A major accolade for nature conservation in the Balkans: Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika, our long-standing partners in river conservation in Albania, have been included in the prestigious list of the 100 most influential people of the year.
Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika in front of the Vjosa: Their commitment has made a decisive contribution to saving the river.
© Adrian Guri / Goldman Environmental PrizeThe US magazine TIME is honouring the two Albanian environmental activists for their long-standing commitment to protecting the Vjosa, one of Europe’s last free-flowing wild rivers. Their dedication has played a key role in ensuring that the Vjosa will be designated Europe’s first wild river national park in 2023. This is not their first honour as both were awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2025.
The honour has also deeply moved the recipients themselves. Besjana Guri, founder and Executive director of the organisation Lumi, explained that when she first began her campaign for the Vjosa 13 years ago, she could never have imagined that she would one day feature on the Time 100 list. At the same time, she emphasised that the work to protect rivers and natural ecosystems is still far from over: “Today I am celebrating this recognition, but tomorrow I will once again be taking many small steps to defend the Blue Heart of Europe.”
Olsi Nika, Executive director of EcoAlbania, also sees this inclusion as an important milestone on a long journey. For more than 15 years, he has been campaigning for nature conservation in Albania, particularly for the protection of the Vjosa. His inclusion on the Time 100 list demonstrates how this commitment, which once began at a local level, now extends far beyond Albania’s borders.
EuroNatur warmly congratulates Olsi Nika and Besjana Guri on this well-deserved honour. The award highlights the international significance of their tireless efforts to protect the Vjosa and its unique biodiversity.