nor benefit from an allocation decision in which they took part.

Interests must be declared before any deliberation touching them, and the interested person must withdraw from the vote. The declaration is recorded in the minutes.

Firewood quotas and grazing rights are allocated by the members' assembly against published criteria, not by individual discretion. Allocation lists are posted in each village. Any member may challenge an allocation at the assembly, and challenges are minuted with their outcome.

Purchases above the statutory threshold require at least three written quotations, recorded with the reason for the choice where the lowest was not selected. Grant-funded procurement follows the stricter of our rules and the donor's.

Anyone — member, volunteer, neighbour, supplier or donor — may report a suspected breach to the executive committee or, where the committee is implicated, directly to the audit commission, in writing or verbally, in Albanian or English, at holman-mikelj@gmx.com or +355 67 202 1020.

Reports may be made anonymously. We do not investigate the identity of an anonymous reporter.

No person reporting a concern in good faith will suffer loss of membership, grazing rights, volunteer place or standing in the association, irrespective of whether the concern is upheld. Retaliation is itself a disciplinary breach.

Substantiated breaches lead to suspension of entitlements, removal from office, termination of contracts, recovery of funds and, where the conduct may be criminal, referral to the competent Albanian authorities. Outcomes are reported in summary to the members' assembly.