MedINA is collaborating with Euronatur, RiverWatch, EcoAlbania, Pindos Perivallontiki, Wetlands International, Inherit Institute and IUCN ECARO in the project “Saving Europe’s last free flowing wild river: Vjosa/Aoos” funded by the MAVA Foundation.
Since the project’s kick off meeting end of January, MedINA and Inherit have been involved in researching the legal framework for Renewable Energy Sources. In this framework, a meeting was held with the Ministry of Environment in May 2018 to discuss the spatial management and development of remote, rural and mountainous areas as well as the Special Framework for Renewable Energy Sources.
Since the project’s kick off meeting end of January, MedINA and Inherit have been involved in researching the legal framework for Renewable Energy Sources in Greece, focusing in the specific area of Aoos so as to prepare counterproposals for its review. In this framework, a meeting was held with the Ministry of Environment in May 2018 to discuss the spatial management and development of remote, rural and mountainous areas as well as the Special Framework for Renewable Energy Sources.
One of common actions of the project is to support the creation of a transboundary River Park between Greece and Albania. At the same time, Greek partners wish to expand the limits of the Northern Pindos National Park to include the entire stretch of the Aoos River.
To achieve the abovementioned, the approach to be used by MedINA and Inherit will be twofold both through lobbying and by recording the views and engaging with the local community. For the latter, residents and key stakeholders will be approached and based on a semi structured questionnaire will present their views on the river, its historical, natural, social and cultural values, the impact of the exisiting dam on Aoos, their views on how a diversion and additional dams may impact the river, their views on the creation of the transboundary park as well as the proposed extension and many others.