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.
The Alliance, particularly the Narta Task Force, continues working with Albanian NGOs AOS and PPNEA, to advocate for sustainable tourism and wetland conservation.
For more information, read Fred Pearce’s article, ‘Jared Kushner Has Big Plans for Delta of Europe’s Last Wild River,’ published in Yale Environment 360 and available here.
