Near completion "Construction of embankments for protection from the Vjosa River to inhabited areas in the Administrative Unit Novosela"
Novosela is located in the Municipality of Vlora, and it is one of the most important Administrative Units with a population of 17,222 inhabitants. The area is located only 15 minutes away from the city of Vlora and close to the protected area of Vjosa-Narta as well as where lies the largest river Vjosa in southern Albania. Considering the geographical position, the area has a special importance but also it has considerable potential and favorable position for further development. While the area is turned into an important touristic attraction, the intervention creates a sustainable environment and protects it.
After intensely high inflows of water in the coldest and wettest period at the end of 2017, which caused large floods in the area, rehabilitation of degraded habitats as a result of erosion became necessary. In order to eliminate its flooding and overflowing of thousands of hectares of land, it is important to rebuild the embankments on both sides of the shores of the Vjosa River. Throughout its field control, damages on the body of the embarkment (numerous cracks) and its protection panels (movement from the water level of the Vjosa River) became apparent. Damages consisted on both sides of the Vjosa River from the Mifol residential area to the new highway bridge on the Levan-Vlora axis.
In this context, the Albanian Development Fund in the service of the community supported by the Government of Albania is ending the construction of embankments near the Vjosa River. The intervention creates security for residents on cold days with increased rainfall and mitigation of damages from environmental factors as well as it ensures environmental protection. Also, the realization of the project protects biodiversity, environment and landscape values but also it affects development and integration of the area related to improvement of structures for economic benefits. More precisely, the area has considerable importance for economic activities in the sector of agriculture and livestock. Therefore, residents improve living standards through ecotourism and agritourism, but also it becomes a remarkable tourist destination.