Albanian conservation activist and veterinarian Ardian Koçi has been honored with the EuroNatur 2025 Award, one of the most prestigious awards in Europe for contributions to nature conservation. The ceremony took place on the island of Mainau in Lake Constance, where the award was presented to him by EuroNatur Vice President Dr. Anna-Katharina Wöbse and Executive Director Gabriel Schwaderer.
“This award is a great honor for me personally – but also for all those in Albania who are committed to protecting nature and the environment,” said Koçi during his speech.
Koçi was recognized for his “extraordinary personal dedication to the protection of the Divjakë-Karavasta National Park and the integrity shown in the face of professional and personal pressures,” said Gabriel Schwaderer.
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Ardian Koçi, a veterinarian by profession, left a successful career in Italy to accept the position of director of the Divjakë-Karavasta National Park in 2013, at the invitation of the Albanian government. In several media interviews, but specifically to VOA, he spoke about the rigorous implementation of the hunting ban and his unwavering stance against destructive mass tourism projects in the park.
It was precisely these strong and fair stances that brought him considerable opposition – both from local interest groups and from certain circles within the government. In 2023, Koçi was forced to step down. “I was more afraid of losing my passion for the job than the job itself,” he declared.
An award for all Albanian nature protectors
“This honor does not belong to me alone,” Koçi emphasized. “It is dedicated to all those who – often with personal sacrifice – protect the forests, lagoons and living things that are part of our natural heritage.”
Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is one of the richest areas in biodiversity in Albania and home to the only colony in the country of Dalmatian pelicans.
