Pressure on Albania’s Coast Raises Global Conservation Concerns

A recent in-depth feature published by The New York Times has brought international attention to the accelerating transformation of Albania’s Adriatic coastline—particularly around the Vjosa-Narta Delta, one of the Mediterranean’s most ecologically significant wetland systems.

The 59,000-acre delta, which includes the Narta Lagoon, sand dunes, salt pans, and forests, is a sanctuary for over 248 bird species and supports endangered species such as the Dalmatian pelican, loggerhead turtle, and Mediterranean monk seal. It is also a key resting and feeding site along the Adriatic Flyway, a critical migration route between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

Despite national and international designations as a protected area, the region faces increasing pressure from major tourism and infrastructure development proposals. These include the construction of a new international airport and multiple resort projects planned along the lagoon and adjacent coastlines.

While proponents point to tourism as an engine for national economic growth, local residents and conservationists interviewed in the article raised concerns over:

Loss of irreplaceable biodiversity and habitat;
Risk of ecosystem fragmentation from large-scale infrastructure;
Long-term economic sustainability and equitable benefit-sharing;
Cultural impacts and potential overtourism.

The article also draws attention to contrasts in infrastructure investment: newly built roads and construction sites are expanding, while facilities intended to support birdwatching and ecotourism remain neglected or in disrepair.

As one of the last intact river deltas in the Mediterranean, the Vjosa-Narta Delta plays a crucial role in regional climate resilience and biodiversity conservation. Its fate could serve as a precedent for how protected coastal wetlands across the Mediterranean are managed amidst rising development pressures.

Read the full article here: http://nytimes.com/2025/04/23/travel/albania-jared-kushner-tourism-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CE8.YP2P.NeeuFHOr50qT&smid=url-share