German ecologist, Michael Succow, the winner of the Right Lievelihood Foundation Prize, otherwise known as the alternative Nobel Prize, calls for the start of the planning of the Vjosa National Park, in an open letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, and the EU authorities.

Professor Succow, who in this letter is supported by other alternative Nobel Prize winners, calls on Albania to start planning the Vjosa National Park along the entire river in Albania as soon as possible, including its tributaries. According to Succow, about 30 new Hydro Power Plant (HPP) projects along the river pose a threat to the ecosystem.

"The Vjosa in Albania is one of the last virgin rivers in Europe with one of the most prominent ecosystems on the continent. In light of the tremendous deterioration of natural habitats and biodiversity in Europe, the Vjosa is a great gift not only for the inhabitants of Albania, but for all Europeans and beyond ", writes the 79-year-old ecologist, among other things, in his letter.

In his letter to the EU, Succow called on the European Union and the member states to support with funds and expertise Albania in its goal to create the First National Park of a virgin river in Europe. "This would be a gigantic achievement for the nature of Europe and could serve as a model for the EU," Succow wrote.

About 36 environmental organizations have addressed the issue to the Albanian government since February, including Hollywood actor Leonardo di Caprio. On February 10, about 20 environmental organizations from Albania and Europe submitted a plan to the Minister of Environment in Albania, Blendi Klosi, for the creation of a National Park along the Vjosa River.

The Albanian government had previously warned that it would turn the Vjosa valley into a national park, but according to the environmental protection association EcoAlbania, the Albanian government's project has excluded from protection the areas around the planned hydropower plants.In addition to the hydropower plants, experts see the Vjosa ecosystem as endangered by the construction of Vlora airport.

According to Ecoalbania, there are currently 1,175 species of animals and plants living along the Vjosa, including 119 species protected under Albanian law and 39 species that are listed in the International Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Experts believe that the number of rare species is much higher, as many areas of the Vjosa and its tributaries are still unexplored.