Spirit of Vjosa / Discover the stories of people and news from the River Vjosa National Park
2024-11-07 09:17:36
TiranaPost
A fragment of the history of the communities in Vjosa is reflected in the Pyramid of Tirana on November 6 through the lens of the photographer, Jutta Benzenbeg. This activity will be exhibited in the lobby of the Pyramid until November 12.
On March 13, 2023, the Vjosa river valley in Albania was declared a National Park, as the last wild river in Europe. The history of Vjosa is rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage, but it also represents the history of local communities that consider the river their home.
Generations of families have lived along the banks of the river and have been blessed with Vjosa's gifts, be it gathering the dyed herbs, cultivating the land, even learning to swim. Now, living in these rural areas, they are also facing the challenges of life and an often uncertain future. Their stories reveal the truth about why this river is so special and why the National Park of this site is so necessary to their daily lives.
Jutta Benzenberg, a photographer who lives and works in Albania, traveled to meet the communities of Vjosa and share their stories with the world, through their own words.
"There are 8 stories that I hope will be followed by other stories, where we can convey the idea of how great the interest of Albanians is to be an active part of nature conservation. Visit these people and listen with interest to what they have to say," says the photographer.
In September, the 'Integrated Management Plan for the Vjosa River National Park' was approved, the basic document that determines the preservation and development of this protected area. This is the result of intensive work between Albanian and foreign experts, including discussions, trainings, analyzes and successive public consultations.
In the meantime, the application for the inclusion of the "Lumi Vjosa" National Park in the UNESCO, "Man and Biosphere" program has been completed. With a focus on human coexistence with nature, this program aims to improve the livelihood of communities and the protection of natural ecosystems in a sustainable manner.
The journey to declare Vjosa, a National Park, which started thanks to the cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the company Patagonia, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and the National Agency of Protected Areas, is continuing with other ambitious projects that promote and uphold the values of the last, wild river in Europe.
