Three wetland habitats in Montenegro - Lake Skadar, Tivat salt flats and Ulcinj salt flats - have the status of areas of international importance, but they are managed without a plan, so problems are piling up. In addition to areas that are already internationally recognized, there are others in Montenegro that require better state relations, care and protection.
This was announced by the Center for the Protection and Study of Birds (CZIP) on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, which is celebrated on February 2.
"Montenegro currently has three officially declared areas of international importance, according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, namely Lake Skadar, Tivat Salt Flats and Ulcinj Salt Flats. However, the real picture is that in addition to the officially protected ones, Montenegro has more wetlands of international importance that require better care and protection. We are aware that protected areas also suffer a lot of pressure, and that they depend on the efforts they make to preserve them, but it is necessary to compete for other areas that meet the criteria for protection. For now, we know for sure that the Nikšić field is one of the most important wetlands in the country, given the data we have collected through monitoring in the area in recent years, so we think that mechanisms should be launched as soon as possible to enter into the story of its protection." , they told "Vijesta" from CZIP.
As they added, among other important locations, when it comes to wetland habitats, are Mareza and Lužnica, Buljarica, Lake Plav and its surroundings, Jezerska površ on Durmitor...
They also said that all those Ramsar areas in Montenegro are under some form of protection, that the National Parks of Montenegro (NPCG) manage the NP Skadarsko jezero, and temporarily also the nature park Ulcinjska solana, and that Morsko well manages the special nature reserve Tivatska solila.
"Unfortunately, management models are currently not defined, because none of these areas have a current management plan. It is expected that the plans for all national parks will be finally adopted during this year, because the previous ones were for the period until 2020. Also, a revision of the protection study for Lake Skadar has been announced, which will hopefully contribute to more efficient management", said CZIP.
They add that since 2019, when the area was declared protected, no management structure has been established for the Ulcinj Saltworks.
"The hydrological regime, which is a prerequisite for the normal functioning of the ecosystem, is not favorable, so large successions occur, from complete drought to flooding. Due to non-maintenance of the embankment between the pools and the influence of waves and wind, they collapsed, which ultimately resulted in water not reaching all parts of the salt pan as it should. Despite the provided funds and prepared project documentation, the lack of interest, lack of understanding and incompetence of the JPNPCG administration, which was in charge last year, led to the missed opportunity for rehabilitation, and Solana was left to wait for 'better days' until next year. On the eve of the World Day of Wetlands, unfortunately we can state that we are managing extremely important areas without a plan while the problems are piling up", said CZIP.
When it comes to the status of wetland habitats in Montenegro, as they said, the biggest problem is that they are endangered despite protection.
"Protection alone is not enough, effective management and prevention of external factors that affect their survival and functionality is also necessary. The pressure of construction, dangerous projects on the wetlands themselves or in their immediate vicinity, poaching that has enormous proportions, especially on Lake Skadar, our wetland pearl. Disinterest, which most likely comes from ignorance, precisely about the importance and benefit we have from wetlands", said CZIP.
35 percent of wetlands globally have disappeared on Earth since 1970, and they are disappearing three times faster than forests, according to data from the Ramsar study from CZIP
The organization states that there are still good examples.
"An example of good practice is certainly Tivat's salt pans. The management of this protected area has shown that it is possible to turn a former waste dump into a real natural oasis that is a refuge for numerous animals, and at the same time an ecotourism destination," said the NGO.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2. On that day in 1971, 18 countries took a major step forward in protecting wetlands to preserve biodiversity for future generations. Today, the Ramsar Convention has 169 signatory countries, among which is Montenegro.
Lake Skadar was inscribed on the Ramsar list in December 1995, the Tivat Salt Flats in January 2013, and the Ulcinj Salt Flats in September 2019.
Important for birds, protect against floods...
Wetlands are important because they relieve watercourses and are areas of importance for birds.
"Montenegro is mostly mountainous, a good part of the land is under limestone, as much as 80 percent, and at the same time we have abundant rainfall, which becomes an even more serious problem with climate change. Managed that small part of the land under wetlands and water bodies plays an important role in the fight against sudden precipitation and floods, because it represents the places where this pressure 'breathes', by being able to receive water and relieve watercourses. The problems concerning the flooding of households are more the result of poor management of the space or simply lack of management, which has led to the fact that we have houses where they never were, that huge amounts of garbage make dams and affect the streams themselves", CZIP explains the importance of wetlands habitats.
In addition, as they added, their biodiversity value is also important.
"Biodiversity is side by side, if not more important than the first one mentioned. Wetlands are one of the richest areas for birds and other groups. A large number of waterfowl species require the preservation of these habitats, and their numbers are decreasing year by year. Through its studies, Ramsar presented data that 1970 percent of wetlands have disappeared globally since 35, and that they are disappearing three times faster than forests. Montenegro has one of the most valuable wetlands, and their importance goes beyond the borders of Montenegro, and thus the responsibility. We are not preserving something that is only ours, but something that belongs to the world and on which the world depends, especially in the fight against climate change considering, we can also say the third value, which is the power of wetlands to store carbon", they said from that NGO.
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