Study tour supports capacity building for Vjosa River National Park

Commissioned by IUCN and delivered by NaravaNarave, the study tour gave the National Park staff a practice-oriented opportunity to learn from protected areas in north-eastern Italy and Slovenia. It enabled them to explore different approaches to managing river and wetland ecosystems and to identify priority capacity-building needs for the park’s future development. 

The programme included visits to Isola della Cona at the Isonzo River estuary in Italy, as well as Notranjski Regional Park and Škocjan Bay Nature Reserve in Slovenia. These sites were selected for their experience in managing dynamic river and wetland systems, and for the relevance of their approaches to the Vjosa context. 

Throughout the week, participants were introduced to a range of management practices, including habitat and species conservation, ecological restoration, visitor management, interpretation, communication, and cooperation with local stakeholders. Field visits were combined with presentations, discussions and daily reflection sessions, allowing participants to consider how lessons from the visited areas could be adapted in Vjosa. 

A key message that emerged across all three sites was the importance of working closely with local communities and the wider public. Staff from the host protected areas highlighted that effective management depends not only on conservation measures, but also on trust, dialogue and shared understanding of the benefits that protected areas can bring, including through well-managed and sustainable tourism. 

The study tour also underscored the value of continued investment in staff development. As a relatively new protected area with a still developing management structure, Vjosa River National Park will benefit from regular training, practical mentoring and continued exchange with other protected areas to strengthen its long-term management capacity. 

The tour was delivered as part of IUCN’s continued support to Vjosa River National Park, aimed at strengthening management capacity and helping build the knowledge, tools and partnerships needed for effective conservation. 

As Europe’s first wild river national park marked its third anniversary in March, the importance of continued investment in its effective management remains clear. River conservation brings challenges and responsibilities, requiring not only the protection of species and habitats, but also the preservation of natural river dynamics, ecological connectivity and the relationships between the river and the people who live alongside it. Sustained learning, strong partnerships and continued investment in staff capacity is essential to managing this unique landscape effectively. 

Project Vjosa Wild River National Park, Phase II - operationalisation and effective management - project | IUCN 

IUCN Eastern Europe and Central Asia www.iucn.org/ecaro