Holiday complex on the Karavasta Lagoon blocked

Plans for a large holiday complex on the Albanian Karavasta Lagoon have been scrapped after the government in Tirana threw out the project. As a result, the internationally important wetland area will be preserved.

On the Karavasta Lagoon nature still has prerogative.

© Katharina Grund/EuroNatur

In the old pine forests of the national park, there are still ideal conditions to grow: a young Hermann's Tortoise

© EuroNatur

The Karavasta Lagoon, situated on Albania’s Adriatic coast, is one of the country’s most important areas of retreat for rare plants and animals thanks to the richness of its landscape. It is here, for example, that threatened Dalmatian pelicans have their only breeding colony in Albania. And it is here, of all places, that an investor had planned to build an enormous holiday complex for up to 18,000 guests. Despite protests from EuroNatur and its Albanian partner organisations, the government in Tirana had long been positively disposed towards the construction project. But now there has been an about-turn.

Taulant Bino, head of the Albanian nature conservation organisation AOS, is clearly relieved. “This is finally a good news in the dim days of the revision of the network of protected areas. This decision shows that fighting to protect nature does pay off.” In Albania further important decisions on environmentally destructive infrastructure projects are due in the near future. EuroNatur will campaign, with its partners, for the right of nature in the Adriatic state.

How you can help

Donation

Future needs nature. EuroNatur cares for it. Please use your possibilities to help. With your donation you will make an effective contribution to a more livable environment.

Sustaining membership

EuroNatur focuses on long-term nature conservation projects instead of quick fixes. With your regular donations, you give us the planning security we need.

News

Skavica mega dam: Albanian court to scrutinise special law for U.S. contractor Bechtel

++ Constitutional complaint filed by NGOs accepted for trial ++ First milestone in fight against one of Europe’s largest reservoirs ++ Thousands of…

Growing opposition to Albanian airport

++ Bern Convention calls on Albania to stop airport construction near Narta Lagoon ++ Project in Vjosa Delta endangers thousands of migratory birds ++…

EU Commission targets the wolf

Ursula von der Leyen warns of allegedly "dangerous wolves" - nature conservation organisations criticise misleading statements and dubious data…

Romanian forests: EuroNatur calls for a logging moratorium

+++ Open letter to Commissioner Sinkevičius calls for a logging moratorium in protected areas to end destruction of Romanian forests +++ Fourth…

Controversial airport construction in Albanian protected area casts shadow as far as Munich

++ Operating company Munich Airport International (MAI) is linked to illegal Vlora airport ++ Construction to take place in protected area of special…

Swimming for the monk seal

The Croatian free water swimmer Dina Levačić has been swimming in potential monk seal territories. Her campaign is aimed at drawing attention to the…

Wolf Offspring confirmed in the Black Forest

++ Photo trap image from the community of Schluchsee provides evidence of offspring ++ First wolf pack in over 150 years in Baden-Württemberg ++

Stork Village meeting in Tykocin, Poland

It was an anniversary celebrated in style: For the 20th annual meeting, representatives of the European Stork Villages met for the first time in the…

A slight sigh of relief for the Dalmatian pelicans

The Dalmatian pelicans at Lake Skadar are breeding successfully. This is all the more gratifying because last year's breeding season was disastrous.