Vjosa Valley’s Survey Study results

November 2020

EcoAlbania

Survey methodology

Online interview - IDRApollMost of the interviews in this survey werecollected through online access.

IDRA has launched and administers anonline panel called IDRApoll(https://idrapoll.com/), where usersregister and participate in surveys to wingifts.

The selection and sampling of userswithin IDRApoll is random andguarantees nationwide coverage as wellas representation for ages 18-44.

Number of persons not covered byIDRApoll (rural area and older ages) arecompleted by telephone interviews.

Telephone interviewThe CATI (telephone interview)methodology was also applied to thissurvey for those quotas that were notcompleted by the IDRApoll approach.

IDRA's CATI platform guarantees thatthe selected person is random andprovides coverage in terms of geographyas well as other demographic parameterssuch as age, area of residence, etc.

Both approaches make it possible for theresults and findings generated to berepresentative of the whole of Albania.

Introduction - notes on methodology• The survey consists of 801

interviews distributed throughout Albania

• The survey is representative for 18-64 years old.

• The collection of interviews was done through the online IDRApollpanel (https://idrapoll.com/) and the telephone interviews to fill in the remaining quotas not completed by IDRApoll.

• Random selection of respondent

• Data collection calendar: 11 - 24 November 2020

• Error margin calculated ± 3.46% with 95% confidence interval

3

County Urban Rural Total

Berat 16 24 40

Dibër 9 23 32

Durrës 55 16 71

Elbasan 32 48 80

Fier 40 48 88Gjirokast

ër 16 8 24

Korçë 27 37 64

Kukës 10 16 26

Lezhë 24 16 40

Shkodër 32 32 64

Tiranë 160 64 224

Vlorë 32 16 48

Total 453 348 801

48%

52%

Men (M)

Women (F)

Gender

47%

31%

23%

18-34

35-50

51-64

Group Age

Survey findings

November 2020

EcoAlbania

Recognition of the Vjosa Valley Please tell us which of the following statements is true about your case.

• The results of thesurvey show that themajority of theAlbanian public haveheard about the VjosaValley but have notvisited it (44%).

• Meanwhile, almost 1in 5 respondents saythey have visited it,mainly for tourismreasons.

6%

44%

25%

21%

4%

I live in the Vjosa River valley

I have visited the Vjosa River valley

I have passed through the VjosaRiver valley / not stayed

I have only heard about the Vjosa /Never visited though

I hve never heard about the VjosaRiver valley / Never been

1%

2%

13%

21%

64%

Other

Sports Activity

Business Trip

Visit my friends

Tourism

What was the main purpose of your visit? (only those who have visited, N=168)

30%

25% 24%21%

This Year Last year 3-5 Years ago Long time ago

When was the last time you have been there? (only those who have visited, N=168)

Vjosa National Park? Please tell us which of the following statements is true about your case.

96%

• Furthermore, theresults of thesurvey show thatalmost 1 in 4respondents plan tovisit the VjosaValley in thefuture, while morethan half say theywill most likelyvisit it althoughthere is no plan.

6%

44%

25%

21%

4%

I live in the Vjosa River valley

I have visited the Vjosa Rivervalley

I have passed through theVjosa River valley / not stayed

I have only heard about theVjosa / Never visited though

I hve never heard about theVjosa River valley / Never been

Will you visit the Vjosa valley areas in the future? (only those who do not live in the area, N=770)

8%

3%

6%

56%

27%

I don't know

I will not go in that area

Most probabily I will notvisit the Vjosa

Most probabily I will visitthe Vjosa, but no schedule

yet

I plan to visit the Vjosa

Vjosa National Park? Please tell us which of the following statements is true about your case.

Will you visit the Vjosa valley areas in the future(only those who do not live in the area, N=770)

83%

• Those who willmost likely visitthe Vjosa Valleyin the futurewere asked whatmotivates themto do so, and thestudy shows thatthe main reasonis related totourism (89%).

8%

3%

6%

56%

27%

I don't know

I will not go in that area

Most probabily I will not visit the Vjosa

Most probabily I will visit the Vjosa, butno schedule yet

I plan to visit the Vjosa

2%

1%

3%

6%

89%

Other

Sports Activity

Business Trip

Visit my friends

Tourism

What motivates you the most to visit these areas?(only those who will most likely visit it, N=638)

Vjosa National Park? Based on what you know, is the Vjosa Valley a National Park?

52%Of the Albanian public declares thatVjosa is currently a National Park, ata time when this is not true. Theseresults suggest that although Vjosa isnot a National Park, the Albanianpublic has the perception that theVjosa Valley enjoys this title.

Moreover, the survey findings showthat in this category are more adults(51-64 years, 65%), from rural areas(58%) and men (60%) compared to theother party48%

On the other hand 48% of the public saythat Vjosa is not a National Park. Thisis correct as long as Vjosa has not yetbeen declared a National Park.

Vjosa National Park? Considering that the declaration as a National Park means that the valley is protected by law, how much do you support the initiative to declare the Vjosa Valley as a National Park?

65%65% of Albanian public fullysupport the declaration of theVjosa Valley National Park.

I fully support it

I support it Neutral I Oppose it I strongly oppose it

29%Moreover, about 29% ofrespondents support thedeclaration of the Vjosa ValleyNational Park.

