ALEKO MIHO , FERDINAND BEGO, ERMELINDA GJETA , JAKOB SCHENLLER, AGIM SINOIMERI, MAJLINDA MEÇAJ, FUNDIME MIRI, ARIOL RAMA, ENI HOXHA, ILDA METANI
Abstract
The Scientific Week in the Vjosa Basin was organized during the period 27 April – 02 May 2026, as a joint initiative between the Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana (DB, FNS, UT) and EcoAlbania, with the support of the Swiss Foundation Sylvia & Reinhard Bachofen, the VjosSusDev Project (2022–2026), and FNS, UT. Up to 30 participants took part, mainly students from the MSc in Environmental Biology and the Bachelor program in Natural and Environmental Sciences of the DB. Five working groups, experts and students, collected water samples (algae, invertebrates, including eDNA) and assessed hydrogeology, geomorphology, riparian plant and animal biodiversity (vertebrates), ecological state, and human impact. In the afternoons, the laboratory facilities of the Vjosa Research Center (VRC) in Tepelena were used for preliminary analyses, while additional examination was conducted in Tirana or is still ongoing. Assessment and sampling were conducted at 20 stations in total. The most significant and worthily noted biodiversity findings and other observations are presented here by the leading experts of the working groups, co authors of this paper. Overall, 184 species were recorded, including 144 plant species (algae, mosses, ferns, and flowering plants) and 40 vertebrate species (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals). A complete species list is provided, highlighting the most abundant taxa as well as species of particular natural and ecological interest. For 64 species, photographs from the field or microscopic observations are also included. Several species are reported for the first time in the Vjosa Basin. The following are considerations for habitats with high biodiversity, human impact, etc. Achieving a balance between nature conservation and sustainable development across economic sectors remains a major challenge for the administrations responsible for these protected areas and local stakeholders.
Key words : Vjosa Basin, biodiversity, protected areas, scientific week, ecological situation, nature conservation.