Mass protests against the intention to build a luxury beach resort in a protected nature reserve on the Albanian coast, which is supported by a company connected to the family of former US President Donald Trump, was reported by the AFP agency, which is referred to by the TASR news agency. On Saturday, several hundred people from different parts of Albania, joined by local residents, gathered at the Vjosa-Narta lagoon.
- Several hundred people protested at the Vjosa Narta lagoon against the luxury resort.
- The planned four billion dollar investment is associated with Ivanka Trump and Kushner.
- Thousands of people protest daily in Tirana against the transformation of the reservation into a destination.
- The Vjosa Narta lagoon is one of the most important biodiversity sites in the entire Mediterranean.
- The anti-corruption office SPAK is investigating legislative changes allowing construction in protected areas.
Demonstrators arrived at noon about 150 kilometers southwest of Tirana at the call of environmental organizations. Some of them carried red Albanian flags, others carried inflatable flamingos, which have become a symbol of the resistance movement, and chanted demands to cancel the entire project.
Growing resistance
According to AFP, the planned investment, whose value is estimated at four billion euros, is associated with Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner. Protest actions in Albania have been escalating in recent days.
For almost a week, large gatherings have been held in Tirana every evening, where thousands of people have criticized plans to turn large parts of the Vjosa-Narta reserve into a luxury tourist destination. Another large protest was also planned for Saturday evening.
Resort and island
According to the ideas of the developers, the transformation of the uninhabited island of Sazan into a prestigious holiday location should also be part of the project. In the past, the island served as a heavily guarded communist military base.
The representative of the Albanian Association for the Protection of the Environment (PPNEA), Denisa Kasová, said that the activists question not only the transparency of the process, but above all the disregard for the ecological value of the territory. According to her, this is a complete disregard of the environmental importance of the area.
Key biodiversity
The Vjosa-Narta lagoon on the southern coast of the Adriatic is an important habitat for many species of migratory birds, including flamingos. Kasová pointed out that this is one of the most important locations with exceptionally high biodiversity within the Mediterranean Sea.
BirdLife International reminds that the waters of the lagoon are among the last refuges of the monk seal in the entire Mediterranean Sea. According to her, the entire area provides a habitat for more than 200 species of birds, a significant part of which is endangered – including flamingos and curly pelicans. The construction should also affect sections of the protected coast north of the village of Zvërnec, between the Narta lagoon and the sea.
Tension in the field
Civil resistance and the mobilization of non-governmental organizations escalated after developers in the Zvërnec location began to fence off the territory of the planned resort. Barbed wire fences grew on the beaches, preventing public access to the lagoon.
The situation escalated into physical clashes between members of the private security service and local residents and activists. Several people were injured in the incident.
Government response
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama publicly downplayed the ongoing protests on Friday, saying the concerns were unfounded. He emphasized that the project has not yet gone through the approval process and is still being negotiated.
At the same time, Rama argued that top foreign experts are participating in the preparation of the plan. According to him, the goal is to build something extraordinary and unique.
Changed laws, investigation
Albania has been experiencing a rapid development of tourism in recent years. In 2024, the parliament adopted an amendment to the Act on Protected Areas, which now allows hotels and other strategic projects to be built in such areas as well.
However, it was these legislative changes that came to the attention of the special anti-corruption office SPAK. According to TASR, he announced this week that he is launching an investigation into the circumstances and consequences of the adoption of controversial regulations regarding protected areas.
