The Vjosa River is now part of UNESCO’s “Man and the Biosphere” program. The move gives Albania’s wild river global heritage status.

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the decision at the World Congress on Biosphere Reserves in China. “Vjosa is officially part of UNESCO’s global heritage,” he said.

Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro, who led the process while serving as Environment Minister, thanked her former team. She also praised UNESCO experts and Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who visited the Vjosa Valley in 2023.

Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj called the recognition historic. He said it was the result of years of work by institutions, experts and partners. He noted that Albania had already declared Vjosa a National Park in March 2023, making it Europe’s only wild river with this status.

“Albania proves again it is a model for nature protection and sustainable development,” Jaupaj said.

The UNESCO listing crowns a four-year effort. It aims to protect ecosystems, preserve biodiversity and support sustainable growth in the region.

The Vjosa runs 272 kilometers from Greece’s Pindus Mountains through Albania to the Adriatic Sea. It remains one of Europe’s last wild rivers and carries immense ecological value.

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