One Year of Transformative Collaboration: PONT and MedINA

Over the past year, the collaboration between PONT and MedINA has sparked significant advancements in our joint efforts to maintain the free flow of the Aoos River and its tributaries as a transboundary ecological corridor and a resource for community development. This partnership reached a pivotal moment in July 2024 with the Sarantaporos Science Week, an initiative with multifaceted impacts.

The Sarantaporos Science Week brought together over sixty volunteer scientists from nine different countries to explore the hidden life of the Sarantaporos River, a vital tributary of Europe’s last free-flowing river, the transboundary Aoos/Vjosa. This multidisciplinary team embarked on a week-long mission to fill the knowledge gaps in the Sarantaporos River ecosystem by documenting all forms of river-associated biodiversity, studying its natural riverine processes and the effects of ongoing pressures and threats.

The event showcased the power of collaboration, with scientists, local communities, journalists, and funders working hand in hand, creating strong networks that transcend borders. These connections are essential in fighting against the fragmentation of the river from the construction of new Small Hydropower Plants (SHPs) and in bringing the entire Aoos/Vjosa River Basin under a unified protection status across the border. It also resulted in extensive media coverage, raising public awareness about the ecological importance of the Aoos/Vjosa river system.

The success of Science Week also lies in elevating all the activities designed and agreed upon between MedINA and PONT as part of the ongoing “Ri-Connect” project. The study of fish fauna, conducted as part of Ri-Connect’s applied research activities, will be enhanced by the scientists’ findings during the event. This will enrich the first detailed mapping at basin level enabling the identification of conservation hotspot areas. Networking activities also intensified during the Science Week, fostering stronger collaboration with local communities and deepening the connection between MedINA and other PONT beneficiaries.

It is worth mentioning that throughout the past year, various actions set the stage for the success of the Science Week. These included efforts to raise public awareness, such as the open event “The Role of Citizens in the Effective Protection of the Aoos” which invited citizens to become actively involved in the river’s protection, and the “Bilateral Stakeholders Meetings in Vlora, Albania, and Aspragelloi, Zagori, Greece”, which fostered cross-border cooperation and dialogue at stakeholder level.

Furthermore, the constant monitoring of SHPs development plans in the entire Aoos River Basin, with the regular publication of updated articles by MedINA, has informed and engaged local stakeholders and community members regarding the potential impacts of SHPs on river ecosystems.

Moreover, by actively participating in the Free Flow Conference and the 14^th COP to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, we gained invaluable opportunities for knowledge exchange and learning from successful projects worldwide. Additionally, we showcased our conservation and protection efforts in the Aoos River Basin, which facilitated the establishment of new partnerships and provided a solid platform to bring one of Europe’s last free-flowing rivers to the attention of an international audience.

This past year has shown that with passion, collaboration, and a shared vision, we can achieve remarkable things. As we look ahead, we remain committed to our mission, inspired by the progress we’ve made and the partnerships we’ve built. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the conservation of the Aoos River Basin’s natural and cultural heritage.