26 environmental organizations, through an open letter, are calling for urgent measures to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
Elbasan, Albania, 24 February 2026 – 26 national and local environmental organizations, through an open letter addressed to the Government, have expressed their deep concern regarding interventions in the riverbed and banks of the Shkumbin River, in the framework of works for the construction of the Elbasan–Librazhd–Bushtricë national road, part of Corridor VIII.
Based on field observations, technical and visual documentation, as well as reports from local communities, the organizations have identified changes in the river’s morphology, extraction of inert materials from the riverbed and banks, and the deposition of excavated materials near or within the water body. According to them, these interventions may affect water quality, biodiversity, bank stability, and the natural balance of the river ecosystem.
In the open letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama, the Minister of Environment, Mr. Sofjan Jaupaj, as well as the institutions responsible for water resource management and environmental monitoring, the organizations call for immediate institutional intervention and a full verification of the legality of the actions carried out in the river.
Specifically, the organizations request:
- An urgent on-site inspection by the competent institutions and the publication of an official report with findings and concrete measures;
- Verification of the compliance of the interventions with water use permits and the conditions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA);
- Monitoring of water quality and sediments in the affected segments;
- Drafting and implementation of a rehabilitation plan for the damaged areas;
- Full transparency regarding documentation, decisions, and the conditions of the permits granted.
The organizations emphasize that the use of river inert materials must strictly comply with the technical and legal standards in force, and that any deviation from these standards risks causing long-term environmental and territorial consequences. The impacts of these interventions are already visible at this stage of the works but may become even more severe in the long term, threatening the stability of riverbanks, roads, agricultural land, and homes or businesses located along the river.
This concern has been raised previously by local organizations and affected residents, who stress that this initiative is not against infrastructure development, but in support of responsible, balanced development in line with environmental legislation and the public interest.
The Shkumbin River represents a natural asset of particular importance for local communities, agriculture, biodiversity, and the ecological stability of the region. Its protection requires continuous monitoring, institutional transparency, and full respect for the legal framework.
Below is the full letter signed by the organizations, which contains further details on the concerns and requests addressed to the responsible institutions.
Signatory Organizations:
- Shoqata AlbNatyra
- Qendra NORMA
- Reinforce Sustainability (RESU Albania)
- GO2Albania_Organizatë për Planifikim të Qëndrueshëm Urban
- Qendra LUMI – Lëvizja për Ujërat, Mjedisin dhe Integrimin
- Qendra për Ruajtjen dhe Mbrojtjen e Mjedisit Natyror në Shqipëri (PPNEA)
- Rrjedha
- Qendra Balancë
- Qendra për Mbrojtjen e Ekosistemeve Natyrore në Shqipëri (EcoAlbania)
- Unë Gruaja
- Instituti për Natyrën dhe Konservimin në Shqipëri (INCA Albania)
- ILIRIA-Protection and Social & Environmental Development Association (PSEDA-ILIRIA)
- Eko mjedisi Durrës
- AGRIEN_SHOQATA E BASHKUAR AGRO-MJEDISORE
- Qendra Burimore e Mjedisit ne Shqipri (REC Albania)
- All-Green Centre
- Milieukontakt Albania
- Shoqata Ornitologjike e Shqiperise (AOS)
- Rrjeti për Raportimin e K.O.K.Sh
- Shoqata Ekspertet e Rinj Mjedisor -SHERM Albania
- Shtëpia e Gjelbër
- Instituti per Menaxhimin e Mjedisit dhe Territorit
- Destination Management Organization
- Korça Alpin
- North Green Association
- Co-PLAN, Instituti për Zhvillimin e Habitatit
