In Albania: The Classification of the "Vjosa River" as a National Park

The Albanian government has classified the Vjosa River as a national park, marking a victory for environmental activists who have been striving for years against the establishment of hydroelectric stations along the river. Environmentalists and scientists describe the Vjosa River as the last "pristine" river in Europe, as it flows uninterrupted for 270 kilometers from Greece through southern Albania into the Adriatic Sea without any dams or power stations. They claim that the river, untouched by human intervention, is home to about a thousand species of fish, including the European eel, which faces severe extinction threats, as well as endemic plant species at risk of extinction. The declaration of the Vjosa River and its tributaries as a national park will prevent construction projects. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that there will be an initial budget of $80 million to build new treatment plants to prevent sewage from reaching the river. Rama said during the signing ceremony in the city of Tepelena in the south of the country: "Today we will forever protect the last pristine river in Europe." He added, "Let us not forget that this national park will encompass 12,700 hectares of land, making it a vast park that spans the entire country."