Albania has declared the Vjosa River a national park, making it the first wild river national park in Europe. The river, one of the continent's last free-flowing waterways, stretches 168 miles from Greece to the Adriatic coast and supports over 1,000 species, including the endangered Egyptian vulture and the critically endangered Balkan lynx.
The announcement, made by Prime Minister Edi Rama at a ceremony in Tepelenë, follows a decade-long campaign by environmental groups. The park covers 12,727 hectares and includes the main river and three tributaries. It has been granted IUCN Category II status, ensuring a high level of protection that bans dams and gravel extraction.
Tourism and Environment Minister Mirela Kumbaro Furxhi described the park as part of Albania's evolution since communist rule, adding that the country hopes to boost ecotourism in the region. The park is expected to become operational in 2024.
The project is a collaboration between the Albanian government, NGOs, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and outdoor clothing company Patagonia. Albania also plans to work with Greece to create a transboundary park covering the entire river.
Europe has the most obstructed river landscape globally, with over a million barriers, according to a 2020 EU study. Conservationists hailed the Vjosa park as a historic step for river protection.
