social assesment for skadar lake by Ceed NVO

SOCIAL ASSESSMENT FOR SKADAR LAKE FINAL REPORT

Center for entrepreneurship and economic development, CEED June, 2007.

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Final Report

CONTENTS Summary of Key Findings ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Conclusions and Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 8 1. METHODOLOGY AND DATA SOURCES...................................................................................................... 11 2. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE OBSERVED REGION ............................................................... 13 2.1 General data about Skadar Lake ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.2. Borders and the geographic location of Skadar Lake....................................................................................... 14 3. GENERAL REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL ASPECT............................................................................................ 15 3.1. Population .......................................................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Social and economic entities of the Skadar Lake area ...................................................................................... 16 3.3 Ethnic structure of the population ...................................................................................................................... 18 3.4 Population by gender.......................................................................................................................................... 20 3.5 Number of households........................................................................................................................................ 20 3.6 Migration ............................................................................................................................................................ 22 3.6.1 Natural Population Increase ............................................................................................................................ 23 3.7 Health Service..................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.8 Literacy and Education....................................................................................................................................... 24 3.9 Conclusions on Demographic Analysis ............................................................................................................. 25 4. GENERAL SUMMARY OF ECONOMIC ASPECTS ...................................................................................... 26 4.1 Employment and Unemployment ...................................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Social and Retirement Payments........................................................................................................................ 28 4.3 Population Activity in the Lake Skadar Area .................................................................................................... 29 4.4 Agriculture.......................................................................................................................................................... 30 4.5 Fishing ................................................................................................................................................................ 31 4.6 Tourism............................................................................................................................................................... 32 4.6.1 Current Situation in Tourism .......................................................................................................................... 32 4.6.2 Potential for Tourism Development................................................................................................................ 33 4.7 Cultural and Historical Heritage of the Skadar Lake ........................................................................................ 34 5. INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATION ............................................................................................ 37 5.1 Water Supply ...................................................................................................................................................... 37 5.2 Access to Main Traffic Routes and Railway Traffic......................................................................................... 37 5.3 Lake Traffic ........................................................................................................................................................ 38 5.4 PTT Traffic and Telecommunication................................................................................................................. 39 5.5 Supply of Electrical Energy ............................................................................................................................... 39 5.6 Disposal of Wastewaters .................................................................................................................................... 39 5.6.1 Sewage System of Podgorica .......................................................................................................................... 39 5.6.2 Sewage System of Danilovgrad ...................................................................................................................... 40 5.6.3 Sewage System of Niksic................................................................................................................................ 40 5.7 Pollution.............................................................................................................................................................. 40 5.8 Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste ............................................................................................................ 41 6. MAIN STAKEHOLDERS AND INTEREST GROUPS.................................................................................... 42 6.1 Motivation and Generalized Principles.............................................................................................................. 42 6.2 Analysis of Stakeholders and Their Activities in the Region............................................................................ 42 6.2.1 State level stakeholders ................................................................................................................................... 42 6.2.2 The Level of Local Authority ......................................................................................................................... 46 6.2.3 National Park Skadar Lake.............................................................................................................................. 48 6.2.3.1 Funding of the National Park Skadar Lake.................................................................................................. 48 6.2.4 Direct Influence of Stakeholder Groups ......................................................................................................... 50 6.2.5 FG Discussions Results................................................................................................................................... 59 6.2.6 Indirect Influence Stakeholder Groups ........................................................................................................... 67 6.2.6.1 Environmental protection institutions.......................................................................................................... 69 6.2.6.2 Monitoring Institutions................................................................................................................................. 69 6.2.6.3 Scientific research institutions ..................................................................................................................... 69 6.2.6.4 International Organizations.......................................................................................................................... 72 6.2.6.5 NGO Organization and Media ..................................................................................................................... 76 6.2.6.6 Associations and Other Resource Users on the Lake.................................................................................. 78 6.2.6.7 Business Sector............................................................................................................................................. 80 7 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................. 81 Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Final Report 7.1 Short Analysis of the Most Significant Laws .................................................................................................... 82 7.2 Institutional Framework ..................................................................................................................................... 83 8. DEFINING THE SOCIAL RISK, WAYS TO OVERCOME ............................................................................ 85 8.1 Main Problems and Conflicts in this Area:........................................................................................................ 86 9. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS .............................................................................................. 88 9.1 Specific Recommendations Based on Information Collected from the Skadar Lake National Park Area ...... 88 9.2 Indicators ............................................................................................................................................................ 90 Annex 1. The map of FG and HHS research and social and economic entities ..................................................... 92 Annex 2. Bibliografija .............................................................................................................................................. 93 Annex 3..................................................................................................................................................................... 94

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Social Assessment on Skadar Lake came out as the result of the need that the World Bank and project related office within the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection expressed for the document, which would anticipate Strategic Action Plan for the Integral Ecosystem Management at Skadar Lake Project. Social Assessment was conducted by Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) from Podgorica. This document was conducted in a period March – June 2006 and revised in November 2006. Public presentation of the Document for stakeholders, whose suggestions and comments were considered, was held on May 10, 2007 in Vranjina. Suggestions and proposals obtained after the public discussion were included in the final version of the Document. For the purposes of this Document preparation, the SA (Social Assessment) methodology developed by the World Bank for implementation of similar projects was used. Besides collection of existing data related to the Skadar Lake coastal area, the methodology included direct interviews with experts, focus group discussion with specific topics and quantitative survey targeting inhabitants of this area. Various data collection was conducted by the CEED team as follows: Slavica Gajić, Dragana Jovanović, Slavica Nikolić, Andrijana Drobnjak, Aleksandar Vujović, Dejan Đurasović and Budimka Mićković. Jelena Peruničić coordinated the Project activities. Pollsters engaged by CEED on regular basis as assistants on similar projects conducted data collection among households. We use this opportunity to show gratitude to Mr. Viktor Subotić, coordinator of the “Integral Ecosystem Management at Skadar Lake” Project within the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection, for his support during all project phases. Special gratitude we owe to the National Park Skadar Lake and its directors, Mr. Zoran Mrdak for using the NP’s premises and all data related to the Lake. We also thank to all contacted stakeholders for good cooperation, provided information and time they spend during this Study preparation. It is certain that the Skadar Lake, as National Park but also as specific ecosystem in Balkan, has significant economic potential, which should be used in sustainable manner. We believe that this Document in unique way connects existing data and provides new information on social structure of the Skadar Lake area. Information and analysis presented in this Document should be definitely considered in preparation and implementation of any future project. It would be also very interesting to monitor how upcoming projects would impact the social structure in the future period.

With respect, Dragana Radević, MSc Executive Director

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

ABBREVIATIONS

CANU – Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts CERM – Public Institution Centre for Eco-Toxicological Research of Montenegro CEED – Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) EU – European Union GEF - Global Environment Facility ISSP – Institute for Strategic Studies and Prognoses IUCN – The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources JPNP – Public utility National parks LSIEMP - The Lake Skadar Integrated Ecosystem Management Project MAFWR – The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources MTEP – Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection MONSTAT- Republican Statistical Office of Montenegro NGO - Non Governmental Organization NP – National park REC – Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe RZZP – Republican Institute for nature protection SA – Social Assessment ToR- Terms of Reference UNDP - United Nations Development Programme WB - World Bank

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The overall objective of the Lake Skadar/ Shkodra Integrated Ecosystem Management Project (LSIEMP) is to assist the Governments of Montenegro and Albania in ensuring the protection and sustainable use of the natural resources, enhancing the tourism potential of the Lake, and supporting effective lake management in the cross-border context. The global environmental objectives of the project are to reduce pollution and conserve the lake and its biodiversity as an internationally important nature habitat for different flora and fauna species, especially for waterfowls. The principal objective of this social assessment (SA) is to provide reliable data on project stakeholders and give a social and institutional context in which project activities are being prepared and would be implemented. The SA provided information about enabling and constraining the impacts of project activities on some target groups and the general population, in order to identify ways to overcome constraints that would limit project impact. This SA will develop a strategy to engage critical stakeholders in project activities, ranging from communications programs to participatory monitoring and evaluation, as appropriate. In order to meet the above-mentioned objectives and provide adequate output, CEED has developed a special methodology that reflects best practice in conducting social assessments. The area within the National Park borders and, to a certain extent, all 24 villages in the area along the National Park borders are involved in the exercise. The area within the National Park borders is divided into 6 subareas. Summary of Key Findings General characteristics of the revised area: The territory of Skadar Lake comprises the following social, economic, and ethnic entities, where entity is representing a wider socio-economic area consisting of more settlements: • Krajina and Crmnica in the municipality of Bar • Rijeka entity in the municipality of Cetinje • Ljesanska entity, Zeta and Malesija in the municipality of Podgorica in the north side of Skadar Lake In each of these entities, settlements differ in terms of size, predominant activity, lifestyle of inhabitants, and also in terms of the national and religious affiliation The current socio-economic picture is presented in the following way: • Demographic analysis shows negative trends in all settlements of Skadar Lake, aside to the Zeta Valley. Such trends obviously are not negative for local biodiversity and ecosystem of the Skadar Lake, but could be negative in cases of uncontrolled use of the resources by inhabitants of the Zeta Valley. • The migration process is emphasized and people are leaving the villages in the area of the Skadar Lake. On the other hand, the remaining population is aging. • Employment and unemployment: In the settlements of NPSL in comparison to 1991, the unemployment rate is approximately 40% higher. Universe of labor active inhabitants has been increased by 9%, in comparison with 1991 (between two population censuses). This is the case only in the Zeta Valley settlements. • Activity of the population: The two principle activities of the residents are tourism and agriculture combined with fishing and tourism. The population living on the beaches of the lake and its borders are involved mainly in fishing and to some extent in tourism. Agriculture is the primary occupation in the Zeta Valley.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

•

34% of those surveyed inhabitants rely entirely on pension income (for example, the same applies for 64% of the population in Rijeka Crnojevica)

Quality of the environment can be endangered due to: • Lakewater polluted with wastewater from the Aluminum plant, other industrial facilities and utility water. • Pollution of the water with solid waste. • Implementation of the significant development and infrastructure problems (regulation of the water level, tourism complex, road infrastructure, exploitation of mineral raw-materials, etc.) Agriculture: • Agriculture is the main source of income for households in Malesija (more than 61% of monthly household income comes from agriculture), Zeta (19%) and Krajina (17%). Others produce agricultural products but only for personal consumption. • Those involved in agricultural production professionally do use pesticides and plan to continue to use pesticides in the future as well. Fishing: • Fishing is the most prevalent in Vranjina, Zeta Valley and Krajina (high percentage of the population in Vranjina high percentage of surveyed households derive their monthly incomes from this activity). • As reported by the households surveyed, income from this activity has decreased in the last three years. Tourism: • The most popular is rambling tourism and catering: in 2004 7,000 tourists and in 2005 15,500 tourists visited the area (sources are the records of the National Park). In 2004, five entrepreneurs and twelve rambling boats on the territory of the National Park were engaged in this activity. • A certain number of households in Krajina and Crmninca derive income from tourism, as well as entrepreneurs involved in catering. • Indirect income from tourism is gained through the sale of fish, olive oil, and fruits to the tourists coming to visit Krajina and Vranjina. • In general, reported as a secondary activity for the majority of households in this area, 20% of households derive their annual income from tourism. • The reasons for low utilization of tourism as financial support for households are the short tourist season, poor organization and insufficient accommodations capacities. General Conclusions of the Household Survey (HHS) and Focus Group (FG) discussions: • • • • • •

Every identified entity should be considered as a specific group of settlements with unique living characteristics in this area. In accordance with those characteristics, it is necessary to create special development policies. The key precondition for qualitative tourism in this area is infrastructure and the education of the local population. The infrastructure, seen as quality water supply and waste treatment, is a precondition for the population’s return to the Skadar Lake area. Quality strategic plans of the relevant institutions are needed to further develop and control use of the Lake resources (agriculture and fishing) Cooperation between local population and Park management must be developed, as well as the cooperation between local governments and Park management. The population living in the area of the National Park understands the importance of that ecosystem and they believe that their lifestyles do not endanger the lake’s natural resources.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Problems/barriers in return of the population to the Skadar Lake area: • • •

Building up the water supply system in settlements with no network and the rehabilitation of the network in the settlements in which adequate infrastructure already exists like Rijeka Crnojevica, so these settlements could be made available to the tourists. Building up the wastewater system in settlements wherever possible as well as the rehabilitation of existing septic tanks; the rehabilitation and functioning of existing waste water collectors. Stabilizing the communal infrastructure and providing adequate solid waste disposal.

Conclusions and Recommendations Recommendations for Project Design and its Implementation: 1. Setting up a unit/office/team that will implement and monitor the project so as to establish a strong control over the funds distribution and process/project implementation’s evaluation during the project implementation. 2. Involvement of all interested structures through public campaigns and information dissemination among interested stakeholders so they are aware of the processes envisioned by the project. This would allow inhabitants of small villages around the lake to be involved or engaged should it be in their interest to do so. 3. A transparent process of funds distribution through organizing public tenders and clearly defining the tender rules in advance. Once the inhabitants of the area realize the direct benefits of an improved infrastructure through increased monthly income and improved quality of living standards, they will be ready to take part in the project. Lake management development should be directed toward sustainable tourism that would involve the local population. Through participation in the project, they would be encouraged to stay in the region Preconditions for population involvement are as follows: • • •

Education of the population about the importance of the Lake ecosystem, and types of tourism and services that could be developed in the region. Education of the population in business start-ups and creatively using of the existing potential resources in the area. Establishing the conditions to create a pilot project that would demonstrate functional ecotourism and village tourism.

Risks for Project Implementation: Migrations in the area of the Skadar Lake are two-fold: on the one hand, we have those leaving the area and emptying villages; while the Zeta valley is experiencing an increase of the population as well as expansion of the arable land, an increased usage of pesticides. The population increase is also accompanied by increased numbers of fishermen and illegal fishing, illegal construction, large quantities of solid waste and wastewater, etc. Within the framework of local community development the following problems are possible: • Unequal increase of the number of inhabitants in the Zeta valley and the return of pensioners to their farms. • Poverty, weak social and economic status of the population and risky, uncontrolled usage of the lake’s resources.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Risks related to the institutional framework are: • Insufficient transparency of the work of NP as a basic management tool for the protected areas. • Insufficient sector coordination. • Non-existence of a strategic plan and its documentation. Agriculture: • Movement of agricultural production toward the lake parcels in order to increase income by farming the more quality land that is not treated with pesticides. • Reorientation from agriculture to the more profitable production of vineyards and fruit orchards, and the accompanying increase of pesticides in land and water. • Melioration plans for some parts of the lake in order to get more agricultural land. • Excessive usage of pesticides. Fishing: • Pressure on the fish supply due to over fishing of the fish fund for easy earnings. • Using forbidden assets for fishing. • Artificially stocking fish in the lake. • Introduction of alien species (the Chinese carp encroaching on domestic). • Expansion of the non-native species. Tourism: • Uncontrolled development of the tourism followed by illegal construction. • Low levels of cooperation among tourism workers and representatives. • Unsustainable tourism development. Quality of the environment can be endangered due to: • Lake water pollution with waste from the Aluminum plant, other industrial facilities and communal water. • Pollution of the lake water with solid waste. • Implementation of significant developmental and infrastructure problems (regulation of the water level, tourism complex, road infrastructure, exploitation of raw minerals and materials, etc.). As a precondition for sustainable development of local communities in the project area as well as environmental protection of the lake, the project directives should be the following: • Creating conditions for improved organization and connection of stakeholders in local communities, in order to develop cooperation and common performance; • Enabling public participation in the decision procedures for future projects, plans and policies on the protection and development of resources; • Providing water supply infrastructure in the area of local communities in the Zeta Valley, Vranjina and Rijeka Crnojevića, - this is based on the comments of the local population through focus group discussions and HHS; • Construction or rehabilitation of the wastewater treatment facilities for the larger local communities; • Development of the system for the collection, transport and disposal of solid waste in the project area; • Protective projects aimed at large polluters (wastewater from the Aluminum plant, air pollution, and pesticides from Plantaze etc.). Furthermore, specific recommendations for Lake Development– agriculture, fishing and tourism are:

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

In the area of agriculture it is necessary to: • Prepare a strategy of agricultural development for this region with special attention to taking significant measures for organizing agricultural production in the Zeta valley; • Create a strategy for encouraging vineyard growth in the surrounding area (with the aim to develop villages and village tourism); • Facilitate the creation of a marketing chain for agricultural products; • Branding of authentically produced food, drinks, honey, etc.; • Control of pesticide usage through the work of agricultural pharmacies and inspections; • Education of the population through workshops and public campaigns. In the area of fishery it is necessary to: • Adopt a new Law on Freshwater Fishing with a special emphasis on fishing in the NPs or the adoption of regulations that would control fishing at the Skadar Lake; • Enabling the establishment of fishermen’s associations; • Zoning of the Lake; • Enforcing and improvement of the National Park guardian service; • Building of a fish database that could be used for planning the fish quantity and regulating the number of fishing licenses; • Permanent monitoring of the fish fund. In the area of tourism it is necessary to: •

• • • • • •

Build a strategy of tourism development for the Lake that would target previously unorganized management of this lake potential. This requires understanding the clear development of different types of tourism characteristics for the lake, within the framework of the space plan for specially designed areas; Make urban plans for tourist points prescribed by the spatial plan as well as spots proposed for tourist valorization; Develop a principle of tourism diversity and avoid development of mass tourism and simple offer; Involve the local inhabitants through public campaigns, educational programs for family businesses (pilot project of tourism development that would demonstrate to the citizens how it is possible and in which ways to do tourism); The creation of a data base for the accommodation facilities and families that are ready to work in eco and village tourism; The creation of credit lines to assist interested parties in developing tourism enterprises; The revitalization and promotion of cultural heritage with the aim of tourism development.

Cross-border Cooperation and Institutional Framework It is necessary to: • Find a mechanism for the harmonization of legislation and activities from both sides. • Establish an efficient monitoring system to understand the current situation and future steps. • Establish an institutional and legal framework through encouraging the existing cadre, engaging a new one and implementation of outside experience. • Develop the harmonization mechanism of regulations and activities on both sides • Setting the institutional and legal framework through strengthening existing staff and employing new staff • Implement good examples and practices from similar foreign water eco-systems The above-mentioned recommendations must be followed by: • made a zoning of the Lake, with clear distinction oz zones for sustainable usage of resources from the protected ones.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

• •

Development of a monitoring system controlling the influence of certain developing areas on the lake’s resources and more quality planning. Full implementation of the cultural historical heritage and traditional way of life as a basic for sustainable development in the project area.

1. METHODOLOGY AND DATA SOURCES Research Techniques – Both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques are used to gather information. The research techniques employed include: -

Desktop review: The research team has reviewed the existing literature relevant to the Montenegro Lake Skadar Integrated Ecosystem Management Project. Primarily, this will include documents containing information about the social and economic features of the communities in the project area (i.e. census data), as well as the institutional and legal framework.

Key informant interviews at the central government level: CEED has conducted 10 keyinformant interviews at the Central Government level. Additional interviews at this level are possible to properly address issues of concern that could be raised in some of the meetings with experts.

Key informant interviews at the local level (NGOs and communities, which represent the diversity of Montenegro): In total, 25 expert interviews at the community level have been performed.

Focus group discussions – Up to seven focus groups discussions have been conducted. Care is taken to ensure that the groups have balanced representation of participants/stakeholders who are selected according to the following criteria: demographic, social and economic characteristics (gender, social and economic background, level of education, etc.), and the aspirations and incentive structure for each group of stakeholders.

Household questionnaires – In total 210 households were surveyed within 40 villages/communities assigned by the project task and as a part of the NPSL and closest surrounding. The survey was conducted on a representative sampling of at least 8 households in selected villages/communities. A total of 210 households included all 40 villages/communities. The random sampling technique for 210 households was used for each village/community. This technique was used in order to include the sample households complying with different criteria, such as nearness to the Lake, type of economic activity, etc.

Field observations - the CEED team has visited all the sites covered by this project in order to collect the proper data and provide the necessary information.

1.1 Data collecting Considering that in Montenegro some statistics have not been collected from year to year during the last 15 years, the gathering of data is a very difficult process. For example, for the last five years, the number of tourists who visited this region is not known. The existing data are insufficient to analyze the number of incoming tourists by their countries of origin and the purpose of their visits.

1.2 Statistical data The source of official statistical data is MONSTAT, Montenegrin Statistical Office. The main reason for including these institutions in the program of reforms for the last couple of years was for their high-quality collection and monitoring system, and superior presentation of data.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

The most important source regarding the Montenegrin population is the Population Census conducted in 2003. For the time being, this is the best available database for analyzing demographic changes and trends in the country. Data collected by the Institute for Strategic Studies and Prognoses (ISSP) regarding revenues and expenditures, will be an additional source for analyses. Considering the fact that two widely varying methodologies were used to analyze some statistical parameters collected before the Census of 2003, we have a situation in which the results are significantly different and in some cases make impossible comparisons. New methodology includes a permanent population referred to as Montenegrin – citizens and accompanying family members on a temporary stay abroad.

1.3 Administrative data The data presented were collected through contacts with different governmental institutions on a central or local level. Some information was collected from non-governmental organizations working in areas related to Skadar Lake. The main sources for administrative data: • The Ministry of Education and Science: data on number of schools on the territory of Skadar Lake. • The Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare: data on number of health institutions and staff as well as information about health care options in this area. • The Fund of Pension and Disability Insurance provided data about the number of retired people in this area, while the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare provided the number of persons who use social care. • The School of Construction, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection and the Water Supply Institute of Montenegro supplied information on the water supply situation in this region. Additional data were collected from the Municipality of Podgorica, Bar and local community Rijeka Crnojevica from the Municipality of Cetinje. Also, data from various international development organizations working in areas related to Skadar Lake was utilized, for example: REC, GTZ, ITSC Ltd, etc.

1.4 Data collected on the local community level Unofficial data will be used only due to the following reasons: a) lack of information, such as the number of entrepreneurs, agriculturists in official institutions, b) information obtained about the needs and problems of the population in this area, c) information obtained from different sources for overhead control. The data is acquired through direct conversations with representatives of local municipalities and residents through meetings, round tables and focus groups.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

2. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE OBSERVED REGION

2.1 General data about Skadar Lake Status: National Park since 1983 (IUCN Management Category II); Since 1995 Skadar Lake was recorded in the Ramsar List (swamp area of international significance). Geographic coordinates: 19003’ and 19030’ of eastern latitude; 42003’ – 42021’ of northern latitude. Surface of the National Park: 40,000 hectares Surface of the Lake: Size oscillates between 370 km2 of water quantity in summer and 540 km2 in winter season. Surface of the Lake is 475 km2 on average water quantity. Surface of the watershed: 5,490 km2 (80% in Montenegro, 20% in Albania) Length of the coast: 168 kilometers; 110.5 km on the Montenegrin side, 57.5 km in Albania Altitude: 5 m above sea level Depth: Average depth is 5m; maximum depth is 8.3m Water volumes: 1,890. 95 x 106m3. Characteristics of the National Park: water surface 22,500 hectares, permanent inundated area 7,800 ha, casually inundated area 5,200 ha, hills and rock territory on the south coast 12,500 ha, ornithological reservation 812 ha. Biodiversity: Skadar Lake comprises 279 species of birds, out of which about 90% belong to migratory species and bear international significance. A rare species of pelicans build their nests on the Lake. There are more than 50 species of fish and this number includes 15 endemic species. Flora is diverse (depending on the species seat of Skadar Lake) with more than 30 rare plants. Climate: Sub-Mediterranean, with still and rainy winters (the lowest average temperature of water in January is 7.3°C). Summers are humid and very hot with a maximum air temperature above 40°C and a water temperature over 27°centigrade. Average air temperature is 14.9°centigrade. Skadar Lake belongs to the group of subtropical lakes with very high summer temperature, reaching 30°C and very mild temperature that is always above 0°C. Culture/History: The Skadar Lake region has been witness to Montenegrin history since the early Middle Ages. More than 20 monastery complexes, churches, settlements and other cultural and historical monuments are located in the Lake surroundings, dating from different periods of time. Traffic/Accessibility: Considering the fact that the Lake is located on the main traffic route (the road between Podgorica – Petrovac, the train tracks between Podgorica – Bar), it is very easy to reach it by road or railway. Both traffic routes pass through the Lake, i.e. the settlement of Virpazar. Skadar Lake is the largest stone lake in the Balkans with a surface between 370 and 540 km2, depending on the water level. It is situated in the Zeta – Skadar basin and the Albanian section covers an area of 147.98 km2 (1/3) and the Montenegrin, an area of 221.74 km2, or 2/3rd of the Lake. The 40.000 ha of Montenegrin section and its shore were declared a National Park in 1983. Skadar Lake is a permanent or temporary residence to 279 species of birds. Approximately 40 species of fish live in the water of the Lake and some of them belong to sea species, such as Gurnard and Adriatic sturgeon. In 1995, Skadar Lake was recorded in the Ramsar List of Wetlands because of the Winter Birds’ Census of more than 20,000 species and the population of Phalacrocorax Pygmeus. There are several categories of reservations within the National Park, i.e.:

Natural Area under special protection: Panceva oka, and Manastirska tapija;

Natural Area under general protection: Island Grmozur;

Natural Area under protection: Crni žar, Omerorova gorica, Karuč, Djurovački školj, and the Bleak spawning area. Most of the water of Skadar Lake comes from the river Moraca with its 210 m3/s inflow rate, or 62%. The lake is also supplied with water through sub–lacrustic springs. These springs are locally named

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

“The Eyes”. The depth of these springs varies and can reach 80m below sea level. The springs can be found in the southwest, northwest and northern side of the lake, the most famous are Radus and Karuc. Apart from its treasure of biodiversity, the lake has a great cultural and historical legacy that contains various sacral facilities on the lake’s islands, fortress ruins and historical monuments from the XIX century.

