Vjosa Info-Tour, 31st October – 15th November 2024. The Management plan for the Vjosa National Park has been published lately, thus EcoAlbania met with local residents and representatives to talk about its implications. The plan touches on many different topics concerning the conservation and usage of the Vjosa wild river, including financial issues, rafting, waste management and agriculture. Many local business owners as well as representatives from the municipality gathered to take part in the discussion afterwards and express their opinion.
In early 2023, after years of campaigning by the “Blue Hear” NGO´s, including EcoAlbania, the Vjosa Wild River was finally declared a National Park, enhancing its conservation status further. One year later, the Management Plan for it was published and now the staff of EcoAlbania met with the residents of the cities and villages near the Vjosa to discuss its conclusion. Of the five meetings, two were held further upstream in Derviçan and Këlcyrë and three were held more downstream in Memaliaj, Kutë and Selenicë.
Content-wise, especially the plan´s impacts on agriculture, rafting or water pollution were the main concerns for a number of residents, depending on their own business with regard to the Vjosa River. That´s why, the main part of the discussion focused on these topics.
Current pressures on the National Park like gravel excavation, water abstraction, waste dumping or oil drilling were also a part of the discussion, as they threaten the livelihood of many of the residents, who depend on the Vjosa for water abstraction or agriculture. Therefore, a dip in water and sediment quality poses a threat to both human and nature, as this would also impact many if not all of the endangered species along the course of the Vjosa.
The consequences of tourism, which plays a big role in the local economy, can also be a threat to the river´s ecosystem. While, thanks to the Vjosa´s international popularity, tourism can become a driving factor of economic growth in the poorer regions along the Vjosa, if not done in a sustainable matter, it will damage the Vjosa´s ecosystem lastingly.
The discussions with the residents highlight the importance of collaboration to successfully implement the measures in the Management plan. Addressing concerns like sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism, and waste management is vital for balancing nature conservation with local livelihoods.
