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Gjirokastra County, Albania
It is of unique beauty: the Vjosa is the last great wild river in Europe.
It rises in Greece - and flows over a distance of almost 300 kilometers through an Albanian terra incognita to the Adriatic Sea.
But for years it has also been the scene of a fight.
The aim is to preserve the previously untouched river.
Besjana Guri, NGO EcoAlbania
»We have been fighting for the protection of the Vjosa for more than six years. We have already achieved a lot. But the fight continues. As long as the plans to build hydropower plants here are not stopped and the river is not declared a national park to protect it - the Vjosa is not safe for that long. "
Tirana, Albania April 2021
During his election campaign for a third term, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama announced his intention to establish a Vjosa National Park.
However, no concrete steps by the government followed.
The Vjosa was designated as a »nature park«.
But this category provides only minimal protection: Planned hydropower plants and dams would not be ruled out.
Projects such as oil drilling on the river banks would not be averted by a nature park.
The Shell oil company has already started its search for oil and gas in the region - to the great concern of residents.
Gezim Dani, villager
»This land has fed many generations. Our ancestors lived here for centuries. And we will not give up the land - even if we are threatened with violence. "
The “Vjosa National Park Now” campaign for the preservation of the river now has prominent supporters: Hollywood actor Leonardo Di Caprio posted a campaign video on his Instagram account for UN World Water Day - which received hundreds of thousands of likes.
Conservationists like him attract attention.
The EU Foreign Affairs Committee then urged Albania to abandon the dam plans along the Vjosa and to build a Vjosa National Park as soon as possible.
But criteria for national parks are precisely defined - and cost a lot of money.
A multi-digit million sum is likely to be necessary for implementation.
The small Balkan state would need international support for this.
There are now plans for at least eight dams on the Vjosa, and the government is planning hundreds of hydropower projects throughout Albania.
Above all, these endanger the ecosystems for freshwater fish.
Migjen Celaj, Fischer
»If a hydropower plant is built here, everything will be destroyed. We only come fishing from town on weekends. But what will the poor villagers do? "
The Vjosa is still home to more than 1,100 species.
A group of international scientists is expected here on Sunday - to take stock of the flora and fauna.
