Annual Report 2018 EuroNatur Foundation

Photo: Viviane Meyer - rental bicycles Ulcinj Salina
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For birds: #SaveSalina
Geographical location in Europe
The Ulcinj Salina (Map p. 5, No. 11) is an area of salt
evaporation ponds covering almost 1,500 hectares in the
south of Montenegro near the border to Albania.
Status
Thousands of birds are dependent on the Ulcinj Salina
every year as a breeding, overwintering and resting site.
But instead of affording national and international protection
to this ecosystem, plans emerged some years ago
for the site‘s conversion into a luxury resort. The salt works
are falling into disrepair and it appears that this is quite
deliberate. Following the site’s privatization in 2003 under
suspicious circumstances no further investments were
made. Ten years on all staff were let go. Salt production
has ceased since and salt loving bird species are increasingly
disappearing. Thanks to the intensive lobbying by
EuroNatur and its partners, the EU Commission and the EU
Parliament have very clearly been signalling for years now
that they expect the Montenegrin government to designate
the Ulcinj Salina as a nature park and as a protected
area for birds. Those in charge in Montenegro have not so
far honoured any of the promises they made. In response,
EuroNatur together with local partners initiated the
“#SaveSalina“ campaign in 2017.
Annual Report 2018
Objectives
We are fighting for the Ulcinj Salina to be afforded national
as well as international protective status both on paper
and in reality. Moreover, our aim is for the salt works to be
operated again as only managed salt ponds provide suitable
habitat for a large number of migratory and breeding
birds in the long-term.
Particular challenges
The government continued to delay the protected area
designation in 2018.
The ownership situation has not been clarified. This step
is a precondition to finding an investor for the salt works
and to reviving salt production.
Selected activities in 2018
In April we organized the 4th International Conference on
the protection of Ulcinj Salina. The conference was attended
by more than 80 delegates including representatives of the
policy arena and nature conservation as well as inhabitants
of the Ulcinj municipality. The competent minister declared
that the Montenegrin government has developed a roadmap
for designating Ulcinj Salina for conservation. However, for
a long time these words had not been followed by actions.
We started an international petition in order to increase pressure.
The petition was addressed at the Prime Minister of Montenegro
and i.a. called for Ulcinj Salina to be afforded protective status.
Using the www.savesalina.net campaign website and
reports in national and international media we have
brought attention to the ecological value of and threat to
Ulcinj Salina.
In order to foster nature-based tourism as an income source,
a bicycle rental service was opened at the salt works which
now allows visitors to explore the area by bicycle.
Important developments in 2018
December saw the opening of the environmental chapter
of the EU accession negotiations between Montenegro and
the European Commission. It lists the designation of Ulcinj
Salina as a protected area as one of the preconditions for
Montenegro’s accession to the European Union.
Outlook
We will increasingly turn the European public spotlight on
the government of Montenegro. Once the issue of ownership
has been clarified we will support the government in
its endeavour to find an investor who ensures the continued
operation of the salt works and we will provide our expertise
for the purposes of developing a suitable management plan.
Partners: CZIP, MSJA, BirdLife International, Tour du Valat
Funding: Mava Foundation, EuroNatur’s donors
Internet: www.savesalina.net
Our campaigns