Patagonia Launches Vjosa Forever Documentary

The short film aims to raise awareness of the imminent threat to a unique habitat and protect one of Europe’s last wild rivers

The largest wild river in Europe, Albania’s Vjosa, is under threat from political uncertainty and greed. Ahead of the upcoming Albanian elections this April, citizens, activists and conservationists are demanding that politicians establish Europe’s first wild river national park and protect the river forever.

Included in this wave of action is the launch of Vjosa Forever, a new short documentary film created by Patagonia that asks people everywhere to join the fight to preserve the future of the Vjosa. 

The release of the six-minute film follows Patagonia’s Blue Heart film and campaign in 2018 for which Nativve provided European-wide digital marketing support and which led to the rejection of the construction of the Kalivaç dam on the Vjosa. Despite a raft of planned hydropower projects that were slated for September 2020 already prevented, activists, locals and international groups have become increasingly alarmed that, behind closed doors, compromises are being made, and the river is in fact in imminent danger.

With national elections on 25 April 2021, Albanian and international groups such as EcoAlbania, RiverWatch and EuroNatur are calling on the public and political leaders to enshrine the future of the Vjosa and make this wild river national park a major priority for any winning party. The film asks concerned citizens across the world to show their support for a Vjosa wild river national park and bring international attention to the potential environmental disaster that could ensue if the river remains unprotected.

Watch the full film below.