Tirana, 17.03.2025 – EcoAlbania released its latest Report “Mapping of Pressures in the Wild River Vjosa National Park,” a crucial document identifying and analyzing the main threats endangering the ecological integrity of the Vjosa River and its major tributaries, including Drino, Shushica, and Bënça.
The report analyzes pressures from the extractive industry, urban activity, irrigation, and tourism, but highlights three main categories of concern:
Water Extraction: Water extraction for irrigation, urban supply, and industrial use is a major issue. Irrigation practices, carried out through irrigation channels based on the data collected, cover at least an area of 47,266 hectares, reducing natural flow and negatively affecting aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Gravel Extraction: Intensive gravel extraction, with 36 plants identified along the river, of which 17 are active, 5 inactive, 5 abandoned, and only 2 rehabilitated. These activities have damaged the river’s morphology, natural habitats, and water quality.
Extractive and Processing Industry: Industrial activities include the extraction of oil, bitumen, limestone, and other minerals. The most affected area is Selenica, with 13 active mines and over 150 oil wells impacting the quality of water and surrounding soils.
“The findings of this report are a wake-up call for the protection of the ecological integrity of the Wild River Vjosa National Park. To prevent the destruction of Vjosa’s delicate ecosystem, we are ready to collaborate with state institutions and local actors to ensure the effective implementation of the measures proposed in the Park’s Management Plan and to guarantee that Vjosa remains protected for future generations.” – said Olsi Nika from EcoAlbania.
The report emphasizes the importance of immediate measures to reduce the negative impacts of these activities on the Vjosa National Park, including:
Water Use Management: Calculating and controlling water use volume for agricultural, industrial, and household purposes without compromising the ecological integrity of the park.
Regulating Gravel Extraction: Stopping illegal deposits of inert materials, rehabilitating damaged areas, and creating a plan to protect riparian vegetation.
Limiting Industrial Activities: Eliminating mineral dumps near riverbanks, establishing a modern laboratory for monitoring discharges, and developing rehabilitation plans for degraded areas.
Background information:
The report was published as part of the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” Campaign implemented by EcoAlbania and international organizations RiverWatch and EuroNatur, aiming to preserve the Balkan rivers from hydropower construction.
The full report can be found here, along with its summary in the Fact Sheet.
Vjosa National Park:
Two years ago, on March 13, 2023, the Vjosa River and its free-flowing tributaries Drino, Bënça, Shushica, and Kardhiqi were declared a national park – making it the first wild river national park in Europe. A triumph for activists and locals after nearly a decade-long battle to protect it.
