Although it can be said that the footage of poaching in the National Park (NP) Lake Skadar is, unfortunately, nothing new for Montenegro, the footage of the attacks on the rangers that we had the opportunity to see during the weekend are the last alarm that poaching in the NP Skadar lake, serious steps must be taken at the state level, Azra Vuković, executive director of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Green Home, announced today.
Supervisors of the Skadar Lake National Park were attacked three days ago.
DON'T MISS IT
"The fight against poaching must not remain only the fight of JP for the national parks of Montenegro. The support of other departments and institutions cannot remain limited, because it is absolutely necessary and necessary for this fight to have meaning and results. The Government of Montenegro and the Ministry's departments, as well as the competent prosecutor's office must provide adequate support to the JP for the national parks of Montenegro in protecting the biodiversity of this internationally protected area. Nature protection cannot and must not be a matter of the engagement of one institution or, even worse, an individual, or a group of individuals, but must have an institutional foothold and support." , Vuković said in a statement.
She added that the efforts made in this direction in previous years were obviously insufficient to suppress poaching in this protected area.
"Within its capacities, the NGO Green Home will continue to provide support to the JPNPCG in this fight, but the very widespread and intense poaching that is present in the NP Skadarsko jezero requires a serious, strong, institutional response from the state of Montenegro," said Vuković.
She said that NP Lake Skadar, in addition to having the status of a protected area at the national level, is also on the list of internationally protected wetlands (Ramsar area) but has the status of an IBA area (Important Bird Areas) and an IPA area. (Important Plant Areas - International area important for plants).
"In this sense, Montenegro has an obligation to report on the situation in this national park according to numerous conventions to which it is a signatory. This is especially important in light of the open case that Montenegro has before the Bern Convention, which has been monitoring the situation in this national park very intensively for years. park," concluded Vuković.
Bonus video:
