NGOs say Albania resort project linked to Trump family has damaged coastal site

Scientists and environmental activists say preliminary work on a large hotel project linked to the Trump family has already caused lasting damage to a coastal area in Albania.

The project, valued at 4.5 billion euros, or $5.1 billion, was first raised in 2024 by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. It would involve luxury hotels near flamingo colonies and on a deserted island, with beachfront, a peninsula, a lagoon and white sand beaches described by Trump's daughter Ivanka in a podcast.

Satellite images cited in the report show that during 25 days in May, a road was cleared, a full area was deforested and a bridge was built across the channel connecting the Narta lagoon to the sea.

Olsi Nika, a marine biologist who heads the NGO EcoAlbania, said bulldozers on the beaches had damaged nesting sites of loggerhead turtles, which are threatened with extinction. He also said bird nesting grounds had been disturbed by access roads through dunes and by tree cutting, and that work on the channel between the lagoon and the sea had badly disrupted water flows needed to maintain wetlands.

Daily demonstrations against the project have led to the suspension of some work. Ferdinand Bego, a professor at the University of Tirana, said damage to the heritage site before construction began was largely irreparable.

Albanians have protested against the project for months. Anger grew after barbed wire appeared about six weeks before the report to mark the boundaries of the complex. Private security guards suppressed one protest, which helped trigger further demonstrations.

Prime Minister Edi Rama's government, in power for 13 years, supports the project and calls it “Europe's finest project”. It says the development would help Albania compete with coastal neighbours Montenegro, Greece and Croatia by attracting international capital and creating jobs.

In mid-June, scientists visited the site to assess possible damage from preparatory work. Their report identified damage to turtle nesting sites, bird habitats and local dunes.

Protesters have received support from British pop star Dua Lipa, who is of Kosovar origin. The European Union, which Albania hopes to join in 2030, has also criticised Albania over obligations linked to environment and climate change rules.

Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, said in July that before the protests began, the EU and Albania had agreed that Albania would this year repeal 2024 amendments to its protected areas law and repeal its law on strategic investors.

Friedrich Schiemer, a University of Vienna professor who visited the site in June, said it was urgent to limit damage to the area. He said large-scale tourism projects could irreparably compromise its natural integrity.