Diber County

Dibër County illustrates how geographic isolation creates both preservation and decline. Bordering Kosovo and North Macedonia, this mountainous northeastern region spans from 380 to 2,700 meters elevation across the Korab, Lura, and Skanderbeg ranges. The terrain that protected cultural traditions during Ottoman and communist eras now accelerates depopulation—young people migrate toward Tirana rather than scratch livelihoods from slopes suitable only for shepherding.

The county exhibits classic source-sink population dynamics in reverse: it exports human capital while importing remittances. Approximately 45% of households receive money from relatives abroad, creating an economy where consumption outpaces local production. This resembles ecosystems where nutrient flow reverses—areas that once supported populations become dependent on external subsidies. Chrome mining provides some industrial employment, but extraction depletes rather than renews.

A 2025 government 'Mountain Package' attempts to reverse this decline through fiscal incentives for eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture. The strategy mirrors attempts to restore degraded ecosystems by reintroducing keystone activities. With 643 million euros committed to infrastructure, Dibër represents a test case for whether investment can counteract the gravitational pull of urbanization—or whether remote mountain communities are destined to become economic ghost towns, preserved only by the elderly who remain.