Saving Europe’s Last Wild River from ‘Progress’
- Mark Smith
- Jun 19
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
How Two Albanian Activists Saved the Vjosa River and Won the Goldman Environmental Prize
Through some of Europe’s most stunning countryside, an epic 167-mile story flows—a story of how courage, determination, and sacrifice by ordinary people saved one of the continent’s last surviving “wild” rivers.
The Vjosa River is as ancient as it is spectacular, traveling down from the Pindos Mountains of Greece to the Adriatic Sea in Albania. In addition to its natural beauty, the Vjosa supports a vast biodiversity of 1,175 plant and animal species, including 39 threatened species and 119 protected under Albanian law.
As a “wild river,” its flow was unobstructed by dams and other man-made structures, in stark contrast to Western Europe’s waterways, which have 1.2 million dams and other barriers blocking them. These watercourses have witnessed a 94% drop in migratory fish species.
Threat of Hydropower
Albania was facing the same potential future when, several years ago, plans to develop hydropower along the river were unveiled. Dozens of dams would have been constructed, breaking the flow of the river and causing potential harm to wildlife habitats, while spoiling an area of peerless natural beauty right in the heart of the continent.
A study by senior scientist Dr. Paul Meulenbroek of Boku University in Vienna, Austria, found the project would “significantly” degrade the “extremely high ecological value” of the entire Vjosa, from the delta to the upstream areas of the planned damming.
This stark new reality prompted action from concerned environmental campaigners, giving rise to the Blue Heart of Europe, a coalition of NGOs determined to not only stop plans for hydropower dams but also to establish a national park that would see rewilding and other efforts to protect and preserve the environment.
The first such project in Europe to protect a wild river, the campaign was the brainchild of Albanian activists Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika.
‘Ordinary’ Heroes
Besjana was a social worker by profession but had always felt drawn to environmentalism.
And due to the nature of her job, she understood how nature beneficially impacted people and wider communities. “From childhood, I've always felt deeply connected to nature—playing outdoors, exploring. It was just part of who I was,” she told The Earth & I.
Olsi was raised in a small town where nature and the sea were simply part of growing up—before “the age of video games and smartphones,” as he put it.
At first, Besjana did not understand how unique or important the Vjosa was, but the more she learned, the more it became more than a job: It became—in her words—a mission.
“I poured all my energy and passion into the campaign, and that passion is still with me today.”
“The idea that we could stop destructive dam projects and create a national park instead—that was incredibly powerful. As a young woman of 25, I poured all my energy and passion into the campaign, and that passion is still with me today.”
First Steps
Upon deciding to take on this massive challenge, their first step was to seek out organizations to work with, such as universities and environmental institutes, to ensure their own claims about the river were backed by “robust, peer-reviewed data.”
While their opponents commissioned their own studies, Olsi and Besjana countered these claims by emphasizing the “transparency, independence, and methodological rigor” of their own research.
“Our assertions were strongly supported by independent scientific research conducted by ecologists, hydrologists, and biodiversity experts,” Olsi said. “Numerous studies highlighted the Vjosa River’s unique ecological value as one of Europe’s last wild rivers, home to hundreds of endangered species.”
They also organized public forums where scientists from both sides could present and debate their findings openly, an approach that Olsi said helped the public and policymakers fully understand the issue.
Basjana said the pair also received support from international organizations like RiverWatch, EuroNatur, and Patagonia.
“There were plans for about 45 dams in the Vjosa basin, threatening to flood villages or dry up the river.”
“Their guidance was invaluable in raising the Vjosa issue on a global scale,” she said, adding, “And, of course, the people of the Vjosa Valley—they were our true allies. We worked closely with the communities, keeping them informed and supporting them in the fight against those hydropower projects. There were plans for about 45 dams in the Vjosa basin, threatening to flood villages or dry up the river.”
Targeting Election Campaigns
Once the evidence was collected and local communities were onboard, they turned to the fight for political support. And they managed to leverage the fact that elections often focus the attentions of those in power.
“Usually, we have played the card of using the election campaign, period,” said Olsi.
“A solid and widespread communication campaign has pushed the politicians, including the Prime Minister of Albania, to get massively confronted with the Vjosa case publicly, to the point that he couldn’t ignore it anymore.”
History Is Made
Their work saw the river’s historic designation as the Vjosa Wild River National Park by the Albanian Government in March 2023, making it the first such park in Europe. This status safeguards not just the river itself but its free-flowing tributaries, spanning a total of 250 miles, protecting more than 31,000 acres. It also means commercial activity is prohibited in three-quarters of the park, with the remaining quarter being available to traditional grazing methods. The status also means no dams are permitted on the Vjosa within Albanian territory.
This was an “incredible moment,” Basjana said. “It was a huge milestone for our team and a personal triumph. Seeing that dream finally come true, it made all the effort worth it.”
Olsi added: “It’s also a powerful example that sustainable development and conservation can go hand in hand. Seeing the Vjosa protected as a wild river national park is not just a personal achievement, it’s a win for all who believe in defending the last free-flowing rivers of Europe.”
Overreliance on Hydropower
But what would they say to those who believe Albania has missed out on a potential new energy source?
“Albania's energy problem stems from an overreliance on hydropower—almost 100%.” Basjana countered.
“Albania's energy problem stems from an overreliance on hydropower—almost 100%.”
“We've always felt it was unacceptable to exploit all our rivers, especially those within national parks and sensitive ecosystems, when other sources like solar and wind haven't been seriously considered until recently.”
Winning the Goldman Environmental Prize
Their efforts were so successful that they were honored with the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize in April of this year. Often referred to as the “Green Nobel Prize,” the international award recognizes grassroots environmental activists from around the globe.
“Winning the Goldman Environmental Prize was an unbelievable surprise—such an honor.” Basjana said.
“It was amazing acknowledgement of almost 12 years of hard work. I never dreamed that something like that could happen. From the moment I got the call from the Goldman Environmental Prize until the ceremony at the Opera House in San Francisco, it was just incredible. It marked one of the most special events of my life. And its echo continues.”
The pair now hopes their success will help inspire others too.
“I’ve had the privilege of sharing our experiences and offering advice to other campaigners, whether through speaking engagements, strategy sessions, or informal exchanges,” Olsi said. “It's been incredibly rewarding to contribute in this way and help build a stronger, united movement for river protection worldwide.”
*Mark Smith is a journalist and author from the UK. He has written on subjects ranging from business and technology to world affairs, history, and popular culture for the Guardian, BBC, Telegraph, and magazines in the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
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