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MAPPING OF THE SHKUMBIN RIVER - DAY 1/4 - LIBRRAZHD TO MIRAKË 🚣🏻♂️ I'm currently on the Shkumbin River in Albania, mapping the presence of macro waste as part of the Surfrider Foundation Europe program: Plastic Origins. This expedition is a crucial element of the BeMed project, leb by the coalition of NGOs : Beyond Plastic Med - BeMed , UICN, and Surfrider Foundation Europe to reduce plastic pollution in two pilot regions: Albania with the local NGO INCA ALBANIA and Tunisia. One of the primary goals of this project is to obtain a comprehensive overview of waste pollution (especially plastic) in this river, which will then inform the creation of an effective action plan. Over the course of this journey, we aim to cover 50 kilometers of the Shkumbin River, passing through Librazhd, Elbasan, and Papër. It's a joy to return to paddle in Albania after a memorable 70-kilometer descent of the Vjosa River in 2021. Albania’s wild rivers are home to incredible flora and fauna, but unfortunately, they are also marred by significant waste pollution due to poor national waste management and extensive riverbed modifications that degrade these magnificent natural spaces.