The Vjosa River and its Delta – an inseparable hydrodynamic and ecological entity
Briefly on Vjosa Delta
Vjosa River has formed a wide and quite active Delta in the Adriatic Sea (Figs. 1&2). It covers an area of about 240 km 2 , representing 24% of all transitional wetlands in Albania, the most important of them and not only… The Delta includes the Narta Lagoon together with the Vjosa estuary and its surrounding areas, with freshwaterwetlands, marshes, reedbed, woodlands, islands, dunes and sandy beaches. All are formed by the hydrodynamic and sedimentological activity of the Vjosa River and theAdriatic Sea over hundreds of years. Till today there are dead arms of the River in Zhuka (Vlora) and Darezeza (Fieri), known as the 'dead river’. More than 160 km 2,belongs to the Protected Landscape Pishë Poro – Narta (Category V th after IUCN).
The Vjosa Delta extends from the Mifoli Bridge and expands in the coastal area from the Narta Lagoon in its southern part to Hoxhara Channel in the northern part – almost merged with the border of the Semani Delta. It is a wave-dominated area – a succession of temporary wetlands and reed beds, large and small lagoons, saline and salt flats, sandy dunes, dead riverbeds, drainage channels, and agricultural lands, all together interesting for the diversity of habitats and species. The area of the Vjosa Delta, is among the most important and naturally preserved on the whole Adriatic coast, despite anthropogenic and natural transformations of the last 60-70 years
(Schwarz, 2024).
But there are concerns for the Vjosa Delta as an indivisible part of the Vjosa/Aoos Wild River National Park. Vjosa Delta area was ignored in the zoning process of the new Vjosa Wild River NP. The area of the existing Pishe Poro – Narta PA was reduced and the protection level was partially mitigated (DCM 694/2022) (Fig. 2). Vlora Airport was constructed within the protected zone. There are tourist infrastructure development plans in the area, supported also from the amendments of the existing Law on PAs (Law 21/2024).
The Vjosa Delta under the science focus
Five Science Weeks in Vjosa River and its Delta, April 2022, in April 2023, April 2024, April-May 2025. Vlora Symposium in October 2023; & Vjosa Delta volume (Miho et al., 2024; hosted in: https://fshn.edu.al/Info/delta-vjose). The whole Delta area was visited (Fig. 3), from Soda Forest, Narta, Kallenga & Limopuo Lagoons, Zverneci Peninsula and related sand dunes, Saline Dam, Dead River (Zhuka), related marshes and dunes, in Vlora, the marshes and dunes in northern part of the Delta in Fieri, including the Dead River in Darezeza. Worth saying that the area of the Vjosa Delta in years was used as a field lab for researchers and students, for diploma or doctorate work. Most of the data has been published and presented at various scientific events in the country and abroad.
Figure 2. Map of the Landscape Protected Area Pishe Poro – Narta and Mouth part of Vjosa Wild River National Park. The previous (in red) and new (in yellow) borders of the PA (elaborated after DCM 694/2022: Annex 3).
Vjosa Delta International Symposium (VDIS 2023) was held in Vlora, on October 27-28th 2023 (Fig. 4). There participated 45 scientists from the country and the region (Austria, Italy, Slovenia, and Greece). About 20 presentations were held in total, 13 dedicated to the Delta, geological diversity, ecological condition and biodiversity, their condition and threats. Representatives of responsible govern central and local institutions were also invited to this event to present their opinions.
Experts made efforts to summarize the data in a bilingual Special Vjosa Delta Volume (Fig. 5), with a people science view. There are 15 works, with 37 co-authors from Albania, Austria, Slovenia, Italy; updated data on the natural/wetland ecosystem of the Vjosa River Delta: geography, landscape, intactness, habitats, flora and vegetation (aquatic and terrestrial), invertebrates (aquatic and terrestrial), amphibians and reptiles, fish, birds and mammals, their sensitivity and threats. Beside the scientific evidence, recommendations are given, about the sensitivity and threats to habitats and species. The aim is to help decision- and policy-making, investors, and other interested stakeholders, to find the best ways for the development of the area, and the protection and preservation of the natural values as well.
Figure 4. During the Vjosa Delta International Symposium (VDIS 2023), held in Vlora, on October 27-28th 2023.
But there are concerns for the Vjosa Delta as an indivisible part of the Vjosa/Aoos Wild River National Park. Vjosa Delta area was ignored in the zoning process of the new Vjosa Wild River NP. The area of the existing Pishe Poro – Narta PA was reduced and the protection level was partially mitigated (DCM 694/2022) (Fig. 2). Vlora Airport was constructed within the protected zone. There are tourist infrastructure development plans in the area, supported also from the amendments of the existing Law on PAs (Law 21/2024).
