++ EuroNatur Award 2025 for Ardian Koçi from Albania ++ Former head of Divjakë-Karavasta National Park forced out of office ++ EuroNatur Award as a distinction of integrity in difficult times ++
Is this year's EuroNatur award winner also a snake charmer? Not quite, but Ardian Koçi has a close relationship with nature and knows the flora and fauna of Divjaka-Karavasta National Park inside out.
© Mirjan Topi
For a long time, the national park was considered the most popular and best-managed protected area in the country—thanks in large part to Ardian Koçi.
© Joni Vorpsi/PPNEA
From giant pelicans to tiny baby turtles, Divjaka-Karavasta National Park is one of the most important wildlife refuges in the eastern Adriatic.
© EuroNaturRadolfzell. Albanian conservationist Ardian Koçi will receive the EuroNatur Award on 16 October 2025. As director of the Divjakë-Karavasta National Park, he was exemplary in his efforts to protect the area – and by doing so has made influential enemies in Albania.
The massive tourism expansion plans in Albania are more and more endangering the country’s natural treasures. These plans do not stop at the borders of protected areas – especially since a legislative change in February 2024 is expected to enable a circumvention or at least considerable acceleration of approval processes in the construction sector. Ardian Koçi courageously opposed far more long-standing plans to build large-scale tourism infrastructure within the boundaries of the national park. Finally, Koçi was practically forced to resign.
“In his role as national park director, Ardian Koçi has been exemplary in his commitment to the conservation goals of Divjakë-Karavasta National Park, putting up with professional and personal disadvantages for the sake of his integrity,” says EuroNatur Executive Director Gabriel Schwaderer. “We want to honour this outstanding dedication with the EuroNatur Award.”
Background information:
- The EuroNatur Award is unendowed. It acknowledges outstanding achievements in conservation. Past recipients include the author Jonathan Franzen, the “brave women of Kruščica” and the parish Mals in South Tyrol. This year’s EuroNatur Award will be handed over to Ardian Koçi on Thursday, 16 October 2025 at 5 p.m. on the island of Mainau in Lake Constance.
- Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is considered one of the most species-rich of Albania’s protected areas. Amongst others, it is home to the breeding grounds of the only Albanian colony of endangered Dalmatian pelicans. That Karavasta Lagoon is still brimming with so much life is largely due to one man: Ardian Koçi. In his time as national park director, his commitment to protect the park was exemplary, making it one of the best-managed conservation.
Inquiries: Christian Stielow, christian.stielow(at)euronatur.org, Tel.: +49 (0)7732 – 92 72 15
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