Albania: The Red Alert on the Narta Lagoon continues
Red Alert – Albania. Narta Lagoon and Albania’s Network of National Protected Areas are under Threat.
The Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands and its Narta Red Alert Task Force, continues collaborating with Albanian NGOs AOS and PPNEA, to address the potential risks posed by the construction of Vlora Airport within the Narta Lagoon, in Albania. With this initiative MAW aims to advocate for the implementation of sustainable tourism practices and to conserve critical wetland habitats in the region. This Red Alert has been launched in February.
The construction of Vlora Airport in the Narta Lagoon is underway, but it is facing financial difficulties due to a shortfall in funding for a portion of the loan.
The campaign launched in February has significantly increased the visibility of the Vlora airport case, strengthening the network of organisations advocating for wetland conservation. The Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands (MAW) extends gratitude to all its members and partners who efforts and contributions played a crucial role in this achievement. For those who missed the campaign, you can still catch up on the case by visiting our LinkedIN page.
Albania’s Network of National Protected Areas under Threat
Despite the important efforts of the conservation community in Albania, on 22 February 2024, the Albanian Parliament passed a legislative amendment to the Law on Protected Areas. These amendments will now allow the construction of 5-star tourist resorts and mining activities within protected areas.
The first plans for large-scale tourist developments in protected areas have already been published. The latest projects are in the Protected Landscape Vjose-Narte and the Marine National Park Karaburun-Sazan. The New York Times reported the involvement of investor Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. He has promoted plans for such projects on his social media accounts.
These are just two confirmed cases, but investigative reporting in Albania has uncovered other worrying cases. Plans for tourist mega-resorts in places like Divjake-Karavasta National Park have been revealed.
Recently, the environmental journalist Fred Pearce has interviewed our Albanian partners and has published an article at Yale Environment 360. Read the full article here, Jared Kushner Has Big Plans for Delta of Europe’s Last Wild River.