2.2. Borders and the geographic location of Skadar Lake Skadar Lake represents one of the most important natural habitats, which is also a border area between Montenegro and Albania. It is 7 kilometers inland from the sea and is situated in the southeastern part of Montenegro and northwestern part of Albania. Zeta Heath is situated on the northern side of Skadar Lake. This is the area with the highest number of inhabitants in Montenegro, which includes the two largest towns in Montenegro – Podgorica and Niksic. Borders of the National Park are defined pursuant to the Law on National Parks (Official Gazette of the R. of M. 47/91) and cover 40,000 hectares of surface. 25,400 ha of water surface (free waters and floating vegetation) and 14,600 ha of shoreline and swamps belong to the municipalities of Podgorica, Bar and Cetinje. The Prokletije Mountains stretch on the northeastern side of the Lake, and on the southeastern side of the Lake there are the mountains Tarabos and Rumija. The south and southeastern coasts are very jagged, with various ravines, islands, lagoons, and peninsulas. The mountains Sutorman and Sozina are located to the south of the Lake, whereas Mount Lovcen rises on the northwestern side of the Lake.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

3. GENERAL REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL ASPECT

3.1. Population Skadar Lake’s watershed area has a total surface of about 5,500 km2 inhabited by 500,000 people, mostly located in the following towns of Montenegro: Podgorica, Niksic, Cetinje and Danilovgrad (65% of inhabitants), and in the city of Skadar in Albania. The municipalities of Podgorica and Bar have had a growing number of inhabitants in the last 15 years, unlike the municipality of Cetinje, which has had a long period of stagnation and a strong indication towards negative demographic trends. Considering its population, the municipality of Podgorica covers over 70% of the total population of the National Park, and its dominance and influence on demographic trends is evident. Table 1: Population by municipalities: MUNICIPALITY

1971

1981

1991

2003

98,796 27,580 22,024 148,400

132,290 32,535 20,213 185,038

152,025 37,321 20,307 209,653

169,132 40,037 18,482 227,651

MONTENEGRO 529,604 Source: Statistical Yearbook 2005, MONSTAT

584,310

615,035

620,145

PODGORICA BAR CETINJE TOTAL

Table 2: Basic information on municipalities: Surface km2 Podgorica 1,441 Bar 598 Cetinje 910 Source: Census 2003, MONSTAT

Number of inhabitants 169,132 40,037 18,482

Number of settlements 143 83 98

Population density 117.4 67 20.3

The study involved 40 settlements, belonging to the National Park or its boundary part. According to the 2003 Census, the total number of inhabitants in these settlements is 12,474. The highest concentration of inhabitants is in the city and surrounding towns of the municipality of Podgorica – (10,288), while the rest (1,668) belong to the municipalities of Bar and Cetinje (518). The settlements of Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevica are the only ones with urban characteristics, with only 553 inhabitants or 4%, while in rural settlements this number is much higher and amounts to 11,921 or 96%. Graph 1: Structure of inhabitants in urban and rural settlements in the Skadar Lake Area

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Urban 4%

Rural 96%

According to the Environmental Plan of Skadar Lake National Park of 2001, the territory of the Park includes 17 settlements whose inhabitants number between 6 and 543. The list of observed settlements is given in Annex 2. Analyses of demographic trends, which involve settlements that administratively belong to the Park, as well as those directly adjacent to the Park, indicate an absolute decrease in the number of inhabitants on a long-term basis. In the last ten years, the decrease has been slower, which is more a result of demographic exhaustion than actions undertaken to consolidate and improve the lake and its surroundings.

3.2 Social and economic entities of the Skadar Lake area For better insight into the demographics characteristics it is important to consider the settlements of Skadar Lake in terms of the existing social and economic entities. The territory of Skadar Lake comprises the following social, economic, and ethnic entities, where entity represents a wider socioeconomic area consisting of more settlements: • Krajina and Crmnica in the municipality of Bar • Rijeka entity in the municipality of Cetinje • Ljesanska entity, Zeta and Malesija in the municipality of Podgorica. In each of these entities, settlements differ in terms of size, predominant activity, lifestyle of inhabitants, and also in terms of national and religious affiliation. Krajina is situated close to the shoreline of the lake. Krajina has 22 rural settlements (8 in the village of Ostros and 14 in the village of Sestani) with 5,444 inhabitants. Settlements are relatively isolated from the municipality of Bar. The local municipality center is Mali Ostros. Settlements Ckla, Martići, Bobovište, Besi, Donji Murići, and Dračevica have indirect contact with the lake, although it is a significant resource for their inhabitants. The number of inhabitants is stable in the settlements of Krajina entity, which allows for an organized quality of life. Crmnica connects the seacoast with the continental part of Montenegro. It includes 24 settlements with 1,800 inhabitants (the village of Godinje is in this area – a symbol of rural uniqueness, and Poseljani – especially interesting for its large number of flourmills). The adjoining villages indirectly border on the lake: Krnjice, Seoca, Godinje, Boljevići, Vir, Orahovo, Braćeni, Kruševica and Komarno. The few settlements of the Crmnica entity demonstrate the decrease in the number of inhabitants. Some settlements, such as Krnjice could become uninhabited. Considering the small size of the settlements, it is very difficult to organize certain activities.

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Rijeka entity is situated on the west and northwestern shoreline of Skadar Lake. The following settlements are situated in the Park: Dodoši, Donje Selo, Žabljak, Prevlaka, Rijeka Crnojevića, Šinđon and Vranjina. These settlements (apart from Vranjina, which belongs to the municipality of Podgorica) administratively belong to the municipality of Cetnje. Many are located on islands and peninsulas, representing the specific characteristics of this area, in general, too small and with inadequate infrastructure routes. The area’s major city is Rijeka Crnojevica, which also has urban characteristics and represents the entity’s administrative center. The expansion of the municipality of Podgorica, and to some extent, the municipality of Cetinje, has caused migration from this area. Agriculture and fishing as fundamental activities no longer have priority, and industry is gradually replacing traditional livelihoods. The Rijeka Entity includes Rijeka Crnojevica, it has 37 village settlements with a total of 1,727 inhabitants. Donja Sela, Dujeva, Riječani, Oćevići, Šindjon, Drušići, Bobija, and especially Rijeka, Prevlaka, Dodoši, Žabljak and Vranjina, are closely linked to the lake. The climate is suitable for planting various fruits (figs, mulberries, grapes, and pomegranates). Apart from agriculture and livestock breeding, inhabitants also engage in trade and fishing; the fish trade is especially important. Ljesanska nahija is situated in the northwestern side of Skadar Lake with the local community of Barutana. The only coastal settlements in Ljesanska nahija are Begova Glavica, Bridje and Goljemadi. The climate is moderate, which is a good prerequisite for growing various fruits and vegetables. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in agriculture, livestock breeding and the production of wine and tobacco. Zeta Valley is the only lowland in Montenegro. This entity has 28 settlements and 20,000 inhabitants. All in all, this is the most extensively arable region of Montenegro and consequently the center of agricultural production. Arable land near the river valleys is ideal for settlements, which influenced the largest concentration of inhabitants in the Zeta Heath, valley of Zeta and Niksicko polje in this part of Montenegro, including the two biggest urban centers Podgorica and Niksic. Inhabitants mostly deal in agricultural production and livestock breeding. Every year during the winter season, flooding endangers the settlements in the area of Zeta Valley on the boundaries of the National Park, including the arable land to a significant extent. This group of settlements relying on the NP includes Ponari, Vukovci, Kurilo, Bistrica, Bijelo Polje, Berislavci, Gostilj, Balabani, Gošići, Mataguži, Vranj, Sukuruć, Kotrabudan, Podhum, Drešaj, and Drume. Number of inhabitants – Here we will consider certain, specific settlements and try to picture this area in the best way. The number of inhabitants in certain parts varies significantly. The following graph presents the settlements of the existing areas and comparative data from 1991 and 2003, according to methodology used in 2003. Graph 2: Comparative number of inhabitants (1991 and 2003)

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10000 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0

Zeta

Krajina

Crmnica

1991

Riječka nahija

Lješanska nahija

2003

Settlements in Riječka nahija are very small and most of them have less than 50 inhabitants. The central settlement and the one with urban characteristics is Rijeka Crnojevića, with a significantly reduced number of inhabitants over the last ten years. One reason for this is that the most frequented road from Podgorica to Cetinje bypasses Rijeka Crnojevića. Fishing was the traditional activity of this area. Population in those settlements is aging and the elderly portion of the population is increasing. Therefore, the average age in the Rijeka Crnojevića is 45.4. Unlike the previously mentioned areas and settlements, settlements in the Zeta Valley are characterized by a high concentration of population with a progressively upward trend. The highest numbers of inhabitants live in Golubovci, which is the largest settlement in the Skadar Lake region. The primary reason for this is the favorable conditions for agriculture, which is a dominant activity. Industrialization and nearness to Podgorica as an urban center contributed to the strong development of this area. The share of population between ages 20 and 29 is approximately 14% in the Zeta Valley. This age structure is the same in Golubovci. Age structure varies from one settlement to another and mostly depends on its position and accessibility. In recent years, not only in the Skadar Lake region but also in general, the younger population is less interested in staying in the villages. In regard to the age structure in the settlements and their aging population, the average age ranges from 36.1 in Balabani (Zeta valley) to 43.2 in Ckli (Krajina). According to MONSTAT data, in rural settlements of the Skadar Lake region, almost 15% of population is older than 65 years of age. The average age in Virpazar is 35.8, while in Rijeka Crnojevića it is 45.4. Table 3. Share of elderly population in the Skadar Lake region Settlement type Rural

Total population 11,854

Population 65+ 1,775

Share 14.9%

3.3 Ethnic structure of the population Montenegrins, Serbs and Albanians are the most dominant ethnic groups in the Skadar Lake region. More than three-quarters of the inhabitants (78%) in urban zones are Montenegrins, and 58% in rural

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zones. A smaller percentage of inhabitants (one quarter) in urban and rural zones are Serbs, while 19% of all inhabitants in rural zones are Albanians, and only 2% in urban zones. Picture 1: Ethnic Map of Montenegro

In Krajina, Albanians of Muslim confession are dominant. This area is gravitated more towards the municipalities of Ulcinj and Bar than to other parts of Skadar Region. In Malesija Nahija, Albanians of Catholic confession are dominant, and are mainly oriented towards agriculture and livestock farming. Both entities are characterized by an emigration trend towards America and Western Europe. In Malesija the older population depends primarily on financial support from their cousins living abroad. Agriculture represents an additional source of revenue and the characteristic lifestyle. In the area between Zeta and Malesija, Vracani refugees (from the Vraka area of Albania) of Orthodox confession are in the process of emigrating. There are four nationalities in Zeta Heath, Montenegrins and Serbs being the most dominant. Crmnica and Ljesanska Nahija are only inhabited by Montenegrins. The situation is different in Rijecka nahija, with all three nationalities represented â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Montenegrins (dominant), Serbs, and Albanians. It is important of emphasize that multiethnic relations here are established on inter tolerance and understanding with the tendency of constant development of those relations. Graph 3. Ethnic group in socio-economic structure

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6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Zetska ravnica

Crmnica Montenegrin

Riječka nahija Lješanska Serbian Muslim nahija Albanian

Krajina

3.4 Population by gender The ratio between male and female inhabitants in urban and rural zones is similar. Table 4 shows the total number of males and females living in Skadar Lake settlements. Table 4: Gender structure in region of Skadar Lake Type of settlement Male Female Urban 246 307 Rural 5978 5876 More than half of the inhabitants are female (56%), while 44.0% are male. In rural zones there is a slightly higher percentage of male population (51%).

3.5 Number of households The number of households in settlements of the National Park “Skadar Lake” varies depending on different social and economic entities. In settlements situated within Krajina Nahija, the number of households is stable because of the number of inhabitants living in that area. Two factors have caused changes in the number of households: an increase/decrease in the number of inhabitants and a process of division of households, resulting in a decrease in the average number of household members. Table 5: Number of households and average number of household members in 17 settlements located in the National Park Number of Average number of Settlement “Nahija” households members in household Bobovište Krajina 61 3.8 Bes Krajina 23 2.9 Donji Murići Krajina 32 3.9 Krnjice Crmnica 17 1.5 Godinje Crmnica 28 2.1 Virpazar Crmnica 98 3.4 Kruševice Crmnica 1 1.0

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Komarno Donje Selo Rijeka Crnojevića Prevlaka Šindjon Dodoši Žabljak Vranjina Begova Glavica Podhum Source: MONSTAT 2006

Crmnica Riječka nahija Riječka nahija Riječka nahija Riječka nahija Riječka nahija Riječka nahija Riječka nahija Lješanska nahija Zeta

13 14 94 15 10 33 15 70 20 48

2.0 1.6 2.3 1.6 2.5 1.6 2.7 3.1 2.7 5.0

The Krajina area has a stable demographic trend compared to other social and economic entities, which maintains a relatively stable number of household members in this area. The average number of households in this area decreased from 5.5 to 3.6 compared to data from 1991. Households with a greater number of members were more adequate for agricultural development with the relevant natural resources. Current demographic trends, as well as average number of members in households, indicate a decrease in the active working population, capable of utilizing the natural potential of this area. The average household size in Crmnica, located in the National Park “Skadar Lake” is two. This situation generally implies a negative demographics trend represented by a simple reproduction process during the last 15 years. Only Virpazar as an urban center shows a more positive trend. Decreasing numbers of inhabitants creates livelihood problems in these settlements that revive only on weekends and during the agricultural season. The situation is similar in all the settlements that have less than 50 inhabitants in Rijecka Nahija, with the exception of Vranjina and Rijeka Crnojevica. This caused the low, average households size of 2.2. Only Vranjina has a higher number, 3.1 members per household. Vranjina is a typical fishing settlement that has recorded an increase in the number of inhabitants and domiciled population throughout the year. In all other settlements in Rijecka Nahija, the number of household members has shown a negative trend and simple reproduction. In the settlements of Ljesanska Nahija, namely Begova Glavica situated within the National Park, household members average only 2.7, which is in line with constantly decreased number of inhabitants in this area. Settlement Podhum, located in Zeta Heath, exemplifies a settlement with a high number of inhabitants. Constant increase in the number of inhabitants has caused higher average numbers of 5 members per household. This situation is typical of all Zeta Heath settlements. Out of all the settlements surveyed adjacent to the National Park, Zeta has the highest number of households(4.4), since Zeta represents an area with the highest number of inhabitants. The next graph shows the number of households by social and economic entities. Graph 4: Number of households by social and economic entities

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2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Zeta

Riječka nahija

Crmnica

Krajina

Lješanska nahija

The total number of inhabitants and households in the settlements surveyed within the municipalities of Bar and Cetinje has decreased significantly (-329, -690 in terms of inhabitants; -14, -99 in terms of households) compared to 1991. A different trend is recorded in settlements belonging to the Podgorica Municipality, with an increase of the number of inhabitants in the Zeta Heath region by 55 inhabitants during the last 13 years. Table 6: Comparison of data on the number of inhabitants and number of households (1991 and 2003) Number of inhabitants Number of households Municipality 1991 2003 1991 2003 Podgorica 9,233 10,288 2,150 2,535 Bar 2,389 1,699 773 759 Cetinje 919 590 396 297 Source: MONSTAT

3.6 Migration The migration process from rural to urban zones was caused by poor social and economic living conditions during the last 10 years. This process was intense in settlements within the Skadar Lake region. Some settlements were completely abandoned while in others only the elderly people have stayed, since the younger inhabitants departed for reasons of employment. In general, the percentage of immigrated population in some settlements of the National Park region is not so high. This percentage is 14% in urban zones, while in rural areas it is 9.6%. The total number increased by 253 inhabitants, if we compare 2003 to 1991. The increase in the number of inhabitants was mainly caused by a positive demographic trend in the settlements of Zeta Heath. Apart from Zeta Heath, other settlements have experienced negative migration trends and a very similar population structure. Migration processes have been recorded in the settlements of Bobovište, Ckla, Komarno and Kruševica1, in contrast to rural settlements of the Bar municipality. Table 7: Number of immigrants from urban and rural areas into NP “Skadar Lake” (1991-2003) Settlement Total number of Total number of immigrants % inhabitants 1991 – 2003 1

Source: MONSTAT – “Migration Parameters – Data by Settlements“

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Urban Rural

553 11,854

78 1,071

14 9

In general, the overall economic situation is the reason for migration. The situation is particularly bad in rural areas where living conditions are very poor. The interest for immigration to rural areas steadily decreases from year to year. Prospects for employment are bad and mainly oriented around agriculture, tourism and fishing, and additional problems in these branches discourage the younger population from staying in the region. Also, a high percentage of settlements have no basic facilities for living (drinking water, electricity, and road infrastructure) which makes any start-ups impossible. In more developed settlements, such as the villages of Drušići and Donje Godinje, pensioners who are dealing in agriculture and viniculture as a sideline have immigrated. The general demographic situation in the region of Skadar Lake cannot be bright without prospects of positive development. According to the available data, positive demographic trends were recorded only in some parts of the Zeta Valley, in contrast to other areas with negative demographic trends. This is especially true of settlements in the Crmnica, Riječke and Lješanska entity, with the rapidly increased aging of the population.

3.6.1 Natural Population Increase Positive demographic trends were recorded only in settlement situated in Zeta Heath, where a positive rate of natural increase amounts to 6.48%, and the number of live-born infants (birth rate of 15.57%) is higher than the number of stillborns (mortality rate of 9.08%) in 2003. The highest birth rate is recorded in the settlement of Golubovci. This settlement has a birth rate of 23% compared to 2004. Unlike Golubovci, which has a stable demographic growth, Rijeka Crnojevica had no record of births during 2004 and 2005. Circumstances are similar in settlements belonging to the municipality of Cetinje, which are situated close to Skadar Lake, with a negative population growth (-15.25%). The 5.08% birth rate is much lower than the 20.33% mortality rate. In settlements within the Bar municipality, the circumstances are somewhat different. The number of newborns is 50% higher than that of 2004, with the highest percentage in the settlement of Ostros. The death rate was lower in 2005 than in 2004. It is interesting to note that the total number of children born was 86% higher than the total number of deceased in 2005.2 A “negative” birth rate (-3.53‰) was recorded in Bar municipality settlements gravitating towards Skadar Lake in 2003 (birth rate was 7.65%, while mortality rate was 11.18%).

3.7 Health Service Health service centers are located throughout the municipalities of Podgorica, Bar and Cetinje. Health service stations are located in Tuzi, Golubovci, Barutana, and Ostros, close to the National Park border, and in Rijeka Crnojevica and Virpazar within the National Park. There are consulting rooms with doctors and dentists, as well as a visiting-nurse service, which are required and useful in order to cover the whole territory. Considering the aging of the population, geriatric health problems mean the demand for health service is very high. The local health service center (ambulance station) that serves the territory of Podgorica municipality is situated in Golubovci. Six doctors and eight nurses work in that ambulance,comprised of all medical departments, from general department to laboratory. Three doctors and four nurses work in the

See Annex 3

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ambulance station in Tuzi. In all other ambulances (Ostros, Rijeka Crnojevića) doctors work on a rotational schedule.

3.8 Literacy and Education The percentage of illiterate inhabitants is the highest in this territory of Montenegro. The age structure of inhabitants impacts significantly on this situation. According to data from the 2003 Census, the literacy rate was only 2% in the south part of the Republic, and ranged between 2% and 4% in the northern part, and more than 4% within the Skadar Lake territory.3 There are only eight elementary schools in the settlements of the Skadar Lake region, and no high school.

Settlement Ponari Vranjina Golubovci Vukovci Mataguži Sukuruć Virpazar Ckla Bobovište Rijeka Crnojevića Drušići

Table 8: Review of schools by settlements The name of elementary school (ES)

Municipality

ES “Niko Maraš”

Podgorica

ES “Milan Vukotić”

Podgorica

ES “Zarija Vujošević” ES “Mahmut Lekić” ES “Jovan Tomašević”

Podgorica Podgorica Bar

ES “Đerđ Kastrioti Skenderbeg”

Bar

ES “Boro Vukmirović”

Cetinje

Source: Ministry of Science and Education

These schools have mostly a three and four-year curriculum, based on their regional department status. Four teachers work in the elementary school “Mahmut Lekić’’, whereas all other schools have only one teacher. Only the elementary schools in Golubovci and Virpazar have an eight-year curriculum. There are 72 teachers in the elementary school in Golubovci, four times more than in Virpazar. However, Golubovci is a settlement with the highest number of inhabitants in Skadar Lake region. The Golubovci elementary school had a first grade class of 124 pupils, four times more than in Virpazar (30 pupils). There is no record of significant fluctuations in the number of first grade pupils enrolled in elementary school during the period from 2001 to 2005 (oscillation was +/- 10%). It is important to note that the total number of enrolled pupils is particularly high because of the low number of inhabitants in those settlements. School programs are sometimes not offered because of the lack of children in the settlements of Bobovište, Vukovci and Drušići. The following graph gives a review of the number of pupils enrolled in the first grade by settlements in the Skadar Lake region during the period 2001 – 2005.4 Graph 5:

Total number of pupils enrolled in the first grade of elementary school during the period 2001-2005

MONSTAT – Literacy rate of population older than 10 Detailed information on the number of pupils enrolled in the first grade of elementary school for the last five years is given in the Annex 4

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180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Golubovci

Sukuruć

Mataguži

Virpazar

Vukovci

Ponari

Murići

Ckla

Bobovište

Vranjina

Rijeka Crnojevića

Drušići

There is no high school in the Skadar Lake region. The closest high schools are in the Podgorica, Cetinje, and Bar municipalities. Pupils from Skadar Lake travel each day (“daily migrants”) to Podgorica and Bar by railway, whereas pupils from Zeta travel to Podgorica by road. The settlement of Podhum gravitates towards Tuzi because a comprehensive secondary school is located in that settlement outside the city center. High schools and Universities are located in the municipality centers of Podgorica, Bar and Cetinje. There are eight faculties in Podgorica, three in Cetinje and two in Bar.

3.9 Conclusions on Demographic Analysis The process of depopulation is evident in the overall area of the National Park, manifesting especially through a decrease in the total number of inhabitants. Population in settlements belonging to the Cetinje and Bar municipalities have decreased during the period between the two censuses (13 years) by 1,019 inhabitants. Negative demographic trends are usually followed by the aging of the population, a decrease in the average number of household members (with a basic structure of single households), the reduction of settlements, as well as opposite trends in settlements where population growth has been recorded. Certain areas such as Zeta and Tuska Heath show a different process, with the number of new inhabitants during the last 16 years amounting to 1,055. All other entities recorded negative demographic trends, although they have similar population characteristics. Some settlements could even “disappear”, i.e. become depopulated, such as Godinje, Kruševice, Prevlaka, and Šindjon. The organization of the territory presents some difficulties. Settlements are widely spread, with small numbers of inhabitants. The average number of inhabitants is 140, excluding the larger urban settlements Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevića. These data are somewhat different in Krajina Entity, where the average number of inhabitants is more than 200, in Crmnica 40, and in Rijeka and Ljesanska entity there are 55 inhabitants per settlement. Population in the National Park area has been mainly moving to Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevića. Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

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Virpazar represents the biggest settlement in the National Park, with relatively stable demographic trends, urban characteristics and service functions. The infrastructure is well connected with the most developed centers in Montenegro – the cities of Podgorica and Bar with regional and main roads and the railway route Belgrade-Bar. Crmnica Entity and closer parts of the Krajina and Rijeka Entity gravitate towards Virpazar, which is considered the center of the National Park, although it is located outside of its geographic center. Rijeka Crnojevića also represents a settlement with urban characteristics. It is the center of Rijeka Entity with a minor “gravitation” impact towards the surrounding settlements. The demographic outlook is poor, without developmental tendencies. If this process continues, the function of Rijeka Crnojevica will be reduced, and may retain only local importance, for the following reasons: growth of the lake’s economic importance, new roads outside of settlements, low utilization of the natural potentials of settlements and surroundings. Demographic prospects for the National Park area are not positive. In general, the demographic picture on the Republic level is not favorable, and especially for settlements of the National Park. Depopulation is not necessarily a bad thing for the sake of preserving nature, although it is worth mentioning that the positive demographic trends in the area are reducing and negative ones are expanding. It will become dominant, especially in the settlements of Crmnice, Riječka and Lješansks Entity with negative population growths. The local inhabitants cannot improve their current economic circumstances because the migration process is difficult to predict. Demographically, the National Park area will become more dispersed in the next period, while expected migrations will lead to further concentrations of the population. The economic vitality and population growth have stagnated in the Krajina Entity, Virpazar and settlements close to the main roads like Vranjina, as well as Zeta and Tuska Valley. Rijeka Crnojevica and the surrounding settlements have the potential for economic renewal, but this depends on the interest of the State, due to the lack of investments in this area. Other areas will be reduced to a few settlements with an elderly population throughout the year and additional inhabitants only during the agricultural season and fishing period. 4. GENERAL SUMMARY OF ECONOMIC ASPECTS

4.1 Employment and Unemployment According to the Statistics Bureau data, out of the employable population of Podgorica, i.e. over 15 years of age (71,135), only 48,246 are employed, thus the unemployment rate is 32.2%. The 2004 official unemployment rate for the Bar community amounted to 24.3%, and according to the ISSP estimation, 19.3%. In Cetinje, this rate is somewhat lower at 22.9%, or 18.1% according to the ISSP estimation. The Statistics Bureau data shows that in 17 National Park settlements, the unemployment statistics varies from one place to another. In Krajina, the settlement of Boboviste has the highest unemployment rate out of the participating labor force, amounting to almost 50%. In Crmnica, the settlement of Virpazar has the highest unemployment rate of 31%. The employable population is relatively low in Rijecka Nahija. Higher labor force participation is noted only in Rijeka Crnojevica and Vranjina. Unemployment rates for Rijeka Crnojevica and Vranjina are 18% and 10%, respectively. In 2003, there were no unemployed persons in the Podhum settlement belonging to Zeta. Graph 6: Summary of active and unemployed population in NP settlements

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140 120 100 80 60 40

Active population 2003

Podhum

Vranjina

Begova Glavica

Žabljak

Dodoši

Prevlaka

Šindjon

Rijeka Crnojevića

Donje Selo

Komarno

Kruševice

Virpazar

Godinje

Krnjice

Donji Murići

Bes

Bobovište

Unemployed 2003

The labor force and the unemployment rate have increased from 1991 to 2003, taking into account not only the settlements inside the National Park, but also the peripheral ones. The labor force has increased by approximately 9%, this being a sole increase in the active population within the Zeta region. Within other social and economic units the labor force is decreasing at a rate of 20% in Crmnica and Rijecka Nahija to around 30% in Krajina, due to migration and the aging of the stable population. In the Skadar Lake National Park settlements, in comparison to 1991 the unemployment rate is approximately 40% higher. The majority of the unemployment is located in Zeta settlements (80%). In the settlements of Rijecka nahija and Ljesanska nahija, the unemployment figures fell by 50% in Ljesanska nahija, and by some 10% in Rijecka nahija. In comparison to 2003, the number of unemployed people grew in Krajina and Crmnica by 25% and 40%, respectively. Graph 7: Summary of the labor force level (1991 and 2003)

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4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Zeta

Active population 1991

Krajina

Crmnica

Unemployed 1991

Riječka nahija

Lješanska nahija

Aktive population 2003

Unemployed 2003

4.2 Social and Retirement Payments According to the official data from the Department of Children and Social Insurance within the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare, the number of social relief beneficiaries(financial family support – MOP and children’s allowance) is much lower in rural than in urban areas. The department claims that the reason for this is insufficient household information, as well as the nonownership of property, possession of property being one of the criteria for obtaining financial benefits. On the other hand, the right to the children’s allowance is linked with the right to financial family support (MOP). The following tables cover only the most populated local centers in the Skadar Lake area. Table 9: Number of beneficiaries of financial family support (November, 2005) Post unit Number of Number of Total Average amount Average amount households household amount of per family, per member, members assets, in EUR in EUR in EUR Golubovci

108

270

7,090.50

65.65

26.26

550.00

91.67

21.15

Rijeka Crnojevića 6 12 357.00 Source: Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare

59.50

29.75

Virpazar

Settlement

Table 10: Number of children’s allowance beneficiaries (November, 2005) Number of Number of Amount of Average amount Average amount households children receiving total per family, per child, allowance assets in EUR in EUR

Golubovci

165

2,470.00

33.38

15.00

Virpazar

255.00

42.50

15.00

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Rijeka Crnojevića 3 5 75.00 Source: Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare

25.00

15.00

According to the data of the Pension and Disability Fund, it can be noted that three settlements within the Lake Skadar area, as indicated in Table 11, receive relatively low retirement payments, and that many families live solely on this type of income. Table 11: Type and number of pension beneficiaries in the area of Lake Skadar Settlement Pension type Total Old-age Disability Household Golubovci Virpazar Rijeka Crnojevića

570 166 69

724 152 92

689 186 111

1983 504 272

Average income, old-age 570 € 105.2 € 107.5 €

Regarding the population numbers of these settlements, and age structure of the population, there are a high percentage of retirement payments. In Golubovci, for instance, 69% of the total population are pension beneficiaries, while in Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevica the number of pensions exceeds the number of inhabitants. This can be explained by the fact that one family can receive three pensions on three different criteria. Family pensions are most frequent in Rijeka Crnojevica and Virpazar, with 41% and 37%, respectively, while disability pensions amount to 37% in Golubovci.

