A high-stakes environmental and civil conflict has erupted in southern Albania, where Jared Kushner’s investment firm is accused of illegally bulldozing the protected Pishë Poro-Narta wetland near the Zvërnec peninsula. Activists protesting the development — which threatens a vital habitat for flamingos and rare pelicans — were forcibly removed by masked men while police reportedly looked on.
This dispute follows recent changes in the Albanian parliament that allow luxury construction in protected zones, raising concerns among environmentalists and local communities.
Wetland Destruction Underway
The conflict centres on the Zvërnec peninsula, located north of Vlora, which is part of the Narta wetland and the Vjosa Delta biosphere reserve. Heavy machinery has been operating for over a month, destroying dunes and forested areas without public permits. Nearly seven kilometres of coastline, including public beaches and the 13th-century Byzantine monastery on Zvërnec Island, have been fenced off with concertina wire.
Kushner’s £14bn Resort Project
Affinity Partners, Jared Kushner’s investment firm, plans to build two luxury resorts on Albania’s southern coast, including sites at Zvërnec and Sazan Island. The Zvërnec project is set to feature approximately 1,000 beach villas and hotel rooms adjacent to a new international airport. The on-site company, Zvërnec South Adriatic Development, holds permits linked to Kushner’s project, which is primarily funded by Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds.
Protests Met By Security Forces
On 5 May, protesters from the group Lëvizja BASHKË marched to Zvërnec Beach but were confronted by masked men and a significant police presence. Videos show demonstrators being forcibly removed within the fenced-off zone, allegedly by private security connected to the development, while riot police did not intervene. Movement leader Arlind Qori condemned the police for their passivity during what he described as an “open abduction” of peaceful protesters.
Controversial Legal Changes Fuel Conflict
The legal basis for the project comes from a parliamentary law change enacted weeks before construction began, permitting five-star hotels in protected zones—a law critics say was tailored specifically for this development. The official permit, issued on 29 April 2026, has not been publicly released. Environmentalists claim that machinery has disrupted the natural water flow between the sea and the lagoon, damaging critical habitats.
Government Defends Development
Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj stated that the area is classified as Category V protected, which allows for tourism infrastructure, and described the ongoing work as limited to fencing and surveys. However, conservation groups such as BirdLife Europe and EuroNatur dispute this characterization, highlighting environmental damage and a lack of transparency.
The controversy threatens Albania’s ambitions to join the European Union and has led to calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama to halt the developments amid ongoing anti-government protests. The issue is further complicated by the confiscation of land dating back to the communist era, which has intensified local disputes.
Meanwhile, the image of a medieval monastery surrounded by razor wire and an Israeli flag marked “border” has become a symbol of Albania’s struggle to preserve its natural heritage against unchecked luxury developments.
Originally published by UKNIP.
