The Albanian Ornithological Society (AOS) has been awarded the Green Light System grant by the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands (MAW) for the restoration of the Vrina freshwater marshes, situated within the Butrint National Park. This site is now recognized as the third selected under the Green Light Protocol, an initiative aimed at spotlighting and supporting Mediterranean wetlands under immediate threat.

Objectives of the Vrina Wetlands Restoration Project

• Reverse the ecological degradation of the Vrina wetland system.
• Halt biodiversity loss and restore native ecological functions.
• Address the spread of Tamarix invasive vegetation.
• Promote sustainable land use and prevent harmful agricultural land cover changes.

Key Activities for Wetland Restoration in Albania

• Field-based restoration and habitat rehabilitation efforts.
• Ecological monitoring and community engagement.
• Coordination with local stakeholders and protected area managers.
• Integration of the restoration plan with national wetland policies and the Butrint Park Management Plan.

Strategic Role of Vrina in Butrint National Park

Vrina’s freshwater marshes are not only ecologically vital for Albania’s southern coastal zone, but also serve as an important buffer zone to the internationally designated Butrint National Park, a UNESCO and Ramsar site. The Green Light System grant reflects both the urgency and potential of Vrina to become a model for nature-based solutions and wetland restoration in the Western Balkans.