International attention has recently focused on plans for large-scale tourism developments in and around the Narta Lagoon and the Vjosa Delta in southern Albania. What began as local opposition to construction activities has evolved into a broader public debate about biodiversity protection, governance, public participation and the future of coastal development in Albania.
While located outside the European Union, these ecosystems form part of one of Europe's most important biodiversity corridors along the Adriatic Flyway and are increasingly recognised as critical for the continent's biodiversity and nature restoration goals. We spoke with Aleksandër Trajçe, Executive Director of PPNEA, Albania's leading environmental organisation.
- What is at stake?
PPNEA has described the destruction at Pishë Poro–Nartë Protected Landscape as the most severe ever documented within an Albanian protected area. The government, meanwhile, presents the project as a legitimate investment that will promote economic development. What is actually happening on the ground?
The developments planned for Pishë Poro–Nartë Protected Landscape are unprecedented in scale. Nearly 500 hectares of natural coastal landscape are being transformed for tourism-related urban development within one of the Mediterranean's last largely intact delta ecosystems.
This area forms part of the Vjosa Delta and hosts habitats of exceptional ecological importance not only for Albania but for Europe as a whole. Situated along the Adriatic Flyway, it serves as a crucial stopover, wintering and breeding area for migratory species moving between Africa and Europe. Its coastal dunes are recognised as priority habitats under the EU Habitats Directive, while the area provides nesting grounds for the endangered loggerhead turtle and supports more than 220 bird species, including internationally important populations of flamingos and pelicans.
The debate is therefore not simply about Albania's development choices. It is also about the protection of ecosystems that contribute directly to Europe's biodiversity objectives and broader efforts to restore nature across the continent.
What makes the case particularly controversial is that the legal framework governing protected areas was amended shortly before these projects were announced, allowing development activities that had previously been prohibited. Albania has since committed, within the context of its EU accession process, to revisiting these provisions. Yet construction activities are advancing before those reforms have been implemented.
- How did a local protest become a national movement?
Within a matter of weeks, what began as a local environmental dispute turned into one of the largest civic mobilisations Albania has seen in recent years. Why?
The speed with which the movement grew reflects concerns that extend far beyond a single project.
For years, Albanians have witnessed increasing pressure on protected areas and coastal landscapes. Cases such as the Vlora Airport project, developments affecting Butrint National Park and pressures in the Buna–Velipoja area have all generated public debate. However, many citizens perceived the events in Pishë Poro–Nartë Protected Landscape as a turning point because of the scale and rapid pace of the intervention.
When construction activities began, many people felt that decisions concerning a nationally significant protected area were being taken without sufficient transparency, consultation or public participation. Public concern intensified as images of dune destruction and construction activities circulated widely online.
What followed was not simply an environmental protest. The movement became a broader expression of concern about governance, accountability and the future of Albania's natural heritage. The flamingo emerged as a powerful symbol because it represents an ecosystem that many Albanians increasingly view as part of their collective identity and shared public wealth. At the same time, these wetlands are part of a wider ecological network on which migratory species across Europe depend.
The protests demonstrate that citizens are increasingly asking what kind of development model Albania should pursue and who ultimately benefits from it. They also signal a growing awareness that protecting Albania's biodiversity means safeguarding part of Europe's shared natural heritage.
- What must the European Union do now?
The European Commission has stated that it is closely monitoring developments while negotiations under Chapter 27 on Environment and Climate Change continue. What role should the EU play?
This issue goes beyond a single investment project. It concerns the credibility of environmental governance, the integrity of the EU accession process and Europe's commitment to biodiversity protection. If some of the continent's most valuable wetlands and coastal ecosystems can be sacrificed during accession negotiations, this raises broader questions about the consistency of Europe's environmental ambitions.
Albania has committed itself to aligning national legislation and practice with European environmental standards. Protected areas, biodiversity conservation and public participation are all core elements of that process. Citizens expect these commitments to be reflected not only in legislation but also in concrete decisions on the ground.
The European Union therefore has an important role in ensuring that accession benchmarks are applied consistently across candidate countries. Environmental commitments made during accession negotiations must be implemented in practice. If European standards are applied selectively, public confidence in both environmental governance and the accession process risks being weakened.
Ultimately, this debate is not only about Pishë Poro–Nartë Protected Landscape. It is about whether Europe's biodiversity commitments extend beyond its current borders and whether enlargement can become a vehicle for protecting some of the continent's most valuable natural ecosystems. The future of Narta and the Vjosa Delta will therefore be watched not only in Albania, but by everyone concerned with Europe's ecological future.
This interview was conducted by Tea Zeqaj, HBF Tirana office.