Press release | 27 Jun, 2024
Albania joins IUCN as its newest State Member
IUCN, the world’s biggest environmental network, extends a warm welcome to Albania as its 87th State Member, following their formal endorsement of the IUCN Statutes. This step demonstrates Albania's commitment to global conservation efforts. The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has been…
Press release | 15 Mar, 2023
Vjosa, one of our last wild rivers, becomes Europe's first Wild River National Park
Today, the Vjosa River in Albania, one of the last wild rivers of Europe is declared a National Park by the Albanian Government, becoming the first Wild River National Park in Europe. In future, the Vjosa will be conserved as a living, free-flowing river, to the benefit of people and nature.…
Blog | 17 Feb, 2023
A voice from the 5th International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5), co-hosted by IUCN
IMPAC5 has provided a unique opportunity for the global ocean community to convene and transform the Kunming-Montreal Framework from bold ambition to action, with youth and indigenous voices front and centre.
Story | 07 Oct, 2022
World Rivers Day 2022: Protecting the free-flowing Aoos-Vjosa River in Greece and Albania
Around this year’s World Rivers Day on 25 September, a number of events and activities were held along the Aoos-Vjosa River in Greece and Albania to promote transboundary collaboration and protection of this unique river system, from its source to the sea.
Press release | 07 Oct, 2022
Protecting the Aoos-Vjosa River and its tributaries
On World Rivers Day 2022, project partners for ‘Saving the last free-flowing wild river in Europe: Aoos/Vjosa’ were in Greece to promote protection of the Aoos and Vjosa Rivers, from the headwaters in Greece to the Albanian coast.
Story | 07 Oct, 2022
Promising cross-government collaborations for conservation in Canada
As an inspiring example of collaboration across levels of government, Canada and the province of Nova Scotia are making important strides for conservation. Together, the federal and provincial governments have recently committed to establishing the province's first…
Story | 02 Sep, 2022
IUCN helps protect Vjosa in Albania, the last wild free-flowing river in Europe
By Julia Horwitz
Story | 02 Aug, 2022
Call to host the 6th International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC6) in 2026
We are delighted to open a call for proposals to host the 6th International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC 6) in 2026. Since 2005 a global community of marine protected area managers and practitioners have come together once every four years at IMPAC, co-chaired by IUCN and the…
Story | 28 Apr, 2021
Protection study of the Vjosa River Valley based on IUCN protected area standards now available
There is a need to protect the Vjosa River Valley along its full length, including its tributaries - confirms the new IUCN WCPA authored study.
Grey literature | 2021
Protection study of the Vjosa River Valley based on IUCN protected area standards
This report provides insight into the rationale and feasability of declaring a protected area for the Vjosa Valley, along with the management objectives and associated protected area categories that would ensure the conservation of the area's key values.