On the 24th of March 2017, the alliance of environmental NGOs for the protection of the National Park Divjkaka-Karavasta, unanimously addressed two separate letters to the Albanian Ministry of Environment The first letter demands all the information regarding the Master Plan “Resort Divjakë Albania” including also the procedures followed during public consultation. This information will allow us to know if our legal framework on Strategic Environmental Assessment has been properly implemented and to address the courts in case of legislation breach. With the second letter, the above alliance expresses its preliminary strong opposition against the current Master Plan stressing that: 1`. The Plan “Resort Divjake Albania” does not take in account and destroys a major part of natural values and bilogical diversity of the area and Albania. The Plan attacks the whole territory and values of the National Park “Divjaka-Karavasta” and is in total breach with the Lawa “On Protected Areas”. 2. The construction of such a resort will pave the way to the destruction of other National Parks in the country, as for any investor in tourism area, the protected areas are the most attractive places for development. 3. The plan does not consider the recommendations of the Management Plan of the National Park, drafted with the support of JICA and approved in 2016 by the Minister of Environment. 4. The proposed Master Plan is in total breach of several International Conventions (Bern Convention on Emerald Network, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, and in total breach with the principles of nature protection of the European Union (Natura 2000 Network). 5. The plan negatively impacts 100% of the breeding populationt of Albania for several species of birds as the Dalmatian Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Egret, Night Heron and Squacco Heron. The plan drastically reduces the number of 250 bird speciesnesting or wintering in this ecosystem. Simoultanously, the plan will harm at least 35 speceis of mammals, 24 reptiles and 120 species of fish. A large part of those species are protected by the national legislation and Directives of the Euorpean Union. Based on the above arguments, the alliance asks the Government and the proposer to draft another development plan that do not harm the habitats, species and the natural values of the Natural park ecosystem.