The Vjosa Delta under the science focus
Five Science Weeks in Vjosa River and its Delta, April 2022, in April 2023, April 2024, April-May 2025. Vlora Symposium in October 2023; & Vjosa Delta volume (Miho et al., 2024; hosted in: https://fshn.edu.al/Info/delta-vjose). The whole Delta area was visited (Fig. 3), from Soda Forest, Narta, Kallenga & Limopuo Lagoons, Zverneci Peninsula and related sand dunes, Saline Dam, Dead River (Zhuka), related marshes and dunes, in Vlora, the marshes and dunes in northern part of the Delta in Fieri, including the Dead River in Darezeza. Worth saying that the area of the Vjosa Delta in years was used as a field lab for researchers and students, for diploma or doctorate work. Most of the data has been published and presented at various scientific events in the country and abroad.
Vjosa Delta activities were in cooperation between VjoSusDev 2022-2026 Project in synergy with ESPID4Vjosa project: Enhancing a Science-Policy Interface Development for the Vjosa, led by the consortium Euronature/Ecoalbania. The financial and logistic aspects were in cooperation by Euronature (Germany), Riverwatch (Austria), Ecoalbania. The graphic design and printing of the Vjosa delta Volume was supported by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. The separation the initial bilingual manuscript into two parts, Albanian and English, as well as their layout, was done by the Spontan Creative Media. The books were printed by the West Print Albania. Worth to evidence that the above-mentioned NGOs and most experts have supported in years the knowledge of Albanian nature values and their protection, especially of the Vjosa River, and its declaration as a National Park, but not only…
Briefly on natural values of the Delta of Vjosa
The zone shelters up to 18 habitats of Natura 2000, where 6 listed as priority habitats, meaning that they need special protection measures. These habitats (marshes and coastal dunes, lagoons, saline, etc.) are in good natural condition yet, with high ecological integrity. The Narta Lagoon (41.5 km2) is among the largest and most important wetland ecosystems, not only along the Albanian coast, but in the whole Eastern Adriatic. Plant and animal life flourish in these habitats, with many rare and threatened species. Habitats offer sheltering, food and reproduction conditions for many animal species: insects, mussels, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and especially birds.
About 2,310 species known for the Vjosa Delta to date (1,350 plants 70 fungi species, and 890 animal species). Plants include: 550 algae, 28 mosses and 770 vascular plants. From animal species, 460 are invertebrates (among them 92 mollusks and 287 winged insects) and 383 vertebrates (102 fishes, 26 reptiles and 9 amphibians, 248 birds and 46 mammals). About 198 endangered species are reported to inhabit various habitats, or about 47% of the endangered animal species for the whole Albanian territory.
Vjosa Delta is an Important for Birds (IBA) (BirdLife International, 2023), meeting criteria A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i (2000), but with very high threat. Narta Lagoon – the second most important in the country for waterfowl (20,000 wintering birds and over 40 species) (Bino, 2024). The area Pishe Poro – Vjosa Estuary (Vlora) among the Important Plant Areas (IPAs) (kode A35) (Radford et al., 2011). The area is also a candidate for the NATURA 2000 network, as the most quiet and food-rich habitats that support many species on their migratory route. Limopuo Lagoon, Narta Dunes, Zverneci Forest and Zverneci Molasse Hills are on the list of Natural Monuments (Category III; DCM 303/2019) (Fig. 8).
Figure 6. Updated graph on biodiversity on the Pishe Poro – Narta Landscape Protected Area (Vjosa River Delta) (Data from Miho et al., 2024; hosted in: https://fshn.edu.al/Info/delta-vjose).
Figure 7. Representative photos of species from the Pishe Poro – Narta Landscape Protected Area (Vjosa River Delta) (Data from Miho et al., 2024; hosted in: https://fshn.edu.al/Info/delta-vjose).
Figure 8. Natural Monuments: Limopuo Lagoon, Narta (Akerni-Poro) Dunes, Zverneci Forest and Zverneci Molasse Hills (Category III; DCM 303/2019) within the Pishe Poro – Narta Landscape Protected Area (Vjosa River Delta).
The construction of the airport within the area, and the further urbanization and other bad practices, will undoubtedly cause the further reduction of the natural values, of the integrity of the habitats, in their fragmentation and reduction of biodiversity, weakening the ecosystem resilience, and reducing ecosystem services. All these cannot be in the spirit of the declaration of the Vjosa Wild River NP; contrary, it contradicts the true values of this Park. Moreover, the MIE plans are in conflict with the implementation of EU standards, the Birds and Habitats Directives, the Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000), and the EU strategy to stop the loss of biodiversity, and all international organizations concerned with the protection of such coastal areas (Ramsar, Berne, and Barcelona Conventions, IUCN, WWF, etc.). Expert’s common opinion is that the Delta of Vjosa (Darezeza to Narta Lagoon) should be left free, untouched by construction mass projects. The Protected Landscape Pishe Poro – Narta to be declared National Park (II Category); together with the Vjosa River NP, they form an indivisible hydrodynamic and ecological entity.