Altogether, 94% of respondentssay they support the declarationof Vjosa as a National Park.

Vjosa National Park? Please tell us what motivates you to give this rating. Why do you support the declaration of the Vjosa Valley as a National Park? (some answers allowed)

The main reason why citizenssupport the declaration of theVjosa Valley as a National Park isrelated to the natural beautieswhich according to therespondents should be protectedand the declaration of a nationalpark makes such a thing possible.

The reasons that pushes therespondents to speak in favor ofdeclaring the national park arerelated to the protection of thearea and resources as a wholewhich have potential for tourismbut also historical value.

1%

9%

21%

30%

32%

40%

43%

47%

79%

Other

Gives access to remote areas

Gives opportunities for development of sports activities

Elements with historical value such as characteristic bridgesare protected

Gives opportunities for local communities through tourismdevelopment

Natual habitats (including species) must be conserved

The river and the reparian area must be protected

Gives opportunities for tourism development

Country's nature beauties must be protected by law and theproclaimation as National Park makes it possible

+32%

Vjosa with dam? What do you think about the idea of building hydropower plants in the Vjosa Valley? Do you support or oppose their construction?

52%Of the Albanian public completelyopposes the construction ofhydropower plants in the VjosaValley.In other words, 1 in two Albanianssays so.

This people, together with thosewho "oppose" the construction ofHPPs constitute 78% ofrespondents (more than 3 in 4people).

The survey and its findings showthat the vast majority of theAlbanian public opposes theconstruction of the HPP in Vjosa.

I fully support it

I support it Neutral I Oppose it I strongly oppose it

Vjosa with dam? Please tell us what motivates you to give this rating. Why do not you support the construction of hydropower plants? Please express your opinion as clearly as possible. (some answers allowed)(Only those who oppose, N=627)

The main reason why theyoppose the construction ofHPPs on the Vjosa River isrelated to the "destructionof natural beauty"

+22%

7%

2%

2%

3%

3%

9%

18%

18%

25%

47%

Other

There must be explor4ed other ways to generateenergy

I don't trust that the construction rules will berespected in Albania

There will be no financial benefit for the community

There are already too many HPPs beingconstructed

Destruction of tourism potential

Destruction of riparian area

Natural recources must be protected

Destruction of the ecosystem

Destruction of Natural beauty

Vjosa with dam? Please tell us what motivates you to give this rating. Why do you support the construction of hydropower plants in this area?

(Only those who support, N=64)

Those who support the construction of the HPP mention the fact that clean energy is produced as a motivating reason to support its construction on the Vjosa River

9%

6%

22%

34%

48%

58%

Other

There is no high maintenance cost

Brings income to affected families by sellingproperty that will be flooded by the lake

Creates opportunities for tourism throughthe lake that will be created by the

construction of HPP

The investment is large and givesdevelopment to the area (employment and

infrastructure)

Produces clean and renewable energywithout damage to the environment

National Park vs HPP Considering all, if we place on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 = Declaration National Park and 10 = construction of hydropower plants, where do you position yourself on this scale?

76%4% 4% 1,4% 6% 1,6% 1,7% 1% 1% 3%

-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

National Park

HPP

76%of the public is placed onthe side of the nationalpark when asked toposition itself betweenthe National Park and theconstruction of the HPP.

7%Only 7% of the publicleans towards theconstruction of the HPPwhen faced with thischoice.

Consequences of construction of HPPIn your opinion, “The construction of a hydropower plant in the Vjosa valley, leads to:

Further, based on what you know or have heard, how much do you agree with the following statements: “The construction of a hydropower plant in the Vjosa valley is accompanied by:

The vast majority ofrespondents (over 75%) thinkthat the construction of ahydropower plant in the Vjosavalley leads to environmentaldamage in the area, change inthe natural course of the riverand damage to points ofhistorical value.

Furthermore, the public ismore inclined towards thefact that the construction ofHPP is associated with highcosts, does not bring economicdevelopment and does notrealize economic benefits forthe country.

3%

4%

4%

3%

3%

2%

9%

8%

7%

15%

12%

11%

61%

63%

71%

9%

10%

5%

Damage to the environment in the area wherethe HPP will be built (Plants and animals)

Alteration of the natural river flow

Damage of the valuable historical heritage sites

1 2 3 4 5

26%

27%

11%

14%

16%

5%

23%

19%

13%

9%

9%

14%

17%

18%

35%

9%

11%

22%

High cost for the project implementation

Economic and infrastructural development of thearea

Economic benefits for the country

1 2 3 4 5I don'tknow

I don'tknow

In recent years there has been a campaign by environmental activists opposing the construction of hydropower plants in the Vjosa Valley. Are you aware of this campaign?

Campaign recognition

Asked if they are aware of the campaign made by environmental activists against the construction of HPPs on the Vjosa River, about 57% of them say they are aware and that the main source of this information is through TV (84%) and social network (41%).

Are you aware of this campaign?

57%

43% I am awareI am not aware

Where have you heard about it? (only those who are aware of the campaign by activists, N=459)

1%

2%

4%

8%

10%

41%

84%

Other

I have participated on thisCampaigns' events

Radio

Newspapers

From my friends

Social Media

TV

Vjosa Valley’s SurveySurvey findings

November 2020

EcoAlbania