Albania protects Lake Skadar and the Buna Delta
Largest Lake in the Balkan Area under protection: 900 sqkm protected in Montenegro and Albania
Only Bojana Delta in Montenegro still missing to complete unique protected wetland area on the Balkan Green Belt
- Map Bojana-Buna Region, Albania/Montenegro
Lake Skadar at the border of Albania and Montenegro (also called Lake Scutari or Lake Shkodra) is a dynamic natural lake, changing its surface area from 350 sqkm in dry summers to up to 542 sqkm after heavy rainfall. The Lake is connected to the Adriatic Sea by the Buna River (called Bojana in Montenegro) and divided by the border. Now, 495 sqkm on the Albanian side are being protected as "Shkodra Lake Natural Reserve" by a decision of the Albanian Council of Ministers taken on November 2nd 2005. Lake Skadar, the Buna river, a beach stretching for miles, lagoons, marshlands and wide pastureland are part of the new protected area. Dolphins, golden eagles, pelicans and bears can be found in one coherent natural area. "The beauty and natural wealth of this former iron curtain border area are remarkable and probably unique in Europe," Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby of European Nature Heritage Fund (EuroNatur) puts his enthusiasm into words. EuroNatur has been working for the protection of the area as part of the "Balkan Green Belt" - project since three years. This initiative wants to save the natural beauties along the former iron curtain.
- Lake Skadar
The new Shkodra Lake Natural Reserve includes the Albanian part of Lake Skadar (265 sqkm) and the terrestrial and marine area of the Buna delta (230 sqkm) including the 44 km river course and the coastal mountains. Most important sites are the Viluni lagoon, a 15 km long beach, the Velipoja reserve, the Domni marshland and the large pasturelands at the river. Together with the adjacent Lake Skadar National Park on the Montenegrenian side the whole protected area comprises now almost 900 sqkm of extaordinary natural beauty.
The Albanian decision offers great opportunity to develop a transboundary protected area according to the international guidelines of UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention. "Most important now is the integration of the Bojana Delta in Montenegro in the protected areas network and the implementation of management measures in the new nature reserve", states Schneider-Jacoby of EuroNatur. The protection of the landscape values and high biodiversity could make the area a tourist destination attractive all year round. Nevertheless, EuroNatur emphasizes that in this context it will be important to stop illegal building in the natural areas as well as uncontrolled hunting. For the hinterland and the rural areas a development program is needed to preserve the cultural and natural heritage and to improve the living in the villages. During a recent meeting the Prime Ministers of both Albania and Montenegro strongly expressed their will to enhance transboundary cooperation.
