Albanian government and Patagonia together for Vjosa National Park

Albanian government and Patagonia together for Vjosa National Park

Albanian government signs commitment to work with Patagonia to establish Europe’s first wild river national park.

The government of Albania has signed an agreement with Patagonia for the establishment of the Vjosa Wild River National Park. This morning, in Tirana.

The agreement provides that the Albanian government and Patagonia work together to raise the level of protection of the basin and the river ecosystem of the Vjosa River and its free tributaries to the level of National Park, Category II of the IUCN (World Union for the Conservation of Nature ).

The ecosystem is home to more than 1,100 animal species, including 13 globally threatened, as well as two endangered plant species. These ecological and cultural values ​​offer great opportunities for ecotourism and other economic benefits to the people of the region.

In Albanian, Vjosa is both a river and a woman’s name. Indeed, Vjosa is the most perfect metaphor of Albanian nature, with its white stones like pearls that catch the eye, the islets of pebbles and wild flowers that speak the language of the creatures inhabiting this corner of Albania“, said Mirela Kumbaro , Minister of Tourism and the Environment.

Environmental NGOs are committed to supporting the long-term goal of establishing the National Park and offer their support in its planning. Through official and concrete steps, this peerless biodiversity hotspot will set an important precedent for future nature protection in Europe.

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