Albania’s Greens Fear New Airport Will Destroy Precious Wetlands

More than 30 local and international environmental organisations are urging the Albanian government to stop the project to build an airport in Vlora, saying it will cause huge damage to the environment of the internationally protected Vjose-Narte area in southwest Albania.

They point out that the protected area covering ​​19,412 hectares is home to 200 wild bird species, 33 of which have endangered status.

An environment expert from the Albanian Ornithological Society, Taulant Bino, told BIRN on Wednesday that national and international environmental organisations consider the choice of the area as the location of an international airport unacceptable, due to its profound environmental impact.

Bino added that these organisations are ready to discuss finding another location for the airport with government experts, and the discussion should be transparent and respect the law and international conventions.

"None of the decisions so far on Vlora Airport has been transparent from an environmental point of view. This lack of transparency gives environmental organisations the right to an administrative and judicial appeal," Bino said.

On Monday, the organisation sent an open letter to the Albanian government saying it was "extremely concerned about the situation" with the construction of this airport as it would irreversibly damage the ecosystem of the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area.

It said it fears the project will accelerate an unfriendly economic model to natural environments, which stimulates uncontrolled and unstable development and destroys natural resources and values.

The Narta Lagoon is known for the biodiversity of its wetlands and for the birds that live in it, especially the flamingos. The letter signed by 36...