By Abbas Nazil
A strong wind carries scraps of plastic from an open landfill into the Vjosa River in Albania, only a few hundred meters from where sewage flows directly into the waterway.
Elsewhere, heavy machinery scrapes gravel from the riverbed to produce concrete, a process experts warn is altering the river’s natural course and weakening its banks.
Last month, UNESCO named the Vjosa valley one of 26 new Biosphere Reserves, aiming to protect some of the planet’s most fragile ecosystems.
The valley stretches from northern Greece to Albania’s Adriatic coast and is home to otters, endangered Egyptian vultures, and rare plant species.
Declared a national park in 2023, the Vjosa is among Europe’s last free-flowing rivers, winding through scenic gorges and lush valleys that have attracted a surge in tourism.
The recognition is seen as a victory for Albania, a country of 2.4 million people seeking European Union membership by the decade’s end.
However, environmentalists warn that international recognition alone cannot resolve deep-rooted ecological problems.
“International recognition papers like UNESCO do not solve problems,” said Besjana Guri from the environmental group Lumi, during a recent visit to the valley.
Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj admitted the challenges, pledging over €150 million to close landfills and treat sewage water.
Despite these efforts, pollution from oil wells and bitumen pits continues to threaten the ecosystem.
Local resident Agron Zia recalled swimming in the river as a child but lamented that his children can no longer do so because of sewage and waste.
“It hurts when your children cannot go because of rubbish,” he said.
