Assessment of possible effects on ecosystems of small hydropower plants under construction in Valbona Valley National Park, Albania

Hydroelectricity is increasingly used worldwide as a source of renewable energy, and many mountain ranges have dozens or hundreds of hydropower plants, with many more being under construction or planned. In Albania, under the framework of the National Strategy of Energy Production, a huge number of projects have been drafted for the construction of small hydropower plants in most of Albania’s rivers, without taking into consideration their irreversible negative impacts on the environment. It is happening also in the “Valbona Valley” National Park, where are planned to be constructed 11 small hydropower plants, between quotes of 214 m to 1510 m elevation, by means of channels or tunnel wires with different lengths, ranging from the spring of Valbona River to all the streams that run into Valbona River, such as Kukaj, Markoci, Sqapica, Çeremi, Motina, Miloshi, Dragobi Oterg, Kau Oterg, Shudeshnice, and “Cave of Kaurri” streams. The focus of the research was the identification and assessment of possible effects on ecosystems of small HPP construction in the Valbona River and streams. There was shown that the construction of small HPPs in the “Valbona Valley” National Park has been done in violation of the international and Albanian legislation on protected areas. The negative environmental impacts on ecosystems at the “Valbona Valley” NP are important and irreversible, on the local and regional level, in terms of damage and destruction of virgin natural aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, irreversible damage to endemic, sub endemic and endangered flora and fauna, etc. The Albanian Government must be aware of giving permission and must immediately stop the construction of the HPPs in “Valbona Valley” National Park and consider other ways of more environmentally friendly renewable energy production, such as solar or wind power, taking into consideration saving the environment and sustainable development for today and the next generations.