Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Tirana for two consecutive days, protesting construction work underway inside the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape in southern Albania — a coastal wetland of significant ecological importance on the Adriatic coast.

Since late April 2026, EcoAlbania reports, heavy machinery has been operating inside the Pishë Poro-Narta protected zone without permits and without an environmental impact assessment. The work has cleared coastal forest, removed sand dunes, and blocked one of the two openings connecting the Narta Lagoon to the sea, with immediate consequences for the local ecosystem. The area is home to over 70 endangered species and more than 200 bird species, and sits on the Adriatic Flyway, a major bird migration corridor between Africa and Europe. 

The construction is connected to a planned luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner, head of private equity firm Affinity Partners and son-in-law of Donald Trump. The project involves hotel complexes on the uninhabited island of Sazan and across hundreds of hectares of the Vjosa-Narta coastal wetlands. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has confirmed the construction is related to the resort plan, while defending it as legally compliant. It is not confirmed that the land surrounded by barbed wire has been bought by companies linked to Kushner, who presented development plans for Albania two years ago.

Protesters have accused the government of facilitating the development through legislative changes to the Law on Protected Areas adopted in 2024.  BirdLife Europe and PPNEA (BirdLife’s Albanian partner) are calling for an immediate halt to all works, restoration of damaged areas, and a full legal investigation. EuroNatur has also called on the European Commission to act, noting that the destruction is incompatible with Albania’s EU accession commitments.

An international protest has been announced for Saturday 20 June in the Vjosa Delta. EuroNatur is asking people to sign the petition against the construction projects.