Vjosa Tour

About 80 people participated in our last Vjosa Tour event on March 13th in Selenica, Albania.
About 80 people participated in our last Vjosa Tour event on March 13th in Selenica, Albania., © Ben Andoni
Representatives of the Blue Heart campaign informed locals about the Vjosa, its threats and our vision of a Vjosa National Park.
Representatives of the Blue Heart campaign informed locals about the Vjosa, its threats and our vision of a Vjosa National Park., © Earta Nuna/EcoAlbania
Locals spontaneously chanted “No Dams, no dams!” and enthusiastically supported our vision. Find the video thereof in the Video Gallery (http://balkanrivers.net/en/content/videos).
Locals spontaneously chanted “No Dams, no dams!” and enthusiastically supported our vision. Find the video thereof in the Video Gallery (http://balkanrivers.net/en/content/videos)., © Earta Nuna/EcoAlbania
Locals signed the "Save Our Vjosa" declaration.
Locals signed the "Save Our Vjosa" declaration., © Earta Nuna/EcoAlbania
Representatives of the Municipality of Selenica and the town'schools.
Representatives of the Municipality of Selenica and the town'schools., © Earta Nuna/EcoAlbania
About 130 residents of Tepelena and Memaliaj attended the debate in Tepelena on February 6, 2015. They also signed the declaration to stop the dam projects and protect the river as a national park instead.
About 130 residents of Tepelena and Memaliaj attended the debate in Tepelena on February 6, 2015. They also signed the declaration to stop the dam projects and protect the river as a national park instead., © Olsi Nika/EcoAlbania
From left to right: Aleko Miho/EcoAlbania, Vera Bekteshi/EcoAlbania, Ulrich Eichelmann/RiverWatch, Avni Lala/Head of Teplena Dirstict, Mr. Lulezim Meçe/ Mayor of Memaliaj.
From left to right: Aleko Miho/EcoAlbania, Vera Bekteshi/EcoAlbania, Ulrich Eichelmann/RiverWatch, Avni Lala/Head of Teplena Dirstict, Mr. Lulezim Meçe/ Mayor of Memaliaj., © Olsi Nika/EcoAlbania
Aleko Miho, CEO of EcoAlbania, beeing interviewed by Top Channel and TVSH.
Aleko Miho, CEO of EcoAlbania, beeing interviewed by Top Channel and TVSH., © Olsi Nika/EcoAlbania
At the even in Përmet. Locals support the idea of a Vjosa National Park.
At the even in Përmet. Locals support the idea of a Vjosa National Park., © Roland Tasho
About 75 people attended the public discussion in Përmet in mid-December.
About 75 people attended the public discussion in Përmet in mid-December., © Roland Tasho
"We are in favour of a national park, since it could promote the development of sustainable ecotourism and, as a result, improve the economic situation of the region. However, it must be a national park according to international management standards, not one that exists only on paper, like some others in Albania", says Gilberto Jaçe, mayor of Permet.
"We are in favour of a national park, since it could promote the development of sustainable ecotourism and, as a result, improve the economic situation of the region. However, it must be a national park according to international management standards, not one that exists only on paper, like some others in Albania", says Gilberto Jaçe, mayor of Permet., © Roland Tasho
Ulrich Eichelmann, coordinator of the Blue Heart campaign, introducing our alternative vision for the Vjosa valley.
Ulrich Eichelmann, coordinator of the Blue Heart campaign, introducing our alternative vision for the Vjosa valley., © Roland Tasho
The upper Vjosa valley.
The upper Vjosa valley., © Roland Tasho
About 75 people attended the discussion in Çarshovë. "We are grateful for such information and the possibility to discuss the issue. We don´t want to be dammed, but want a Vjosa National Park instead. This way, we can protect our river and maintain it for our economic future", says Veli Mehmeti, mayor of Çarshovë.
About 75 people attended the discussion in Çarshovë. "We are grateful for such information and the possibility to discuss the issue. We don´t want to be dammed, but want a Vjosa National Park instead. This way, we can protect our river and maintain it for our economic future", says Veli Mehmeti, mayor of Çarshovë., © Roland Tasho
Arta Dade, member of the Albanian parliament, who participated in the event in Çarshovë says: "I also support the idea of a national park and I will inform the parliamentarians in Tirana about it. I strongly hope that we can save this beautiful river."
Arta Dade, member of the Albanian parliament, who participated in the event in Çarshovë says: "I also support the idea of a national park and I will inform the parliamentarians in Tirana about it. I strongly hope that we can save this beautiful river.", © Roland Tasho
Locals sign a declaration to stop the dam projects and protect the river as a national park instead.
Locals sign a declaration to stop the dam projects and protect the river as a national park instead., © Roland Tasho
In order to spark a debate about the future of the Vjosa valley in light of the projected 8 dams along the river, we are organizing public discussions in affected communities in Albania. The first two events took place in Çarshovë on December 16th and Përmet on December 17th, another on in Tepelena on February 6th and in Selenica on March 13th. The mayors and people of the affected communities support the idea of establishing a national park instead of damming the river. A declaration to stop the dam projects and protect the river as a national park was signed. The “Vjosa Tour” will continue with events in other communities along the river and will end with a public "Vjosa Day" in Tiranë in May. Read more in our press release.
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