4.3 Population Activity in the Lake Skadar Area The population’s choice of occupation depends on the natural resources available at the individual settlements. Agriculture is the primary occupation, including fishing, as well as some industry and services, production and non-production activities. Within the “Lake Skadar” National Park, two principal activities have been identified: tourism and agriculture with fishing. Farming is common along the lake’s edges, across the Zeta Valley, which is the most populous part of this region. Alluvial soil of the highest quality extends over some 17,000 ha in the Zeta valley; this mineral structure makes the area suitable for farming. Unfortunately, the flooding of a significant portion of this area considerably reduces its utility. The Zeta Valley, to the northeast of Skadar Lake, is well known for its favorable agricultural conditions, so that most of the population in these settlements is engaged in farming. This is also one of the most intensively exploited agricultural areas, a fact which gave rise to the idea of lowering the water level in order to create more arable land. If actions were taken to lower the water level in the basin of Lake Skadar, another 14,000 to 25,000 ha of usable land could be obtained. The settlements of Zeta are mostly oriented towards agriculture and the processing industry. In the Zeta Valley Plain settlements, 19% of the total population is engaged in agriculture, 14% in trade, and 11% in the processing industry. The rest are employed in state-owned institutions or in transportation, storage and communication. Though 19% seems low for agriculture, it should be noted that this refers only to those who report agriculture as a primary activity. However, the majority of the population is involved in agriculture as a secondary activity or only as a coping mechanism for their households. Settlements belonging to the community of Bar are not abundant in arable land, as is the case in the Zeta Valley. The land is divided into small parcels, so the inhabitants are involved in agriculture and fishing only enough to meet their own needs. Out of the total active population, around 27% are engaged in agriculture, and as much as 18% are employed in transportation, storage and communication. Another 6% are engaged in trade, and 3% in processing activities.

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The processing industry is dominant in Rijeka Crnojevica with over 50%, since there is a plant for fish canning and processing. By the mid-eighties, the factory processed between 760 to 1,045 tons of raw fish annually. There is no fishing statistics from 1987 to date. It is interesting to note that fishing was a traditional activity in Rijeka Crnojevica. Nowadays, local people engage in it primarily to satisfy their own requirements. Graph 8: Summary on participation of production branches in settlements of Lake Skadar region5:

Hotels and restaurant Construction Communal services Education Health or social work Manufacturing industry Public administration Army or Police Wholesale Transport, storage and communication Agriculture 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

In the community of Podgorica, the average net salary for the period of January to June 2005 amounted to €240.2, while in Bar and Cetinje communities, it amounted to €163.8 and €141.2, respectively. In October 2005, a tax-free salary in the agricultural sector amounted to €195.12. The lowest average income during the above-mentioned period was in the trade sector with €146.06, while in the processing industry and transportation sector, the average salary was €203.12 and €252.84, respectively6.

4.4 Agriculture Agriculture has been the main branch of industry or the main pillar of development in this area for a long time, especially in rural areas. However, the situation has changed significantly. The population in rural areas has significantly decreased and interest in this industry has also abated. In addition, the active population is more interested in other industries, thus agriculture has remained the primary occupation for only a small portion of the local population engaged in subsistence farming. The development of agriculture varies from one area to another and it greatly depends on natural resources. Therefore, we present an overview of the share of agriculture by certain social and economic regions within the Skadar Lake region. The Krajina Area is significantly oriented towards agriculture. Out of the total active population, 30% are engaged in agriculture. In Murići, half of the population deals with agriculture; however, the fact has to be considered that a very small percentage of the population is of employable age. In Martići, only 34% of the total population is active. Fewer people are interested in agriculture and it should also be considered that divided estates are common in this area. Fruit production (such as figs, pears, and

5 6

MONSTAT, “Activity and Gender – Data by Settlement” Statistics Bureau of Montenegro, Announcement No. 51

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cherries), early-season vegetables, and tobacco are significant sources of revenue for settlements in the Krajina. Crmnica and Riječka nahija – In the Crmnica area, the active population is less than 10 inhabitants per settlement with the exception of Boljevići, Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevića. This situation has resulted in the absence of agriculture as well as other industries. The size of an average estate is small, and production is oriented towards supplying personal needs. The most frequent occupation is grape and fruit growing, usually for personal use. In Crmnica settlements, the share of agriculture is only 6%. In Riječka nahija the situation is similar with a small number of inhabitants, and some areas might even be uninhabited. These circumstances caused problems in the development of sustainable agriculture, as well as other industries (e.g. fishing), that once were the pillars of development in this region. The portion of agriculture in Crmnica settlements is also 6%. In Rijeka Crnojevića, which is the largest settlement of Riječka nahija according to the Census data, only one inhabitant is active in agriculture. Natural resources for the development of this industry exist. However, the main reason for this situation is the shrinking number of young people, none of whom are interested in spending their future engaged in agriculture in this region. Zeta – the Zeta region is well known for agriculture, particularly so due to the large share of manageable estates. One significant problem is the flooding of cultivable land, which reduces production. This is one of the main arguments in favor of reducing the water level in order to expand estates. Land compounds are relatively large and by using modern machinery excellent results are achieved, especially in the production of vegetables. However, it should be noted that apart from favorable conditions for agriculture, other industries (manufacturing, trade, transportation, etc.) have also developed in recent years. The share of agriculture is about 19%. In Golubovci, which is the largest settlement in the Zeta region and the largest of the entire Skadar Lake region, 9% of the active population is engaged in agriculture. The Podhum settlement in Zeta, located in the central part of the National Park, is very much oriented towards agriculture; out of all 66 active inhabitants, 58 of them deal with agriculture. It can be concluded that agriculture is a dominant activity in this settlement. Graph 9: Number of inhabitants in relation to the active population dealing with agriculture

4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

Zeta

Krajina

Riječka nahija

Crmnica Lješanska nahija

Active population

Agriculture

4.5 Fishing Fishing is a traditional industry among the local population of the Skadar Lake region. This was the main and only source of income for a majority of the population for many years. The situation is different today because of the significant presence of other industries and it should be mentioned that there are a growing number of people with weekend houses whose permanent residence is not in the

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Skadar Lake region. Fishing is no longer the primary industry, but it is dealt with for sport and recreation or as an additional source of income. The exact number of inhabitants for whom fishing is their main activity is not known, because the Law on Fresh-Water Fishing is still in preparation. This Law will regulate the status of fishermen engaged in fishing as their main activity and require them to register with the Commercial Court and receive pension and social care insurance pursuant to the law. Fishing within Skadar Lake National Park is regulated by an internal act, which prescribes commercial and sports fishing. For both of these activities licenses are to be obtained and a commercial fishing license costs €300. In 2005, Skadar Lake National Park issued 171 commercial licenses, mostly for the inhabitants of the Skadar Lake coastal area, and 273 sports licenses were issued. Vranjina is a typical fishing settlement. Out of the total active population, 60% are engaged in fishing, while the remainder deal with manufacturing and a small percentage engage in trade. Inhabitants dealing primarily with fishing are faced with a lot of problems related to marketing. At the moment, there is no permanent location for a fish market and everybody performs sales individually, next to the road or in some other way. The plant for fish manufacturing in Rijeka Crnojevića purchases fish only one month a year (May to June), while it often happens that most of the fish go in the pot, according to the needs of fishermen.

4.6 Tourism Considering its geographic position, hydrographic properties, cultural heritage and land structure, the Skadar Lake region has great potential for of all types of tourism. With its easy proximity to the highly developed Montenegrin seacoast, it is vital to the expansion of tourism with all the features that the lake possesses. The region is linked by road and rail, as well as by the Podgorica airport. The climate is Mediterranean, with dry summers and heavy rains during the winter season. The Lake closeness to the City of Podgorica will contribute to diversification of existing tourist offer. The Lake’s tourismresource base is in many ways unique and special and, accompanied with natural and cultural heritage, provides base for tourism sustainable development. The northern and northeastern part of the Skadar Lake is especially attractive for the development of excursion and scientific tourism. The southwestern area is rock-covered and lends itself to certain tourism facilities and accommodations, whereas Vranjine and Donj Murići have beaches. Currently the most common type of tourism is swimming, especially in the Donji Murići, Vranjina, and Karuč – Dodoši – Žabljak Zone locations.

4.6.1 Current Situation in Tourism In 2004, according to National Park records, approximately 7,000 tourists visited Lake Skadar, while in 2005 the number of visitors was approximately 15,500, out of which 75% were foreign tourists. This kind of record keeping has been used in the last two years and is a significant indicator of a tourism trend in this region. Most visits were organized as excursions (approx. 95%) and this is the most interesting type of tourism for visitors. Inhabitants of the Skadar Lake region are trying to develop this industry and in 2004, five entrepreneurs operated with 12 tour boats. Excursion tourism is the greatest opportunity for future development in this part of the region. It does not require significant investments in premises or infrastructure and the programs are quite easy to organize. Interest is evident for visiting certain cultural destinations and natural beauties, according to the current experience, do exist. Sailing and boating have become increasingly popular in recent years. Outsourced support from some institution or the Skadar Lake National Park is necessary in order to start up various types of sport tourism.

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In addition, activities such as Skadar Lake Days, organized by the NGO sector, are popularizing the lake among inhabitants of surrounding cities who previously did not visit the lake for tourism or recreation purposes. Pastoral tourism is another potential tourism, requiring only small investments. Considering each settlement individually, it can be concluded that there is enough to attract tourists for the healthy food and untouched nature. There are ten catering facilities at the Lake; including one hotel and three motels. These facilities are the property of local inhabitants, and mostly unregistered, except the one owned by the ''Plantaže'' Company in Vranjina. Restaurants are obliged to pay an annual fee to the Skadar Lake National Park in the amount of €4 per m2. Development of catering is limited since zoning architecture on the lake does not allow the building of large concrete structures; while some are illegally built, and with no adequate permission these could easily be torn down. In recent years, a significant number of so-called “weekend tourists” was recorded and they have reconstructed old houses for spending weekends in the region, mostly for sports fishing.

4.6.2 Potential for Tourism Development Considering its size and the significant number of islands, as well as the diversity of flora and fauna, the lake’s attractions as a tourist destination are evident. Excursion tourism is currently the most developed, but other types are becoming increasingly popular. In recent years, local entrepreneurs introduced horseback riding, sailing, bird watching, hiking, etc., within the park. The Skadar Lake National Park provides more locations for tourism development and an increasing number of accommodations. Table 12: Tourism capacities – estimation for 2015 Location Main Camps House visits accommodation Ckla 0 0 20 Bobovište 0 0 20 Donji Murići 150 100 80 Krnjice 0 0 50 Godinje 0 0 50 Virpazar 110 0 50 Rijeka Crnojevića 170 50 50 Prevlaka - Karuč 0 50 20 Dodoši 0 50 20 Žabljak 0 0 30 Vranjina 60 0 80 Plavnica 60 0 0 Podhum 0 0 30 Total 550 250 500

Total 20 20 330 50 50 160 270 70 70 30 140 60 30 1350

Source – Study on environment impact of the long term seacoast water supply on locations of water - Snapshots

The old fishing settlements of Karuč, Prevlaka, Dodoši and Žabljak Crnojevića are favourable for the development of pastoral, beach-recreation and sports-fishing tourism. Those settlements have potential for excursion and weekend tourism, therefore restaurants, shops and private accommodation facilities are planned for construction. Presently, excursion tourism is mostly developed only in Odinje, Murići, and Rijeka Crnojevića. Restaurant and catering facilities, except for in the settlement of Dodoši, are almost non-existent.

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The Lake Skadar region also has a marked potential for sustainable tourism, which includes: - Bird watching - Historical and botanical tours - Cave exploring (spelunking). This kinds of tourism are not yet developed, although there is potential for it. There are 281 bird species, 100 caves and between 50 – 200 types of plants which can be observed depending on the season. All this speaks volumes for the possibility of this type of tourism. Through the efforts of entrepreneurs, it has been planned to construct a golf course behind Virpazar, as well as eco-villages targeting high-end tourists who are visiting the Montenegrin seacoast. Additional enhancements that this region can offer: Ethno tourism – the revitalization of old villages and qualifying access roads, it would be possible to develop this type of tourism, for which is very expressed interest by modern tourists. Transit tourism – the usage of waterways and the construction of the road from Rijeka Crnojevića – Dodoši – Golubovci, as a link to the Adriatic Road is an additional stimulus for this region. Fishing tourism – Enhancement and support of fishing tourism requires the definition of the natural zones for hunting, fishing and venison. Sports tourism – There are many locations where it is possible to organize activities such as regattas, sailing, motor-nautical events, skiing, surfing, boating, swimming, and jumping. In the summer, there is the possibility of organized riding sports in Žabljak and Dodoši. Event tourism – There is an opportunity for organizing various scientific, cultural-entertainment and gastronomy events in many cultural and historical locations and ethnic settlements. Business tourism – Closeness of City of Podgorica to the Lake and expected development of congress tourism gives an opportunity for development this type of tourism. This target group of visitors has an ahead created excursion programs and an opportunity for differentiation to smaller groups. In addition to these varieties of tourism, this region has favorable conditions for pastoral tourism, which could be further encouraged in villages along the lake coast as well as weekend tourism, which is currently in expansion and which could be further supported.

4.7 Cultural and Historical Heritage of the Skadar Lake Tourism enhancement of the lake relies on its huge cultural and historical heritage. The Law protects all monuments, but there are no funds available for repairs. Monastery complexes and fortresses are the most prevalent in the Skadar Lake region. Twenty monasteries were once located on its coast and islands. Settlements which more or less have preserved urban, architectural and ambient values have special cultural value, i.e. Rijeka Crnojevića and Virpazar, as well as the rural area of Crmnica and other areas around the Lake and in its surroundings. Traditional heritage and rural agglomeration need to be valorized in a special way. Requirements for preservation and improvement of this heritage should begin by emphasizing the renewal of agriculture and tourism development, mostly of rural areas.

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The Skadar Lake region has a rich legacy of movable cultural heritage, such as icons, books and manuscripts, artistic crafts, unique handmade items, etc. Part of this legacy remains in its original location, such as churches and monasteries, and part-time residents own the other part of the legacy.

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5. INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATION 5.1 Water Supply The rural population has several sources of water supply: - organized by urban waterworks, - through public rural waterworks, - through their own waterworks and - independent sources. The Area of Krajina – In the whole area of Krajina there are no reliable water springs, not even to supply the amount of 0.5 liters/sec. In these dry areas, the only possible way to provide water is to build cisterns on higher ground, while wells are used in lower districts. In the lowlands there are underground springs. An example of these is a household from “Bobovista”, which has dug a well producing approx. 7 liters/sec. for land irrigation. The Area of Crmnica – The area of Virpazar, which is situated in the National Park, has solved the problem of water supply by accessing the springs of Dobre vode and Josevik (2-3 1/sec) and it draws spring water from a drilled well near the field Orahovsko. Productivity of this well is around 70 1/sec. The capacity of this waterworks is around 10 1/sec, which is accumulated in a built-in aggregate, but all these facilities can produce at a significantly higher capacity. There is a possibility for water supply on a long-term basis, and not just in Virpazar, but in all villages surrounding it. Other districts of this area are supplied with water from smaller local springs and separate cisterns. The Area of Rijeka Crnojevica, the largest settlement within a broader region, has a constructed system of waterworks. Due to the low productivity of the spring in Studenac, especially during the summer, this system cannot provide for the growing water supply needs. The waterworks system was reconstructed in 1978, which has not significantly improved the water supply in Rijeka Crnojevica, and thus it is necessary to seek better solutions. Other districts of this area are supplied with water from local springs and cisterns, but the level is not satisfactory, because of the low capacity of the existing springs. The Area of Zeta is rich in underground waters and it is easy to reach by digging shallow wells. However, inappropriate building of cesspits, storage of dung and other similar activities have started to pollute the well waters. According to the bacteriological water analysis conducted, around 70% of wells do not meet the Regulations on Quality of Drinking Water. Water samples show that the water is polluted by a number of sewage sources. The reason for this high percentage of organic contamination is in poor, i.e. inappropriate cesspits, as well as the vicinity of the dump, cowsheds and other sources of contamination. Apart from these organic pollutants, increased Ph value was detected (up to 10.7) in villages of Srpska, Cijevna, Ljajkovici, Mahala, Boljevici, and Bijelo Polje. Disinfection of existing wells for potable water supply, according to submitted changes of pollution (presence of sewage, organic resolution and other), is practically impossible, especially in part of the Zetska Valley, near the Aluminum Plant. For these reasons, the waterworks of Gornja Zeta is under construction and nearing completion. A waterworks system drawing water from the spring of Mareza, which supplies the city of Podgorica, also supplies the local community of Golubovci. In spite of exerted efforts from the Municipality and organizations such as IRD, Zetska Valley still does not have water supply infrastructure, to a large extent. The local population still uses water from wells for drinking and cooking. 5.2 Access to Main Traffic Routes and Railway Traffic The Skadar Lake National Park area is well connected with its surroundings, due to the traffic infrastructure and its close vicinity to the Port of Bar and Podgorica Airport. The so-called Adriatic Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

highway or main road passes through this part of the park, i.e. Debeli Brijeg – Petrovac – Ribarevina Republic of Serbia. Also, the highway Scepan Field – Niksic – Podgorica – Bozaj (on the border crossing with Albania) passes through the park. One part of the road from Podgorica to Tuzi meets the requirements of a highway, while the part of road from Tuzi to Albania does not, because the asphalt surface of the road is not wide enough. The highway Virpazar – Ostrog – Vladimir passes through the park, but does not meet technical requirements, because of its insufficient width of asphalt road. Highway Podgorica – Cetinje – Budva runs in the vicinity of the park, as well as the highway Petrovac – Ulcinj – Sukobin. The road from Podgorica to Cetinje and part of the road from Petrovac to Ulcinj meet the requirements of a highway, but part of the road from Ulcinj to Sukobin does not, because of low broad track (5.0 m) and the technical characteristics of the road7. Local roads, which contribute to the interaction of settlements, are: - Rijeka Crnojevica – Virpazar, - Virpazar – Bar, - Golubovci – Plavnica, - Carev Laz – Rijeka Crnojevica, including connections of this road with Prevlaka and Dodosi, - Joining of highway Virpazar – Ostrog – Vladimir, towards the settlements of Krnjice, Murici, Boboviste, and Ckla. Better traffic links are obtained through electrification of the railway route Belgrade – Bar. There are facilities and shelters at the Zeta and Virpazar stations, whereas in Vranjina there is no depot, only a standing platform. The Port of Bar is located 45 km away from Skadar Lake, and can be reached by highway Bar – Petrovac – Virpazar. The Port of Bar is connected with Ancona, Kopra and Drac through regular lines. The Airport “Podgorica” is 15 km away from Skadar Lake, which means that Podgorica is connected with the cities of Europe and the Balkans by airlines. 5.3 Lake Traffic Navigation on the Skadar Lake, including the mouth and riverbed of the Bojana is as old as the lake itself. It was first mentioned in historical sources during the Illyrian-Roman war. This activity was especially intensive during Venice’s reign over Skadar. Later on, for a long time, navigation was conducted throughout the various conflicts between the Turks and the Montenegrins for hegemony over the Lake. In the second half of the XIX century, in somewhat altered historical circumstances, navigation over the Lake was fully affirmed, owing to international navigation routes passing through Skadar Lake and the Bojana River, established in 1878 by the Congress of Berlin. This resulted in the appearance of steamships, building of roads and traffic routes, and, at a later time, the appearance of railway routes (Bar – Vir and Podgorica – Plavnica). Traditionally, sea cargo of hunters’ catches, goods and people unrolled with each vessel, until canoes were used mostly for fishing. These boats required less draught than a ship, adapted to docking in shallow ports. The brisk exchange of goods between Skadar, the rivers Vir and Plavnica, and other settlements induced the economic development of the area, especially trade. There are regular traffic routes between Rijeka Crnojevica, Ploce, Podkomarna, Virpazar, Plavnica, Krnjica, Murici, Osrosa, Ckla and Skadar. The Contract between FNRY and NR Albania (from 1953) on the prevention and solving of border incidents explicitly prohibited passage over the Yugoslav – 7

Construction Plan of NP Skadar Lake

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Albanian border across the Lake, in civil or military vessels, which connects the Bojana River with the sea. Construction of modern traffic over the Lake, passenger traffic and freight transport lost its importance and in 1981 this traffic was terminated. Since then, sailing routes and facilities have gradually been abandoned. Today, the only way to organize sailing is through seasonal tourist excursion trips over the lake with modern boats. Some trips are done for fishing purposes, with many small boats owned and operated by shoreline residents and with a few boats of the Fishing Company from Rijeka Crnojevica. The condition of sailing routes is dissatisfactory, the lake depth is unreliable (depth was last measured in 1963), and canals are completely or partly filled up. Regarding the security sector, the railway tracks are not fully signed and lighthouses are out of operation. 5.4 PTT Traffic and Telecommunication The Existing PTT system in the area of the National Park requires maintenance for the telephone traffic in the settlements located inside the borders of the Park. It is important to maintain the exchange line in Virpazar, which connects most of the park, and some smaller PTT area exchanges (Rijeka Crnojevica, etc.); these mobile networks cover service to the overall territory of the park. The system of radio connections is carried throughout the park area, which is used for maintenance service needs. This system enables connection with the Park headquarters, and also direct connection with the service on duty in Podgorica. 5.5 Supply of Electrical Energy8 There are distribution network electrical facilities in the area of the National Park, with voltage of 110 KV, 35KV, 10 KV and KV, which includes the electrical energy system of Montenegro. Most of these facilities do not directly function in the National Park, and their presence coincides with the park’s location, in comparison with the main corridor’s power line (long distance power network) in the Republic of Montenegro or the need for wider connections within the park. One of main power line corridors goes from Podgorica, over the “Skadar Lake” to “Vir” where the connection forks, one goes to “Petrovac” and “Bar’, and other to “Budva”. This corridor passes through the western part of the park. The electrical distribution network, developed within the settlements bordering on the National Park, has not impaired the natural environment. The supply of electrical energy for the railway route Belgrade – Bar is conducted with compressed water, settled inside the corridor of the track. The electrical energy supplied to the Park, including the voltage stability, is on an acceptable level of quality, so there are no serious objections. 5.6 Disposal of Wastewaters Wastewater bordering the National Park pollutes the water, flora and fauna of Lake and underground springs near it. Significant urban centers are especially a problem, in the watershed of Moraca – Podgorica, as well as Danilovgrad, and Niksic in the watershed of Zeta, while wastewaters from Cetinje endanger the spring of Obod, the spring Rijeka Crnojevica, and the Skadar Lake. 5.6.1 Sewage System of Podgorica

Construction Plan of NP Skadar Lake

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Water management is divided into separate systems. The filtration system is substandard, not enabling the filtration of wastewaters. At this moment, the capacity of the collector covers 20% of wastewaters in the city of Podgorica. Industrial wastewater discharged into the municipal sewage system is not controlled for the Ph value and toxicity. Wastewaters of the Aluminum Plant are not appropriately filtered, which especially refers to the toxic wastewater resulting from aluminum production waste materials, which is discharged into a special pool with mining rubbish. 5.6.2 Sewage System of Danilovgrad Danilovgrad has a partly constructed sewage system, with separate outlets. Wastewaters from this area flow directly into the River Zeta. Industrial and agricultural facilities also have a built-up system of separate drainage. These waters are partly filtered before being released into the River Zeta. 5.6.3 Sewage System of Niksic The municipality of Niksic has a separate sewage system for wastewaters. The filtration system is not only substandard, it is unfinished as a construction object. The appropriate filtration of wastewaters is not possible and consequently there is pollution at the higher latitudes - up to Bjelopavlicka Valley. Elimination of industrial wastewaters has not been determined completely. Those with access to the local sewage system do not control the Ph value and toxicity thus upsetting the filtration process for wastewaters. The Niksic Steel Plant filters wastewater through a separate system. 5.6.4 Sewage System of Cetinje Wastewaters collected by the sewage system of the town of Cetinje are sluiced together with atmospheric water (including through an open canal) directly into the depths. Waste from industrial facilities is discharged directly into the local sewage system, without filtration, which makes the control of toxic wastewater impossible. Rijeka Crnojevica - The sewage infrastructure and a wastewater collector has been constructed recently with the aid of the European Reconstruction Agency (EAR). Because of insufficient water quantities and discontinuity of the water supply from the river “Crnojevica”, the collector is out of operation. Additionally, capacities are built-up for acceptable wastewater from the fish-refining factory, which is dumped into the Lake. 5.7 Pollution The most important industrial factories in the watershed area of the Skadar Lake National Park are located in Niksic and Podgorica. The specific source of pollution is KAP (Aluminum Plant of Podgorica), located near Skadar Lake. Another important pollution source is wastewater sluiced from the municipality centers that flows to “Skadar Lake”. Those are the Municipality of “Podgorica” with 170.000 inhabitant and the Municipalities of “Niksic” and “Danilovgrad” across the watershed of the river Zeta with 92.000 inhabitants. Table 13: Overview of the quantity of sluiced wastewaters in the municipalities of Nikšić, Danilovgrad and Podgorica9 Sluiced wastewaters in municipalities of Nikšić, Danilovgrad and Podgorica Number of key City/ pollutant Quantity of sluiced wastewaters (m3/year) pollutant 9

Role and Responsibility in Protection, Management and Usage of Skadar Lake, March 2004

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Nikšić 12 23,682,150 Danilovgrad 10 217,500 Podgorica 17 10,353,577 Aluminum Plant 9 31,104,000 Sum Total 48 65,357,227 Source: Cadastre of Pollutants Zeta, Agriculture Valley in the municipality of Nikšić, Danilovgrad, and Podgorica, Volume I – IV, Institute for Technical Research and Institute for Hydromechanics ''Jaroslav Černi'' – Belgrade, 1998 The above-mentioned Cadastre identifies the main sources of pollution as: - Supply of tar and crude petroleum in Niksic Steel Plant, located near the River Gracanica, - Waste from the Bauxite Mine in Niksic, - Waste disposal dump for the Aluminum Plant (KAP), A significant share of the waste goes into Skadar Lake, through underground waters and the erosion of pesticides from the agricultural area of Zeta Valley. We should bear in mind that the dump in Niksic and Podgorica contributes to the pollution of underground waters. The power engineering industry operates without protection measures or with insufficient measures for pollution reduction. 5.8 Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste The industrial waste problem in the region of Skadar Lake is very complex, primarily because of the diversity of its territory and the small population in settlements belonging to the National Park. Responsibility for the disposal of waste from the settlements is not regularly determined. Rubbish is disposed of in dumps located along main roads and watershed, or in the vicinity of the settlements. Spontaneous fires, intentional burning, and rotting debris result in air pollution, and the dumps pollute the surrounding territory, underground waters and the watershed of some rivers if they are located nearby. Removal and disposal of industrial waste depends on the category and state of the materials collected. Factories are interested in recycling secondary material. The Aluminum Plant is the largest producer of waste. Although toxic wastes are contained through recently installed equipment, there are still significant problems with dangerous solid waste as well as with red mud basins. Some containers are maintained and secured, i.e. dumps for some secondary toxic materials – liquid and solid waste, but solid waste warehousing is not covered, which under rainfall results in the release of gaseous and liquid waste without filtration, free cleaving underground. Many problems are associated with the accumulation basins of the dominant waste from aluminum production, red mud and tailings. Evidently the first basin is designed to not transmit water, and thus does not meet the requirements. The red mud filtration process, involving the unprotected second basin, disputably creates contamination of Gornja Zeta, the largest predominant settlement down the river. At times, strong winds spread toxic red dust, greatly polluting the basins when the waste is not kept watered. This endangers the health of people who live in the surrounding territory.

