Geodiversity and land cover diversity from coast to mountains in Northern Albania

The present study explores the relationship between geodiversity and land cover diversity in northern Albania, near Shkodra, covering approximately 1,400 km². Using open-source GIS tools, we analyse the diverse geographical features, including coastal, agricultural, urban, riverside, and mountainous terrains. Geodiversity is assessed through geological, soil, morphometric, paleontological, and mineral data, while land cover diversity is determined using Copernicus Global Land Cover 2019 data. Our analyses, conducted at both low and medium altitudes (< 850 m a. s. l.) and high altitudes, reveal a positive correlation between geodiversity and land cover diversity in lower regions but a negative correlation in higher elevations. The connectivity in the study area shows low values in low-altitude areas with high land cover diversity, characterised as cultural landscapes. Our results highlight the importance of taking geodiversity into account in conservation efforts, as areas rich in geodiversity and land cover diversity offer potential for geotourism but also deserve attention due to human activities. Consistent with previous research, our results confirmed that there is a relationship between geodiversity and land cover diversity. However, the negative correlation at high altitudes is a new finding. Overall, our research underscores the intricate interplay between geodiversity, land cover diversity, and connectivity in shaping ecological patterns and emphasises the need for coordinated conservation strategies in diverse landscapes.