The Zvërnec Forest is located in the Narta lagoon area, about 15 km from the city of Vlora, and constitutes one of the most important coastal ecosystems in Albania. It lies on a low peninsula of sand and alluvial soil, surrounded by Lake Narta and the Zvërnec Lagoons, creating a rare environment where forest, lagoon and sea intertwine.
The forest is mainly composed of Mediterranean coniferous pines, as well as typical coastal dune vegetation, which serves as a refuge for many waterfowl and protected species.
The area is open to visitors all year round and is very popular with tourists who stop to see the Zvërnec Monastery, located on a small island within the lagoon, connected to the land by a wooden bridge over 270 meters long.
The Zvërnec Forest has been declared a Natural Monument for its dendrological, ecological and landscape values, as part of the natural complex of the Narta Lagoon, one of the most important areas of coastal biodiversity in Albania. It is of particular importance for the preservation of the local climatic balance and for natural, cultural and recreational tourism in the Vlora region.