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6. MAIN STAKEHOLDERS AND INTEREST GROUPS 6.1 Motivation and Generalized Principles The purpose of this analysis is to present reliable data regarding interested stakeholders in the Skadar Lake area, their interactions as well as their common and individual goals related to the management of various resources. The task is to describe the motives and goals of all interested parties on a central and local level, NGOs, regional associations, entrepreneurs and the local community. Also, the social and institutional framework will be presented. Within that framework, LSIEMP project activities will be prepared and realized. Analysis will consider the following: (i) the current managerial system as well as the stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; relation to project tasks and goals and also identification of their necessities related to the proposed project; (ii) the relationships between stakeholders as coalitions, their conflicts, associations, and strategies; (iii) the stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; characteristics, interests, formal/informal constitution, power, control of resources, knowledge and information, organization type and limits in project participation; (iv) their impacts and motives in decision making, including expectations, such as profit and their willingness to invest in resources, (v) methods for overcoming conflicts among stakeholders and (vi) future systems development monitoring indicators.

6.2 Analysis of Stakeholders and Their Activities in the Region Public authorities, the civil sector and local community, the business sector, academic and research institutions and international organizations have different responsibilities and play active roles in management, protection and utilization of Skadar Lake National Park (SLNP). A few governmental institutions as well as public enterprises hold regulative function (enacting and implementing of the Law).

6.2.1 State level stakeholders Stakeholders at the state level are key actors responsible for the creation and implementation of developmental policies for the improvement of social concept for the local population. This is the first level of interested parties responsible for project ratification and implementation. Also, strategic plans and goals have to coincide with their goals and plans. In Table 14, the impact/significance levels on project implementation are presented. Table 14: Stakeholder analysis on central and local governmental level Main groups

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

Stakeholder Groups

Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection

Preparation and team commitment for the SAP procurement and its implementation within the next 5 years Legislative preparation Coordination and monitoring of NP Tourism development Ecological inspection National park

Interests at stake in relation to project Fulfill the obligations of international treaties

Effect of project on interests

Importance of stakeholder for success of Project*

Degree of influence of Stakeholder over project**

+ + + Law implementation control Implementation control National Park management

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

MAFWR

Sustainable development of agriculture, fishing and cattle production

Control and monitoring of community health

Administrative development within municipalities

Law on Fresh Water Fishing Resolving of Fishing License Problem Water Protection against Pollution Water Directorate Advisory Office Agricultural Inspection

Ministry of Culture, Sport and Media Ministry of Economic Development Ministry of the Interior

Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare

+ + + Water resources managing Vineyard and “vine ways” development Sustainable usage of agriculture land, fishing fund control Preservation, and cultural and tourist enhancements of cultural welfare on the Lake Concessions on resources Frontier control and implementation of the law in the area defined by project

LOCAL AUTHORITIES Municipality is the first Municipalities: level of local Podgorica government. Cetinje Minor units and local Bar government representatives are Local communities Support to the initiatives that are of interest to the local community Solving of infrastructure problems on the local level (water supply, wastewaters) Improvement of road infrastructure Improvement of cooperation among municipalities Tourist organizations in the following municipalities: Cetinje, Podgorica and Bar

+ + + + Improvement tourism offer

*1= minor/irrelevant, 2= of little relevance, 3= of medium relevance, 4= very important, 5= key stakeholder ** 1= little/ no impact, 2= of little impact, 3= of medium impact, 4= significant impact, 5= very powerful

Institutions engaged in managing SLNP are organized at the central level. Government Ministries represent the central level, while the local level is composed of municipal authorities. Because of the importance of the Skadar Lake National Park area for the state, the implementation of industry laws is controlled by various inspections on the state level (ecological, constructional, water supply, agriculture, etc.). Government creates the Policy of Resources Usage, and it is also the director in terms of sustainable development, tourism and cross-border cooperation. Government carries out its plans through the work of ministries as well as through enacting laws, which regulate the establishment of institutions and responsibilities over resources management.

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Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection has supervisory and coordinating functions related to the engagement of important institutions that manage national parks. The Ministry prepares and enacts laws and other acts, supervises activities related to the environment (related to institutions and public enterprises that work under the competence of the Ministry), inspects and ensures the implementation of regulations, provides funds for research and development, cooperates with international organizations. The Environmental Protection sector within the Ministry has the special task of managing biodiversity protection and protected areas. In addition, there is an ecological inspection within this Ministry. The Ministry is, among others, responsible for promoting the National Parks and ecological values and its utilization in tourism. It is also authorized to control tourism capacities and services offered in the NPs. Supported by at that time Ministry of Tourism, the Master Plan for Tourism Development in Montenegro was prepared in 2001 (and adopted by the GoM). The plan for the Skadar Lake area considers it as tourism development zone and traditional villages surrounding the Lake, domestic products, sailing, walking and sport fishing are emphasized as tourism potentials of the entire region. Institutions that are under the supervision and coordination of the Ministry in the field of protection and managing protected areas are the public enterprise National Parks, as well as institutions involved in monitoring environmental conditions: Hydro-Meteorological and PI Centre for Eco-Toxicological Research of Montenegro (PI CERM). Ecological Inspection, according to the Environmental Law, has authority to control whether the environmental condition is ensured as prescribed by this law and the regulations defined on its basis. This regulates the methods, working conditions and technical equipment of the enterprises and other legal entities in terms of providing the instruments for environmental protection. Environmental Law, followed by subsequent bylaws and the Law on National Parks, prohibits the majority of actions within the Skadar Lake area as well as other National Parks. If there is an intention to undertake any action in the area of Skadar Lake, its impact on the environment must be estimated, comprising a detailed analysis of the action. The Ministry can accept or reject a proposed activity depending on the activityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impact on the environment. The inspection office enforces the regulations against illegal activities. The Skadar Lake Park Service observes the territory 24 hours per day and in the case of some illegal activity, such as ecological, constructional or water supply violations, the inspections office forwards the case, according to protocol, to the competent executive organ that launches the appropriate type of legal responsibility. For example, the Environmental Law (Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro, 12/96) grants competence to the Republicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ecological inspections and prohibits and restricts certain activities. However, there are some penalty omissions, so ecological inspectors have no authority to undertake certain activities in the case of the illegal use of protected species of flora and fauna. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management also has significant authorities in the area of policy and resources managing. The responsibilities of this Ministry are the management of water resources as well as pollution protection, management and protection of agricultural land, forests management and protection, hunting, fresh and salt-water fishing, and village planning. This Ministry has partial responsibility for managing protected areas through authorities that manage certain natural resources such as forests, waters, the fish fund and quarry. The Ministry authorities overlap with the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection, especially in terms of control over the collection and trade of some flora and fauna species, as well as in the area of fishery in protected areas (where those activities are legal). The responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management in the area of fishery includes the preparation of laws, as well as enacting fish basis and establishing fishery areas

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where particular types of fishery are legal (commercial and sport fishery). Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management also manifests directions, which in some water areas prohibits any kind of fishery permanently or temporarily, or prohibits only fishery of some fish species. Those measures are motivated by the protection of some scarce fish species, and can be initiated by the Republicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secretary for nature protection. Skadar Lake water is also used for sport and commercial fishery purpose. Apart from 25 National Park keepers, the interim Ministry has the authority to control fishery. Fishery inspectors act in a supervisory role for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. Water resources management represents one more area in which the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management has authorities, which are of great significance to NPSL management. The Ministry has the following functions: law preparations, enacting water management basis, i.e. policies and plans for water resources managing, defining measures for water protection, water resources usage managing, issuing licenses and acceptances; conduction of water information system, and other duties. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management has authority for issuing concessions for the exploitation of sand and grit from the watercourse. Despite the role of the National Park Director, such authority is given to the Ministry. One more important competence is supervising the management and usage of water resources over the whole territory of Montenegro. The water management inspection is the supervisor. According to law competences in water resources managing, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management has an important role in developing and approving large projects that have a great impact on the lake. Two examples of those projects include a century-old idea about the regulation (decrease) of Skadar Lake water level, and Skadar Lake water usage for regional water supply system for the Montenegrin seaside. Agricultural Inspection functions as the control body for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, with the authority to control the exploitation of agricultural land, contained in the Spatial Plan of the National Park, which is located outside of the urban area. Besides this, inspection controls the fishing and fish trade during the time when fishing is forbidden. It controls the volume of bagged fish as well as all the places where the fish can be sold (markets, illegal markets, and interlopers). Inspection also prescribes laws and acts that are related to issues such as land exploitation, agricultural land protection and so on. The Advisory service for agricultural production represents a part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. The main goal is to protect plants in fruit production and grape production. In the Skadar Lake area this service has an active role by helping vineyard associations to give tourism value to that area. The Ministry of Culture, Sport and the Media also has an important role, because within its authority is the protection of cultural properties and legacies, as well as plans of tourism enhancements to those monuments in the Skadar Lake region. Other ministries have a significant role in the area of management, protection, and usage of resources in Skadar Lake. The Ministry of Economic Development, whose authority includes exploitation of raw minerals and the issuing of exploitation concessions, as well as the urban and physical monitoring; the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Transport establishes infrastructure facilities and maintains a presence through the hinterland unit on the Lake; and the Ministry of Health as authorities in the area of public health. The Ministry of Economy has special importance if we take into account the longterm considerations about the possibilities of peat exploitation in the National Park area, since peat has been recognized as an important mineral resource. The Ministry of Interim has authority in the area of maintaining the frontier part of Lake, which has authority over the Plovna unit of the Ministry of Interim, which keeps public order and peace on the lake. Also, that unit protects against fishing in the period when fishing is forbidden.

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Conclusion: Because of the high importance of Skadar Lake for the Republic of Montenegro, it is under exclusive state control, i.e. Government authority. The Ministry that has the most important role in the process of NPSL management is the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection. National Park management is provided through the institution Public Enterprise “National Parks of Montenegro”, and thus it is necessary to establish clear coordination among the sectors and system for monitoring resources.

6.2.2 The Level of Local Authority On the local level, municipal authorities have specific roles in National Park management. The territory of Skadar Lake belongs to three municipalities: Podgorica, Bar and Cetinje. Local authorities in those municipalities mainly have a double role in National Park management, such as institutions that protect the Park as well as use its resources. The most important role of the municipal authorities is the management of municipal waste and wastewaters, through its public enterprises as prescribed by the Law on waste management (Official Gazette 80/05). Also, the Secretaries for Physical Planning are responsible for implementation of spatial and urban planing in the Skadar Lake area. Accordingly, local authorities have a significant role in park management, because reinforced (and very often illegal) construction represents a serious problem for the National Park. Local authorities have also organized Secretaries for residential and municipal activities and environmental protection, i.e. services whose task is to organize and to implement measures for environmental protection on the local level, relating to the buffer zone of the National Park. Communal service inspections are also organized on the local level, with regulatory functions as well as of law implementation. Their role in the protection and management of the National Park resources can be more active. The Law on Assessing Impact on Environment, the Law on Strategic Assessing Impact of Environment and the Law on Integrated Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution have been recently adopted, and their implementation begins in 2008. By these laws, the impacts of individual infrastructure violations to the environment will be clearly restricted. These laws will also decrease certain authorities of the Ministry on the level of local governance. This provides local authorities authorization to act in order to decrease pressures on the lake as well as to develop its strategic plans according to the ecological plans of the National Park. However, its major ”pressure” is related to the responsibility in managing waste and wastewaters. The Municipalities of Podgorica and Cetinje by inappropriate treatment of waste and wastewaters (illegal disposal, disposal in Cemovsko field) have a direct impact on the water quality in Skadar Lake and therefore on its ecosystem. Besides which, the municipalities of Niksic and Danilovgrad significantly contribute to the quantity of wastewaters that come to Skadar Lake through the Moraca River. Cooperation between municipalities is poor; it seems that every municipality acts in accordance with its own interests. For instance, the Municipality of Cetinje is operating on a very low level because of authority changes and a political structure that blocked any plans for the Lake. The political background was the main reason of non-cooperation between neighboring municipalities, tourism organizations, as well as of the inequitable development of the community in Rijecka nahija belonging to the Municipality of Cetinje. In the area of resources management and activities on the lake, the Municipality of Bar is most active, with 61 km of the coast and with an eye towards cultural and tourism enhancement. The Municipality of Bar launched several activities in terms of tourism enhancement through organizing and funding several manifestations on the Lake, and through the affirmation of sports tourism by renting land in the lakes hinterland for the purpose of building golf courses. A spatial plan was made for the development of Virpazar and Ostros, because of investors’ interests in those settlements. In 2005, the amount of €60,000 was invested in road infrastructure, providing an approach to every place on the

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Skadar Lake coast, and the Municipality of Bar also plans to construct traveler’s port in Virpazar as well as to establish a lake shipping line between Skadar and Virpazar. Serious investments as well as activities for the ecological protection of the lake are also visible through investment in wastewater collectors in Virpazar made by the Municipality of Bar in 2003. The Municipality of Podgorica is aware of Skadar Lake and within its authorities is conducting activities targeting the Lake’s protection. The Municipality of Podgorica is relatively less engaged in investing in and rehabilitating its part of the territory. It should be taken into consideration that almost one third of the total Montenegrin population lives in Podgorica. The main «pressure» is related to the huge amounts of waste that flows into the Moraca River without being purified. This wastewater directly contributes to the pollution levels in Skadar Lake. By investing in a waste collector and by realization of the Project on revitalization of the wastewater filter, the municipality will significantly contribute to the Lake’s water quality. During 2006, the Municipality installed a specific municipal infrastructure in Zeta and organized disposal and transport of the solid waste in some places in the Zeta area. Additionally, by realization of the Project on recovery of municipal dump and building regional dump in the next two years, the municipal dump in the field of Cemovsko, which is currently a huge source of pollution, will be rehabilitated and transformed into a municipal disposal. So far, one sanitation vat is open. The plan is to realize the recycling center Project. In the case of residential facilities construction, there are the options of building a temporary structure on the lake, restructuring of present facilities, or building new ones. There is almost no possibility to get a permit for building new facilities, because no detailed urban plan exists, except for in the settlements of Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevica. This obstacle encourages illegal construction and causes problems to the National Park authorities as well as to National construction inspection, especially in the territory of Podgorica and Cetinje. It is expected that the about-to-be initiated GTZ sponsored project will develop a detailed special plan for the most attractive zones on Skadar Lake, both in Montenegro and in Albania, which will overcome this problem. The positive example is adoption of the urban plan “Plavnica” by municipality of Podgorica, which belongs to Skadar lake area. The project includes the National Park protection plan. In 2005, Municipality of Podgorica adopted the General Urban Plan “Golubovci” according to the Municipal Podgorica Spatial Plan. This plan includes wider area of the Goolubovci settlement, a 1773 square meters, as well as villages Šušanja and Balabani. In this area, inspection control is to be completed at the same day when the plan is adopted and the construction, which is not in accordance to the plan, is not possible. During 2004, the Municipality of Podgorica adopted criteria on agrochemical soil analysis, which target on rationalization of mineral fertilization consumption, which guarantied agro system protection from contamination, servicing fertility level and bigger yield. Assets for agro chemical analysis soil from Zeta and Malesija, sort out from Capital town Podgorica Agro budget. This measure is very successful in terms of education for agriculture producers during fertilization. In the Municipality of Bar, illegal construction is mostly present in the part of the lake that belongs to Podgorica, and the main cause for that situation is the non-existence of urban plans that enable clear and proper direction of development for the whole region. The municipality has no authority over illegal construction, since construction inspection is controlled by the State, due to its special interest in the Lake. The Municipality of Cetinje was excluded from all processes on the Lake for political reasons, and communication between National Park authorities and other municipalities was non-existent. After the change in the local authority in December 2005, the Municipality of Cetinje has planned more active cooperation with authorities, as well as investments in Skadar Lake settlements belonging to this municipality. The local authority’s previous position in this area resulted in excessive exploitation of the lake’s natural resources as well as illegal construction.

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The Municipality of Cetinje is preparing similar activities in the Skadar Lake area: - Preparing the Project documentation for building an aqueduct Drušići-Rijeka Crnojevića. By building this aqueduct, the collector for wastewater filtration will be functional in Rijeka Crnojevića. - Creating conditions for tourism development in Rijeka Crnojevica, by building old hotel, participations in reconstruction of an ecological foot path from Rijeka Crnojevića to cave Obod, by adding adequate devices and lighting. - In addition, with regard to wastewater from Cetinje out flowing to Skadar Lake, the project on reconstruction of sewerage system network is in preparation as well as setting the collector for wastewater filtration. The Municipality of Cetinje participated in creating the tourist guide for Rijeka Crnojevića, as well as in organization of many round tables regarding the tourism development in the Rijeka Crnojevića and in supporting all cultural events in this area. Practice has shown that the problems of inadequate enforcement of the law and frequent changes in local authority are some of the main factors that have a negative impact on nature protection.

6.2.3 National Park Skadar Lake NP Skadar Lake presents one of four organizational units within the Public enterprise National Parks; therefore authorities of this unit are generated from the general authorities of the Public enterprise. There are four National Parks within the public enterprise National Parks in Montenegro. The law on National Parks, adopted in 1991, regulates the management of National Parks. According to the National Parks Law, the management board and scientific council manage the public enterprise National Parks. The management board consists of 9 members, 5 of which are representatives of the Government and 4 members are representative of each National Park. The management board makes decisions on issues prepared by the National Parks. The scientific council acts as an advisory body to the management board and makes decisions related to crucial issues; it does not discuss all the decisions that are discussed by the management board. National Park Skadar Lake’s primary function is the protection of the area’s natural and cultural resources. This prevents the illegal usage of natural resources and internal order is kept, as prescribed by the Public Enterprise of National Parks. The National Park staff consists of 25 keepers, administrative staff and a director. The Spatial Plan for the territory of Skadar Lake was adopted in 2001, as well as the Program for the Protection and Development of Skadar Lake adopted in 2004 which is valid for the period from 20052010. According to the Program of Protection and Development, one-year long programs are created and adopted by the management board. The Parliament of Montenegro adopts the Spatial Plan, while the Government of Montenegro adopts the Program of Protection and Development. Hunting in the area of Skadar Lake is forbidden, according to the Spatial Plan for the area’s special purpose. For 2006, the program of protection and development was adopted. Tourism and fishing, the main activities, are regulated by internal acts adopted by the National Park. 6.2.3.1 Funding of the National Park Skadar Lake The Public Enterprise National Parks is mostly funded by its own and partly from the Republic’s budget from the funds for the purpose of nature protection. PENP collects revenues from fees for natural resources usage and services offered in the recreation and tourist areas within the National Park, according to the PENP decision. In 2005, the NP Skadar Lake revenues amounted to about 36%, which is higher compared to 2004. Within the structure of its own revenues, the dominant revenues are for issuing fishing licenses (26%) and sand and grit exploitation (44%). The enterprise is authorized to charge for a huge number of fees (including fishing compensations license for fishery amounts to €300 annually; daily sports fishing license costs €5, while the ship Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

renting charge is €30 per hour. The price of an entrance ticket for a National Park is €1 per person, taxes paid by catering facilities amount to €4 per m2, and there is also a charge for logging, compensations for doing business on the Lake, making movies, and camping. Boat owners have the obligation to pay a flat fee, depending on the number of seats in the boat, from €250 up to €1,000 per year). Table 15: National Park revenue structure in 2005 Revenue resource: 2005 (EUR) Fishing licenses 53,967.00 Bleaks fishing 18,448.00 Sand and grit exploitation. ''B.tigle and Ponari'' 83,500.00 Park and boat tickets 13,164.00 Taxes according to the program of temporary facilities 7,880.00 Confiscated assets, frog hunting etc. 11,114.00 I Own revenues 188,073.00 II Budget funds (salaries, meal fee, legal remedy and transport) 59,298.00 TOTAL I + II 247,371.00 Source: Annual Report of the Public Enterprise National Parks of Montenegro, Podgorica, 2005

6.2.3.2 NP ”Skadar Lake” activities in 2005 -

In April 2005, in cooperation with the Mountain Association of Komovi, the NP marked three hiking paths: Vranjina, Rumija and Vrsuta and restored marks on the recreational tourist path Obod – Rijeka Crnojevica. The publication ”Hiking guide in National Park Skadar Lake” has also been published.

The fishery association of Podgorica organized many sport-fishing contests in the area of Skadar Lake. One of them “Gold Bleak” had international character.

During 2005, the Program for temporary facilities was created for Skadar Lake. That initiative resulted in the signing of the contract between the National Park and two entrepreneurs.

During the previous year, one of the most important projects was to open facilities in Vranjina. NP offices are located within the facilities, while the basement is rented to the company”Plantaze” as of July 13th for a ten-year period.

During 2006, the Information Center for visitors will be opened within NP facilities in Vranjina.

Main requirements of the National Park Even if this institution is engaged in National Park management, by full support of Government and Ministry of Tourism and Environment Protection, many direct and indirect members will have an impact on: - Strengthening of the institution by highly qualified staff and well-educated guides that will improve communication for NP tourists and visitors; - Strengthening of a protection guardian service through education, ranger service establishment as well as the environmental patrol; - Establishment of cooperation among all three municipalities and a clear definition of authorities in the National Park area; - Definition of clear spatial and urban plans on the Lake; - Marking of zones on the Lake.

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6.2.4 Direct Influence of Stakeholder Groups In this section we will evaluate the position of individuals, families, community, project results stakeholders and especially the vulnerable groups: poor farmers and fishermen, women, children, marginal groups related to the goals and possible solutions of the project. Lifestyles of National Park (NP) area inhabitants, their most important problems, development plans and problems with institutions that are dealing with resource management directly or indirectly are inferred. The risk to the lake’s resources from these inhabitants is low but their economic dependence on the lake is significant. Population density in the area around the Park is much higher and the lake resources pressures are also more significant which means that villages outside the park territory might have more of an impact on the lake than those inside. This especially applies to Zeta Valley, which extends along the northern band of Skadar Lake. Plans for decreasing the water levels of Skadar Lake are partially motivated by agricultural production expansion; it is estimated that one such intervention (combined with ameliorate measures) would provide an additional 14,000 to 25,000 acres of farming land. Aside from the potential influence on the ecological balance this will cause increased pollution of the lake water due to the greater use of pesticide and fertilizers. The situation is slightly different in the Karst area on the western and southern shores of Lake Skadar (territory of Cetinje and Bar municipalities), where farmland is rare and divided into small lots. There are colorful villages typical for the area whose inhabitants are traditionally oriented to agricultural production and fishing only for its own needs. Depopulation became common in this area after World War II and some settlements are totally abandoned. Local inhabitants who are using the lake’s resources with NP management and local authorities are dissatisfied with the level of cooperation. The problems are (i) a lack of fishermen associations, as well as associations of entrepreneurs and those involved in tourism, and agricultural cooperatives; (ii) a lack of transparency in the functioning of the NP; and (iii) low participation of local communities in the decision making process and planning regarding the NP. In the 1950’s, there were fishermen’s cooperatives established in the area, representing the interests of local fishermen and managing the fish fund. Today, such cooperatives do not exist, and fishermen are organized through their local communities. There is an association of the fishermen of Vranjina who represent the interests of local fishermen, but due to some disputes fishermen from other settlements are not interested in participating in this association. Local inhabitants’ positions and interests can be best seen through the summary of results in the FG discussions and household survey (HHS). Within the implied survey methodology, seven focus group discussions’ were organized. (i) Mataguzi and Golubovci as hinterland settlements with a large number of inhabitants, and therefore a higher usage of lake resources (people from Lake flange settlements like Bistrica and Ponari were also present at discussions). (ii) Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevica is the largest inhabited area in the NP. (iii) Murici is a settlement that shows significant tourism potential. (iv) Vranjina is a settlement with certain characteristics different from others in the NP. (v) Godinje is architecturally the most interesting and one of the oldest Lake settlements with significant tourism enhancement potentials. HHS was conducted on a representative sample of 209 households located in settlements on/in the NP periphery. Analysis results are presented in Chapter 8. Local Inhabitant’s Motives and Interests The majority of settlements on Skadar Lake (SL) are in the extinction process; their inhabitants are natives still living on the lake because of an iconic relationship with the living space. That is also the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

basic return motive of pensioners in Skadar Lake villages. Another reason is the low income of these people returning to agriculture and vineyards for subsistence. On the other hand, young people’s basic migration motives are poor living conditions, better business opportunities in cities and the opportunity for steady paychecks. A major barrier to the return process that exists throughout the settlements in this region, is the lack of an adequate infrastructure to enable quality of life for the inhabitants. Infrastructure would even contribute to the creation of quality tourism in this area. According to opinion it is important to: -

Sanitize the bacteriological and chemical water pollution10; Build a water supply system in settlements without a network, and network recovery in those without infrastructure; Build a sewage system in settlements wherever possible, and the recovery of waste collectors, recovery and re-driving of existing wastewater collectors; Utility infrastructure and appropriate solutions for the disposal of solid waste.

The Krajina has prospects for agriculture and tourism. Road infrastructure is a primary prerequisite. Rijeka Crnojevica suffers mostly from infrastructure issues. Significant investments are necessary in order to return people to villages and to include them in the tourism enhancement of Rijeka. Conclusions relating to Vranjina village will be particularly addressed in the chapter that describes the results of discussion with inhabitants. Two basic trends slowing down the vitality of Godinje are water supply problems and migrations. Agricultural production is waning in the Zeta Valley. Potentials for Agriculture and Agricultural Product Development: In the Zeta Valley there are significant potentials for the development and increase of agricultural production. For a majority of inhabitants this is a basic activity and primary development path. Discussion with the inhabitants of Zeta indicates that all citizens are aware of significant water pollution and pollution of the soil from KAP, especially since it is used for agricultural production. If the valley is protected from pollution and if the agricultural products’ redeem chain is assured, inhabitants could be significantly more engaged in agricultural production. That would decrease pressure on the lake’s fish fund and quarry during the prohibition period, which is currently an activity for almost every household in order to get additional income source. On the other hand that would lead to an increase in the number of inhabitants, production expansion pressure and farmland, pesticide usage, greater agricultural exploitation in NP and the resulting pollution. According to the current information from citizens, land in Ponari, Bistrica and Bijelo Polje are of the best quality, without pollution and its exploitation will be higher in the future. The population of Crmnica has ideas for creating new products, such as Crmnica honey and organic food production, which could enhance the region’s tourism offering. Potentials exist for this type of agricultural production in all social and economic areas that have been observed in this research. In research samples, most households cultivate land which is either their own or somebody else’s property. In Malesija and Krajina, households support themselves by subsistence farming, while the rest of area’s pensioners and people who spend weekends there use the land for vegetable cultivation and vineyards. However, the agricultural potential is still unfulfilled. The most extensive cultivable soil per household is in Zeta at 10,000m2, with an average size of 2,000 m2. There are small parcels of 500,00m2 in Krajini, Rijecka Nahija and Crmnica, which are not used for obtaining revenues, only as a supplement to the household budget. The possibility to cultivate more land currently exists, insofar as each household could utilize more land for planting. In Malesija, more than 61% of monthly household incomes are from agriculture and raising cattle. In Zeta it is 30%, while in Krajina it is 17% of the researched sample. In Rijecka Nahija and Crmnica, 10 None is drinking water from the lake, neither rain water. This is primarily related to those settlements in the Zeta valley that use wells for water supply, as they believe that the water is polluted by the Aluminum Plant.

