Drilon National Park and the village of Tushemisht, near Lake Ohrid in Pogradec, have been declared an area of national importance and part of UNESCO’s world heritage for their rich habitat and natural values.
However, this protected area risks being affected by a development plan of the Albanian government, which foresees the construction of a considerable number of structures in the area between Drilon and the tourist village of Tushemisht. On Christmas Eve of last year, the KKT approved the construction permit for the “ Pogradec Marina ” facility, where although the investors are a consortium of operators, “ Aramar Group ” and “ Arlis-Ndërim ”, the sole beneficial owner is businessman Armand Lilo.
Near the park, the plan envisages the construction of tourist structures with heights ranging from 3 to 23 floors above ground, as well as an art gallery with a public function, as well as hybrid buildings for commercial purposes.
This project has raised doubts about the possibility of private interests influencing a protected area, while work has begun on the implementation of the “Drilonit Forests” project, which envisages the construction of 12-storey buildings near Drilonit Park, at the entrance to Tushemishti. The sale of apartments has begun, with prices reaching 157,000 euros for a 2+1 unit.
Experts say these developments conflict with the status of Lake Pogradec (Ohrid) as a protected area and part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The Lake Ohrid Heritage organization warns that the giant buildings and the “Drilon Forests” project endanger the protected status of the lake and could lead to Lake Ohrid being declared a World Heritage in Danger.
Albanian authorities insist that UNESCO only has an advisory role in this matter, while representatives of the Pogradec municipality consider the projects as an opportunity to increase tourism in the city.
Protected areas at risk
Drilon National Park and the village of Tushemisht, on the shores of Lake Ohrid, have been declared a site of national importance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their rich habitat and natural values. The National Agency for Protected Areas says that Lake Pogradec is a “protected landscape.”
“Lake Pogradec is the deepest tectonic lake in the Balkans (289 m). It covers an area of 358.2 km², of which 109 km² belong to Albania. The lakeshore is 87.5 km long, of which 31.5 km belong to Albania and 56 km to North Macedonia,” says AKZM. According to it, on July 5, 2019, due to the high biological and cultural wealth of Lake Ohrid, its Albanian part, together with the surrounding area, was included in the UNESCO Mixed Natural and Cultural World Heritage List.
But these spaces are endangered by a plan by the Albanian government, which foresees numerous constructions between Drilon and the tourist village.
Initially, there was a detailed development plan, approved by the National Territorial Council in December 2020, which gave the green light for the redevelopment of the park by the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF). According to the project, tourist structures and hybrid buildings for commercial purposes can be built on the park’s borders.
Immediately after, the National Territorial Council approved on December 24, 2024 projects that, according to experts, will cause damage to the environment and do not guarantee the development of sustainable tourism.
On the edge of Lake Pogradec, the government approved the project called “Pogradec Marina” with an area of 22 thousand m².
It is learned that the towers will be built on the lawn of the former old Turizm hotel area and the data shows that it is about the construction of 5 high towers. The largest is expected to be 25 floors and the lowest 13 floors. According to the documents, the project will be implemented by a consortium of companies, but the ultimate owner of both companies is the controversial businessman Armand Lilo.
But this will not be the only project, as work is also underway in Drilon Park in Pogradec.
The company “Kontakt” has announced the implementation of a project called “Drilonit Forests”, which envisages the construction of 12-story buildings at the entrance to Tushemisht. The company has started selling apartments, and as advertised, the price starts at 1,500 euros/m².
Construction projects in protected areas are an ongoing problem in Albania for the damage they cause to the environment and the development of sustainable tourism.
Local environmental organizations, both in Albania and Macedonia, say that due to planned construction in the “Pogradec Lake” protected area, a UNESCO protected area is being lost.
“The planned investments to be developed are high-intensity constructions – giant concrete structures in the heart of the protected area or the ‘Driloni Forests’ project – between the Driloni National Park and the Tushemishti Tourist Village, are jeopardizing its status as a protected area and unless a sudden turnaround occurs, Lake Ohrid will be declared a World Heritage in Danger for the first time,” said a statement from the Lake Ohrid Heritage organization.
Meanwhile, Arbër Male, an independent municipal councilor of Pogradec, says that the construction of towers in the city conflicts with UNESCO directives, which classifies the area where construction is planned as an area of natural and environmental importance and part of world heritage.
“You can’t have forests and towers together, concrete and a park. Either one or the other!” says Male, according to whom such projects do not help the development of tourism in Pogradec.
