Europe's First Wild River National Park Declared in Albania's Vjosa River
The Albanian government has declared the Vjosa River, one of the last wild rivers in Europe, a national park, making it the first of its kind on the continent. The river is home to over 1,000 animal and plant species, including the critically endangered Balkan lynx and the endangered Egyptian vulture. The park aims to safeguard the river and its unique ecosystems from future development projects, and promote ecotourism in the region. The park has been given IUCN category II park status, a high level of protection similar to that of a wilderness, and is expected to be operational in 2024.