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agricultural products are used only for personal consumption. During the last three years the income from agriculture and beef cattle raising has decreased in Malesija, Krajina and Crmnica, although in Rijecka Nahija and in Crmnica there haven’t been any changes. The residents of Malesija and Crmnica gain part of the household monthly incomes by selling cattle products, for 30% of their total income. The rest of the residents keep livestock only for private consumption. All residents use pesticides in agricultural production, for example pesticide use is at 90% in Zeta and Malesia. On low rate production, pesticide use is lower. The plans for enlarging agricultural production exist in Malesia (97% of researched sample), Zeta and Krajina. In the rest of the region a much lower percentage of interest was expressed, because residents in Crmnica farm as a hobby. The impetus for these plans by Zeta residents is because agriculture is a primary source of income, while families from Melesija don’t have another option since agriculture presents a mechanism for supplementing the household budget. In addition, residents in Zeta recognize the long-term agricultural perspective. Fishing is the traditional activity for people living on the lakeshore. Fishing is conduct mainly on a small scale today, for personal needs and as an additional income from selling quarried fish surplus on local markets. Usually sport (hook) and traditional (nets) fishing is used, while NP guards indicate that use of illegal fishing means are widespread. Annual fishing licenses are issued for both types of fishing and MAFWR declares fishing prohibition during the reproductive period and in certain waters where fishing is not allowed. Fishermen’s communes (established during the 1950’s) that had responsibility in fish fund management and represented local fishermen’s interests ceased to exist. Fishermen are now organized and represent their interests through local communities. Currently only one fishermen’s association exists in Vranjina, which is weak and under the pressures of Zeta Valley fishermen who fish as a secondary income source. Since fishermen from other settlements are not involved in the Vranjina fishermen association they oppose their work and do not provide relevant support. Besides agriculture, fishing is the basic activity on the Lake and in all settlements of the National Park periphery. The possibility of economic gain allowed by insufficient protection of the lake’s natural resources and other factors led to an increase in the number of fishermen. All citizens consider that the fish fund is dramatically reduced over the past few years for the following basic causes: - Over fishing and the use of illegal means such are aggregate and explosives; - KAP water pollution; - Quarry pressure from the Albanian side, since there is not adequate restrictions for Albania; - Inadequate (lower) number of guardians and nepotism leading to the biggest catches during the prohibition period when fish are most vulnerable. Such beliefs are a reflection on smaller quantities of certain fish species taken from the lake in the last couple of years, especially those that were once migratory. A majority population who lives from fishing is forced to violate prohibitions because of low incomes. Lake area inhabitants believe that this is the endangered inhabitants category which provides minimal damage to the fish fund. On the other hand, the relatively easy money through illegal fishing means and organized fish sales enables quick and high earning to individuals. Low prices and easy sales contribute to this behavioral pattern. They represent significant pressure for impoverished inhabitants, who expressed readiness if fishing is forbidden on Albanian side, to do voluntary service for the guardian service during prohibition periods. They are aware that it would contribute to the fish fund renewal in the next three years. Therefore, we can conclude that local inhabitants support restrictions on fishing from both sides (both the Montenegrin and Albanian side) so more fish will be available next year. Fish Distribution: the selling channels of the catches are arranged buyers, middlemen and friends. Restaurants are also part of this chain, where it is possible to find fish during the closed season. The

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

residents of Vranjina and Zeta sell fish on the main road and on the market in Podgorica. They sell fish to the plant for canning and fish processing in Rijeka Crnojevica only in May and June. Although the people from the plant claim that they buy fish during the whole year and that fisherman sell fish to them only then when they are not able to sell it through another channel, due to the low price offered by the plant for fish. The fishing in most cases is done from motor boats. Those who catch fish by traditional methods are a lower percentage and they use old boats without motors. According to the opinion of people who fish the lake, the pressure on the fish fund has increased in last 20 years, based on the declining catches of different fish species. It produces negative consequences for the fish fund in the lake and for the people who live next to the lake and who support themselves only from fishing. The proposed solution of this situation is lake zoning in order to mark fishing zones, and better control over the fishing trade chain. The fishermen from Vranjina propose special status for people who live by the lake and from the lake’s resources. Guarding Service: Reasons for why guards don’t do their job, at least by surveyed citizens, are low incomes, big lake surface, possibility for speed and easy money, and nepotism (guards are frequently lake area inhabitants with relatives and friendly connections among the thieves). Proposed solutions: (i) local inhabitant’s assistance during prohibition period (engaging guards from different areas is dangerous – those people aren’t familiar with the Lake); (ii) the formation of an ecological service; (iii) market limitations on illegal fishing means; (iv) reducing the prohibition period; (v) legal regulation and fishing control on the Albanian side. Wine Production, Honey Production: Potential for wine production exists, especially in Crminica and Rijecka nahija. In Zeta Valley many people return to the vineyards while a lot of people in Crminica have ideas for development and branding of wine varieties and products. The potential lies in homegrown varieties that are developed in this area and the development of wine routes which could attracts tourists, add to the agricultural products supply, encourage visits to cultural monuments and contribute to overall tourism. People are dedicated to the idea of making wine routes in Crmnica and Rijecka nahija and this development is to be expected in the future. Ideas coming from the local community require additional planning and preparation. Tourism: This activity is in expansion and a realistic opportunity for including the local inhabitants exists but there is no sufficiently developed awareness of the ways in which they can be included. It is necessary to organize people from local and government authorities, through education, small grants and creation plans for the area’s overall tourism intentions as all households’ assets can contribute to this project. Clearly defined goals and destinations should be developed in order to take advantage of the lake’s full tourism potential with equable development of all social and economic levels. Tourist product and tourist offer of the Skadar Lake area should be clearly defined and therefore base for this area development would be established. Local interests and development goals of Virpazar inhabitants are not in agreement with the interests and plans of Bar municipality which plans to develop Virpazar as a trade center. Inhabitants see prospects in tourism and services. Hinterland and Crmnica see potential in small-scale farming and country tourism development. The main problem is a lack of clear direction for tourism development in the Lake area. Citizens are noticing the lack of information signs and entrance ramps in the National Park. In Godinje there is awareness of the possibility for the enhancement of the old architecture and ancient heritage of 100 houses for tourism purposes. Additionally there are opportunities for the organization of old family production of wine, fish (smoked carp), cheese, honey, and various leisure activities which could be included in the overall tourism market.

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

In Krajina they are considering tourism activities which have real potential. Rijeka Crnojevica is undecided about it because the current inhabitant’s activities depend on the direction of government investments in this region. As regards to tourism development there are possibilities for local involvement through home-made products, wine, wine routes, household bed & breakfasts, and domestic crafts, among other things. For now, households are oriented to fish factory and state service work. Obviously, cooperation is poor between tourism entrepreneurs and Virpazar’s inhabitants. Organized visitors coming through tour-operators are unrestrained on the Lake. Conflicts of interest among restaurant owners at Virpazar and local residents lead to poor service and a decreased possibility for more active local participation in tourism services through the indirect sales of food, wine and souvenirs. Though owners of local businesses are local people as well, others from the local community do not support their activities. Only a few households in Krajina and Crmnica are able to earn a livelihood from tourism, through renting rooms or hotel management. The selling of fish and olive oil to transiting tourists gains indirect tourism incomes. This is characteristic of Krajina and Vranjine residents. The residents don’t have permits to do these activities. Boat registrations for picnicker tourism is a requirement for boat owners in order to do this kind of business. The boat must have proper technical documentation in order to get permission to work on the lake. Tourism revenue is only 20% of the annual income for one family engaged in this kind of business, . This is because of the short tourist season, low level of organization, and a lack of accommodations, which could provide for longer stays after and before season. The residents emphasize that the situation regarding tourism incomes has not changed the last three years. Lake Pollution: On the question of whether they are worried about any kind of pollution on the Skadar Lake, and what pollutes lake water, 77% gave positive answers. The main polluter, according to them, is KAP and wastewater and waste material that are brought by the rivers Moraca and Zeta. In addition to these pollution sources, they mentioned pesticides, which are washed away from the plantations of the Agronomy Plant, which get into the lake water and waste materials from all the lake settlements that are dumped into the Lake, because of the lack of a utility infrastructure. For the residents of Zeta, KAP is the main pollution source of the lake water, as well as drinking water, soil and air. The main polluters, according to residents of Rijecka nahija, are sewage wastewater and wastewater from the fish plant in Rijeka Crnojevica, which all come directly into the lake because the main sewer doesn’t work, waste water of Cetinje, KAP and waste materials. The situation is much better in the Krajina, because they don’t have problems with KAP, and the residents think that the main source of pollution are waste materials dumped into the lake. This is also the main problem in Crmnica because of a poor utility infrastructure and organized dumping of waste materials. The residents of Crmnica also think that KAP is the pollution source. Activity: In the research sample pensioners are among the highest percent of the residents who work and contribute to create incomes. The residents who support themselves on pensions supplement their incomes through agriculture and fishing. These retirees worked in agriculture, production and transport services as primary activity. The following graph shows the various activities in the Skadar Lake Region. Graph 10: Primary activities of the active residents

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

The active residents of Zeta (43% of researched sample) work in state institutions or industrial enterprises, representing the main source of income for these households. Industrial enterprises such as KAP and AD Plantaže do have an environmental impact on the Skadar Lake region. On average, monthly incomes are high and these families do not depend on the lake’s natural resources. The entrepreneurship / businesses are most developed in the Crmnica area, where tourism is an emerging industry. In addition, the residents also live from pensions and from work in state institutions. A typical example of settlement conditions in the Skadar Lake Region is a sample observed in Rijecka nahija, where 62% of the population collects an old-age pension. The rest work in state institutions and in the fish canning and processing plant. But the residents of Melesija (93%), Zeta (19%) and Krajina (26%) earn incomes primarily from agriculture. The residents of Krajina (39%), Crmnica (10%), the settlements on the lake’s edge in Zeta and all of Vranjina earn incomes from fishing. The residents who earn incomes from agriculture and fishing are dependent on the lake’s resources. The average income per month depends on the type of activity. Therefore the entrepreneurs (825,000) and residents employed in industrial enterprises (510.) earn the most income. The residents who collect pensions, and earn incomes from agriculture and fishing have the lowest. The average pension is €138.00, but public welfare recipients collect €80, 00. The average income for a fisherman is €200. During the fishing season (and illegal fishing season) the monthly incomes are higher, but regardless the seasonal activity and investment expenses in equipment and boats, their monthly incomes are not above €300.00 per month. Farmers earn a similar amount, and they can only increase their incomes if they increase their investments and by cultivating more arable land. Graph 11: The average income amounts per activities

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

900

825

800 700 600

510

500

354

400 210

Agriculture

290 209

Fishing

300 200

138

100 Entrepreneurs

Industry

Pablic administration

Office

Pension

The residents of all settlements are interested in supplementing incomes with another activity. Provided they have good conditions, a greater percentage of Zeta residents will start to work in agricultural production. In the villages of Rijecka Nahija it is also agriculture, entrepreneurship and viticulture. The resident from these settlements mentioned agriculture as a secondary activity, in terms of supplemental income. Agriculture is a significant income source for all households in the region, wherever possible. The majority of residents farm for their own consumption. In addition, a great number of pensioners are returning to the Skadar Lake area and cultivating vineyards. According to the local community’s representatives interviewed, only a small percentage of the agricultural land is used for wine production and the potential is minor in comparison to Zeta, Malesija and Krajina. Representatives of the local community consider that this potential could be utilized to increase revenues through the design of development documents, which would encourage organized production and redeem agricultural products in a single season. These assertions are from the 1975 project data on agricultural production in the Zeta Valley. Fishing as secondary activity to supplement the household income is most prevalent in Zeta and Krajina. The poor economic situation and the possibility of easy earnings from selling fish motivates an increasing number of fishermen in these areas and it depletes the lake’s fish fund. Inhabitant’s Awareness of the lake’s current problems is on a high level. Those who live from the lake’s resources are well aware of the concept of sustainable development and represent no danger to the lake. However, hinterlands people exploit the resources on a much higher scale. The fish fund is greatly depleted by Podgorica and Zeta inhabitants through organized, systematic fishing and fish sales during prohibition period, especially during major Christian holidays when fish are in high demand. Institutional Framework and Lake Management: According to subjective inhabitant’s estimations, the National Park Management by NP Skadar Lake has so far made a poor showing. Fishing restrictions during prohibition period aren’t sufficient. Tourist visits on the lake are obviously uncontrolled and poorly organized, illegal building is allowed for certain owners. Region inhabitants consider that the National Park Management has to deal with the problem of illegal construction. National Park Management receives positive marks for the latest activities on the lake, such are sailing, hiking paths and disposing of trash. Furthermore, citizens clearly distrust the results of the Center for Eco-toxicological Research and the data relating to pollution issues in the Zeta Valley area. According to the data published by this

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Center, the Aluminum Plant causes no significant pollution of Zeta Valley, though local inhabitants even without any proof claim the opposite. Inhabitants stated the necessity of establishing a fisherman’s association to protect their interests and rights. However, until they are ready to pay regularly membership dues such an association cannot exist. Collective Awareness: On the question of which state institution should be in charge in order to improve conditions on the Lake, the people cite the Government of the Republic of Montenegro and its authorized ministries (equally) Ministry of Tourism and Environment Protection and Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry. They also mentioned the National Park and local authorities, as significant factors for the governing of the Skadar Lake Region. Graph 12: Who is responsible for improving conditions on Lake (%) 25

23,4

23,0

20 14,8

13,4

10,5 10 6,2 5 0 Goverment of Montenegro

Ministry of T urism and environment

Bar Municipality

MAFWR

Podgorica Municipality

Source: Household Survey, CEED The Game Warden Service does its job properly, according to residents (residents of Zeta), while the rest of them did not mention anyone in particular. On the question of which institution does its job badly, some of the residents mentioned The Game Warden Service. Comparing these answers it is obvious that there is a contradiction. Residents have also remarked on the National Park Administration. On the question of whether NP Skadar Lake has the right to increase taxes and to introduce taxes for using resources (such as medicinal herbs) the residents answered negatively, because they think that the taxes are already too high. Awareness is low about the necessity to collect taxes. Only a small percent of the residents think that it is important to increase taxes in order to organize better resources management. An organized fishermen’s association in direct communication with the relevant authorities and with influence on its members, would improve fish fund management, decrease pressure on the fish fund, and improve selling and buying on the fish market, according to residents. By these measures fishermen would be directly protected and the lake’s fish fund would be preserved. Vulnerable Inhabitants Groups on the lake: In the lake’s hinterland according to FGD, local inhabitants inferred that Zeta inhabitants are especially endangered by water, air and land pollution. It

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

applies to all ages and all inhabitants’ categories, while the main source of pollution identified by interviewees is the Aluminum Plant. In Zeta, refugees from Albania are also endangered who are in a poor material condition with average daily incomes from € 15 as manual workers. Fishermen’s families and the poor especially in the Vranjina settlements are under pressure of the current fishing prohibition lasting for three months. They don’t have the right to participate in the new Law on Freshwater Fishery and they don’t have the opportunity for active involvement in the decision making process which directly relates to their living conditions and wealth, public information. They can be observed as “social disconnection”- a community socially excluded from the decisionmaking process related to their life in this area, because they are too small a community to take part in the process of drafting the Law. Among this vulnerable group of inhabitants are pensioners in half-empty villages who live alone or in pairs, the majority of them live in poverty, without adequate medical help. General Conclusions According to FGD feedback, local expectations regarding the project are on the scale of available credit lines for start-ups and suitable living conditions for return to half-empty villages. Expectations differ from region to region. Recommendations based on the data received are as follows: 1. Each complex should be observed as a characteristic settlement group with special and diverse lifestyles for that area. 2. According to those characteristics it is necessary to create specifically developed politics suitable to the identified system. 3. It is necessary to create the basic conditions for inhabitants to return to this region through providing qualitative water supply and waste treatment. Though one could say that a better water supply and waste treatment system would improve the quality of life, but not create a source of livelihood, it is important to state that those are the conditions for sustainable tourism development, which would keep people in this area. 4. Additional investments to the infrastructure are a prerequisite for qualitative tourism. 5. Qualitative strategic documents for the development and usage of the lake’s natural resources (agriculture, fishing) are necessary. 6. It is necessary to establish cooperation between the local population and the NP management as well as the local communities (municipalities). 7. Inhabitants living in the National Park are aware of the ecosystem significance and are determined not to violate the lake’s natural resources.

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

6.2.5 FG Discussions Results Below is given a short description of each settlement that should be kept in mind when developing the National Park policy. VRANJINA Vranjina is one of the 17 settlements located on the NP Skadar Lake. Because of the area’s configuration and position, the settlement has no other natural resource except for fishing, which was and is still the main subsistence for the local population. Vranjina has 112 households. There is a noticeable increase in the population every year though at a relatively small rate. Pensioners are returning to Vranjina, because of their affection for their native village and they fish in order to support themselves. This is a poor population, supplementing their children’s incomes that live in the city with their incomes from selling fish. The younger residents also fish and they are not moving from Vranjina to the urban centers. The basic motives for staying are the traditional way of life and attachment to an environment in which their ancestors lived for centuries before them. Infrastructure: In cooperation with the Government of Montenegro and by residents’ participation, the water supply system has begun construction. Completion is expected by the end of the year. At this moment residents use drinking water from the spring located up in the hills and carried by tanks. The new water supply system will include the construction of pipelines from the already existing springs. The problem with drainage feces is solved by septic tanks. There is no main sewer system for this area. The road infrastructure is adequate, more exactly the settlement is well connected with Podgorica and Bar. Problems: The main source of income is fishing, for 90% of households. Because of low incomes they are faced with impoverished living standards. The most significant problems are: - The closed fishing season, which lasts 2.5 months. This is quite a long period, regarding the fact that fishing is the main source of income for the local population. The local people say: “That is a time which is not so easy to survive.” Though they understand the reasons for a closed fishing season, lacking other income sources, they are forced to fish even during closed season. - The fishing gear is expensive, and must be bought before open season. The annual invests are between €3,000-5,000, while the maximum income is around € 7,000. The gear is usually damaged at the beginning of the open season, due to bad weather or because of damaged fishnets from speedboats. It is also because the lake is not marked for fishing zones. - Other fishermen who use illegal means are damaging the natural resources. This is the cause of the drastic decrease in fish quantity. Fishing baits, which are used for sport fishing, endanger young fish. - Fish distribution: there is no space organized for selling catch. They sell fish to foreign buyers and on the main road. They are not in a financial position to rent an expensive market stand. During the group discussion, residents were skeptical regarding fishermen’s future on the lake. They mentioned that they are afraid of the expected changes, which are one of the forms of the NP protection. They are afraid that fishing will be forbidden which will force them to move. “Perhaps 2030 households of 112 would be ready to leave Vranjina in that case”. They don’t see the possibility for other activity. They think that there is no possibility to offer services from the sector of tourism, because they don’t have enough potential. The lifestyles and habits are different. They propose, as an alternative, the prohibition of new construction, adapting houses and creating tourists’ accommodations in order to develop tourism in that region. In this way Vranjina would protect

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

investments, and change the appearance of the settlement. They are aware that it is not allowed to develop neither mass tourism nor a uniform tourism offer. At this moment there is one man on Vranjina who does picnicker tourism and they are all aware that the market will not bear more of the same tourism service. The residents believe that fishing will continue to be the main activity in the future, because there is no other options. Tourism brings a larger number of ships and yachts, which causes damage to fishermen by tearing up fishnets. It is necessary to zone the lake, but fishermen think that they would be limited because there would be lot of fishermen in a small area. Their incomes depend on fishery: “All villages from that area would be forced to fish in those areas. In that case we will not be able to support ourselves. The people of Vranjina know that it is a matter of time before it happens”. On the other hand, they think that they are endangered by NP announcements. Their possibilities are limited by a location that decreases options; because all the other villages are inland where they can earn additional income from agriculture and raising cattle. The fishing ban and the lake’s depletion directly endanger them. They are forced to fish during the closed season because there is no other way to support themselves. The fish quantity has decreased in the last few years. The main reason is the significantly increasing number of fishermen from outside of the lake area over the last ten years. Fishing by illegal means is widespread, as well as the presence of sport-fishermen who use more then one fishhooks at the same time. They do not care about the fact that it is necessary to protect young fish. They believe that a closed season of 2.5 months is rather long. According to their opinion, up to 15 days are just enough for closed season. They are ready to assist the game wardens during a fifteen-day spawning period. Cooperation with Institutions: Cooperation with the National Park administration is on the proper level because of fishing rights. But they do not have the same opinion regarding initiatives and decisions of the administration of the NP, which influences their condition and their interests. It is necessary to have their own representative in the decision-making process regarding this matter as the new law on freshwater fishing is in preparation that has to protect their own interest and create better conditions for fishermen. But currently they are out of this process. The administration has to take into consideration the opinion of the local populace because they are also a significant part of the National Park. The local population is not satisfied with the Game Warden Administration. “Right now there is a fishing ban, but I can buy fish from the wardens.” This indicates that the wardens illegally fish on the lake. They have some privileges but feel that it is the obligation of GWA to protect them from other fishermen. The Fishermen’s Association exists for the area of Skadar Lake, but fishermen from Vranjina have no benefit from this association because their interest are different from the interests of fishermen from the border lands. That is to say, the residents of Vranja consider that due to their position in respect to the National Park and the fact that fishing is practically the only source of income, they should have special status in view of the possibility to continue fishing on the lake. Forming the Fisherman’s Association and a new law on freshwater fishing would help fishermen work legally; it provides an easier registration process and fish distribution, and to purchase gear 40% cheaper. They expect Governmental support through favorable interest rate credits for fishermen, and in the form of fishing gear subsidies when as it sometimes happens all their gear is lost to storms in bad weather. Polluting the Lake Water: When it is a question of pollution, the most obvious source is wastewater sediment from the KAP, which can be noticed during the summer months when the lake level is low. During the winter months the pollution is not noticeable, they believe that the water flow is ample and that it is even possible to drink water from the lake. Large quantities of waste material and wrecks are evident in the close channel that connects Vranjina with the lake.

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Conclusion: The collective data indicates that the local population of Vranjina is endangered. The recommendation is to include their representatives in all actions and projects conducted in the National Park area. That will avoid the social exclusion of the Vranjina population from potential grants or distribution of means in this region or the exclusion of the local population from any decision making process which influences their interests. In the future it is important to define a special status for Vranjina residents. The Law on Freshwater Fishing has to include the possibility of fishing registration as an economic activity and to assist with health insurance and pensions. This will enable fishing activity and help improve conditions for tourism development or activities connected to tourism, such as selling fish to restaurants, which in turn will protect the local population so they will keep their livelihood. In addition, zoning the lake and requiring registration in the Fishermen’s Association will decrease competition from fishermen who come from the lake’s borderlands. If the Vranjina development is to be in line with developing tourism, it is important to clearly perceive the residents’ opportunities and possibilities for development and create educational workshops, programs and directives which will counsel residents to change their activities. These changes require investment in accommodations, a central sewer system and residential credits. GODINJE: This is one of the oldest rural settlements of historical value, which is settled on the fifth km of the road Virpazar-Ostros. The first written data are from the 13th centuries, and there are some vestiges of the Balsici Dynasty. The traditional architecture is dominant, stone houses with volts, wooden houses and facilities, which are as typical for the old way of life as are threshing floors and mills. The houses are compact with a unity similar to medieval settlements. Old core of Godinje, photo by EXPEDITIO

In 1946 the village was recognized as a “National Montenegrin Village” because of its architecture. The project still exists at the office of the Government of Montenegro, but it hasn’t been realized, due to a shortage of funds. The main source of income in Godinje is cultivating early vegetables and wine. On average there are 50,000 grapevine per household. The village was abandoned after an earthquake. Some 50 years ago Godinje had 120 families, but due to economic migration, young people in search of a better life, only old people remained there. Now the living conditions have deteriorated, because no one worked to maintain or to improve those conditions. In the very center of the village live only 4-5 families, with an elderly population who support themselves on subsistence farming. Retirees live in the lower part, which is the newer part of the village, and in most cases spend only weekends and the summer season there. Pensions are the main source of income for all. Infrastructure and Problems: The local population posits two main problems, which are draining the vitality from Godinje: water supply and migration. There are 12 fresh-water springs of potable water in Godinje. The springs are partly caped and can provide water supply throughout the whole year. Wastewater disposal is solved with septic tanks. The major problem is that there is no treatment for removing waste materials. Garbage is dumped in the village and the lake, among other places. Organizing a local utility service for the transport of waste material and distributing big trash containers will be a solution for waste disposal. In spite of some public sanitation the situation remains the same.

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The population migration over the last 20 years has affected the village population; only old people remained there. A population return depends on modernization, such as a water supply network, a sewerage system and good road connections. The Development Potential of Agriculture and Agricultural Productions: The activities which supplements basic incomes are fruit producing, viticulture, beekeeping and to a small percentage, fishing. There are unused opportunities for agricultural production. Beekeeping and honey production could be the future of this region. This activity can be seen as a sideline in Godinje. On the other hand there is an old tradition of raising vines, and the esteemed wine Vranac is being sold in small quantities. Currently a brand market sample is being made of wine of a native origin and Godinje’s inclusion into the tourist project “Vine Streets of Crmnica” There is awareness of sustainable resources, because people who have lived by the lake for centuries are very well familiar with the nature laws. They are aware that if they use all the land for agricultural production, pesticide use will negatively affect the water conditions. Country Tourism: There is awareness of possible enhancement of old architecture in upper Godinje for tourism purposes. The village will be adapted to create a peaceful village-hotel, which would offer traditional cuisine, native products, explain the wine-making process, offer wine-tasting, give tours of the cellar where wine is fermented… It is also possible to repair old mills for tourist attractions. Village conservation and creating accommodations without changing the present appearance, will create a unique tourist place offering the domestic wine “Vranac”, as well as fish, “smoked carp”, honey and other domestic food which could be offered to guests. There are opportunities for organizing sport fishing and bird watching. Foreigners are drawn to the peace and quiet of staying by the Lake. The main prerequisites in Godinje are water supply and sewerage infrastructure, providing tourism accommodations and signage, improving the culture and awareness levels of the residents. Godinje is 500m distance from the lake and by building marinas for boats, the lake can be accessed for pleasure cruises. Cooperation with Institutions: The residents are not satisfied with the Skadar Lake National Park management administration. “NP hasn’t been presented as an organized society. Illegal fishing still goes on and illegal constructions still exist… It is a public secret that the major illegal fishermen are game wardens. The residents mentioned the harmful relationship with the lake and gave the example of the stocking of the lake with Chinese carp, carried out by the Biological Institute, which later was shown to be poor judgment. Now they transfer responsibility to the Albanian side and accuse them. Because there is no zoning on the lake, the bird numbers are decreasing. The vulnerable group among Skadar Lake residents is old people who live alone or in pairs, retirees with low pensions, who are not able to supplement their incomes. The participants of the FG group consider the Ministry of the Labor responsible for these people’s support. The nearest medical service is in Virpazar. Conclusion: It is possible to link all tourist attractions and offers from Virpazar to Godinje, and make one alluring offer for tourists during the whole season. This must be presented to residents as a way to obtain income from country tourism and they all will be directed to that activity. It is necessary to include local NGOs, governmental institutions and the local authorities in the project, which will connect all potential participants in the process.

