Vjosa NP - Press Conference

Participants of the press conference at the Vjosa River demonstrate their opposition against the planned dam projects and demand a Vjosa National Park.
Participants of the press conference at the Vjosa River demonstrate their opposition against the planned dam projects and demand a Vjosa National Park., © Adrian Guri
“We are here to announce our will to establish a Vjosa National Park. We want to protect this river for the benefit of nature and local communities”, says Kujtim Mersini, CEO of the Albanian environmental NGO Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) and organizer of this event.
“We are here to announce our will to establish a Vjosa National Park. We want to protect this river for the benefit of nature and local communities”, says Kujtim Mersini, CEO of the Albanian environmental NGO Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) and organizer of this event., © Adrian Guri
“We live with the river. We want the Vjosa to stay alive and we are hopeful that our communities would benefit from a national park. Dams create no jobs for our people, a national park would do so. We are supporting the idea of a national park”, says Hysni Cela, Mayor of Qesarat.
“We live with the river. We want the Vjosa to stay alive and we are hopeful that our communities would benefit from a national park. Dams create no jobs for our people, a national park would do so. We are supporting the idea of a national park”, says Hysni Cela, Mayor of Qesarat., © Adrian Guri
Adrian Guri
From left to right: Prof. Dr. Spase Shumka (Biodiversity Expert, PPNEA), Hysni Cela (Mayor of Qesarat), Kujtim Mersini, (CEO of PPNEA - Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania), Ulrich Eichelmann (CEO of Riverwatch).
From left to right: Prof. Dr. Spase Shumka (Biodiversity Expert, PPNEA), Hysni Cela (Mayor of Qesarat), Kujtim Mersini, (CEO of PPNEA - Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania), Ulrich Eichelmann (CEO of Riverwatch)., © Adrian Guri
Both locals and media showed great interest in the event.
Both locals and media showed great interest in the event., © Adrian Guri
“For many people in Albania the Vjosa might be just another ordinary river. From an international perspective however, the Vjosa is particularly extraordinary. Even many international freshwater experts are unaware that a river of such high ecological value still exists in Europe. Not only Albania would benefit from the creation of a Vjosa National Park, but also Europe and the entire world” says Ulrich Eichelmann, CEO of Riverwatch.
“For many people in Albania the Vjosa might be just another ordinary river. From an international perspective however, the Vjosa is particularly extraordinary. Even many international freshwater experts are unaware that a river of such high ecological value still exists in Europe. Not only Albania would benefit from the creation of a Vjosa National Park, but also Europe and the entire world” says Ulrich Eichelmann, CEO of Riverwatch., © Adrian Guri
The projected dams would gravely affect the ecological integrity of the riverine ecosystem as well as the spectacular landscape along the Vjosa River.
The projected dams would gravely affect the ecological integrity of the riverine ecosystem as well as the spectacular landscape along the Vjosa River., © Adrian Guri
Two international and five national NGOs from the respective Balkan countries have joined forces in order to save the Blue Heart of Europe.
Two international and five national NGOs from the respective Balkan countries have joined forces in order to save the Blue Heart of Europe., © Adrian Guri
In the front row: the villagers from Anevjose, which will be mostly flooded by the projected Kalivaç dam.
In the front row: the villagers from Anevjose, which will be mostly flooded by the projected Kalivaç dam., © Adrian Guri
Participants signing attendance list.
Participants signing attendance list., © Adrian Guri
Adrian Guri
Famous Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja (front row, black hat) also participated in the press conference.
Famous Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja (front row, black hat) also participated in the press conference., © Adrian Guri
“The Vjosa is of incredible importance for the biodiversity, especially for the fish, molluscs and other species”, Spase Shumka, one of Albania’s leading scientists and biodiversity expert (PPNEA), confirms.
“The Vjosa is of incredible importance for the biodiversity, especially for the fish, molluscs and other species”, Spase Shumka, one of Albania’s leading scientists and biodiversity expert (PPNEA), confirms., © Adrian Guri
Adrian Guri
On May 8, 2014, an unusual press conference took place in Albania. On the gravel islands of the Vjosa River – the last big wild river in Europe – representatives of international and national environmental groups came together with the local mayor and business people in order to propose an idea to save the Vjosa: plans for hydropower projects shall be abandoned and the last big wild river of Europe instead be designated as national park. Approximately 70 people participated in the press conference, among them the mayors of the nearby cities of Qesarat, Permet, and Tepelena. All three of them support the idea of a Vjosa National Park and oppose the projected dams. Read about it here: Albania: National Park for Vjosa River instead of Dams
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