The Significance of Europe’s First Wild River National Park for Everyone

With few rivers in Europe still flowing freely, unimpeded by dams and extensive development, the designation of the Vjosa River National Park in Albania in March 2023 ensures that at least one will remain pristine. This milestone followed a decade of advocacy from an unlikely alliance of activists, including outdoor retailer Patagonia, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and NGOs like EcoAlbania and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), leading to the Vjosa becoming the continent's inaugural wild river national park, spanning 170 miles.

The Vjosa River, originating as the Aoös in Greece’s Pindus Mountains, flows into southern Albania. Its swift currents carve through towering snow-capped peaks and nourish lush fields in the surrounding floodplains as it intertwines with smaller tributaries. Near the Adriatic Sea, the Vjosa Basin boasts natural hot springs, 500-year-old stone bridges, and remnants of ancient civilizations.

The designation of the Vjosa River National Park bans mining and dam construction across 32,000 acres of river basin, home to over 1,100 animal species, 13 of which are globally threatened according to the IUCN, including the Egyptian vulture and the Balkan lynx. It halts several proposed hydroelectric projects, allocates resources for addressing current water and land pollution, and curbs further deforestation. During the park's inauguration ceremony in March, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced an $80 million investment to prevent wastewater from contaminating the river.

The global spotlight on the establishment of the park also offers significant potential for boosting Albania’s burgeoning tourism sector. It paves the way for bird-watching, hiking, and adventure tourism in the canyons; swimming and non-motorized boating on the river; and cultural tourism in nearby villages like Smokthina, famous for its unique Albanian polyphonic music tradition.

Jonida Shano, co-founder of Green Adventures into Albania (GAIA), a sustainable tourism operator, expresses her joy regarding the Albanian government's declaration. She believes that the regulations, if enforced, will not only safeguard delicate habitats and ecosystems but also benefit the 100,000 residents whose livelihoods and cultures have depended on a wild Vjosa for centuries. This includes local shepherds, fishermen, subsistence farmers, and traditional villagers, many of whom have seen a migration of younger generations seeking jobs in larger cities.

Albania, covering just 11,000 square miles, is comparable in size to Massachusetts. The country suffered under a harsh communist regime for fifty years, followed by significant economic challenges in the 1990s, making it the third poorest in Europe in terms of GDP per capita. Despite its financial struggles, Albania is rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage.

News of Albania’s stunning beaches, towering mountain peaks, uncrowded Roman archaeological sites, and engaging history museums is finally gaining traction, leading to a tourism boom: In 2022, 7.5 million visitors arrived, marking a 32 percent increase from the previous year.

However, the country’s limited size and emerging tourism industry make it susceptible to being overwhelmed. Jonida Shano emphasizes, “Albania simply doesn’t have the capacity and therefore can never develop the infrastructure necessary for mass tourism.” She hopes that the Vjosa will guide Albania toward sustainable, low-impact tourism. “Pursuing alternative tourism models could benefit communities, particularly in rural areas, as well as the overall economy,” she adds.

Prime Minister Rama appears to share this perspective, stating at the park's inauguration that national parks draw 20 percent more visitors than unprotected regions. He remarked, “Protecting an area doesn’t mean isolating it from economic development.”

Yet, even as he announced the park, his administration continued to advance another controversial project that has long provoked criticism from environmental experts and contradicts the new protections for the Vjosa: a new international airport being constructed near the river’s mouth, expected to open in 2024 (currently, travelers arrive in the capital, Tirana, two hours away). The European Union delegation in Albania has stated that the airport's site, just outside Vlora on the Narta Lagoon, breaches international agreements and national regulations aimed at biodiversity protection.

Alongside other issues, like the future of a stalled hydropower station project on the river, this raises concerns about the effectiveness of the park's protections, especially if international attention wanes. “Some politicians are eager to keep options open for development, which puts the Vjosa at serious risk,” warns Shano. “Without biodiversity, humanity has no future.”

Across Europe, observers are keenly watching the developments: Over 1 million barriers impede river flows across the continent, disrupting wildlife migration and harming the environment. Many of these structures are outdated, no longer serving their original functions of power generation or irrigation. Last year, 325 barriers were dismantled, and while dam removal is not included in the Vjosa protections, environmental organizations continue to advocate for more. “Vjosa represents a chapter in human history and is also a crucial part of our national heritage,” stated Mirela Kumbaro Furxhi, Albania’s Minister of Tourism and Environment, in a press release. “While Albania may not have the power to change the world, it can set successful examples for protecting biodiversity and natural resources.”