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Potentials for valorization exist, because local NGOs have already recorded the architectonics of this settlement, and created a base of potential dwellings. It is important to create conditions for these activities in order to connect local food, wine and honey producers with the aim to create an example of country tourism in the lake’s hinterland. RIJEKA CRNOJEVIĆA Rijeka has 174 residents, among whom 120 are solitary persons, the elderly. The remaining residents are families, who only stay because their children go to the primary school in Rijeka. Infrastructure and Problems: On the whole, living conditions are bad. The most significant problem is the water supply infrastructure, which is in very bad condition. The pipes are cracked and there is no water during the summer months. The residents claim that the spring runs low, and the solution is to bring water from Drusici. Residents from Drusici are willing to deliver additional water or to repair the existing water supply system in order to make it operational during winter months. During the summer months the residents from Rijeka supplement with water from Drusici. The second problem is the sewerage system and main sewer for wastewater processing, which is built but not in use. It is necessary to have a continuous flow of water in order for the system to function normally. Without this, wastewater from the fish plant and sewage feces goes directly into the lake. One of the biggest problems is bad road infrastructure connecting Rijeka with the urban centers. The bus-line Podgorica – Rijeka Crnojevica exists and transports workers and pupils from the surrounding villages. There is no bus line between Cetinje and Rijeka. The residents are aware that the roadway PG-CT has chosen this place to fall behind. Medical protection is available thanks to the ambulance service and a drugstore, which will open very soon.

Activity: The main source of incomes is pensions. The majority of laborers work in the fish canning and processing plant. People often leave because they don’t have jobs and the basic living conditions are poor. Rijeka residents believe that the future is in the development of high quality tourism, but the prerequisite is a well-developed infrastructure. The development of tourism would be supported by renouncing deserted facilities belonging to the municipality to local investors without any compensation for a certain period. This will increase its population and vitality. At this moment there are no tourist accommodations, because there is nothing to attract tourists to stay in Rijeka even for a few days. The tourists are interested. There is a hotel in the process of privatization in Rijeka, but it is in bad condition. If this hotel opens, the number of employees and the number of tourists will increase. This would be an opportunity for residents to actively participate in the whole process. Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

The residents think that the main problem is mentality, in other words disagreement and mutual conflicts of interests between the Rijeka residents. There is no mutual initiative for all the residents to solve problems. Conclusion: The situation in Rijeka is very bad, mostly because of the bad infrastructure and low investment level for the last 15 years. Tourism is presented only as hotel management and one restaurant in Rijeka. In order to develop tourism it is necessary that the state invest in it or to renounce facilities to investors. Valorization opportunities exist, if the historic background of this place is considered. In the hinterland of Rijeka and Rijecka nahija, there exists traditional vineyards and there are plans to create “Vine streets”. This creates a whole chain of regional tourism offerings. In order to achieve this idea, it is necessary to include the local community, Cetinje municipality and entrepreneurs as well as overcome the existing barriers. It is important to bring the population back to this region, with a well-built infrastructure and employment. VIRPAZAR Households have been rooted to this area for centuries. During the last 15 years inhabitants migrated to cities for economic reasons. In the narrow part of Virpazar the main occupations are tourism and catering. In the surrounding areas on Virpazar people are working in agriculture, winery, beekeeping and to some extent fishing.

Inhabitants see Virpazar as a cultural tourist destination. There are significant cultural and historical potentials and extensions of that offer with the agricultural production of healthy food and wine. They are against any industry turning Virpazar into a trade center, which is according to them the plan of the local government in Bar. Local authorities intend to develop Virpazar as a shopping center where shops will be opened, selling agricultural tools. Inhabitants think that there is no market for such products since all of the nearby villages are empty and there is not enough demand. Inhabitants believe that Virpazar cannot be developed as a separate pilot project and experimental point but as a join project of development and revitalization for Rijeka Crnojevica, Plavnica and Murici. The whole project lacks a clear plan/strategy for lake development, which is about tourism, agriculture, fishing, the National Park and so on. The Government has no clear concept for development and since they don’t have enough funds to do something, considers that the local initiative cannot be developed without help from the local authorities. Current Problems of Tourism Service: Tourists are not staying in Virpazar. There is no opportunity to sample the local offering, because the visit is organized in a way that they go directly to the lake. Agencies are not organized to keep tourists in Virpazar. Compared to 20 years ago, this service is scanty and weak. Inhabitants think that Virpazar must have a tourist’s information center where tourists could learn all the necessary information about the village of Virpazar, the National Park and Skadar Lake. Currently in Virpazar there is no public toilet and tourist’s center, nor are there educated tour guides with knowledge of foreign languages to give cultural tours.. Accommodation facilities are small and

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

inadequate. The existing hotel should be rebuilt and the offer should be expanded to attract tourists to remain longer in Virpazar. Local people can be involved through opening a green market in the center of Virpazar, as well as a center for selling souvenirs made in the Crmnica area. By promoting healthful, organic agricultural produce that would not endanger the National Park and the lake’s natural resources, the areas surrounding Virpazar would also be involved. Inhabitants think that the only prospect for tourist development in Virpazar is “picnic” tourism. Building a golf course near Virpazar will contribute to quality tourism. The tourism offering needs to include printed guides, leaflets, an organized offering, and maps. By organizing the vine roads like in Slovenia or Croatia it could obtain wine production, tourism and production of healthful food. But vision is needed, a strategy of development for this area, and lot of work. There are local disputes among entrepreneurs and restaurant owners as well as among local authorities. Personal interests and nepotism are behind the scene, slowing down the revitalization in Virpazar. Inhabitants think that urban planners should be engaged to activate and arrange the whole look of Virpazar. This is a job for the local authority. It is necessary to expand more than just the restaurant and catering service. The oldest existing library in Montenegro is in Virpazar, and should be highlighted as a cultural attraction. But there is no sense of keeping them even among the people living there. Managing of the NP: Guardian service of the National Park is unorganized and payment is on the spot, where guardians have no marks of authorities that they are in charge of collecting the entrance fee. Local people do not have any benefits from the tourism. Inhabitants are stressing the inferior work of the guardian service. They think that carp is endangered as a species since the people are fishing all year long. The Lenten season of fasting and the tradition of eating fish in that time makes selling easy. The endangered population, according to inhabitants, is the families who earn a living only from fishing. GOLUBOVCI AND MATAGUŽI For the Zeta valley area, population growth and expansion towards Skadar Lake is typical due to the higher quality agricultural land. An increasing number of people are coming from the north and refugees from Albania, due to the better living conditions. A basic problem is the non-existence of the water supply and sewage network; because of the large territory and the non-urban areas, this requires many more investments to improve the living conditions. Settlements are spreading and currently there is no building plan to control it, so that there is no concentration of the population in one place. Priorities are improvements to the living conditions, such as a water and sewage network and a utility infrastructure with organized collection of the solid waste. Basic occupations are agriculture and trade. Reorientation to other activities did not happen, other than the transformation from the production of middle vegetables to vine production and fruit production. Raising beef cattle is also a developing enterprise due to higher demand. According to the people living in Golubovci, development is stagnating. There is a great potential for planned production, but there is no organized purchase, production and export of the agricultural products. Should these conditions be met, every household or at least 70% of them could produce 10-

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

15 000 kg of quality fruits and vegetables. If the center for purchasing and production facility would open, where 5-6000 workers could work, agricultural production in Zeta valley would flourish. Currently, small-scale agricultural producers do not make a profit and they are into the illegal fishing and fish trade (before it was smuggling of oil, cigarettes, etc). There is no plan and strategy for the development of agricultural production that would be based on the abilities and potentials of Zeta valley, but people are oriented towards a different kind of production and agricultural such as the beef cattle raising attempt that failed. Now people are oriented towards vineyards. According to surveyors, strategic development of agriculture in this region is necessary, through the cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture and the local community. Fishery: Inhabitants are using Skadar Lake and Moraca river to fish. They consider that the amount of fish has decreased due to the wastewater from the Aluminum plant that is discharged at least twice a year. The other reason is fishing with dynamite, a method not allowed but common. It is simpler for people to buy aggregate than a net. More experienced fishermen are following the fish and killing it with electrical power. The other source of pressure is fishing from the Albanian side of the border. There is no eel fish due to the nets installed on the Albanian side and on the river Bojana, so that eel migration stopped. Chinese carp also endangers the fish fund, by pushing out the domestic carp. The guardian service is small in number, with a large area to cover that is impossible to protect. Inhabitant thinks that nepotism is a problem. Guardians are ex-fishermen, local inhabitants that are aware of the situation and due to their low salary they allow fishing. According to them a large number of people live from this, and they are pressed to fish even when it is forbidden in order to feed their families. Apart from that, the relatively easy profit from fishing with organized business and aggregates provide individuals with large profit. Poor people living in Vranjina, Bistrica, Gostilje, Ponari, Balabani, Kurilo, Mataguži, and Bijelo Polje cause the least damage. “Real hunters do not throw nets during the forbidden period”. Inhabitants see a solution through protection of the lake on the Albanian side. In that case they would be prepared to cooperate with the control and they believe that the fish fund would dramatically increase in the next three years. Apart from this, the guardian service would be assisted by eco patrols consisting of ecologists. It is necessary to limit the availability of low-cost aggregates on the market. They consider that bringing guards from a distance is not solving the problem, because the lake is large and it needs to be guarded by people that know the area. Encouraging guards with higher income, with more qualitative police work at exit points, would enhance the situation regarding illegal fishing in Zeta. Pollution: Citizens stated that they are living in a polluted area, with polluted air and drinking water. Pollution comes from the Aluminum plant with underground water and on the other side from the company Plantaze, due to pesticide use for treating grapevines. Citizens said that mortality is on the increase in the whole territory of Zeta. Laboratory findings proved the facts about drinking water in the area of Golubovci and Zeta. Promises were made that they would help with cisterns, among other ways, but drinking water was only brought to the center of Golubovci and most of the people use well water. Citizens consider the lake to be endangered: there is a 1978 study showing that there is piralen (PCB) pollution. People are well educated about the possibility of replacing artificial fertilizers with homemade. The help of experts is needed in the area of agricultural development. Residents opined that the survey should be conducted about the health of the people and the environmental influence on people. Institutional Framework and Management of the Lake: Citizens are not satisfied with the current management of the lake. It is necessary to define management between the municipalities and the NP.

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Residents consider that it is mistake to protect so large an area of Zeta valley (only Malo Blato and the Bird Reservation should be protected). They are aware that they are part of the National Park, and that some households have farms on the territory of the NP. That is also the most fertile land and it is economically necessary to exploit this part of the valley. They think that the border should move 1km closer to the Lake, or the different zones should be redefined with lesser and higher degree of protection. Protection measures will influence them only if the law on NP is fully implemented. They are not satisfied with environmental services, stating the Center for Eco-toxicology analysis as the most responsible and stated the necessity to found a separate body for the monitoring of the lake. In addition to this it is necessary to form a fisherman’s association that would advocate for the rights of fishermen and endangered citizens. Vulnerable groups: The opinion of the FG participants is that all inhabitants are vulnerable from diseases caused by the water, air and land pollution. Other groups are fishermen and poor families that are living only from fishing and that are under economic pressure. Conclusion: Control of agricultural development in the Zeta valley based on decisions and subventions of the government, needs to develop the necessary branches of agriculture, without ad hoc passing to other activities. Currently experiments are under way with various orchard and vineyard cultivation because people see easier and quicker earnings. There is no adequate and rational pesticide usage during the agricultural process, nor adequate technical help. There is a need for an estimation of agricultural land and soil quality, with experts present as in Vojvodina, with rational usage of fertilizers, seed and pesticides. There is some awareness of the danger in excessive fertilizer use, and agricultural inspection is necessary to control the sales processes in agricultural shops, as well as work on education of the inhabitants on the correct usage of pesticides, etc. 6.2.6 Indirect Influence Stakeholder Groups This table shows the stakeholder analysis on a research institutional level, which conducts monitoring of the lake’s condition, the business sector, local NGO’s, international institutions and other private or individual users of Lake Skadar’s resource. Table 16: Stakeholder analysis on the research institutional level, which conducts monitoring of Lake condition, business sector, local NGO’s, international institutions and other private or individual users of the lake’s resources. Main groups ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION INSTITUTIONS

Stakeholder Groups College for protection of nature of the Republic of Montenegro and Natural Museum

Effect of project on interests

Data base renewal and protection natural facilities condition monitoring +

Quality of the living environment and pollution

CETI

Quality control of surface and underground waters and air

RHMZ

Condition of the fish fund and fish base

Biology department

MONITORING INSTITUTIONS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

Interests at stake in relation to project

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

CANU Agency for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of the Republic of Montenegro IRD

Council of Europe INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

GTZ

REC

Lake level decrease and increase of farm land in Zeta

Condition of cultural monuments

Development of new varieties of tourism

Solid waste removal, treatment and help Sustainable development, support of local initiatives Redirection and improvement of tourism industry

Local communities capacities for strengthening and cross border cooperation

Cross border cooperation strengthening Environment protection education and assistance for tourism signage and solid waste UNDP

NGOs

+ +

REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND USERS Vranjina Fishermen’s Fishermen’s right protection Association Illegal fishing elimination

+ +

Wine producers association of Nahije Land owners Other private or individual users Tourists/Visitors Tour operators Tourism ships owners Sports fishermen Fish salesmen Fishermen’s without licenses

Sale chain elimination Local economic development promotion Autochthon wine sorts brand creation Production technology improvement Production increase and pesticide usage Restaurants/hotels on Lake Visitors in region Their activities expanding Increase of solid waste and waste water at their activity Usage of region in recreational purposes Tourists bathing in Lake’s beaches – solid waste pollution risk Continuous tourist number increase Visitors in region Resource pressure Sport tourism development Profit increase with obeying the rules Profit increase with obeying the rules

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

+ + + + + + + + + -

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Final Report

6.2.6.1 Environmental protection institutions National Institute for the Protection of Nature of the Republic of Montenegro (RZZP) and the Natural Museum are institutions whose mission is to preserve protected natural resources (in other words monuments of nature, nature reservations and the protection of endangered vegetable and animal species). RZZP is responsible for executing environment protection policies through inventory guidance about protected natural resources (central registry of protected natural resources), as well as the identification of natural resources for which it is necessary to provide special protection status. The RZZP proposes environment protection measures to competent institutions and conducts research, supervision and protection of nature preservation projects, provides expertise on project documentation and spatial plans and so on. Within the borders of the Skadar Lake National Park, a number of natural resources are under special protection. One of the important functions of RZZP is the inventory book guidance for protected species and areas in Montenegro. These books actually represent a printed database (in other words a set of sheets with data) consisting of all the relevant data about a certain species or protected area. A similar inventory book for the Skadar Lake area is in progress. RZZP is also in charge of monitoring the biodiversity program, which started six years ago. At this level of development, the monitoring program gathers only part of the data for protected species and a few general species indicators. The program must be expanded and it is expected to become an important data source for the future information system in this area. The Natural Museum has been in existence since the mid 90s and its organizational status has changed since then (the Museum used to be part of RZZP and is now an independent institution). The museum guards a remarkable flora, fauna and geological samples collection and provides expertise in biodiversity research. Regarding Skadar Lake, especially important is the Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regularly conducted count of the winter bird population. The Museum also publishes an electronic magazine called Natura Montenegrina. 6.2.6.2 Monitoring Institutions The key environment monitoring institutions in Montenegro are the Centre for Eco-Toxicological Research (CETI) and the Hydro-Meteorology Institute (HMZ). Throughout their regular activities or based on diverse contracts, these institutions are following the category and concentration of pollution in the different natural elements â&#x20AC;&#x201C; air, water and soil. Monitoring program results are used as a basis for annual reports about the environment conditions prepared by MTEP. A monitoring program for water and water resources is especially significant when it is about Skadar Lake management. HMZ leads an electronic database with an information series about water quality for a longer time period. This advanced database includes options that enable data connection, extrapolation and trend analysis. The base led by CETI consists of data from 1997 to the present and is less technically advanced than the HMZ base. The advantages of the CETI database are in the fact that CETI follows numerous parameters, in other words specific water polluting materials. Despite the results in monitoring and data preservation achieved so far for the Skadar Lake water quality and water stream in the basin areas, the monitoring and information system remains one of the weak points in the overall environment management system. 6.2.6.3 Scientific research institutions The most important research and scientific institutions whose work is essential for the protection, improvement and valorization of Skadar Lake resources are: - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Biology - Department for Natural Sciences by Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (CANU) - Bio-technological institute

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

College for Geodetic Research of the Republic of Montenegro Forestry Institute Institute of Public Health, etc.

Each one of these institutions has an important role in nature and the prospective protection of the National Park. Each one conducts different research projects, organizes scientific assemblies, publishes relevant papers and promotes the values of Lake. In that manner, these institutions contribute to the overall body of knowledge about Skadar Lake. It has to be emphasized that these institutions’ scale of work has significantly decreased in the past few years, mainly because of a lack of financial resources. Department of Biology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics has developed from the Faculty of Biology apropos the Institute for Biomedical Research. Until the 1980’s all the Institute’s projects were related to Skadar Lake, while afterwards different water and land ecosystems were the subjects of research (natural and artificial lakes, river streams) for the Republic of Montenegro’s needs apropos electro-energetic sector, and fishing economies. The Department is an institution that should provide a fishing base for Skadar Lake on which the quarry scale should be evaluated. The last qualitative study, called Fishing base for Skadar Lake, on the condition of the ecosystem and its management, was done in first half of the 1980’s. Afterwards, the majority of the research conducted on Skadar Lake were individual ad hoc efforts, which haven’t been combined into the larger complex. The “Integral monitoring restitution on Skadar Lake” project, which was financed by the German rector conference, was conducted from 2000 to 2004. Experts from the Department have been working on the project with the experts from the University of Skadar. Bio-tests are done on potential toxic water and sediments, microbiological tests, planktons and benthoscolonies and the physical-chemical parameters, which indicate the lake’s water quality. From these projects no proposition has come out, at least so far, what the future integrated monitoring for the Skadar Lake ecosystem condition should look like. LSIEMP project expectations: the Department expects the development of a quality monitoring system, intensification of scientific-research activity in this area, international cooperation, human resources specialization, adaptation of contemporary methodological and technological approaches, and the development of interdisciplinary approaches in this area. The Department’s needs are as follows: Modernization of laboratory equipment, the formulation of a clear goal for future projects, transparency in project conduction, a clear project budget, and the qualitative management of the project itself. CANU in last 30 years, together with the Albanian Academy of Sciences and Arts, considers and prepares the project “Water stream regulation of Skadar Lake and Bojana riverbed”. During the 1980s, the two states have agreed to work together on the project idea for the regulation of Skadar Lake, Drim and Bojana. Teams agreed on the priority project, how much is necessary to deepen Bojana’s riverbed, and geodetic substrata. The new focus of the project is ecology and sustainable development principles, which must be carried out according to EU regulation. Skadar Lake, Drim and Bojana water regulation will contribute to CANU’s goal to reclaim 5.000 acres of farming surface, which was flooded until now and to which inhabitants of Zeta have a right. This was planned during the first phase (deepen the riverbed and make a barrage, ship crook, fish path – which should enable natural communication within the lake). In the second phase 14.800 ha of farmland would be reclaimed. The project is in implementation according to previously adjusted program activities in the following segments:

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Protection measures against high water level, which is very often in agricultural land and partly in inhabited area on both border sides; Enabling Bojana for sailing in tourism and commercial purposes; Protection and improvement of the environment for the local population needs and for tourism development; Rational exploitation of the energy potential of the basin; Protection of the water quality of the Skadar Lake; Protection of the cultural monuments in the Skadar Lake area.

This CANU’s project effects would be: - health and qualitative food production - connected and developed traffic ways (a connection from Montenegro to Albania) - tourism - a marina’s construction, establishing an international sailing way on the Bojana - natural beauties valorization (wealth of islands with churches) - environmental protection Up to now, the riverbed of the Bojana River is examined and elaborated tasks for geodes and batmetric measurements of the Skadar Lake and parts of branches, as well as project tasks for hydrologic and hydraulic study. Realization of those projects will depend on financial support of the Government of Montenegro. Republic Bureau for the Protection of Cultural Monuments (RZZSK). Within the framework of the activities determined by the law on the protection of cultural monuments, the RZZSK verifies the evidence, collects, processes and safeguards the documentation for cultural monuments, and takes part in social planning activities on the basis of protection, renewal and the usage of cultural monuments. It keeps a Central Registry of cultural monuments, as well as documentation of facilities and artifacts that are under special protection, and creates programs for the protection of the cultural monuments. It stops any work that directly or indirectly damages a cultural monument or endangers the monument’s properties, gives prior permission for project documentation, and issues permits for and supervises archeological excavations and findings. It conducts necessary archeological research and safeguards the documentation. The bureau stops activities that are illegitimate, inadequate or against the law, using legal-authority measures. There is a distinct problem with the management of the sacral facilities in the Skadar Lake area used by the Mitropoly of Montenegro, because the church undertakes building activities without the permission of the bureau. The legal regulation for the protection of cultural monuments and their surroundings is in the constitution of Montenegro (article 64) and the law on the protection of cultural monuments. The bureau was also involved in the scientific work and the cultural valorization of the monuments on Skadar Lake. The expert services of the bureau have conducted a number of conservation projects and localities presentations. It has legally protected thirty-three cultural monuments in the broader region of Skadar Lake. Currently the definition of the protected area and the creation of a sanitation program for deteriorated monuments are underway. The first significant, expert-protected projects were done in the 1960’s (Monasteries: Starčevo, Beška, Moračnik, Kom). After the earthquake in 1979, more significant restoration works were also underway on most monuments. With these works the monuments were kept from underlying decay, while preserving the value of authentic monuments. Due to the lack of financial assets for maintaining legal protection orders in the area and in spite of the necessary expertise, the activities of the bureau are down to a minimum. The bureau’s expectations for the project is the preventative maintenance of cultural monuments, in line with the standards for the usage of the monuments without degradation, as well as the restoration of a certain number of monuments. Also the inclusion of the monuments in the tourism offer with the preservation of the monument’s properties.

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

6.2.6.4 International Organizations Over the last few years, a great number of international organizations have had a significant role in relation to the management of Skadar Lake. The activities of these organizations were with the support of the NGO sector, providing technical assistance to the official institutions with the funding of a certain number of research, promotional and investment projects. A greater number of NGOs and institutions for the protection of nature develop permanent cooperation with the various international organizations, whether they are organizations from neighboring Albania or those that have headquarters all over the world. International cooperation is especially important bearing in mind the global significance of the Skadar Lake eco-system and the low domestic ability for nature protection and biodiversity management. The international organizations that have supported projects related to Skadar Lake in recent years include the Regional Environmental Centre (REC), the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR), the World Bank, USAID, UNDP and others. Other important organizations are IUCN, OSCE and the Council of Europe EAR - European Agency for Reconstruction has funded the construction of facilities for the purification of wastewaters in Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevica, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment Protection. EAR has also worked on the Master Plan for Wastewater Management project, which was conducted in two stages: I Stage – For the southern part of Montenegro, Skadar Lake and Cetinje II Stage – For the Northern part of Montenegro In the framework of EAR there are currently no projects related to Skadar Lake nor are there any plans. The agency is currently focused on giving technical assistance to the creation of the institutional and legal framework for the credit lines from an international organization. Preparations for the creation of the Agency for Environmental Protection are also under way. Within its scope of activities, the Ministry is to start a division responsible for project implementation, which should create the conditions for credits from certain international organizations. IRD - project called “New Tourist Products on Skadar Lake” that encompasses two segments. (i) Promotion and development of bird watching, conducted in cooperation with the National Park. This involves building towers and platforms for bird watching, the procurement of optical gear, marking and preservation of the reservation and the creation of promotional material. (ii) The enhancement of navigation through Skadar Lake, realized jointly with the Maritime Security Office in Bar. Activities include the construction of signal lights that mark the navigable area. This activity also includes the publication of a nautical map. Implementation of both these segments is expected by the end of May this year. A project is also realiyed for the cleaning of solid waste in the Skadar Lake area together with the Public Utility Company –Podgorica and the National Parks. In the area of Rijecka nahija and Ljesanska nahija two enological projects have been realized and the third is under way. The first project was on the education of wine producers, where the Biotechnical faculty has organized seminars. The project was completed in February last year. The second project was for the procurement of equipment for wine producers. In cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Wine Producers Association, this equipment was delivered in March of this year. The third project is related to the opening of the wine cellar in Drusici, and is currently underway. IRD will provide the necessary equipment for this project. The cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Water Management and Forestry and the municipalities of Podgorica and Cetinje will realize the program. Council of Europe – is the implementer of the “Regional Program for Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage in the Countries of the SEE” on the regional level. On the national level (Montenegro) the coordinator for the component C of the program is the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Media, which prepares the “Local pilot project on the area of Skadar Lake”. This project involves the Ministry for the Protection of National and Ethnic Groups, MTEP and three municipalities. The project’s goal is the creation of a strategy and action plan for the development of the Skadar Lake region in the direction of tourism and cultural enhancement. The project specifies the writing of a document in which the priorities are to be stated for the cultural and natural development. On the basis of that document, the pilot projects would evolve, which would actively involve local entrepreneurs, fishermen, wine producers, NGOs, the civil sector and institutions on the Republic level. GTZ – Since 2005 begins the realization of the tourism assistance project in the Skadar Lake region. The project encompasses the strengthening of organizations that deal in tourism development, the development of tourist products (like private accommodations, walking tours, boat tours etc.) and promotions. The project offers the counsel and assistance of German experts with the goal of enhancing the tourism offer in the Skadar Lake area. The project will take place in two phases, in the period up to 2011 and will bring about: • strengthening of institutions that deal in tourism; • development of the tourism offer (creation of a package of visits to the Skadar Lake: cruising, bird watching, biking, mountain climbing, walking / hiking); • promotion and marketing of tourism packages. Additionally, the GTZ land management project in considering an elaboration of detailed urban plans for areas that are under the pressure of urbanization: Vranjina, Murići, Karuč, Žabljak Crnojevića, and Godinje. REC – With the overall goal to help solving environmental problems and strengthen relationships between countries of South Eastern Europe in the concrete context of three pilot cross-border sites the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) – with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) – launched the project “Trans-boundary cooperation through the management of shared natural resources”. The project started in July 2000 and implemented in three phases, with its last phase coming to an end by February 2007. It constituted an integral element of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Program (REReP), a regional framework initiative that supports the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. It targeted three transboundary sites, representing three large ecosystems rich in biodiversity and shared by two countries, where local communities were facing particular development challenges. One of them was Skadar/ Shkodra Lake, a lake between Albania and Montenegro. The main project goal was to contribute to enhancing cooperation among South Eastern European countries through the management of shared natural resources. And, initial project objectives were: 1. Promotion of cooperation in the management and protection of key trans-boundary areas in South Eastern Europe, which represent sites of key nature conservation interest with a high potential for trans-boundary social interaction; 2. Promotion of local organisations and cross-border exchanges between local organisations and people, in the interest of managing shared natural resources; 3. Promotion of technical networks at a regional level with a view to support the effective management of selected trans-boundary sites as well as the integration of these networks in relevant national and international level processes. The work in the trans-boundary region of Skadar/Shkodra Lake started in October 2000, when project offices were opened in the city of Shkodra, Albania and Podgorica, Montenegro. Local site

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

coordinators have been recruited and tasked with the implementation of the project at the local level, keeping close contacts with all relevant local stakeholders. Halfway through the project, in 2003 a region-wide planning process has been launched to redefine priorities based on results achieved in previous years. Strategic plans for 2004-2007 were drafted for each site and presented to the 6th Task Force Meeting of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme (REReP) in October 2003. As the final outputs, the following goals and objectives for Skadar/Shkodra Lake site have been formulated - to ensure the sustainable use of shared natural and cultural resources, as a contribution to the local economy, through the development and implementation of selected elements of a cross-border management plan, in the following four main directions: • Promotion of sustainable resource utilisation • Capacity building • Dialogue/partnership • Education. Beyond its very concrete activities, the project brought a significant added value. Today – six years after the start – the trans-boundary region of Skadar/Shkodra Lake is on the list of priorities for both countries, and it is much more recognized on the international level. As a result of the efforts within the project and the strong commitment of local stakeholders the interest concerning the sustainable management and protection of the lake has been significantly raised. This is very well proven by the establishment of a protected area on the Albanian side of the lake and obtaining international recognition for the site under the Ramsar Convention. These developments can serve as a good basis for the work towards establishing the cross-border protected area of Skadar/Shkodra Lake and Bojana/Buna River, which will give the basis for the sustainable development of local communities around the lake. A wide range of activities was implemented during the six years period. 11 Several studies have been prepared concerning different aspects of the lake’s management, always involving experts and institutions from both countries. Expert teams from Montenegro and Albania worked along similar methodologies, which served the better quality of outputs, but not only. Strong emphases were placed on the importance of cross-border cooperation, where the lake was treated as a unique integral ecosystem and not as two distinct bodies separated by country borders. The most important studies prepared within the project include the followings: Bibliography of Skadar/Shkodra Lake; Report on risks and potentials for local development; Biodiversity database – a checklist of species occurring in the area; Study on roles and responsibilities of Skadar/Shkodra Lake stakeholders; Local Environmental Action Plans for the municipalities of Shkodra, Albania and Cetinje, Montenegro. Several capacity-building activities were carried out including local trainings and workshops, study visits of local stakeholders and technical support to key management organisations in the area. Trainings carried out were targeted to different stakeholder groups and tackled different topics, such as Vision and its Realization, Objective Oriented Planning, Project Cycle Management, Training for media on how to write environmental articles and stories, Training for biology teachers on environment issues, Cross-border monitoring, Habitat typology, Development of Local Environmental Action Plans, etc. All mentioned topics have been identified based on the needs and priorities of local stakeholders, and most of them were organized on a bilateral basis, except for cases where issues addressed were directly connected to the very local conditions. Being a very process-oriented project, restoring lines of communication and developing dialogue and partnership between communities on the two sides of the border was among the main areas of attention. In order to ensure the long-term durability of trans-boundary cooperation, efforts were made towards “institutionalising” cooperation of local communities on the two sides. Several official and formal agreements were reached in this context, which create a good ground for finalising the process, 11

The short list of REC activities is in the Annex 4.

