Finally, a management body to conserve the Ulcinj Salina

Radolfzell, Ulcinj. Good news for the Ulcinj Salina in Montenegro, one of the most important resting areas for migratory birds along the Adriatic flyway. The agreement has finally been signed to establish an administration for the conservation management of the salt pans, which were designated a nature park in 2019. This means that the protection the Ulcinj Salina has formally enjoyed since then can now also be implemented in the field through concrete measures. 

EuroNatur and its Montenegrin partners CZIP and MSJA have long fought for the protection of the salt marsh and since 2019 have consistently called for the establishment of a body to administer the conservation of the area. “We are delighted that this long-overdue step has finally been taken,” says Dr Stefan Ferger, Programme Director for Migratory Bird Conservation at the international nature conservation foundation EuroNatur. “The management body must now implement the measures set out in the conservation management plan as quickly as possible. To do this, it needs competent leadership, committed staff and the necessary financial resources. We expect the Montenegrin government and the municipality of Ulcinj to quickly take the necessary steps to establish the administrative framework for the conservation of the area,” says Ferger. EuroNatur and its partners will monitor the process, as the setting up of the management body is also a condition for Montenegro's desired accession to the European Union. They will of course continue to support the protection of the Ulcinj Salina to the best of their ability.

Every year, World Wetlands Day draws attention to the importance of intact wetlands such as lakes, river systems and salt pans. This year's theme is ‘Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage’. “The theme of this year's World Wetlands Day is a perfect fit for the Ulcinj Salina,” says Gabriel Schwaderer, Executive Director of EuroNatur. “At Ulcinj Salina, nature conservation and cultural heritage go hand in hand, because more than a hundred years of salt production have created a man-made cultural landscape that has now become one of the most valuable resting and breeding areas for migratory birds. This is another reason why we are promoting the resumption of sustainable harvesting of salt in Ulcinj, combining nature conservation with local value creation” says Schwaderer.

Background information:

• World Wetlands Day 2026: World Wetlands Day draws attention to the threat to wetlands worldwide and is celebrated every year on 2 February.

• The Ulcinj Salina in Montenegro, which is part of the Bojana-Buna Delta, cover 1,500 hectares and is one of the largest salt pans in the Mediterranean – and one of the most important breeding, resting and wintering area for migratory birds on the eastern Adriatic coast. EuroNatur has been working for many years with its Montenegrin partners CZIP (BirdLife Montenegro) and MSJA (Martin Schneider Jacoby Association) and international allies to protect the salt pans on the Adriatic. Partly due to pressure from our ‘Save Salina’ campaign, the government in Podgorica declared the Ulcinj Salina a protected area in 2019. Shortly afterwards, it was designated a Ramsar site. 

Enquiries: Christian Stielow, Mail: christian.stielow(at)euronatur.org, Tel.: +49 (0)7732 – 92 72 15