Volunteers Plant Trees Along Vjosa River, Europe's Last Wild River, in Albania
A group of 20 volunteers from different backgrounds gathered above the Vjosa River in southern Albania to plant trees as part of a conservation project. The river is one of Europe's last remaining wild rivers, and its designation as a national park was a significant victory for environmentalists.
The induction into tree-planting came from Pietro, an Italian hydromorphologist who oversees the group. He explained that the key to planting trees successfully was not to accidentally damage the stem or roots. The volunteers then headed out in pairs to plant saplings along the riverbank.
The Vjosa River is a 169-mile-long waterway that flows through southern Albania, originating from its source in Greece. Its designation as Europe's first wild river national park was a result of efforts by EcoAlbania and Riverwatch charities back in 2023. However, the project has raised questions about what next steps are needed to protect this natural wonder.
During a presentation, Ulrich "Uli" Eichelmann, chief executive of Riverwatch, highlighted the threats facing Europe's embattled river network. He specifically targeted thousands of dams that have hindered rivers, causing irreversible damage to fish stocks and freshwater ecosystems.
The Vjosa River has been relatively spared from these human-made interventions but still faces other challenges. High levels of erosion and an increased risk of flooding are critical issues due to the loss of trees resulting from fires, logging, road construction, and aggressive grazing.
Volunteers from diverse backgrounds joined forces to tackle this challenge. A London-based book illustrator, a US geospatial analyst aiming to create an "Albania where Albanians might want to stay," and an Italian university student interested in eco-tourism were among those planting trees along the Vjosa River.
On the second day of the volunteering trip, participants took part in sightseeing expeditions upstream. They explored the town of Përmet and a stunning Orthodox church in St Mary's, discovering that both have unique charms.
Despite the beauty of these sites, concerns remain for conservationists such as Olsi Nika, executive director of EcoAlbania. He expressed anxiety about tourism's impact on the national park, stating that "tourism is like fire" and can burn down with great force if not managed carefully.
The volunteers took a day to explore Apollonia, an ancient Greek trading community now located inland due to silt from the Vjosa River. This site offered them a chance to wander alone among extraordinary ruins on a hilltop overlooking the archaeological site.
As they depart, it remains uncertain what changes await the Vjosa River but hopefully its untamed nature will continue to thrive without human intervention.
A group of 20 volunteers from different backgrounds gathered above the Vjosa River in southern Albania to plant trees as part of a conservation project. The river is one of Europe's last remaining wild rivers, and its designation as a national park was a significant victory for environmentalists.
The induction into tree-planting came from Pietro, an Italian hydromorphologist who oversees the group. He explained that the key to planting trees successfully was not to accidentally damage the stem or roots. The volunteers then headed out in pairs to plant saplings along the riverbank.
The Vjosa River is a 169-mile-long waterway that flows through southern Albania, originating from its source in Greece. Its designation as Europe's first wild river national park was a result of efforts by EcoAlbania and Riverwatch charities back in 2023. However, the project has raised questions about what next steps are needed to protect this natural wonder.
During a presentation, Ulrich "Uli" Eichelmann, chief executive of Riverwatch, highlighted the threats facing Europe's embattled river network. He specifically targeted thousands of dams that have hindered rivers, causing irreversible damage to fish stocks and freshwater ecosystems.
The Vjosa River has been relatively spared from these human-made interventions but still faces other challenges. High levels of erosion and an increased risk of flooding are critical issues due to the loss of trees resulting from fires, logging, road construction, and aggressive grazing.
Volunteers from diverse backgrounds joined forces to tackle this challenge. A London-based book illustrator, a US geospatial analyst aiming to create an "Albania where Albanians might want to stay," and an Italian university student interested in eco-tourism were among those planting trees along the Vjosa River.
On the second day of the volunteering trip, participants took part in sightseeing expeditions upstream. They explored the town of Përmet and a stunning Orthodox church in St Mary's, discovering that both have unique charms.
Despite the beauty of these sites, concerns remain for conservationists such as Olsi Nika, executive director of EcoAlbania. He expressed anxiety about tourism's impact on the national park, stating that "tourism is like fire" and can burn down with great force if not managed carefully.
The volunteers took a day to explore Apollonia, an ancient Greek trading community now located inland due to silt from the Vjosa River. This site offered them a chance to wander alone among extraordinary ruins on a hilltop overlooking the archaeological site.
As they depart, it remains uncertain what changes await the Vjosa River but hopefully its untamed nature will continue to thrive without human intervention.
. It's crazy to think about how much of a difference one group of volunteers can make when they put their minds together. I mean, no more dams and stuff that harms the river and its ecosystem? That sounds like a total game-changer to me 
. And on the other hand, I don't want to be all pessimistic but what about tourism? Like, if people start flooding in there to take pictures and stuff, it's gonna mess with the whole vibe of the place 
. Maybe they just need some better management or something, idk 
. Anyway, I hope these volunteers' efforts pay off and the Vjosa River stays wild for a long time 
I'm telling ya, there's something fishy about this whole tree-planting thing along the Vjosa River 
I mean, it sounds like some kind of environmental PR stunt, you know? And what about those dams? Thousands of them? That's some serious human interference. I bet there are more to it than just erosion and flooding... 
. Maybe we need to find a way to make sustainable tourism that balances out all these conflicting interests? 
- Europe's last wild river! I'm all for preserving our natural wonders and I love how diverse group of people came together to help out 
. Pietro's tip on not hurting the stem or roots while planting is so important, it's a small but crucial step in conservation efforts 
. It's crazy that dams have hurt so many rivers across Europe, can't wait for more initiatives like this Riverwatch project 
i do hope that tourism doesn't hurt the national park too much, but it's great that there are people like Olsi Nika who care so deeply about its conservation 
. Still, its heartening to see people from all over the world coming together to protect this beautiful natural wonder 
. It's crazy how tourism can impact these kinds of areas – I totally get what Olsi Nika is saying 
. And I think it's great that Pietro's induction training is giving them all the tools they need to succeed 
?
And then we have these conservation groups like Riverwatch and EcoAlbania, but are they really making a difference or are they just band-aiding the problem? It's all about who's pulling the strings here. We need more transparency, more accountability, so that we can truly protect this precious resource for future generations. 
I'm glad to see people from different backgrounds coming together to make a difference, like that London-based book illustrator who's passionate about eco-tourism. Maybe we could learn a thing or two from them about finding sustainable ways to appreciate nature without harming it?