Besjana Guri & Olsi Nika - Protecting Rivers

Provided by: Goldman Environmental Foundation |Published on: August 21, 2025

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Synopsis

This resource tells the story of Goldman Environmental Award winners Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika, who fought to keep hydropower companies from damming the Vjosa River in Albania.
Students will understand the significance of the river to Albanian culture and to the biodiversity of the watershed, and learn how the two award winners used their unique strengths to protect the river.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Biology, Civics

Authors: The Goldman Environmental Prize

Region: Europe

Languages: English, Albanian

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Teaching Materials

Positives

Students will love this example of unique campaigning to protect the environment.
The video has images of some of the wildlife found in the banks of the Vjosa, which is a great visual of its importance.

Prerequisites

Students should understand hydropower and dams. It may also be helpful to explain some of the environmental impacts of damming, including an increase in methane emissions from microbial decomposition in the newly formed reservoir.

Differentiation & Implementation

This guide from the Goldman Environmental Foundation is a companion resource with note-taking guides, activities, and questions that can be implemented with any of the videos for the prize winners.
Teachers can make connections to climate change by explaining the importance of biodiversity, like the kind provided by the river, when facing climate change impacts that require resilience.
After exploring this story, students can discuss the nuances of making decisions to help the planet. Teachers can highlight that, while hydropower is renewable energy, it is not necessarily without downsides.
After watching the video, students can demonstrate their understanding by defining what makes the Vjosa a "living river" and explaining what Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika did to keep it that way.
To see an example of the harm that dams can do to rivers, students can check out this video, which may deepen their understanding of why many people wanted to keep the Vjosa River free-flowing.
Teachers can make connections to the UN Sustainable Development Goals by launching into a discussion about the complexities associated with addressing the goals. For example, solutions addressing energy needs (Goal 7) need to be scrutinized to avoid impacting wildlife (Goals 14 and 15) and other environmental aspects.

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About the Partner Provider

The Goldman Environmental Prize

The Goldman Environmental Prize honors the achievements and leadership of grassroots environmental activists from around the world, inspiring all of us to take action to protect our planet. Prize winners are announced each April, coinciding with Earth Day. They are celebrated with a live ceremony in San Francisco.

Related Teaching Resources

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.