They call it Europe’s ‘last wild river’, and this week the Albanian government promised to keep it that way, as it made the Vjosa and its main tributaries a national park. It’s the first waterway on the continent to enjoy such a status.
Flowing unimpeded for 170 miles across Albania to the Adriatic Sea, the Vjosa supports many endangered species, including the European eel, Egyptian vulture and Balkan lynx. Plans had been submitted to dam the river, which would have wreaked havoc on wildlife. National park status protects it from such developments, marking a victory for campaigners who fought hard to safeguard the river.
At a ceremony to mark the occasion, Albania’s minister of tourism Mirela Kumbaro Furxhi said: “Maybe Albania does not have the power to change the world, but it can create successful models of protecting biodiversity and natural assets.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature described the move as “a milestone for the people and biodiversity of Albania”.
Image: Eni Lale
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