Sustainability

AAR sits inside a wider regional picture. The UNESCO World Heritage towns of Berat and Gjirokastër, the Tomorr mountains, and the thermal baths of Bënjë in the Lengarica Canyon are all realistic day trips from the park — part of why this corner of Albania rewards a visit well beyond the river itself. Albania’s cuisine adds to that: distinctive, and localised to specific regions.

How we approach sustainability

Our environmental approach follows standard ecotourism principles:

• Minimise the long and short-term environmental impact
• Build a tradition of environmental awareness and respect
• Provide direct financial benefit for conservation in the region
• Provide financial benefit and empowerment for local people and communities
• Raise sensitivity to Albania’s environmental concerns

In practice, that has meant favouring local materials and ‘green’ construction methods — including living roofs for long-term energy efficiency — during the park’s early building and refurbishment phases. These choices cost more upfront, in exchange for a site built to stay light on the land around it.

Building it green

Emphasis during construction and development is placed on using local materials and labour, pursuing renewable energy — hydro-electric, solar and wind — and pursuing international ‘green’ certification, ideally alongside expert consultation on best-practice construction and maintenance. The most immediately feasible step is solar: panels sized to cover up to 50% of the site’s lighting energy needs.