EcoNews No. 2

Dear friends,

This is the periodic newsletter of EcoAlbania (The Center for Protection of Natural Ecosystems in Albania). Here you can find the latest news on our work and activities, as well as publications regarding important environmental issues in Albania.

You're kindly invited to share it with your friends and networks!

The "Protecting Rivers" alliance: Requires a 3-years moratorium for Hydro-powers in the Albanian Rivers

In its first public appearance, in a press conference, the representatives of "Protecting rivers" group, pointed out that in order to achieve the protection and management with pro-environment and pro-sustainable development criteria, they have jointly taken the initiative to seek 3 years moratorium on construction hydropower on Albanian rivers.

Environmental NGOs: NO HPP-s in Bënça

In the framework of the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign as well as in fulfilling the mission of the "Protecting Rivers" initiative, environmental NGOs have signed a declaration to protect the Bënça River.

Wild trout, Valbona’s pride

The Albanian Alps and their generous inhabitants welcomed us this summer in Valbona. EcoAlbania's team joined Balkans Peace Parks Project (B3P) to develop educational activities with children of Valbona Valley. We went in Valbona especially to continue our initiative to protect wild trout as one of the most important fish in the valley, but not only. Awareness raising on the importance of preserving the wild trout is a basic element for the future of its population.

PM Rama breaks his promise to not built HPP-s in Vjosa

“The Pocem HPP is one of eight plants projected on the Vjosa by previous governments and we have always sought annulment of these plans,” Besjana Guri, an activist from Eco Albania organization, told BIRN.

Borders divide, Rivers unite

Recently, in Belgrade was held the meeting of “Balkan Rivers Days”. This was the first meeting of the major initiative for the European rivers, which brought together representatives of NGOs, civic initiatives, fishermen, kayakers, scientists, journalists and more rivers lovers, to discuss how to protect the rivers of the Balkan Peninsula from the uncontrolled dam construction craze. There was no press conference, but the meeting provided a great opportunity to communicate with many of European countries river’s representatives as well as from USA, gaining the most recent information and data related to the Balkan rivers and their threats.

Request for a 3-years Moratorium on HPPs Construction

Environmental civil society organizations, expressing their concerns about the problematic situation created as a result of the uncontrolled construction of small HPPs along the Albanian river stretches. This situation is clearly evidenced by all legal, institutional, socio-economic and ecological impacts in the study " Environmental alternatives of small HPPs in Albania", an alternative study brought for the first time by the environmental civil society in Albania, as well as the study "Quality of EIA / SEA reports for hydropower projects plants in Albania" which highlights the deficiencies and deviations in relevant legislation on drafting EIA / SEA reports.

Friends of Vjosa Meeting

The friends of Vjosa were gathered again this month to discuss on the hydropower constructions that are threatening the last wild river in Europe. As in every meeting also this time some new friends have joined. We were together with well-known people from art, politics, media and environmentalists and nature lovers for a joint reason.

Progress Report 2015 Albania –The challenges in environment protection

Hydro-power constructions without criteria and a national master-plan is a phenomenon which is destroying natural rivers. They host an outstanding rich flora and fauna of Balkans. In 2016 Albania should work harder to ensure the effective protection of protected areas and those with high natural value such as the Vjosa River-the last wild river in Europe.

New study reveals that international “green energy” funding for hydropower threatens pristine Albanian rivers

The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the largest financier of hydropower projects in protected areas in Albania, according to a new study launched by Riverwatch, Euronatur and CEE Bankwatch Network today.

The Guardian: Macedonia dam faces the axe over risk of Balkan lynx extinction

A Bern Convention mission to the Mavrovo national park reported that the planned hydropower dam there was “not compatible” with protection of the park’s status, ecosystems or species. If the report is approved by its standing committee in December – usually a formality – the EBRD will then have no option but to pull out of the project.

The German TV, MDR: Vjosa- the Blue Heart of Europe

The Central German Broadcasting Television (Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk-MDR) reported on the Vjosa river, presenting to its followers the last wild river in Europe and the work that is being done by the Blue heart Campaign to protect this wild jewel from the hydro-power constructions. The MDR journalists have visited the valley of Vjosa starting from its lower part to the upper part in the Langarica canyon

For more information on EcoAlbania's work you can visit our webpage:

www.ecoalbania.org and our YouTube channel.