There is hope for Mediterranean wetlands

We have learned, with great pleasure, that the Ulcinj Salina has been declared a protected area (Nature Park) by the Parliament of the Municipality of Ulcinj. This marks a happy end for this remarkable biodiversity site. The Ulcinj Salina, in the extreme south of Montenegro, is one of the most important wetland areas in the Balkans. The significance of these salt pans for migratory birds is commonly compared with that of the London Heathrow Airport for its air traffic. And the Salina is indeed a hub for bird migration along the Adriatic Flyway. Thousands of wading and water birds, more than 250 different species, rest there each year in the spring and autumn and refuel for the rest of their energy-sapping flight. Moreover as a breeding site the Ulcinj Salina is of great importance. After the operation of the saltworks stopped in 2013 there were various development plans including its transformation into a tourist resort with golf course which would have destroyed it as a biodiversity paradise. Fortunately, that threat has now been removed and this vast area saved as a treasure trove of biodiversity and wildlife for generations to come. This great success for the 'coastal wetlands' community of the Mediterranean is result, among others, of a significant support from the MAVA Foundation and dedicated work of a number of local and international NGOs that have been campaigning for years to save the Ulcinj Salina.