The #Vjosa is unique not only it's freedom and beauty, but also its protection - tributaries were included in the #Albania National Park plan. That's great:

But problems remain; raw sewage going straight into the river & the delta being mostly excluded from protection

sound.orf.at/collection/1...

The Austrian-led project #EU4rivers is helping #Albania monitor and better understand the #Vjosa river - and better water standards will be necessary for #EU membership.

But coastal developments in the delta compromise the protection of the #river

#FlamingoRevolution

fm4.orf.at/beitrag/3233...

The #Vjosa river in #Albania is stunning: one of the last great free rivers of #Europe.

But, due to a lack of water treatment facilities, raw #sewage ends up in the #river, which strangles life.

As #Albania heads towards #EU membership this has to change.

@fm4.orf.at

fm4.orf.at/beitrag/3233...

The #WWF #LivingPlanet report today was a reminder that strong policies can make a difference in protecting the biodiversity that sustains us.

A good example is the protection, aided by Austria's ADA, of the #Vjosa river in #Albania.

But challenges lie ahead:

fm4.orf.at/beitrag/3229...

We visited the #Vjosa at Poçëm this summer. Such a peaceful place, it felt as if the river was alive 🏞🌊
Interestingly, on the drive there from Vlorës, one passes through an old oil exploration site, a deserted hilly area with lots of rusty little oil pumps.

The #Vjosa at Tepelena, #Albania: one of Europe's last wild rivers, flowing some 270 km undammed from Greece to the Adriatic. Since 2023, Europe's first Wild River National Park. #Austria helps protect it, funding research with Austrian universities and water monitoring to EU standards.