The Albanian germplasm is a vast and undervalued resource (3200 species are reported). The maintenance of this diversity has been ensured by traditional systems of agriculture and land use. The germplasm evaluation was based on morphological and field parameters. The germplasm collected was conserved in agricultural research institutes. Traditional food plants and local races of staple crops are being abandoned and lost forever in favour of newly developed ones. The broad range of genetic diversity existing in Albania, particularly the local landraces and populations is presently subject to serious genetic erosion and irreversible losses. The lack of sound national funding is the major constraint to germplasm conservation in Albania. The broad objective of genetic conservation should be to develop new effective policies and strategies to help ensure that gene pools are secure, efficiently held and readily available for a sustainable utilisation.