Exchange of experience, strengthening institutional cooperation, and a field visit to Vjosa-Narta were at the centre of discussions with German partners.
As part of the project “Active Youth for Nature Conservation – Empowering Advocates for a Sustainable Future”, PPNEA welcomed representatives of the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (NNA), NABU – The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, and the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) to Albania for a study visit held from 30 August to 5 September 2026.
The visit provided an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation between the organisations, exchange experiences and good practices, and discuss the challenges and opportunities related to strengthening civil society and environmental advocacy.
One of the highlights of the visit was the field trip to the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape, one of the Mediterranean’s most ecologically significant wetland areas and a key site along the Adriatic migratory route for birds.
The lagoon and its surrounding habitats play vital roles in supporting biodiversity: they provide refuge for threatened species, serve as a resting site for migratory birds, and offer important wintering grounds for thousands of individuals. More than 200 bird species have been recorded in the lagoon and its surrounding areas, while at least 34,800 waterbirds use this territory as a wintering site every year.
However, these natural values face considerable pressure from large-scale tourism projects and planned infrastructure interventions in the area. From May through June 2026, citizens and civil society organisations organised sustained protests in response to construction works and the fencing off of coastal areas in the Pishë Poro–Narta area for planned tourism developments.
During the field visit, the partners had the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the situation and the consequences of the interventions carried out in this area. They visited the site where fencing had been installed for the planned resort project, which was subsequently removed following public protests and mobilisation by the local community. Nevertheless, visible traces of the intervention remain, serving as a reminder that protecting natural areas requires continued vigilance, active civic engagement, and institutional accountability.
The visit highlighted the importance of safeguarding Vjosa-Narta not only as a natural asset of national and international significance, but also as an issue directly connected to communities’ right to a healthy environment and the need for transparent and inclusive decision-making processes.
Beyond institutional exchange and field visits, the study visit was closely aligned with the project’s central objective: empowering a new generation of advocates who are informed, engaged, and equipped to defend nature and environmental rights.
The experience of Vjosa-Narta provides a concrete example of the importance of civic engagement and cooperation among different stakeholders in protecting nature. It demonstrates that biodiversity conservation requires an active civil society, informed citizens, and young voices willing to call for transparency and accountability.
Cooperation with NNA and NABU, with the support of DBU, represents a valuable opportunity to build bridges for cross-border communication and knowledge exchange while strengthening the capacities of the organisations involved.
The project “Active Youth for Nature Conservation – Empowering Advocates for a Sustainable Future” is implemented by PPNEA in partnership with the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (NNA), covering the period January 2025 – December 2026, with financial support from the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU).
