The plan to build the Komarnica hydroelectric power plant ignores the recommendations and environmental regulations of the European Union, such as the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, which require states to avoid projects that could further threaten the quality of the environment and freshwater ecosystems - unless they are of vital national importance .
This was announced yesterday by the Center for the Protection and Study of Birds (CZIP). They reminded that the Komarnica canyon is a potential Natura 2000 area, and that this status could be lost with the construction of the HPP.
They add that the presence of three species from Annex 1 of the Birds Directive - the bald eagle, the peregrine falcon and the great goshawk - was recorded in the Komarnica canyon.
"Those three species, as well as other birds of rocks, cliffs and rockeries, will face habitat loss due to the eventual construction of the HPP. Specifically, if we take into account that the construction of the HPP will affect two nesting pairs of bald eagles, one in Komarnica and the other in Piva, then we have an impact on two of the 40 to 66 pairs, according to research on nests in the territory of Montenegro, which is 3 to 5% of the population. Even just the impact on one couple in Komarnica is greater than 1%: 1,5-2,5%", the NGO states. When it comes to the great egret, they said, up to 10 breeding pairs are potentially threatened, out of an estimated 240 to 460, which is up to some 0,5% of the population nationally.
They add that the Elaborate notes the presence and nesting of two other extremely important species from Annex I of the Birds Directive: the little flycatcher and the white-necked flycatcher, and that, if the data on the nesting of those species is correct, it is again a significant percentage, "because both species have a very small population in Montenegro and every couple is important".
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