Public voices were raised today in front of the Ministry of Environment against the ongoing destruction in the protected area of Pishë Poro–Nartë.
Tirana, 26 May 2026 – Citizens and nature conservation supporters gathered today in front of the Ministry of Environment in Tirana to protest the ongoing destruction in the Pishë Poro–Nartë Protected Landscape.
The protest was organized by the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA), following repeated field reports and public denunciations, as well as a complete lack of institutional transparency and response from the responsible authorities.
With banners and public calls such as “Hands off Vjosa–Narta”, protesters demanded urgent intervention from state institutions to immediately halt the works and interventions that are irreversibly transforming one of Albania’s most important biodiversity areas.
During the protest, institutional silence in the face of ongoing developments on the ground was strongly denounced, along with the lack of transparency regarding the project and the failure to protect an area of national and international importance. Citizens emphasized that Vjosa–Narta cannot be treated as a construction site and that its protection is a public and institutional obligation.
Despite repeated public denunciations and recent press conferences, where illegal interventions and habitat transformation have been highlighted, state institutions have chosen to remain silent and downplay the situation, describing it merely as a “fencing of private property for geological survey purposes.”
Recent field verifications prove otherwise. The concreting of the coastline, the opening of permanent roads by heavy machinery, and the unlawful restriction of public access confirm the establishment of a construction site causing irreversible damage to an ecosystem of critical importance for biodiversity and migratory birds.
Through this protest, the following demands were firmly raised:
- Immediate cessation of all works and withdrawal of heavy machinery from the heart of the Pishë Poro–Narta Protected Landscape;
- Full disclosure of all official documentation, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and relevant permits, which have so far not been made public for citizens and stakeholders;
- Immediate intervention by the National Agency of Protected Areas (NAPA), the State Inspectorate for Environment and Territory, and the State Police to enforce their legal responsibilities in protecting this area.
This environmental crime is permanently transforming the Pishë Poro–Narta Protected Landscape.
This protest follows a series of public reactions, statements, and press conferences organized by stakeholders in recent weeks, where field evidence and documentation of ongoing interventions have been continuously presented.
To follow developments and public reactions regarding the situation in Vjosa–Narta, read:
Press Statement on the Situation in Vjosa–Narta
THE MASSACRE IN THE PROTECTED AREA OF PISHË PORO–NARTË CONTINUES
THE BIGGEST NATURE DESTRUCTION SCANDAL IN ALBANIA IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
Vjosa–Narta represents one of the most important wetland ecosystems in Albania and a key part of the Adriatic flyway corridor, of exceptional importance for biodiversity, migratory birds, and the country’s natural heritage.
For further information: [email protected].