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

and establishing a long lasting trans-boundary body to support the sustainable management of natural resources in the region. Most important achievements in this respect include the followings: -

Vision on Skadar/Shkodra Lake defined by local stakeholders, which set to define the Lake as “cross-border protected area that can provide benefits for its local population”

Memorandum of Understanding signed on May 9, 2003 by ministries responsible for environment in both countries. The agreement recognizes Skadar/Shkodra Lake as the main ground for building good relations between the two countries.

Trans-boundary Skadar/Shkodra Lake Forum established as one of the main tools for facilitating cross-border cooperation. It served as a neutral platform for discussion among relevant stakeholders, on issues related to the management and protection of the lake. All relevant environmental institutions from both countries were represented in the forum, including Ministries of Environment, National park authorities, local authorities, experts` community and scientific institutions, NGOs, educational institutions, Water Basin Directorate and others.

Declaration on Skadar/Shkodra Lake signed by the members of the Skadar/Shkodra Lake Forum at their meeting on March 17, 2006, in Vranjina, Montenegro. Through the declaration, Forum members officially expressed their commitment to improving the protection of Skadar/Shkodra Lake, and invited all relevant institutions and organizations from both countries to join them in achieving this goal.

Statement of Cooperation, signed by mayors of the municipalities of Shkodra, Albania and Cetinje, Montenegro on April 27, 2006. The conservation and sustainable use of Skadar/Shkodra Lake and the protection of the environment in general were recognized as the main areas for joint work and cooperation between the two municipalities. The agreement identifies several other areas of possible collaboration, such as culture, sports, trade, etc.

With the purpose to establish bilateral cooperation between education institutions from the two countries, promote values of the lake among citizens, and increase the awareness of the general public concerning the need for its protection, promotion and education activities were carried out. Concrete actions included field trips, picture exhibitions, lectures on different topics, slide shows, films, art and literature competition, public campaigns with topics related to the Lake’s protection, clean-up actions, celebrations and events (e.g. “Ramsar” Day, Earth Day), and others. A team of teachers, educators and representatives of the Skadar Lake National Park prepared special education programmes, involving the visits of schoolchildren to protected areas. One of the keys to success was the strong involvement of local stakeholders. All activities presented above were implemented with their participation, and direct contributions concerning the planning of activities. Local actors were in the position to suggest activities, define priorities and – together with REC and SDC – chose those that could be implemented within the scope of the project. To this end, further institutionalisation of trans-boundary cooperation has been selected as the main direction of work for the following two years and beyond. This is also within the main priorities for SDC, and it proves to be the best way to capitalise on the results achieved and ensure their sustainability on the longer term. Through the current project the Regional Environmental Center received a special mandate to facilitate such processes, and significant experiences has been gained, which creates a good basis for continued actions. It is expected that through these by the end of 2008 sustainable trans-boundary cooperation mechanisms are established, which bring together all relevant local stakeholders (in a similar manner as the current Lake Forum), and have a strong institutional basis that can ensure their operations in the more distant future. UNDP – The program of UN for development and some other international organizations have joined forces for the purpose of planning for the conservation of the biodiversity and a sustainable development of the Dinar area. The project under the name “Dinaric Arc Initiative” was started by the Mediterranean program of the WWF, and the project has been joined by IUCN, UNESCO-ROSTE,

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Council of Europe, UNDP offices in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and the regional office in Bratislava. The goal of the Dinaric Arc Initiative is to identify the priorities in the conservation of nature and biodiversity for the broader Dinaric area, and to stimulate the cooperation between state authorities, NGOs, and the civil sector in the region throughout Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania. Additionally the aim is to make a network of protected areas, strengthening of local communities and attaining sustainable development in the east-Adriatic region, from Italy to Albania. The initiative will not create new projects, but it will create cooperation and collaboration. The governments of Albania and Montenegro cooperate together with IUCN and other institutions that are a part of the Dinaric Arc Initiative for the promotion of sustainable development for Skadar Lake Through this initiative the organizations will also promote: - The maintenance of the wealth and integrity of the Dinaric Arc, through the creation of protected areas and with the help of initiatives for the protection of bio-diversity and natural resources; - Maintain the cultural heritage in the region; - Promotion of dialogue and cooperation among the states in the region; - Strengthening of the development of local communities; - Implementing the regulations for the protection of the environment in all relevant institutions. Conclusion: The activities of international organizations in this field have contributed to the development of a regional cooperation between Albania and Montenegro, where the positive, primary role has been that of the REC office. The lack of action by international organizations was a limited time frame based on ad hoc actions; the local population expresses disapproval and disbelief of the actions and promises. Usually the activities end with unfulfilled promises. 6.2.6.5 NGO Organization and Media The BGO sector and especially NGOs in the area of environmental protection have expanded in the last decade. The result of that expansion, in the number of actors and projects, ecological NGOs have become valuable partners in the management of Skadar Lake and their influence grows. Diverse projects tied to the Skadar Lake area that were implemented by the NGOs in recent years (and that are currently underway) have had a positive effect on protection and lake management. The most significant results have been in the raising awareness regarding the lake’s resources and potential, improvements in the promotion of the lake’s value and international cooperation (with Albania and other countries). In this period international organizations were the main donors for the NGO activities, while the share of domestic financial resources is still low. Activities of about ten of the NGOs in the Skadar Lake area are founded on the work of small groups (3-4) or sometimes only one person. The local population is involved in a very small percentage, apart from cleaning the lake and its surroundings, which are one-time activities with a local character. NGO “Green Home” carries out the project “Sustainable development of the Sas Lake.” The main goal is the enhancement of the socio-economic development of the Sas Lake, sustainable usage of the existing resources, the promotion of sustainable tourism and cultural heritage, and as a way to attain revenues for the local inhabitants. There will be a socioeconomic and biodiversity study of the Sas Lake, a workshop in the community of Vladimir, the organization of an international round table and promotion of the Sas Lake. The biodiversity study will be a guide for future investors and will give an overview of Sas Lake’s natural potentials, define the species of interest from the viewpoint of tourism, among other activities.

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The project “enhancing the tourism offer and promotion of the Skadar Lake as a tourist destination” is based on sustainable tourism. The project has printed 5.000 copies of brochures and guides for distribution to tourist agencies, as well as developed a web site in Spanish and English languages and has organized promotional rides. NGO Expeditio from Kotor was made by the “Architects workshop Godinje 2004.” The aim of the project was to demonstrate how the research and valorization of a village would look. By this project were defined the directions for village development. The results of the project were published and a number of interesting maps of the village were drawn. Other activities include the analysis and development of the study of spatial development of Skadar Lake. The project began last year, but now faces a great problem – a great quantity of the data was not mapped. The data were not easy to find, or almost impossible. When this project began, it was thought that this project would combine existing and overlapping maps (for example the traffic map and the map of protected areas, combining these two maps resulted in conflicting data). But an elementary map, such as a map of cultural monuments was not found. The aim of this activity was to elaborate the field data, using as a basis the development of an area study comprehensible to the normal population. That study should have had an impact on the spatial plan. Regarding the study for the Skadar Lake development, in this NGO expects that it will have a reflex on the development of the spatial plan. NGO “Godinje” from Godinje, in cooperation with Expeditio, was working on the architectonic workshop project. A mission of this NGO is culture and tourism valorization of the old city Godinje as an important architectonic heritage. Godinje is also working on purifying the surrounding landscape and strengthening the growing wine culture «Vranac» which is indigenous to this area and its tourism valorization through organizing «vine road» and tours. For the summer of 2006 it plans to have an architectonic workshop in Balsica Dvori, which is considered to be the oldest building in Godinje. NGO “Linx”- Supporting, promoting and helping projects in the area of biological and ecological research of flora and fauna, presenting and promoting the richness and variety of flora and fauna in Montenegro. They organize educative campaigns about flora and fauna, especially about their needs and protection. In the territory of Lake Skadar they carried out these projects: - Public campaign “Let’s meet Skadar Lake”, 2001 (presentations and brochures about Skadar Lake flora in primary schools); - “Skadar Lake – the source of healthy food” 2004 (brochure-cookbook, traditional specialties, description of flora and fauna used as food and recipes); - “Promotion of eco-tourism in Montenegro”, 2004 (brochure-eco-navigator through the National Parks of Montenegro). Conclusion: These activities by the local NGO are still marginal and individual, and they are not efficient for tourism and lake protection; on the plus side, the reactions of local habitants are positive. The NGO sector and its mission need to be in focus. The NGO sector can be very helpful in motivating and uniting local inhabitants, educational activities in order to develop tourism, the importance of including locals in the process, trainings and the improvement of local awareness. . The Media represents another important group of society, whose role is especially important for improving the level of awareness and the lake’s promotion. The Montenegrin media are increasingly interested in Skadar Lake. Current projects, NGOs and nature protection institutions’ initiatives, international cooperation and examples of best practice are well covered by the media on a local and republic level. The same is true for briefings about incidents and daily managerial problems. But, the media are at least engaged in research and the analyses of basic problems, which the NP and other institutions have in nature protection. They need more attention by spreading information and opening discussions about best managerial and protection options. Similarly, the media can play a better role in spreading information about the importance of Skadar Lake’s eco-system.

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

6.2.6.6 Associations and Other Resource Users on the Lake Association of Fishermen from Vranjina – According to the information collected in the field through focus groups and interviews, the most vulnerable population group is those inhabitants whose primary income source is fishing. They live in Vranjina and some of the villages around Crmnica, as Krnjice. Skadar Lake Fishermen’s Association» was established three years ago and has 55 members, who are fishermen from Skadar Lake and also fishermen from the lakefront side. Because of the tenability of the association they have a membership fee (10 EUR) which is refused by fishermen from Zeta Valley for which angler fishing is not primary activity. Currently, the association gathers only fishermen from Vranjina. The Association is not able to attract more members, because typical places such as Krnjice, Dodosi and Rijeka Crnojevica are almost empty and the fishermen there are not interested in cooperation. Organization is not functioning well because of a lack of the necessary office space, computers and telephones. They have good cooperation with the NP office, which understands their position and gives them some subventions. While in the Ministry for Agriculture, forestry and water supply have no understanding of the Association’s position. The main conflicts of interest are: - Conflicts with a number of fishermen who use not permitted fishing means and illegal fishermen from Zeta Valley and other parts of Lake. - Conflicts with the Guardian Service Office; in order to bring back the population, inhabitants of Vranjina must fish. - Conflicts with owners of tourist ships which are sailing during toils raising The seasonal nature of this work, the low yearly incomes, the high cost of fishermen’s equipment, the 2.5-months duration of the angler ban and the lack of other activities are factors which create illegal anglers. These people say that they need to do that (the socioeconomic conditions in which are they living are described in part 8). In order to improve their position the following needs to be done: - Enable registration of anglers as an economic activity. None of the fishermen are registered and there is no legal framework for them to have a pension and health insurance. - Issue fishermen’s licenses for 15-20 catches by the boat. A fishermen license can be issued for 10 catches for some types of fish. - Have one representative who will be in a working group for designing the Law on Freshwater Fishing. It was not approved. Fishermen don’t have input in the preparation of this law and they fear that they will be excluded. - Limit the number of fishermen on the lake. There must be a planned number of fishermen that can be on Lake. This can include fisherman from the coastal part of Skadar Lake and people for whom fishing is the only source of income. An agreement was established with the NP office for issuing licenses, but it failed because of the NP’s ambition to gain money from these licenses. It is obvious that pressure on the fish fund is significant because of the lack of proclaiming from Albania and illegal fishing on the side of Montenegro. Illegal fishing is caused by the closed fishing season, weak economic life conditions and inadequate guard service. The solution is to not abandon fishing and the fishermen themselves in the process of taking care of the fish nursery. Reorientation to other activities is very hard for them because there is no potential for that. Adapting Vranjina to be a tourist place requires investment, education of the inhabitants and solving basic

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

infrastructure problems. The residents are relatively old and inflexible for this type of orientation. They see a future only in fishing and supplying fish to tourism facilities. It is not possible to develop one brand of tourism in the Vranjine, where one tourism worker is busy with picnic-tourism, and has a restaurant and small motel. References: the population of Vranjina needs to pull together into one specific community. It must define the status for Vranjina in the fishery sector, because if the Law on Freshwater Fishing is adopted and Vranjina equalizes with any one fishing village on the river shore, there is a danger of migration. One more thing that must be taken into consideration is the specific geographical position of this community, which is in the heart of the National Park. It is necessary to: - Make the Association of Anglers stronger by legal regulation. - The legal regulations must enable the registration of fishery as an economic activity and length of embargo (period when fishing is forbidden). - The control of fishing licenses issued must be regulated (only to anglers who are members of the Association). - Monitoring the appreciation of law regulation and also deal with comments on the proposed Law on Freshwater Fishing. - Lake zoning and marking of the fishing zones. - The creation of credits lines, which will enable fishers to procure equipment for Association members. Association of winegrowers in Drusici is a good example of an excellent collective activity of agricultural producers. The Association has 300 members and also gathers producers from Ljesanska and Katunska nahija. It launched the project of building a wine plant, which will produce between 20,000-30,000 liters per year, with the help and cooperation of IRD and USAID. The Association is also planning the cultural valorization of Drusici and vicinity through “vine roads,” vineyard tours, including the tasting of wines and domestic products, also visiting the lake. Its ranges are the road and seat of St. Petra Cetinjski. An obstacle to the realization of this idea is the lack of road infrastructure and the dearth of young people willing to work in the Association office. They have significant assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water supply and the Advisory office. The pesticides are used under controlled conditions with the monitoring of the agronomist and in accordance with EU standards, to prevent polluting the water. Dissatisfied with the lake’s management, they have no contact with the Management of the National Parks, apart from some cases of lake cleaning. They emphasis the pressure put on the Lake by people to whom fishing is not a primary activity, as well as investors who destroy the lake’s appearance by illegal construction. The problem of water exploitation for the needs of the Montenegrin coastal area is emphasized, and they fear that it would lead to migration away from the spring area.

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6.2.6.7 Business Sector The business sector represents the significant stakeholders in the Skadar Lake area, because they are directly tied with investments and the use of natural resources. This group of stakeholders is interested in finding new ways to increase their profits. Since they are involved in various fields of activities, such as tourism, construction, agriculture, fishery, agro industry, they should be viewed as stakeholders in the phase of project implementation. Especially due to attractiveness of this region for investments, which will be many in the near future. Conclusion: It is very important to avoid potential conflicts between: -

Different users of the Lake resources, like concessionaires, and the local population – between the fish factory in Rijeka Crnojevica and the local population of the Rijecka nahija, that consider they have a right to fishing, given the concession to the fish factory for ten years. The factory plans to enhance its capacities and unite all the fishermen from the lake, to buy out all the quantities of the fish from the lake. On the other hand, the fishermen are conditioned to accept a specific price that would be dictated by the factory.

The concessions on gravel and sand have no damage to the capacities of this resource, considering that this is a renewable resource – as they know, this resource renews every ten year, which reduces the possibility of overflowing a single territory. But conflicts of interest can arise with the local population due to the degradation of the road surface, in which no funds are invested from the sold concession.

Conflicts of interest also exists among the restaurant owners themselves, because there is no joint policy of action and development, and between the owners and the local population that has no understanding of the joint activities in the tourism industry.

A special pressure to Skadar Lake and its resources is due to illegal construction, that is the construction of illegal facilities, restaurants and lodging facilities. These facilities have no permit at the start of the construction, later they receive a temporary permit and the problem is solved by the construction of an urban plan. It is very important to manage by the same “rules of the game” for all restaurant owners or those that plan to build facilities on public property. The local population considers that the businessmen have a superior position. Tourist services will in future be developed in different ways and the offer will significantly expand and be more complicated, so it is possible to clearly obey the legislation and the rules of the National Park. An education is necessary and the enhancement of skills, knowledge and awareness of the business sector to work in the area of sustainable development. On the other hand the creation of a

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good system of monitoring and evaluation is necessary, for all projects and enterprises that are undertaken by businesses and the control of this sector through various inspections.

7 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 7.1 Legal framework The legal and institutional constitution of the National Park and protected regions in Montenegro is mostly formulated. The main problem is to obey and put the law into practice. List of relevant laws: - Law on National Parks (Official Gazette of the RM, No.47/91, 27/94) - Law on Nature Protection (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 36/77,2/89) - Environmental Law (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 12/96, 55/00) - Law on Waters (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 16/95) - Decree of Categorization and Classification of Waters (Official Gazette of the RM, No.14/96, and 15/97) - Environmental Impact Assessment Decree (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 14/97) - Rulebook on the Content and Maintenance of Water Book and Cadastre of Surface and Groundwater, Users and Polluters of Water, Torrents and Erosion Regions, and Water Use Facilities and Facilities (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 5/96) - Hunting Law (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 47/99) - Law on Freshwater Fishery, (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 39/76,51/76,34/88,29/89,39/89,48/91, 4/92, 17/92, 27/94) - Order on Fishing Prohibitions, Restrictions and Measures for the Protection of Fish Stocks (Official Gazette of the RM, No.53/00, 14/01, 31/01, 24/02, 20/03) - Law on Forests (Official Gazette of the RM, No.55/00) - Air Protection Law (Official Gazette of the RM, No.4/82) - Rulebook on the Emission of Air Pollutants (Official Gazette of the RM, No.25/01) - Resolution on Protecting Natural Facilities (Official Gazette of the RM, br.30/68) - Decree on Protection of Rare, Scarce, Endemic and Endangered Plant and Animal Species (Official Gazette of the RM, No.36/82) - Decree to Prohibit the Use of Vessels with Engine Power more than 4.5 KS by Physical Persons On Skadar Lake (Official Gazette of the RM, No.9/86) - Decision on the Level and the Method of Payment of Charges for the Use of National Parks Assets, for Conducting Economic Activities and Providing Services (Official Gazette of the RM, No.31/02) - Physical Plan of Skadar Lake National Park (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 46/01) - Program on Protection and Development of the Skadar Lake NP 2005-2010 - Law on Waste Materials Management (Official Gazette of the RM, No.80/05) Law on Public Utility (Official Gazette of the RM, No.12/95) Laws from the other area but with close connection with environmental protection: - Law on the Protection of Cultural Monuments (Official Gazette of the RM, No.47/91) - Law on Construction (Official Gazette of the RM, No.55/00) - Law on Local Self-Government (Official Gazette of the RM, No.75/05) - Law on Town Planning and Construction Inspection (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 56/92, 16/95 and 23/95) - Law on Inspection (Official Gazette RCG, No.50/92) - Law on Environmental Protection and Physical Planning (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 28/05) - Master plan of Tourism Development, 2001. - Book of roles on the criteria for the selection of location, methods and proceeds for disposing of waste, (Official Gazette of the RM, No.56/00)

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Book of rules on sanitation and techniques that landfills and locations for disposing of human waste must meet on methods for improving and maintaining landfills and locations for disposing of human waste, and on methods of destroying garbage and human waste (Official Gazette of the RM, No.20/83)

Laws of the most importance that will be implemented from 2008: - Law on Assessing the Impact on Environment (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 80/05) - Law on Strategically Assessing the Impact on the Environment (Official Gazette of the RM, No.80/05) - Law on Integrated Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution (Official Gazette of the RM, No.80/05) 7.1 Short Analysis of the Most Significant Laws Environment Protection Environmental Law (Official Gazette RCG, No. 36/77,2/89) regulate relations between humans and nature, the protection of nature, preventing its destruction, as well as providing conditions for the permanent use of nature. Law on Nature Protection (Official Gazette RCG, No. 12/96, 55/00) ensures the protection of human health through adequate actions towards the utilization of natural resources, prevents risks to the environment, and enables the integration of ecosystems. According to the Law on Environmental Protection and supporting regulations, as well as the Law on National Parks, most activities are restricted in the Skadar Lake region and at the region of other National Parks, as the most protected areas. If a certain activity is planned to be carried out in the region of the Skadar Lake, it is subject to the development of an Environment Intervention Impact Assessment and including an intervention analysis and reports by experts that are forwarded to this Ministry for approval. The Ministry is in charge of approving or rejecting the intervention. Law on National Parks (Official Gazette RCG, No.47/91, 27/94) provides management, utilization, protection and improvement of National Parks. Fishing Law on Freshwater Fishing (Official Gazette RCG, No. 27/94) regulates this activity which involves the production, haul, conservancy, growing of fish and fish protection in fishing waters. The conditions for fishing are defined, as well as the fishing base, protection of fishing and criminal decrees. For this area it is also important to take into consideration the Decree of Fishing Prohibition, Restrictions and Measures for Protection of the Fish Stock. This decree defines the closed season, condition under which particular areas could not be fished, restrictions on fishing gear and night fishing, decoys and daily fishing. Agriculture It is necessary to modify the Law on Agricultural Land (Official Gazette RCG, No. 15/92, 59/92, 27/94), in order to prevent its inappropriate exploitation by defining the agricultural land exploitation policy and enhancing the legal framework, as well as by consistent implementation of the regulations and physical plans. Misuse takes place within the National Park by means of defining pieces of

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

agricultural land as barren land and by then obtaining permits to change the purpose of the land, which allows illegal construction and exploitation of that land. A Law on Plants is in preparation, which will define the production and sale of plants, and activities in this field in the region of the National Park and Zeta valley. Tourism Master Plan for Tourism Development 2001 provides general guidelines for Skadar Lake development from the tourism development aspect. Recommendations were made regarding cultural tourism development (interaction between Orthodox and Muslim culture), picnic tourism and ecotourism (bird watching, becoming familiar with plants, walking route, bike excursions, canoes, boat on the Lake, surfing, eco-camping, living with the country man, and so on). Current regulatory roles include laws expected to be completed in the near future, due to fall under the statute of limitations decree, and adapting to new opportunities in lake protection. In the following period, it is expected that current regulations will be adapted and harmonized with EU regulations in order to integrate Montenegro into the International and European flows. A new Republic Physical Plan, which defines national physical planning goals and measures, in accordance with the general economic, social, ecological, cultural and historical development of the Republic, is expected to be adopted in the forthcoming period. The Environmental Law will be amended according to changes and legislation in the EU. In order to define the courses of construction investments in this region, in line with the aim of preserving the eco-system and environment, it is necessary to define and physically develop urban and regional plans. In addition to all these amendments, Montenegro will need to ratify anew all conventions and international treaties following the international recognition of its statehood.12 According to inputs provided by research, in order to improve the legal regulations related to Skadar Lake, major stakeholders believe that it is necessary to: - Harmonize legislation with the European Union, in the field of environment and protected areas (amend the existing Law on National Parks, amend the Environmental Law, amend the existing Law on Freshwater Fishing, etc.). - Harmonize legislation between Albania and Montenegro related to the protection of the lake as a National Park – protected area. - Harmonize the monitoring system, including scientific research, through a monitoring and parameters system, in accordance with the EU. - Permanent preservation of the Lake’s resources along with the development of regulations that specify NP’s functions, use of boats, lake zoning and tourism exploitation management. - Harmonize legislation in the field of waters, specifically the harmonization of provisions from the Law with the EU Framework Directive on Waters. - Master Plan Development for wastewaters, especially for the confluence of Skadar Lake In addition to this process, it is important not to copy all the EU experience to our unique region and legal provisions need to be defined in accordance with those specific characteristics. It is necessary to pay attention to specific characteristics of this area, and in this case it is the Skadar Lake ecosystem. 7.2 Institutional Framework An institutional framework for the management and protection of natural and cultural assets in the region of Skadar Lake as a project area, include governmental institutions, which implement legal acts and in accordance have the legal competence to manage this resource.

