Environmental Massacre on the Shkumbin River: Riverbed Interventions Threaten the Ecosystem and Local Communities
26 Environmental Organizations Call for Urgent Action to Enforce Environmental Standards
Tirana, Albania – 24 February 2026
Twenty-six national and local environmental organizations, through an open letter addressed to the government, have expressed deep concern over interventions in the bed and banks of the Shkumbin River related to construction works for the Elbasan-Librazhd-Bushtricë national road, part of Corridor VIII.
Based on field observations, technical and visual documentation, and reports from local communities, the organizations have identified changes in the river’s morphology, extraction of inert materials from the riverbed and banks, and deposits of excavated materials in or near the watercourse. According to the organizations, these interventions may affect water quality, biodiversity, bank stability, and the natural balance of the river ecosystem.
In the open letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama, the Minister of Environment, Mr. Sofjan Jaupaj, and institutions responsible for water resource management and environmental monitoring, the organizations demand immediate institutional intervention and a full verification of the legality of the activities carried out in the river.
Specifically, the organizations are calling for:
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Urgent on-site inspection by competent institutions and the publication of an official report with findings and concrete measures;
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Verification of compliance of the interventions with water use permits and the conditions of the Environmental Impact Assessment;
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Monitoring of water quality and sediments in affected segments;
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Development and implementation of a rehabilitation plan for the damaged areas;
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Full transparency regarding documentation, decisions, and the conditions of granted permits.
The organizations emphasize that the use of riverine inert materials must strictly comply with existing technical and legal standards, and any deviation from these standards risks long-term environmental and territorial consequences. The impacts of these interventions are already visible at this stage of construction but may become more severe over time, threatening the stability of riverbanks, roads, agricultural lands, homes, and businesses along the river.
This concern has previously been raised by local organizations and affected residents, highlighting that this initiative is not against infrastructure development but aims to support responsible, balanced development in compliance with environmental legislation and the public interest.
The Shkumbin River represents a natural asset of exceptional importance for local communities, agriculture, biodiversity, and regional ecological stability. Its protection requires continuous monitoring, institutional transparency, and full compliance with the legal framework.
Here you can access the full open letter signed by the organizations, containing further details on concerns and demands addressed to the responsible institutions.
Open Letter from Environmental Civil Society Organizations
© Environmental Organization AlbNatyra
