Instead of expanding the scope of protection for the Velika Plaza area, as proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2022, the Government is now asking that institution to determine, according to the State Study Proposal, the location - sector 66, modules 2,3, 6 and XNUMX, which involve the construction of a tourist complex in that area.
The Environmental Protection Agency proposed expanding the protected area in the Velika Plaza area in Ulcinj back in 2022, but the procedure was never completed, the EPA told "Vijesti".
Instead of additional intervention and the level of protection, but also the determination of a protective zone for Ulcinj's Velika Plaza, the Ministry of Urbanism, Spatial Planning and State Property recently submitted a request for approval to the Agency for a proposal for a state location study. The proposal involves the construction of a tourist complex, and part of the area for which approval is requested falls within a zone protected since 1968.
"The Agency recently received a request from the Ministry of Spatial Planning to comment on the state study of the location, sector 66, modules 2, 3 and 6 on Velika Plaza, Ulcinj, which involves the construction of a tourist complex on Velika Plaza. The Environmental Protection Agency will determine the location in accordance with the guidelines and conditions for nature protection from the Nature Protection Act," the Agency responded to "Vijesti"
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic and Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan They signed agreements on economic cooperation and joint investment late last week.
This was preceded by the announcement that the UAE, through the company "Emmar" owned by Mohamed Alabara, invested a total of up to 30 billion in the construction of a tourist complex in Ulcinj, intended for tourists from Western Europe.
The intention of this Arab businessman, as announced earlier after Spajić's meeting with representatives of the Ulcinj Municipality, is to lease the entire Velika Plaža for 99 years - from Port Milena to the mouth of the Bojana River.
This would potentially allow Alabar to lease part of the protected area of Velika Plaza for almost a century.
The Ministry of Spatial Planning did not respond to "Vijesti"'s inquiry, but instead directed the editorial staff to seek answers from the Department of Ecology.
"For the Natural Monument "Great Beach near Ulcinj", the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism (of which part of the work related to the environment and nature protection is currently under the jurisdiction of this Ministry) initiated a review procedure in 2021 with a request due to the lack of precise and applicable data important for the protected area. The Environmental Protection Agency has prepared the necessary Study, which will be put up for public discussion by the Municipality of Ulcinj," the department replied. Damjan Ćulafić.
They asked for protection of another 100 hectares and a protective belt
The Great Beach was first protected, the Agency explains, in 1968, and the protection covers 600 hectares - the area from where the beach meets the sea to the main road in Donji and Gornji Štoj, and to the west the protected area extends along the banks of the Bojana River.
"The decision of the Republic Institute for Nature Protection from 1968 prohibits any actions that may cause a change in the shape or appearance of a protected object or violate its integrity," emphasizing that the document is still in force.
During 2022, a Study was conducted to review the boundary, status, category and protection regime of the protected area of the natural monument "Velika plaža kod Ulcinj". The study showed, according to the Agency, that "Velika plaža in Ulcinj has significant natural value on the basis of which it should continue to enjoy protection as a natural monument under the Law on Nature Protection".
"The total area of the proposed protected area in this Study is 709,12 hectares. The proposed area of Zone II of protection is 76,08 hectares, and Zone III is 633,04. A protective belt has also been proposed, with an area of 733,27 hectares. Further procedure provided for by law - the adoption of a Decision on the status of the review of Velika Plaza near Ulcinj, based on the Review Study, has not been continued, that is, completed," the Agency replied to "Vijesti".
They explain that Velika Plaza was state-owned in 1968.
"Based on Article 115 of the current Law on Nature Protection, it is prescribed that protected areas, which were registered as natural landscape reserves before the entry into force of this Law, are registered as natural monuments. Therefore, this protected area is registered in the Central Register of Protected Areas and Areas under Preventive Protection under number 15, as a natural monument 'Velika plaža kod Ulcinj', in category III of protected areas," the Agency's responses specify.
The Agency responded to "Vijesti" that, according to the IUCN categorization of protected area management, Velika plaza is classified in category III.
According to the Nature Protection Act, a protected area of category III, which includes natural monuments or parts of nature, can be a relief shape, a sea cliff or cave, a beach, a geological feature such as a speleological object, and a group of very old trees.
The same regulation also stipulates that in protection zone III, with a sustainable use regime, interventions can be carried out with the aim of restoring, revitalizing and overall improving the protected area. According to the letter of the Law, settlements and accompanying infrastructure can be developed to the extent that they do not cause disruption to the basic values of the area, but also work can be carried out on the arrangement of cultural and historical heritage objects and traditional buildings.
Measures can also be implemented to preserve the traditional activities of the local population, and natural resources can be used selectively and in a limited manner.
The Nature Protection Law also stipulates that a buffer zone may be established outside the boundaries of a protected area, if necessary, with the aim of preventing or mitigating external factors that may negatively impact the protected area. These include wastewater, solid waste, invasive species, illegal construction, tourism, etc.
Study: Construction is possible, but from natural materials
The State Location Study Proposal also recognizes the landscapes of the Ulcinj Saltworks, Ada Bojana, as well as the "discontinuous matrix of the settlements of Donji and Gornji Štoj".
It is stated that Solana is the most important aquatic ecosystem - a nesting, feeding and wintering ground for birds in the region.
"In addition to natural values, rich flora and fauna, the Bojana Delta is an area with pronounced cultural values (mosaic landscape structure, great diversity of landscape elements dominated by the linear form of forest remnants, regular form of agricultural fields along local roads, dune pastures and meadows, ...). Protected natural heritage, natural monument - Ulcinj beach represents one of the last zones in the Mediterranean region with preserved vegetation of psammophytes and other types of Mediterranean habitats that occur in the hinterland. It is the area with the largest number (12) of NATURA 2000 habitats on the Montenegrin coast. Five of the twelve habitat types listed have so far been registered in Montenegro only on Velika Plaza and its hinterland," states the Proposal for the State Location Study for Sector 66, Modules 2, 3 and 6.
Therefore, the multi-member Working Team proposes the preservation and promotion of dune habitats, pine habitats and mixed forests, while for construction they suggest "the selection of plant material from the group of natural and potential vegetation - indigenous species of trees and shrubs in the process of arranging facilities."
They also propose establishing an optimal relationship between built and free green areas, using natural materials, low storeys, establishing multifunctional spaces/areas - recreational, aesthetic and educational functions through the formation of various microlocations/ambiences.
They believe that it is necessary to plan for "the installation of protective belts, next to main roads", but also to limit the use of motorized traffic and provide alternative forms of movement through the area in order to protect and preserve the existing state of the area.
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