Mass protests erupted outside the prime minister’s office in Tirana after preparation work for a luxury tourism project linked to the family of Donald Trump caused severe environmental damage along Albania’s protected southwestern coast. According to marine biologist Olsi Nika, head of the NGO EcoAlbania, bulldozers operating between May 5 and May 30, 2026, destroyed nesting sites of endangered loggerhead turtles near the Narta lagoon.
Satellite Evidence Reveals Widespread Habitat Destruction
Satellite images obtained by AFP from Planet Labs PBC confirm significant landscape alterations in the protected zone near Vlora between May and June 2026. According to satellite data, contractors cleared a road, deforested an entire area, and constructed a bridge over the water channel connecting the Narta lagoon to the sea. Nika stated that dunes were destroyed, trees were cut down, and concrete was poured near coastal zones, creating what he termed a biodiversity massacre across hundreds of hectares. Ferdinand Bego, a professor at the University of Tirana, noted that while daily protests in Tirana forced a suspension of earth-moving activities, the damage to the natural heritage remains largely irreparable.
Political Stakes and Economic Ambitions
The multi-billion-euro tourism venture was first discussed in 2024 by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump, aiming to build luxury hotels on a deserted island amid flamingo colonies. Tensions escalated six weeks prior to the protests when barbed wire fenced off the site and private security guards cracked down on early demonstrations. A day later, Ivanka Trump described the location in a filmed podcast as having eight kilometers of direct seafront opposite the peninsula and lagoon. Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government, in power for 13 years, defends the initiative as the «plus beau projet d’Europe», the attraction of international capital and the elevation of Albanian tourism to compete with Montenegro, Greece, and Croatia.
Scientific Warnings and European Union Scrutiny
A team of scientists visited the site in mid-June 2026 to evaluate the ecological impact of the preliminary construction. A petition published by visiting scientists highlighted damage to Caretta caretta nesting habitats on the Dajlan and Portonova beaches from heavy machinery, as well as disrupted water exchanges between the lagoon and the sea. Meanwhile, pop star Dua Lipa voiced support for the protesters via podcast, expressing concern over the 2024 legal amendments that enabled the project. The European Union also intervened, with enlargement commissioner Marta Kos stating in July 2026 that the bloc had previously agreed with Albania that the 2024 amendments to protected areas and strategic investments laws would be repealed within the year as part of environmental negotiations under Chapter 27.
Did you know?
The Narta lagoon is a vital wetland ecosystem in the Mediterranean, serving as a crucial feeding, resting, and breeding ground for numerous migratory bird species and endangered marine life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the protests in Tirana?
Protests began after preparation work for a luxury tourism project on the Narta lagoon caused severe, irreversible damage to protected coastal dunes, turtle nesting sites, and bird habitats.
Who is developing the luxury tourism project?
President Donald Trump.
What is the position of the Albanian government?
Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government champions the initiative as a transformative project to boost foreign investment, create jobs, and elevate the country’s tourism sector.
What role is the European Union playing?
The European Union has pressured Tirana over environmental safeguards, noting prior agreements to repeal 2024 legal amendments concerning protected areas as part of accession negotiations.
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