The Buna River Velipoja Protected Area consists of the Drin delta, the Viluni lagoon, the Buna river and its delta, and the village of Velipoje. Particularly its wetland is protected under Ramsar Convention of wetland, as it is a habitat of bird and plant species, which are in danger of extinction. More than 250 highly endangered bird species and 170 threatened mammals, fish and plant species call this area home.
The main feature of this protected area may be wetland but its natural environment shows a complex transition to forests, dry grasslands, herbaceous marsh, bushes, deltas and beaches. Also the climate varies from the one of Adriatic sea to the northern Alps of Albania. Its summer is dry and hot and winter is wet and mild.
These various environmental characteristics enable life for abundant animal and plant species here in the protected area. For instance, the golden jackal was identified in its forest, the brown bear was spotted at the coast line and the common bottlenose dolphin was seen around river deltas and the coastal area. Among all this rare wildlife, the loggerhead sea turtle and the green sea turtle, which nest at the coastline and the Dalmatian pelican, which feeds on the salt flat during the autumn, are outstanding examples.
This area is also home to around 36,000 people, which forms a unique cultural landscape. Traditionally, the local villagers of Velipoje have engaged in agriculture and fishing. Visitors can buy local produce at the local market. In recent years, several projects to vitalize local economy via eco-tourism have been implemented, as around 250.000 people visit this protected area every year.