Towards biodiversity conservation and strengthening protected area management of Cijevna River

Challenge

The Cijevna River Canyon is a Monument of Nature with rare and endangered species, facing critical threats due to the absence of an effective management and the recent road reconstruction project Montenegro-Albania. This infrastructure development severely impacted the unique Adianto-Pinguiculetum hirtiflorae plant community, while waste disposal and sand extraction also pose significant risks. Action was urgently needed to establish effective management of the area and to address environmental pressures to safeguard this vital ecosystem in Montenegro.

Objective

The goal of this project was to conserve and restore the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Cijevna River through fostering effective management of this protected area. For this, the desired outcome was to create favorable conditions for sustainable management by improving the status of endangered species and their habitats, identifying economic potential for biodiversity conservation, and raising public awareness about the area's ecological value.

Approach

The project goals have been achieved by:

• Studying the species’ ecology by assessing the ecological status of species within the project area.
• Evaluating spatial planning documents by reviewing spatial planning to prevent conflicts with the protected area's management and avoid degradation of P. hirtiflorae habitats.
• Collaborating with public environmental protection agency by assisting in developing the red list and national list of protected species to enhance species protection.
• Organizing meetings with stakeholders by engaging with municipality representatives and the local community to sensibilize the community and gather insights on socioeconomic aspects.
• Advocating for immediate action by providing recommendations and initiate dialogue with current management to address urgent issues, implement necessary protection measures, and establish an effective management body for the protected area.
• Creating educational and promotional materials by developing resources to raise awareness about the area's importance and promote conservation efforts.

Achieved Results

1. Improved status of endangered species and their habitats: the project contributed to enhancing the health and stability of endangered species by conducting scientific research, proposing protection and revitalization measures, and delivering these findings to current managers, along with initiating urgent action plans.
2. Identification of economic potential: opportunities for the sustainable economic valorization of this PA were identified and analyzed. These findings were incorporated into a comprehensive socioeconomic analysis and used to start dialogue with relevant authorities.
3. Increased public awareness: structured and targeted online campaigns, raised awareness about the importance and ecological value of the Cijevna River as a protected area, reaching over 600,000 people in Montenegro. Fascinating digital content was created for this purpose.