Organized in collaboration with ARPA Lombardia experts and entitled “Fighting environmental illegal activities and waste management: regulatory and technological tools for the protection of Vjosa River,” this meeting served as an opportunity for technical updates and operational exchange among institutions.
During the session, the experts from ARPA (Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale) Lombardia shared the results achieved in Italy in tackling environmental crimes, also thanks to the implementation of European legislation. Significant attention was given to technological tools: from the use of Earth Observation systems to identify critical waste management issues along the Vjosa River, to drone surveys for mapping and characterizing illegal dumping sites. Discussions also addressed landfill management and the rehabilitation of contaminated sites, with a specialized contribution from the Regional Earth Observation Centre of ARPA Lombardia, which presented concrete applications within the Vjosa river basin.
The initiative forms part of broader institutional capacity-building efforts aimed at strengthening environmental protection and safeguarding the Vjosa Basin, while promoting the exchange of expertise and best practices between Italy and Albania.
At the presence of Mr. Sofian Jaupaj – Minister of Environment, opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Andrea Ferrero – Head of the Sustainable Economic and Social Development Section in the EU Delegation in Albania, Mr. Achille Provenzano – Consul General of Italy in Vlora, Juxhina Spahiu – Director of the National Agency of Protected Areas, Mr. Mario De Rosa – First Secretary, Commercial Office, Embassy of Italy in Tirana, Ms. Eduina Guga – Director of the Administration Office of the Vjosa River National Park, Ms. Letizia Fischioni – Director ad interim, AICS Tirana, Ms. Klodiana Marika – Director of Biodiversity, Ministry of Environment, and Mr. Gianfranco Commodaro – City Diplomacy and International Cooperation, Foreign Affairs Dept. – Mayor’s Office, Municipality of Milan.
The event was organized within the framework of the EU4Nature project, funded by the European Union and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). EU4Nature is implemented by the Albanian Ministry of Environment, UNDP, AICS Tirana, and the National Agency of Protected Areas, with the support of the Municipality of Milan and CELIM Albania, for the development of content and the implementation of training activities on environmental crimes.
For the Italian Development Cooperation, this activity represents a confirmation of a commitment to protecting the Vjosa River that began over ten years ago with the Natura 2000 project (already supported by European funds). Thanks to the role played by Italian civil society organizations and local partners, this contribution allowed the Italian Cooperation to support NAPA – the National Agency for Protected Areas – over time, with the additional support provided by Italian partners in the fields of scientific research, ecosystem management, and river restoration, with a particular focus on hydromorphology and sustainable watercourse management.
