Vjosa National Park Declaration

Prime Minister Edi Rama, Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert, and Minister for Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro, holding the just signed official declaration of Vjosa Wild River National Park.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert, and Minister for Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro, holding the just signed official declaration of Vjosa Wild River National Park., © Anika Konsek
The signing of the declaration.
The signing of the declaration., © Anika Konsek
The declaration
The declaration, © Nick St.Oegger
Lunch with Edi Rama (standing) and other important stakeholders to discuss the National Park.
Lunch with Edi Rama (standing) and other important stakeholders to discuss the National Park., © Ulrich Eichelmann
Some of the people involved in making this event possible!
Some of the people involved in making this event possible!, © Nick St.Oegger
National Park planning team with among others Minister for Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro, representatives of the Albanian Government, Patagonia, IUCN, NGOs, Greek Ambassador in Albania, mayor of Tepelene.
National Park planning team with among others Minister for Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro, representatives of the Albanian Government, Patagonia, IUCN, NGOs, Greek Ambassador in Albania, mayor of Tepelene., © Elton Baxhaku
Vjosa River in Tepelene, declared Wild River National Park.
Vjosa River in Tepelene, declared Wild River National Park., © Anika Konsek
The site of the abandoned Kalivaç dam project on the Vjosa River. The river’s new status will protect it from future development projects.
The site of the abandoned Kalivaç dam project on the Vjosa River. The river’s new status will protect it from future development projects., © Nick St.Oegger
In 2022, Minister for Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaroand Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to create Vjosa National Park.
In 2022, Minister for Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaroand Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to create Vjosa National Park., © Nick St. Oegger

At a formal ceremony in Tepelena on 15 March 2023, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Minister of the Environment and Tourism, Mirela Kumbaro, declared the River Vjosa a Wild River National Park. Now, the entire River Vjosa in Albania, from its border with Greece to the Adriatic Sea and its free-flowing tributaries – a river system totalling more than 400 kilometres in length – have been designated as a national park. This is something unique in Europe.

After more than ten years of unstinting efforts working for the preservation of one of the last wild rivers in Europe, EuroNatur, Riverwatch, EcoAlbania, and many other conservationists and river activists are rejoicing over this great milestone. 

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