“Comment is free, but facts are sacred.” — C. P. Scott, 1921.
Vjosa, a park “only on paper”: organisations sound the alarm
Erblin Vukaj · Originally published: 1 July 2025
In this article
The environmental organisations EcoAlbania, RiverWatch and EuroNatur say that extractive industries, pollution and uncontrolled development are damaging the ecological integrity of Vjosa National Park.
In a joint statement published on Tuesday, 1 July, they warn the Albanian government and authorities that the river’s biodiversity is at risk unless the situation changes.
The statement comes about a week after EcoAlbania and RiverWatch reported oil waste leaking into the Vjosa from the Gorisht station, a recurring situation. Citizens.al was on the ground to document the high level of pollution.
Oil was flowing from a waste basin at the station, around 2 kilometres away, and joining the Mërtiraj stream. Albpetrol workers said they were working to clean the channel.
For environmentalists, however, cleaning is not enough. They are demanding permanent solutions, such as repairing pipes and tanks and preventing further spills.
The five main threats to the Vjosa
The environmental organisations EcoAlbania, RiverWatch and EuroNatur accompanied their statement with a report documenting pollution from leaking oil, bitumen and urban waste near the river.
The report “Hartëzimi i Presioneve [Mapping of Pressures]” includes 52 different points on the map where pollution is identified, often in violation of Law No. 81/2017 “On Protected Areas”. The digital map of pollution has been published online and is accessible to the public and the media.
Oil leaks are considered extremely dangerous because they pollute the water and threaten biodiversity.
The same applies to bitumen mines, mainly those in the Selenicë area. The report says they cause heavy pollution along the riverbank and conflict with the park’s management plan.
The report stresses that urban waste found at several points along the Vjosa, as well as plastic waste, threatens public health and wildlife.
Gravel extraction, mainly by the construction industry, is described as a threat to the riverbed and fish habitats. Wasteful water use in agriculture and tourism is considered another factor that could damage the park, given the reductions in river flow.
The organisations stress that, if the situation continues, the Vjosa risks being protected only on paper. In their joint statement, they call on the authorities to enforce the law and stop the pollution.
This requires continuous monitoring, rehabilitation by the polluters and effective waste management.
The Albanian government is pursuing the procedures for declaring the Vjosa Valley a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
“But unless the serious threats mentioned are addressed and resolved, UNESCO inclusion will remain merely a symbolic status, while real protection on the ground will be lacking,” the statement stresses.
Albpetrol’s response
On 28 June, Albpetrol responded publicly to the pollution from the Gorisht-Kocul oilfield. Citizens.al had sent it a request for information and official comment as early as 23 June but received no response.
Albpetrol acknowledges that the area is polluted from decades of exploitation but claims that there is currently no polluting activity. According to Albpetrol, technical protocols are being followed and the pollution is activated only at high temperatures.
The company promises to rehabilitate the area within its technical and financial means.
Yet Citizens.al’s footage and reports from environmental organisations show a more alarming and persistent reality.
Images from 20–25 June show black layers floating towards the waters of the Vjosa, also documented by drone.
The Vjosa is Europe’s last major wild river and a habitat for more than 1,100 species. Its designation as a park was considered a historic victory after ten years of campaigning. But legal status appears insufficient. Enforcement in practice and real protection on the ground are needed.