A luxury tourism development linked to the family of US President Donald Trump is facing growing opposition in Albania, where scientists and environmental campaigners say preparatory works have already caused severe and potentially irreversible damage to protected coastal habitats.
Satellite images reportedly show that a sizeable area near the Narta Lagoon was cleared in less than a month. A new access road was laid out and a bridge was constructed over a channel connecting the lagoon with the Adriatic Sea. The works are linked to plans for a multibillion-euro hotel and real estate complex promoted by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.
The wider development is expected to include the uninhabited island of Sazan and a nearby stretch of Albania’s coast. Supporters present it as a major opportunity to attract foreign investment and strengthen the country’s position on the Mediterranean luxury tourism market. Its critics, however, warn that the project threatens one of Albania’s most valuable natural areas.
Scientists warn of irreversible damage
The Narta Lagoon and the surrounding wetlands provide important habitats for flamingos, migratory birds and other protected species. The nearby beaches are also used as nesting grounds by endangered loggerhead sea turtles.
“Bulldozers on the beaches have already destroyed loggerhead turtle nesting sites,” marine biologist Olsi Nika of EcoAlbania told AFP, describing the impact as “an absolute massacre of biodiversity.”
Researchers say the damage began before construction of the resort itself had formally started. Although some activities have reportedly been suspended, experts fear that the disruption to the local ecosystem may already be permanent.
“The damage caused in the protected area before construction has even begun is largely irreversible,” said Ferdinand Bego, a professor at the University of Tirana.
The development has helped trigger weeks of demonstrations known as the “Flamingo Revolution.” What began as an environmental campaign has increasingly become a broader expression of public dissatisfaction with the government, amid allegations of insufficient transparency and preferential treatment for powerful foreign investors.
Rama defends the investment
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the project, arguing that it will create jobs, bring international capital into the country and allow Albania to compete more effectively with established tourist destinations such as Croatia, Greece and Montenegro.
The controversy is particularly sensitive because Albania is seeking membership of the European Union. European institutions have repeatedly stressed that the country must comply with environmental legislation and improve the protection of sensitive natural areas as part of the accession process.
Critics fear that environmental safeguards are being weakened to facilitate large-scale tourism and property developments. They also question whether the expected economic benefits will compensate for the possible destruction of ecosystems that cannot be recreated elsewhere.
The protest movement has received international attention after British singer Dua Lipa, whose family comes from Kosovo, expressed support for the demonstrators and described their mobilisation as inspiring.
The dispute highlights a broader dilemma facing Albania. The country is experiencing rapid growth in tourism and wants to attract prestigious international investors, but many residents fear that uncontrolled development could destroy the landscapes and natural resources underpinning its appeal. For opponents of the Trump-linked resort, Narta has therefore become more than a local environmental dispute: it is a test of whether Albania’s protected areas will remain protected when confronted with political influence and multibillion-euro investment.
