A large colony of waterfowl located in Gornji Štoj in Ulcinj is threatened by illegal construction works that are taking place only 50 meters from the colony itself. The most endangered, above all, is the only colony of the spoonbill heron on the territory of Montenegro, announced the Center for the Protection and Study of Birds (CZIP).
They add that other protected and endangered species are also endangered...
"Like the bright ibis, the little cormorant, the gecko, the little white, yellow, gray and cattle heron, which is protected by both national legislation and international directives and conventions to which we are signatories. The loudest alarm for birds is ringing right now," the CZIP press release says. a.
They say that the works that the CZIP noticed in this locality were reported to the environmental and urban-building inspection last year in May in cooperation with the NGO MANS.
"According to our investigations, the disputed plots are owned by Prva and NLB Bank. After the inspection, the environmental inspection informed us that it found machinery without registration marks on the spot, which is why it cannot identify the owner. Also, the said inspection contacted two banks that According to data from the cadastre, they have ownership of the plots and deny any connection with the works," CZIP states.
The ecological inspection, as they say, also concluded that it is obvious that material is being poured on the plots in question in order to build buildings.
"So she forwarded our initiative to the construction and communal inspection of the municipality of Ulcinj for action. How up-to-date both inspections are is best shown by today's situation - the area continues to be devastated, the perpetrator remains unknown and unsanctioned, and the construction inspection announces that it is incompetent, and in the good, old manner the object is returned to the environmental inspection. In the past few days, while visiting the site, the CZIP observed that the works were continued and expanded compared to last year, which destroyed the marsh and forest area of Gornji Štoj beyond recognition. Trees were cut down, the marsh was covered with earth and rubble, while , apart from endangering the colony and the habitat itself permanently destroyed," they add.
They point out that the above-mentioned location is designated as an area of international importance by the PUP of the municipality of Ulcinj - the so-called Emerald area.
"That is why it is incomprehensible that there is no interest in monitoring such valuable habitats, and especially in making an additional effort to find those responsible for destroying it. We wonder what the building inspection is waiting for? That a tourist complex or a building with apartments should spring up here, so that only then they react posthumously? How is it that the inspections finally do not accept and implement their preventive role when it comes to the protection of space and nature?", asks CZIP.
In addition to the wild construction that they noted, they say that the survival of the colony is questionable due to the construction of a bridge over Bojana that will connect Albania and Montenegro.
"As the bridge is planned to pass right next to the colony, it is necessary to move the route of the road and the bridge, because otherwise the chances of the colony surviving are reduced to a minimum, especially with the presence of illegal construction. This, in addition to the colony in Štoj, also threatens the survival of some of the of the most important species of the Ulcinj Saltworks, and the destruction of this colony degrades the internationally important and recognized value of the Ulcinj Saltworks, an already very sensitive and affected ecosystem. We call on the Municipality of Ulcinj to first of all urgently stop the work on the disputed plot in Gornji Štoj, investigate illegal activities and in cooperation with the competent authorities find the perpetrators, and adequately punish them and permanently prohibit further work that endangers the only and unique colony of waterfowl in the entire territory of Montenegro", they state.
In the press release, the CZIP informed the public about the mentioned colony that now exists in Gornji Štoj.
"She crossed over to Paratuk Island, which is located in the Bojana River, after a lot of disturbance by people, either tourists or poachers who visited this border area on both sides. The colony was further damaged by the falling of dry trees where they were nesting, after high water and flood waves, after which these species were forced to find another location - Gornji Štoj. However, they did not find their refuge there either due to human negligence and lack of interest of the competent institutions," they conclude in the announcement.
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