Full Breakdown
Bulldozers in Albania’s Protected Pishë Poro-Narta Landscape Prompt Protests and EU Scrutiny
6/1/2026, 5:53:59 AM
Bulldozers Enter a Protected Landscape
On 22 May 2026 heavy machinery and barbed-wire fences appeared in the Pishë Poro-Narta Protected Landscape, a wetland north of Vlora that borders the Vjosa Delta. Activists say the works have removed forested zones, destroyed dunes and blocked the sea-lagoon connection.
Legal Status and Environmental Significance
The site is classified as a Category V Protected Landscape, allowing limited interventions. It hosts 200–300 bird species, including flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans, and more than 70 endangered species. Chapter 27 of the EU accession process obliges Albania to safeguard such habitats under the Natura 2000 framework.
Main Actors
- Sofjan Jaupaj, Minister of Environment – defends the works as legal geological surveys.
- PPNEA (Preservation and Protection of Natural Environment in Albania) – represented by Zydjon Vorpsi and Aleksandër Trajçe.
- Local activists – Mirela Ruko (Lëvizja Bashkë), Alben Kola, Andi Tepelena, and Brunela (resident).
- National Inspectorate for Territorial Protection (IKMT) – identified the contractor as “Zvërnec South Adriatic Development,” owned by Nikita Maximovich Vinogradov and Zoya Georgieva Gyurova.
- International NGOs – BirdLife Europe and EuroNatur.
- European Commission – monitoring the site as a test case for Albania’s environmental compliance.
Data Snapshot
- Approximately 600 ha fenced off.
- 7 km of coastline restricted from public use.
- 200–300 bird species recorded; 70+ endangered species cited by EU observers.
- Planned development includes residential towers up to eight stories, a hotel complex and a port.
Official Government Position
The Ministry of Environment states that the works are authorized by the National Territorial Council, cause no degradation, and fall within the legal scope of Category V. It emphasizes that only private-property fencing for geological surveys is underway and that the area remains a protected landscape under national law. IKMT later disclosed the contractor’s name but noted that the development permit has not yet been issued and the existing permit remains unpublished.
Civil Society Opposition
PPNEA activists claim the machinery entered “illegally,” destroying dunes and blocking sea-lagoon links. Ruko warned that tourism-driven projects enrich speculators, not locals. Kola called the activity “terrorism against Albanian land,” while Tepelena demanded the minister’s resignation, accusing him of protecting “the mafia.” BirdLife Europe highlighted the loss of critical bird habitat; EuroNatur condemned the lack of transparent impact assessments.
On-the-Ground Testimony
Brunela, who grew up swimming in the lagoon, said, “All the fishermen and livestock breeders in the area are left unemployed. Many people lose both financial security and their summer recreation.” She added that each concrete pour “breaks my heart.”
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
The government asserts legality, yet IKMT reports that no development permit has been issued and the existing permit is not public. Activists point to the absence of an environmental impact study, while officials cite Category V allowances. The precise scope of the “geological survey” remains undefined, and the classification of the site differs from the adjacent Vjosa River National Park (Category II).
Verbatim Quotes
- “For over a month now, machinery has entered the area illegally, removing forested zones, destroying dunes, and even blocking the connection between the sea and the lagoon,” — Zydjon Vorpsi, PPNEA
- “When they tell us tourism is making us richer, we must ask: who is tourism actually enriching? Did you know that we are among the peoples who consume eight times less fish than other coastal populations? Did you know that we visit the sea on average only three days per year? And you tell me that this model being built today will bring us closer to the sea?” — Mirela Ruko, Lëvizja Bashkë
- “All the fishermen and livestock breeders in the area are left unemployed. Many people lose both financial security and their summer recreation,” — Brunela, resident
- “Only the fencing of a private property has been carried out in order to conduct geological surveys,” — Sofjan Jaupaj, Minister of Environment
- “Category V is in fact the lowest protection category among protected areas, where a considerable portion of investments, including tourism infrastructure investments, are legally allowed,” Minister Jaupaj said while justifying the works.” — Sofjan Jaupaj, Minister of Environment
Prospects and Monitoring
The European Commission’s ongoing monitoring, combined with continued local protests and calls for transparent permitting, suggests that the Pishë Poro-Narta case will remain a focal point in Albania’s EU accession dialogue. Legal challenges and further NGO scrutiny are expected as preparatory works progress.