“We can’t just sell tourists gas stations and concrete; they come for the habitat, nature, tranquility, the lake, seagulls and clean air. If we kill these with concrete, we have automatically killed the tourism of the area,” wrote Arbër Male.
Beyond local concerns, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has urged the Albanian and Macedonian governments to implement corrective measures and accelerate sustainable development, excluding ecologically sensitive areas from construction.
Among other things, in the document that “shteg.org” analyzed, UNESCO urges the Albanian government to accelerate and improve urban planning and sustainable development in the area, ensuring that all projects and constructions are carried out only after full environmental impact assessments, including the impact of water pollution and the environment. It also requires that urbanization opportunities in ecologically sensitive areas be excluded, including those between Tushemisht and Burime i Driloni. It also requires that urgent measures be taken to preserve the lake’s ecosystem and to protect the natural and cultural heritage of the region. But the projects continue, while international recommendations remain unconsidered.
Danger over Lake Ohrid
In Drilon and Tushemisht, the sky above the lake seems to carry an invisible tension. Residents speak of changes that are transforming the landscape and their lives: a heavy smell of feces, water being channeled into tanks, and construction stretching to the horizon.
Yllka Çausholli, a constructor with experience in civil and industrial construction, says that the changes in Pogradec, especially the increase in construction without good planning and the impact they have had on the ecosystem, are out of control.
She warns that construction in this area channels water into tanks and the use of chlorine is damaging natural resources.
“The soil is pumice, it is not suitable for construction, and the tall buildings that are being built everywhere are built on sand and water, and have no guarantees. If they were built on hills, the situation would be different, but concreting in dampness weakens the foundations and develops long-term problems,” says Çausholli.
Klodian Latollari, a panoramic photographer of the city of Pogradec, is equally skeptical about high-rise construction in the city.
“I don’t like aggressive and luxurious tourism. The most beautiful things are simple. If Pogradec becomes too luxurious, tourists won’t come back,” he says.
Experts warn of more serious risks. Arjan Merolli, an engineer and expert involved in the UNESCO dossier on Lake Ohrid, says the projects risk removing the lake from the international list of protected areas.
“Any new construction risks removing the lake from the international list and poses a risk of ecological and social catastrophe. The total lack of control over the territory and the lack of cross-border cooperation continue to violate international laws,” says Merolli.
According to experts, new construction blocks air corridors and casts large shadows over existing houses, worsening humidity and endangering the buffer landscape that UNESCO has called for to be preserved up to 50 meters from the coast.
“Investigations into the situation following the UNESCO report show that, for several months, the government and local authorities have not made any reaction or information regarding the worsening situation,” Merolli emphasizes.
Pogradec was included in the UNESCO list as a mixed heritage on July 5, 2019, and since then there have been 4 field monitoring missions. UNESCO does not allow construction near natural heritage areas, because this damages the special values that make it part of the World Heritage. Tushemisht is called a core area according to UNESCO, which is an area dedicated to fish farming. Fishing is not allowed here, as well as other actions that harm the habitat. Vegetation must be preserved in this area so that the entire natural process can take place.
“Every time the missions come, they find new construction in the area. This shows that the recommendations have not been taken seriously,” says Merolli.
Additionally, 38 civil society organizations from Albania, North Macedonia and other European countries have signed a joint letter to UNESCO. They express concerns about the non-implementation of recommendations from previous missions, harmful developments in infrastructure, and a profound failure of governments to implement the 2022 recommendations.
The governments of Albania and North Macedonia must submit a detailed report on the state and progress in preserving their shared heritage by February 1, 2026. After that, the 48th session in 2026 will decide whether the region will be included in the list of places in danger, which could seriously threaten Albanian ecosystems and tourist villages such as Tushemishti, Driloni and Lini.
Lake Pogradec, with a surface area of 358.2 km² and a depth of 289 m, represents a unique ecosystem with rich biodiversity and living fossils.
If UNESCO decides in 2026 to place the region on the list of places in danger, the villages and the lake will face great ecological, cultural and tourist uncertainty.
“Our natural and cultural assets will be lost to future generations. Irresponsible investments and unplanned developments are turning Albania into the worst example of non-compliance with international principles for the protection of Heritage,” the environmental organizations said in a statement.
Note: “This publication has been made possible with the financial support of the Albanian Society of Social Sciences. Its content is the responsibility of the author, the opinion expressed therein is not necessarily the opinion of the Albanian Society of Social Sciences.”
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