We are pleased to share the news that Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika have been awarded the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious honors for grassroots environmental activism. This recognition brings renewed international attention to one of Europe’s most remarkable environmental victories: the protection of Albania’s Vjosa River, officially designated as a Wild River National Park in 2023—the first of its kind in Europe.

Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika’s decade-long effort, carried out through the organization EcoAlbania, mobilized communities, engaged in legal battles, and partnered with scientists and international networks to stop the construction of hydropower dams that threatened the river’s unique ecosystem. Their campaign gained global visibility, supported by environmental organizations and public figures—including Leonardo DiCaprio—who helped amplify the cause worldwide.

While the Vjosa’s designation as a national park in 2023 marked a historic legal milestone, the news of the award now once again shines a light on the ongoing effort to protect its biodiversity and integrity over time. As Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika have recently emphasized, winning protection on paper is only one step—the real work continues.

At FERS, we had the privilege of welcoming Besjana Guri during our Water Resources, Land-use, and Forestry course, where she shared firsthand insights into their story and the campaign that led to this extraordinary outcome. It was an important occasion for our students to engage with one of Europe’s most inspiring environmental stories. The story drew attention and raised awareness of some of the themes at the heart of FERS activities, including scientific rigor, informed decision-making, legal advocacy, and the critical role of local communities and stakeholders — with a particular emphasis on the voices of younger generations — in shaping sustainable futures.

Just a few months ago, we dedicated part of our special issue on Water Management and the Climate Crisis to the Vjosa campaign and its broader significance for environmental protection, policy solutions, and education. We take the opportunity to reshare the interview with Besjana Guri held in the occasion of the first FERS course in the summer of 2022.