River in focus: Aoos River (in Albania “Vjosa”)

Country: Greece

Local partners: MedINA

Project goal: Extend the protection of the Aoos/Vjosa River into Greece by establishing a transboundary Wild River National Park and securing an environmental flow (e-Flow) for the Aoos to restore the river’s natural hydrology, ecological continuity, and biodiversity from source to sea.

Background

The Aoos River, rising in the Pindus Mountains of northwestern Greece, forms the upper stretch of the Vjosa—one of Europe’s last wild, free-flowing river systems. While Albania has already declared its section a Wild River National Park, the Greek part remains unprotected. Expanding the park into Greece would create Europe’s first transboundary Wild River National Park, a pioneering model for cross-border nature conservation and EU-level environmental cooperation.

Ongoing threats

The Aoos Springs Dam currently blocks the river at its source and diverts most of its water to another basin within Greece, disrupting the river’s natural flow toward Albania. This diversion significantly alters hydrological processes, harms fish migration routes, and threatens habitats that depend on continuous flow. In addition, small hydropower projects, gravel extraction, and infrastructure development continue to endanger the Aoos’ natural character and ecological integrity. Without coordinated protection, the Aoos–Vjosa system risks losing its unique wild dynamics.

How we are taking action 

Together with our partners Riverwatch and MedINA, we work to safeguard the Aoos – the Greek headwaters of the Vjosa, one of Europe’s last wild river systems. Our goal is to secure full protection of the Aoos and to establish a transboundary Wild River National Park, uniting Greece and Albania under one shared vision for river conservation.

Our work focuses on:

• Advocacy and accountability: Calling on the Greek government to strengthen legal protection for the Aoos, prevent new small hydropower projects, and ensure proper water management at the Aoos Springs Dam. We advocate for the implementation of an environmental flow (e-Flow) that restores natural hydrology and maintains vital ecological processes downstream.
• Scientific monitoring: Supporting research and field studies to document biodiversity, assess river health, and evaluate the ecological impact of water diversion. This scientific foundation provides the evidence needed to push for effective protection and restoration measures.
• Legal and policy work: Promoting compliance with EU environmental directives—such as the Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive—to ensure that the Aoos receives equal recognition and protection as the Vjosa in Albania.
• International outreach: Raising awareness through the Blue Heart Campaign, building momentum for the first transboundary Wild River National Park in Europe, and highlighting the Aoos–Vjosa system as a model for cross-border cooperation in river protection.

Through this combined effort, we aim to reconnect the Aoos and Vjosa into one living river system—flowing freely from its mountain source in Greece to the Adriatic Sea in Albania.