Ratified conventions are presented in the table below.

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Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

An overview of roles and responsibilities in management regarding legal regulative is shown: Organization

Ministry of Tourism and Environment Protection (MTEP)

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources (MAFWR) Local Authorities (3 municipalities: Podgorica, Bar and Cetinje)

Public Enterprise National Parks of Montenegro (PENP)

Nature Protection Institute and Natural History Museum

Relevant International and National Laws and Regulations - Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (1977) - Convention on Biological Diversity - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Species – CITES (ratified in 2002) Environmental Law (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 12/96, 55/00) Law on Nature Protection (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 36/77,2/89) Law on National Parks (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 47/91, 27/94) Environmental Assessment Impact Decree (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 14/97) Air Protection Law (Official Gazette of the RM, No.4/82) Master Plan for the Tourism Development (by which the Skadar Lake is marked as the “tourism developing zone”) Law on Waters (Official Gazette of the RM, No 16/95) Law on Freshwater Fishery, (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 39/76,51/76,34/88,29/89,39/89,48/91, 4/92, 17/92, 27/94) Law on Forests (Official Gazette of the RM, No.55/00) Law on Agricultural Land (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 27/94)

Data Collected Annual monitoring reports (monitoring system covers air, water soil, radioactivity and biodiversity) Registering data on tourism capacities

- Maintains water book and cadastre of surface and groundwater resources and works on further development of water Information System - Maintains data on forests

Law on Construction (Official Gazette of the RM, No.55/00) Skadar Lake Physical Plan (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 46/01) Law on Nature Protection (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 36/77,2/89) Law on National Parks (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 47/91, 27/94) Program for Protection, Promotion and Use of Skadar Lake NP Decision on the Level and the Way of Payment for the Use of National Park’s Assets, for Conducting Economic Activities and Providing Services (Official Gazette of the RM, No.31/02) Law on Nature Protection (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 36/77,2/89) Resolution on Protecting Natural Facilities (Official Gazette of the RM, No. 30/68) Decree on Protection of Rare, Scarce, Endemic and Endangered Plant and Animal Species (Official Gazette of the RM, No.36/82)

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

The PENP is supposed to maintain a cadastre of the state of animal and plant ecosystems, their habitats and communities, but only partial data on Skadar Lake biodiversity is maintained so far

Central Register of Protected Facilities of Nature, printed database for Skadar Lake is under development, it is advanced and follows Ramsar and MedWet requirements

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

8. DEFINING THE SOCIAL RISK, WAYS TO OVERCOME Analyses of threats to and possibilities for protecting the Skadar Lake ecosystem include strong interdisciplinary work, the knowledge and skills of ecological and social sciences, as well as protection experts for the protected areas. It is necessary to create an instrument that could predict and prevent risks of project influence and all other works on the lake’s ecosystem, without endangering sustainability and the natural balance. Risk is a circumstance in which it is necessary to predict what might happen and where it might happen, in situations that are not predicted by the survey. Risk can be inside and outside of the project cycle. There are important questions and problems that must be dealt with, due to the analyses of possible risks when stakeholders are involved in this region. It is normal procedure to examine the possible risks as the results of the plan project in relation to the conflicts with different stakeholders and bad influences on the concept of the project and its implementation. Local inhabitants think that the region is not following a clear, conceptual plan of development. They think that they should be involved in the decision-making process regarding the resources of the National Park that they are using, as well as during the adoption of the legal regulation that is related to the activities that influences their living and working conditions. Migration movements are not equal. People are leaving the land, creating empty villages. While from the other side there is an increase in the population (Zeta valley) and agricultural use of land is spreading, along with the usage of pesticides, peat exploitation, an increase in the number of fishermen and illegal fishing, illegal construction, large amounts of solid waste, fecal water, and so on. In the framework of local community development, the following pressures are possible: • Jagged increase in the number of inhabitants in the Zeta valley, the return of the pensioners to their farms, the refugees migrating from Albania. • Poverty, weak social and economic status of the people and uncontrolled risk to lake resources. Risks related to the institutional framework are: • Insufficient transparency of the work of NP as a basic management unit for protected areas • Insufficient sector coordination. • Non existence of the strategic plan and plan documentation. • Insufficient cooperation with the Republic of Albania in the way of harmonized management of joint resources. Quality of the environment can be endangered due to: • Lakewater polluted with wastewater from the Aluminum plant, other industrial facilities and utility water. • Pollution of the water with solid waste. • Implementation of the significant development and infrastructure problems (regulation of the water level, tourism complex, road infrastructure, exploitation of mineral raw-materials, etc.) In the most important areas on Skadar Lake - agriculture, fishery, and tourism – the following risks were recognized: Agriculture: • Moving agricultural production toward the lake parcels due to the better quality land that is not treated with pesticides in order to increase income. • Reorientation from agricultural to the more profitable production of vine and fruit, and increased use of pesticides in land and water. • Melioration plans for some parts of the Lake in order to get more agriculture land. This is seen as a risk.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

• Excessive usage of pesticides. Fishing: • Pressure on the fish fund, due to the possibility of easy earnings, and over fishing of the fish fund. • Using forbidden assets and methods for fishing. • Artificially stocking fish in the lake. • Introduction of non-native species (pressure of the Chinese carp on domestic). • Expansion of the non-typical species. Tourism • Uncontrolled development of the tourism offer followed by illegal construction. • Low level of cooperation among tourism workers and representatives. • Unsustainable tourism development. 8.1 Main Problems and Conflicts in this Area: Conflicts that could influence the implementation process are between central and local authorities, conflict situations that occur among the institutions on the same level of management (conflicts between different ministries), and conflicts between the various users of the same resources among local inhabitants. Examples of the potential conflicts that are happening are: • • •

•

• • •

• • • •

Conflicts of interest on the central level regarding different methods for lake development. Certain ministries through their strategic documents acknowledge the lake as a part of the national park, tourist destination, or as an area for development of intensive agriculture. Conflicts in using peat from natural resources between the NP and the state. Plans for exploitation exists from the side of government and the Ministry of Economic Developmentthe largest amounts of peat are in the maximum protected area (Pančeva oko). Conflicts of interest between the Montenegrin Academy of Science and the policy of the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection related to the regulation of water level of Skhodra Lake. Namely such plans are in collision with the current status of Skadar Lake as a National Park. Conflict between the Orthodox Church and the State Agency for Protecting the Monuments. After the return of spiritual life in the monasteries on the lake, work has been done on sacral facilities without permission that destroys the original look and degrades the ambient value of these facilities. Conflicts between the central government and local inhabitants when issuing concessions on the usage of resources. Inhabitants believe that the concession money is not invested in the regional infrastructure. Conflicts between the NP and survey institutions that are not providing collected data but keeping it as intellectual property, even though they are obliged by the law. A conflict of interest between local authorities and local inhabitants on the development plans for certain areas (Virpazar for example). Inhabitants of the settlement Virpazar believe that methods of integral local communities’ development on the Lake should take place. On the other hand, there is no cooperation between three municipalities neither vision of sustainable usage of Lake resources. Conflicts between the management of the NP and municipal government in the area of using the goods and resources of the NP. Conflicts of interest between the management of the NP and local people using its resources. Conflicts of interest between restaurant owners and tourism entrepreneurs with the local inhabitants. Conflicts between different groups of individuals or groups that are using resources: fishermen living only from fishing and illegal fishermen using explosives, electrical energy and other forbidden methods for fishing.

Methods and possibilities for solving the above-stated problems are given in the following chapter. Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Final Report

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

9. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 9.1 Specific Recommendations Based on Information Collected from the Skadar Lake National Park Area A requisite for the realization and implementation of LSIMEP are good cross border cooperation, which means good management mechanisms from both sides, and the regular exchange of information between the relevant institutions. Also essential is the efficient implementation of existing and new legislation with active participation of all significant players (local inhabitants, NGO, municipality, central government and expert institutions). Project implementation has to be based on the concrete activities in all communities, on a transparent principle of participation for all interested parties with a focus on the local inhabitants. People have to be actively involved in the process through workshops, round tables and focus groups. A National Strategic Action Plan must be created, with documents that would be the basis for future activities. The plan needs to be based on the input of all interested parties and with the presence of the representatives of the local authorities in working groups. As a prerequisite for sustainable community development in the project area, followed by environmental protection of the Lake, the project should be directed toward the following: • Creating the conditions for better organization and interaction of stakeholders in local communities in order to develop cooperation and common performance; • Enabling public participation in the decision procedures for the future projects, plans and policies on resources protection and development; • Providing water supply infrastructure in the local communities of the Zeta Valley, Vranjina and Rijeka Crnojevića, - this is based on the recommendations from local citizens who participated in the focus groups and through household survey • Construction or reconstruction of the wastewater treatment facilities for the larger local communities; • Development of a system for the collection, transportation and storage of solid waste in the project area; • Projects to protect the environment from large polluters (wastewater from Aluminum plant, air pollution, and pesticides from Plantaze, etc.). Furthermore, specific recommendations for developing certain areas of the Lake – agriculture, fishing and tourism are: • Strategic preparation of the agricultural development in this region, with special attention on taking significant measures to organize agricultural production in Zeta valley; • Formulate a strategy for vineyard growth in the surrounding area (with the aim to develop villages and village tourism); • Enable the creation of a marketing chain for agricultural products; • Branding of authentic food, drinks, honey, etc.; • Control of pesticide usage through the work of agricultural pharmacies and inspections; • Education of the population through workshops and public campaigns. In the area of fishery it is necessary to: • Adopt new a Law on Freshwater Fishing with a special emphasize on fishing in the National Parks, or the adoption of regulations that would treat fishing at the Skadar Lake; • Enable the foundation of fishermen’s associations; • Lake zoning; • Enforcement and improvement of the guardian service; • Building of the fish base that could be used for planning the quantity of fish and the number of fishing licenses issued; • Permanent monitoring of the fish fund. Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

In the area of tourism it is necessary to: • Build a strategy of tourism development for the Lake that would target so-far unorganized management of this lake’s potential. This understands the clear development of the various types of tourism characteristics for the lake within the framework of a spatial plan for specially designed area. • Make urban plans for tourism centers prescribed by the spatial plan as well as places proposed for tourism valorization. • Develop a principle of diversity for the tourism industry and avoid the development of mass tourism and simple offer. • Involve the local inhabitants through public campaigns, education of development of family business (pilot project of tourism development that would show to the citizens how it is possible and in which ways to do tourism). • Creation of a database detailing the accommodation facilities and families that are ready to work in eco and village tourism. • Creation of credit lines that would help interested parties to develop tourism facilities. • Revitalization and promotion of cultural heritage with the aim of tourism development. Small and Medium Business Development It is very important to develop a mechanism for the involvement of private businesses in the investment process for environmental protection and implementation of standards that are prescribed by the existing laws. It is necessary to develop awareness with small private businesses about certain principles, such as wastewater disposal and cleaning (in restaurants, coffee bars, etc.) and solid waste disposal with the separation of the recycling materials (paper, glass, plastics). Cross-border Cooperation and Institutional Framework One of the goals is the creation of a strong network and mechanism of cooperation, with an exchange of information on a daily basis between the Montenegrin and Albanian side, and the creation of solid cross-border cooperation. It is necessary to establish an information exchange between the operative NP institutions and institutions from the Albanian side. Obstacles to this process are the language barriers and insufficient expertise and education of the people. It is necessary to: • Find a mechanism of harmonization for legislation and activities on both sides; • Establish an efficient monitoring system to evaluate the current situation and determine future steps; • Establish the institutional and legal framework through encouraging the existing cadre, engaging new employees and the implementation of outside experience; • Develop a harmonization mechanism of regulations and activities on both sides; • Establish the institutional and legal framework through strengthening existing staff and employing new staff; • Implement good examples and practices from similar foreign water eco-systems. The above-mentioned recommendations must be followed by: • Skadar Lake zoning, with clear distinctions between the zones for sustainable resource usage and the protected ones; • Develop a monitoring system with the aim of controlling the influence of certain areas of resource development and better quality planning; • Full implementation of the cultural historical heritage and traditional way of life as a basis for sustainable development in the project area.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

9.2 Indicators Through the analysis presented in the first part of this study, it can be seen that socio-economic problems are evident in the observed region. Any activity aimed at improving the social and economic situation in the region should be monitored through the appropriate indicator. The connection between the social and economic development of the inhabitants is obvious, as well as its influence on the environment and ecosystem. The project implementation evaluation will be based on its effects related to: (i) positive and negative effects on the knowledge and understanding of the Lake Ecosystem’s importance from the local community side; (ii) the project’s positive influence on their lives and living conditions; (iii) the quantity and quality of their participation in the project. In order to facilitate the process of defining the indicators, it is necessary to make an overview of the measuring indicators that define the achievement of project goals. Some of the recognized indicators are: • Creating a basic schematic for informing and monitoring; • Improved cooperation among the NP management and local authorities, NGOs and the private sector; • Extensive monitoring of the complete protected areas; • Development of new business opportunities through the elaboration of ideas, goods and services in the conventional economy; • Recreational and tourism activities have to be monitored and controlled by obeying the principles of responsibility toward the environment and the development of eco-tourism; • Increase public awareness of the natural, biological and cultural heritage of this region; • Participation of the local community in environmental protection. Most of the indicators are designed to follow development and the influence of population, welfare and lifestyle on the lake’s resources. Agriculture, fishery, tourism, employment and others are the primary activities in the lake communities and growth will bring a positive influence on the project. On the other side, the project will contribute to the increase of ecological values and development for the various tourism attractions, such as cultural, eco-tourism, and agro-tourism, and contribute to the protection of the lake environment. If the project would succeed in preventing all dangerous and illegal works on the lake, it would contribute to improved conditions for inhabitants and sustainable, clean usage of the natural resources. Qualitative indicators should develop tracking mechanisms and process control, as well as an understanding of the Lake Ecosystem and the lake’s importance to the vitality of the local community. Promotion of sustainable growth is one of the most important factors for reducing the poverty in this area. Sustainable economic growth of the private sector can be regulated in several ways: • By introduction of an economic instrument such as eco-taxes for usage of the natural resources, installing a “polluter is paying” mechanism, • Respect for and complying with all the parameters followed by the European Agency for the Environment, such as activities that are having a positive influence on the environment, • Allowing access for local people so that they can take a part in the decision making process on the local and central level. List of the important indicators is provided, the collection and submission methods. Indicators that must be monitored in order to keep the project implementation within the framework of social, economic and ecological development are as follows:

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Final Report

Indicator

Number of people in the region (residents, seasonal migrates)

In charge of collection /in what way Indicators of demographic changes

MONSTAT

Real GDP per capita growth rate MONSTAT

Level of growth for new working places

Number of new established small and medium sized enterprises in the project area Number of individuals or organizations /NGOs who are included in the decision making processes at the National park /municipalities level

MONSTAT/ special designed household survey

Submit to/ In what way Agency for environment, NP or the office/body in charge for the SAP implementation Public information/ published results, database on website Agency for environment, NP or office/body in charge for the SAP implementation Public information/ published results, database on website Agency for environment, NP or office/body in charge for the SAP implementation Public information/ published results, database on website

Commercial Court

MEPPP

Local Association, NP, municipality, NGOs

MEPPP

It is important to mention that the monitoring of the above-listed indicators is a complex task, which includes the existence of an office/body as the final place for the compiled information and that office/body will make future developmental decisions based on this information. There are several alternative solutions for creating this kind of office/body: (i) NPM with the special office, (ii) a special office within the MEPPP, which would monitor SAP implementation or (iii) a sector within the Agency for the Environmental Protection (if such activities are of concern for the Agency).

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Final Report Annex 1. The map of FG and HHS research and social and economic entities

The settlements in the National park The settlements in the border of National park

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report Annex 2. Bibliografija

1. Public Enterprise National Parks of Montenegro, Annual Report 2004 2. MONSTAT, Republic Statistical Office book IX “General review from 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2003 – data for settlements” 3. MONSTAT, Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2003 by municipalities, settlements and local communities 4. MONSTAT, Book II “Gender and age of population – by municipalities and settlements5. MONSTAT, Population Literacy (10 and more years old) 6. MONSTAT, “Migration data – by settlements” 7. MONSTAT, “Activity and gender data – by settlements“ 8. REC Project Office in Montenegro, Roles and Responsibilities of Shkoder Lake Stakeholders, March 2004 9. Cadastre of polluters of Zeta Valley in Niksic, Danilovgrad and Podgorica municipalities, Vol I-IV, 1998 Institute for Technical Research and Institute for Hydromechanics “Jaroslav Cerni” 10. Physical Plan of Shkoder Lake National Park (Official Gazette of the RM, 31/02) 11. Program of protection and development National Park Shkoder Lake, Management plan, 2005; NP Shkoder Lake 12. Trifon Zui and Stanka Filipovic, report on Shkoder Lake Risks and Potentials, 2001. 13. Decisions on the level and the way of payment of charge for the use of National Parks Assets, for Conducting Economic Activities and Providing Services (Official Gazette of the RM, 31/02) 14. Lake Shkoder Transboundary Diagnostics Analysis, Albania and Montenegro, Royal Haskoning, 2005 15. Social assessment for Skadar lake -Albania Trifon Zui, World bank, 2006 16. Social Analysis Sourcebook: Incorporating Social Dimensions into Bank- Supported projects, The World Bank, December 2003. 17. Study of settlement network “Skadar Lake, Institute for social economics research, Montenegro 1987. 18. Danijela Vitić, M.Sc, Basic study about Skadar lale destination, Cetinje and Plav Region – Montenegro, Faculty of tourism and hotel management, Kotor, 2005 19. ITSC Ltd, Crna Gora, 2005, The Study on the environment impact of the water flow for the long-term water supply of the Montenegrin coast 20. Regulation of Skadar Lake water regime and Bojana river-bed, CANU, Crna Gora, 2001

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Annex 3. Publications: 1. Bibliography on Skhkodra/Skadar Lake – 2001. 2. Biodiversity Data Base of Shkodra/Skadar Lake (check list of species registered for Skadar/Shkodra Lake) – August 2001. 3. Report on Risks and Potentials of Skadar/Shkodra Lake – 2001. 4. Directory of Environmental NGOs – 2002. 5. Objective Oriented Planning (Manual on Objective Oriented Planning and three bilateral project ideas given in the form of Log frames and ToRs – 2003. 6. CD with the project results (bibliography, data base, etc) – 2003. 7. Environment in the Educational System of Montenegro – 2004. 8. Study on Roles and Responsibilities of Skadar Lake Stakeholders – 2004. 9. Several Need Assessments, prior to providing technical support to local institutions – 2002/2003. 10. CD and Publication “Opening Doors Opening Minds” – 2005, for all three cross-border sites 11. Local newsletters “Bridge” and “Zooza” (“Liqeni” in Albania)– bimonthly, the 25 issues in total, starting from 2003. – in local languages 12. Three-lingual Bulletin (3 issues published, once per year) – starting from 2003. 13. LEAPs for Cetinje and Shkodra Municipality – 2006. 14. CD and web site about Old Royal Capital Cetinje – 2006. 15. International Winter Water bird Census at Skadar Lake (report from 12-year winter bird count at the lake) – 2006. 16. Numerous promotion materials with the message of protecting and promoting natural and cultural values of the Lake: 17. booklet on eco-trails around Lake, 18. booklet on walking trails in Skadar Lake region, 19. cook book with the recipes from Skadar Lake region, 20. many different leaflets and posters sending the message about protection of Skadar Lake and promoting its potentials for sustainable development, 21. TV broadcasts about natural and cultural values of the Lake, 22. public campaign for LEAP preparation 23. calendars and notebooks with the information about the Lake 24. CD about National Park Skadar Lake (presenting natural and cultural values) – 2007. 25. Map of Skadar Lake – 2007. 26. Update of the Bibliography of Skadar Lake – 2007. Workshops: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

How to Write Project Proposal for the REC – February 2001. Cross-border Cooperation: Vision and its Realization – July 2001. Possibilities for Sustainable Development of Skadar/Shkodra Lake – May 2002. How to write Cooperative Project Proposals for the REC – January 2003. Environment in the Educational System of Montenegro – December 2003. Workshop for Media – How to Make Environmental Story – May 2004. Project Cycle Management – July 2004. Training workshop in LEAP preparation – October 2004. Challenges of Cross-border Monitoring – March 2005. Possibilities for Sustainable Tourism Development in Skadar/ Shkodra Lake region – October 2005. 11. Cross-Border Lakes Protection and Management Networks – June 2005. (gathered following cross-border lakes: Ohrid, Prespa, Doiran, Skadar, Fertö-Hanság, Peipsi, Bodense. 12. Workshop on Habitat Typology – December 2005

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Annex 4. Table 1: Number of population in Skadara Lake region: Municipality Settlement Number of citizens Begova Glavica 53 Berislavci 489 Bijelo Polje 826 Bistrice 345 Balabani 938 Vranj 836 Vukovci 426 Golubovci 2869 Gostilj 193 Podgorica Podhum 240 Vranjina 218 Drešaj 142 Kotrabudan 288 Kurilo 106 Mataguži 1299 Ponari 295 Sukuruć 444 Šušunja 281 Bobovište 230 Boljevići 204 Virpazar 337 Godinje 60 Krnjice 26 Martići 357 Ckla 104 Bar Komarno 26 Donji Murići 125 Kruševica 1 Braćeni 19 Sotonići 112 Besi 67 Source: Monstat, 2003

Settlement

Number of citizens

Cetinje Rijeka Crnojevića 216 Prevlaka 24 Riječani 20 Dodoši 53 Drušići 76 Dujeva 2 Žabljak 40 Bobija 39 Donje Selo 23 Šindjon 25 Total 12474

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report Table 2: Number of population by social and economic entities Comparative review of number of population Settlements 1991 2003 Bobovište 334 230 Ckla 171 104 Krajina Martići 484 357 Donji Murići 279 125

Crmnica

Riječka nahija

Lješanska nahija

Zetska ravnica

Boljevići Braćeni Godinje Krnjice Kruševica

194 22 55 55 6

204 19 60 26 1

Komarno Seoca Virpazar Rijeka Crnojevića Prevlaka

37 49 407 327 30

26 31 337 216 24

Dodoši Žabljak Vranjina Drušići Bobija

72 49 177 135 64

53 40 218 76 39

Dujeva Riječani

7 24

2 20

Donje Selo

Begova Glavica Golubovci

32 2754

53 2869

Ponari Vukovci Kurilo Bistrice Bijelo Polje

309 373 115 349 754

295 426 106 345 826

Berislavci Gostilj Balabani Mataguži Vranj

447 166 556 1005 916

489 193 938 1299 836

Sukuruć Kotrabudan Podhum Drešaj

475 218 224 137

444 288 240 142

Drume

360

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

215

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report Table 3: 17 settlements located in National Park and number of citizens Settlement Bobovište Bes Donji Murići Krnjice Godinje Virpazar Kruševice Komarno Donje selo Rijeka Crnojevića Šindjon Prevlaka Dodoši Žabljak Vranjina

2003 230 67 125 26 60

1991 334 189 279 55 55

2003 / 1991 68 35 44 47 109

337 1 26 23 216

407 6 37 47 327

82 16 16 48 66

25 24 53 40 218

34 30 72 49 177

73 80 73 81 123

32 224

165 107

53 Begova Glavica 240 Podhum Source: Physical plan of Skadar Lake National Park Table 4: Income and expenditure for Skadar Lake NP

2004 2005 66.875,00€ 53.967,00€ 21.484,00€ 18.448,00€

Fishing permits Income from bleak catches Sand and grit exploitation Park and boat entrance tickets Taxes according to the program of temporary facilities (Karuč, Vranjina) Confiscated assets, frog hunting etc.

30.220,00€ 10.838,00€ 5.144,00€

83.500,00€ 13.164,00€ 7.880,00€

3.542,00€

11.140,00€

Own revenues

138.103,00€

188.073,00€

Budget funds (salaries, meal fee, legal remedy and transport) Total revenues Expenditure

83.320,00€ 221.423,00€ 173.336,00€

59.298,00€ 247.371,00€ 189.110,00

Profit Source: Skadar Lake National park Table 5: Projection of population by social and economic entities for 2015:

48.087,00€

58.261,00

Own revenues

Settlements

Krajina Crmnica

Bobovište Besa Donji Murići Krnjice Godinje Virpazar Kruševice Komarno

Comparative review of number of population 1991 2015 543 610 272 310 367 57 41 409 6

460 30 30 460 0

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report

Rijeka

Donje Selo Rijeka Crnojevića Šindjon Prevlaka Dodoši

Žabljak Vranjina Lješanska nahija Begova Glavica Zeta Podhum Source: Physical plan of Skadar Lake National Park

47 339 34 30 69

40 350 30 20 50

49 180 32 280

40 160 20 340

Table 6: Ethnical groups by socio – economic entities Socio – economic entities Zeta Crmnica Riječka nahija Lješanska nahija Krajina Ukupno Source: Monstat, 2003

Montenegrin 5567 445 552 53 0 6617

Serbian 2233 0

Muslim 105 0

114 0 0 2347

1 0 0 106

Albanian 1620 0 0 0 798 2418

Tabela 7: Total number of households by socio – economic entities in the Skadar Lake region: Socio economic entities Zeta Riječka nahija

number of households, 2003 2315 300 254 223 20

Crmnica Krajina Lješanska nahija Source: Monstat, 2003

Table 8: Aktivno stanovništvo i broj nezaposlenih po pojedinim socio ekonomskim cjelinama Socio ekonomske cjeline

Zeta Crmnica Riječka nahija Lješanska nahija Krajina Ukupno Source: Monstat, 2003

Aktivno stanovništvo, 2003 3744 225 189 17 293 4468

1378

Aktivno stanovništvo, 1991 3163

69 38 8 120 1613

275 236 23 395 4092

Nezaposleni 2003

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

Nezaposleni 1991 762 42 42 16 96 958

Social Assessment for Skadar Lake – Final Report Table 9: Active and unemployed population in the settlements in the National park, 2003. Active population 2003

Unemployed 2003

Bobovište

Besa Donji Murići Krnjice Godinje

12 41 3 11

1 9 0 5

Virpazar Kruševice Komarno Donje Selo Rijeka Crnojevića

128 0 3 5 75

40 0 1 2 14

Šindjon Prevlaka Dodoši Žabljak Vranjina

9 2 5 13 56

0 0 3 4 6

Begova Glavica Podhum

17 66

8 0

Settlements

Krajina Crmnica

Rijeka

Lješanska nahija Zeta

Table 10: Active population and population dealing with agriculture by socio –economic entities Socio –economic entities

population dealing with agriculture 611 90 12 15

Active population

Zeta Krajina Riječka nahija Crmnica

3744 293 198 225

Lješanska nahija

Table 11: Number of children attending the first grade of primary school in the Skadar Lake settlements Naselja Golubovci Sukuruć Mataguži Virpazar Vukovci Ponari Murići Ckla Bobovište Vranjina Rijeka Crnojevića Drušići

2001 148 98 46

2002 150 81 50

2003 127 121 52

2004 158 89 53

2005 124 105 47

19 1 2 4 2

9 9 0 2 0

16 0 6 0 3

19 17 6 2 0

30 9 5 1 2

3 4 2 1

2 0 3 0

0 4 3 1

0 3 1 0

5 5 6 1

Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)