The public procurement procedure for the project to repair the embankments for the preservation of the Ulcinj Salt Pans has been launched, and for this purpose, 510 thousand euros have been provided in this year's capital budget, announced the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North, Damjan Ćulafić.
The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development (MERS) announced that the department continues to invest efforts in the protection and preservation of the Ulcinj Salt Pans, which was declared a nature park in 2019.
As they said, by signing the contract with the Municipality of Ulcinj, formal conditions were created for the implementation of planned rehabilitation and management activities in the Ulcinj Saltworks.
"To this end, Ćulafić pointed out that a public procurement procedure has been initiated for the project Rehabilitation of priority bends of the Ulcinj Saltworks in the Kneta area, for which funds in the amount of 510 thousand euros have been provided in the capital budget for this year," the statement said.
He said that the benthic areas were identified in previous studies and by the working group for monitoring the implementation of activities related to the management of the Ulcinj Salt Pan, which are defined as priorities in the Action Plan for Meeting the Final Benchmarks for Chapter 27.
As Ćulafić said, due to the unfavorable condition of the collapsed embankments and sediment at the transitions from one basin to another, the water regime has collapsed to the point that salt water can no longer reach the basin on the eastern edge of that area, which is crucial for the survival of the biodiversity for which that area is protected.
"The rehabilitation of the proposed embankments, with a total length of eight kilometers, would enable the re-establishment of the necessary water regime, which would result in almost 40 percent improvement in the condition of the total area of the saltworks," said Ćulafić.
As he pointed out, MERS is working intensively on preparing a project proposal that would, with the support of European Union funds through the IPA program, provide funds for the continuation of rehabilitation works on the canals, pumping stations and remaining bends of the Ulcinj Saltworks.
According to Ćulafić, these activities are particularly significant considering that the Ulcinj Salt Pans represent one of the last preserved salt pans on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea and an authentic Mediterranean landscape which, although artificially formed, provides conditions for the survival of a large number of species and habitats.
"Traditional salt pans are endangered areas of the Mediterranean and Europe, and traditional salt production is considered one of the few truly sustainable economic activities, with almost no impact on nature and often positive effects on biodiversity," said Ćulafić.
As he said, the geometric network of basins and channels of the Ulcinj Salt Pans contributes to the creation of an exceptional, but at the same time sensitive landscape, of particular importance for migratory birds, which is why the area has international ecological value.
"The Ulcinj Salt Pan is one of the most important habitats for migratory birds in this part of Europe, because during spring and autumn migrations this area is visited by more than 100 thousand water birds, while in the winter period more than 15 thousand individuals are present," said Ćulafić.
He stated that it is precisely because of all this that Solana has the status of an internationally significant IBA and RAMSAR area, as well as the potential to be part of the Natura 2000 network of areas.
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