Around 40 Albanian and international researchers of nature have urged the Albanian government to include the Vjosa River Delta in the Vjosa National Park and halt the vision for massive tourism projects.
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| Vjosa river near the mouth, picture by drone, Oculus News |
In a statement following a week-long scientific expedition in the Vjosa River Delta by researchers from Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, and Italy, distributed by environmental organizations "Euro Natur," "Riverwatch," and "EcoAlbania," it is stated that the Vjosa River Delta faces numerous threats from the Albanian government's vision for mass tourism, VOA reports.
"Recently, continues the statement, the government plans to build a luxury resort with Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, in the Zvërnec area, within the Vjosa Delta... According to the government's master plan for the area, this is just the tip of the iceberg of destructive plans for this delicate ecosystem. Meanwhile, the Vlora International Airport, also within the Delta, is already under construction," the statement reads.
The environmental organizations included in the distributed statement cite quotes from some of the researchers who participated in the Vjosa River Delta data collection meeting, covering various disciplines such as fish, mammals, birds, flora, insects, and water quality and microplastic monitoring.
"Our findings in just 5 days of research are truly exceptional and stand as a testament to the rich biodiversity of the delta. Therefore, we are drafting a comprehensive report of our findings and urge the Albanian government to recognize the ecological significance of this delicate area and include it in the Vjosa National Park, in line with IUCN standards," stated Aleko Miho, a professor of natural sciences at the University of Tirana.
Meanwhile, Fritz Shiemer from the University of Vienna stated, "Amidst the allure of luxury tourism, we must remember the unparalleled ecological importance of the Vjosa Delta, a unique treasure in all of Europe. Let's prioritize conservation over development."
A new study reveals that, according to environmental organizations, the Vjosa Delta is one of the few untouched deltas in the Mediterranean. Out of 258 deltas and river mouths evaluated in the region, only 4% of them, according to the study, are in good condition.
The study states that the Vjosa Delta and neighboring deltas of the Shkumbin and Seman rivers in Albania constitute the last large and dynamic deltas, which carry incomparable value for the entire Mediterranean and Europe.
The Science Week of the Vjosa Delta follows similar expeditions in the Vjosa River basin in 2017 and 2021, which, according to environmental organizations, played a key role in highlighting the ecological values of the Vjosa, avoiding hydropower projects, and ultimately paving the way for the protection of the Vjosa as the Vjosa National Park.