In Albania's new UNESCO site, environmental worries abound

Albanias Vjosa River faces severe environmental threats from nearby landfills and sewage discharge, raising concerns as the region is designated as a UNESCO site.

In Tepelene, Albania, plastic debris from an open landfill is blown into the Vjosa River, highlighting significant pollution risks in the newly designated UNESCO site.
Sewage is discharged into the Vjosa River via a large pipe, posing serious environmental threats to the water quality in a region recognized by UNESCOs Man and the Biosphere Programme.
Gravel extraction from the Vjosa Riverbed for concrete production threatens the ecological integrity of the area, undermining conservation efforts in the national park.

Why It Matters

The environmental degradation at the Vjosa River, now a UNESCO site, underscores the conflict between conservation and industrial activities, which could set a troubling precedent for other protected areas worldwide.