Rewilding Europe is delighted to welcome an important new member to the European Rewilding Network. Working to protect the Vjosa River, Save the Blue Heart of Europe – Albania is overseen by the NGO EcoAlbania and is the first project to join from this country. The addition takes the number of network members to 62, distributed right across Europe.

Albania announced recently a ban of all hunting for two years to protect animals threatened with extinction. Minister of Environment Lefter Koka said the ban was necessary to protect species whose numbers had fallen dramatically after two decades of rampant hunting. According to the Ministry, brown bears and eagles are now seriously endangered even in the mountainous areas of Albania. The number of pheasants and wild quail have also fallen dramatically.