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Annual Report 2016 Center for Protection and Research of Birds FOR NATURE AND PEOPLE 3
4 Center for Protection and Research of birds of Montenegro (CZIP) was founded in December 2000 by ornithologists of the Environmental Protection Institute, Natural History Museum and National Parks, with the support of students of the Faculty of Sciences (Biology Department).
CZIP is a member of the IUCN and BirdLife International world authorities in conservation of nature. Mission of the CZIP is protection of birds and other plant and animal species and their habitats, monitoring of biodiversity, education of citizens, popularization of scientific research, as well as cooperation with other organizations in the country and abroad. Vision of the Center is harmony in relation between people and nature, as well as economic development based on principles of sustainable use of resources. Aims of the organisation are: - to initiate, encourage and support scientific and expert research of ornithofauna and other biodiversity groups on the territory of Montenegro; - to educate and to raise awareness of knowledge of birds and other members of biodiversity; - to point to the needs and means of protection of birds and their habitats, as well as of other members of biodiversity. 5
605 2016. in numbers. Third year of participation in drafting the European Breeding Birds { } Atlas. Data collected from 21 quadrants. Participation in 25 th winter bird census in Montenegro - International Waterbird Census (IWC) which was held for the 50 th time in Europe.. Regular monitoring of birds and illegal activities on the Ulcinj Saline resulted in identification of two new species for the ornithofauna of Montenegro. Regular monitoring of pelicans from the hill Hum, above the Ornithological reserve Panceva Oka, with the monitoring of illegal activities.
The first complete research of Orjen s ornithofauna was conducted. Two research camps with 30 participating researchers were organized. Obtained data were forwarded to the Environment Protection Agency for the purpose of drafting the Protection Study of this exceptionally important locality. RESEARCHES Contribution to the creation of the referent bird species for the establishment of NATURA 2000 sites in MONTENEGRO. Brown bear research has started, with the use of methodology of setting up camera traps and collecting DNA material for the purpose of analysis of the real number of individuals in research areas. The search for the Balkan lynx has been continued. 7
2016. in numbers Five days training in the category of summer demanding mountain tour was organized for 20 mountaineers. Lectures were given by representatives of the Mountain Rescue Service, i.e. of the Montenegrin National Mountain Academy in the Nature Park Piva. 805 Leave no Trace training was organized for mountain and tourist guides with the aim of improvement of their knowledge about ethical behaviour during the stay in nature and the work with tourists on the terrain. More than 30 guides and nature lovers participated in trainings on basics of birdwatching held on Orjen and the Tivat Saline. * For the first time the training on the importance of wild edible herbs from Orjen and their use in the culinary for the purpose of enriching culinary tourism offer was held. Tested recipes from the training were published in the cookbook Tastes of Orjen.
Sustainable tourism development that serves nature protection 24 tourism service providers from the Bay of Kotor attended the training on marketing trends in sustainable tourism. Five-days training on authentic handicrafts making was organized for 50 female participants, who had the opportunity to learn from the best, but also to share the experience in soaps and natural cosmetics making, traditional weaving, making jewellery out of recycled materials, making clay molds Five-days study visit was organized for 30 media representatives and tourism service providers from Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They visited Nature Park Hutovo Blato, National Park Sutjeska, Bay of Kotor and Nature Park Piva. 9
2016. in numbers In cooperation with the Petrovic Njegos Foundation and the Beekeeping Association of Montenegro, hives were donated to beekeepers from the region of Moraca River Canyon, with the aim of encouraging the sustainable development. As in the previous year, 6 households were subsidized with 24 hives and 12 bee colonies. 10
Sustainable agriculture development that serves nature protection The study visit for 6 winegrowers from the Moraca River Canyon was organized in Peljesac (Croatia), which is recognized as the Empire of Wine. The first call for small grants was realized in cooperation with the NGO ORCA from Serbia. Six organizations from Montenegro were given a chance for financial support for projects in the field of sustainable agriculture. 11
Infrastructure EVENTS Tivat Salina Solar panels were installed in order to supply the Info-point with the electrical energy. Previously vandalized birdwatching tower was fixed. Orjen - 115 km of the hiking trails were valorised for tourist purposes by setting up 20 info-tables and 4 resting-places. Vrmac - 10 km of the hiking trails were valorised for tourist purposes by setting up 6 info-tables and 2 resting-places. 12 Nature Park Piva 30 km of the hiking trails were valorised for tourist purposes by marking, mountain signalization and setting up 2 info-tables. In Pluzine 24 hours available interactive display that contains information on the Nature Park Piva and its tourist offer was set up. Exhibition shelfs were made for tourist organizations of Herceg Novi, Tivat, Nature Park Piva and NGO Ruke. Ulcinj Saline - The Second International Conference on the protection of Ulcinj Saline was held as a respond to the failure to fulfil the obligations that followed the Conclusions of the First Conference, which attended more than 70 participants. - Individual and group visits with more than 700 visitors were organised. Some of the visitors were: Chief- Executive of the BirdLife International, Chief Executive of the BirdLife Europe, Ambassadors
of Germany, USA, Poland, Greece, Hungary, Croatia, Italy and Bulgaria, representatives of reginal environment protection agencies, representatives of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, representatives of MAVA Foundation, Members of the European Parliament etc. - World-famous soul singer Joss Stone visited the Saline and called for its protection. The Bay of Kotor - Two field trips were organized to Orjen, Vrmac and Tivat Salina, with the aim of promoting well-kept hiking trails. The field trips gathered 100 participants. Tivat Salina - The conference on the significance of Tivat Salina in the context of conservation of nature, tourist valorization and historical, i.e. cultural heritage. - Individual and group visits with over 700 visitors were organized, thanks to the engagement of the tourist guide. EVENTS The workshop on tools and techniques on monitoring negotiations in Chapter 27, for the civil sector representatives dealing with the protection of environment in Montenegro, was organized. The workshop for identification of KBA (Key Biodiversity Areas) in Montenegro was organized, which included all relevant actors in the field of nature protection. 13
Education cooperation 14 1766 primary school students from Podgorica, Tivat and Cetinje participated in the educational workshops on migratory birds within the Spring Alive campaign. Four workshops were organized in the Toy Library and Development Center facilities As the result of cooperation with NGO Green Home, Association of Young Ecologists of Niksic and NGO North Land, the Coalition 27 was formed for monitoring the negotiation process in Chapter 27 on Environment protection.
cooperation The cooperation was established with the Adriatic Marinas company, which had donated a spotting scope and two binoculars for the purpose of improving tourist offer of Tivat Salina. The binoculars were handed to rangers of NP Prokletije, with the aim of strengthening capacities for monitoring of birds and wild animals at the park teritory. The cooperation was established with local groups for nature protection on the localities of Orjen and Cemovsko polje. For the monitoring purposes, the key for identifying birds and binoculars were handed to these locals groups. { We helped establishing of a } Martin Schneider Jacoby, foundation, of which we are a member. 15
2016. in numbers 16 593 articles in the media Over 5000 followers on Facebook 136 publications on the web page www.czip.me with over 200 thousands website visits Mobile application for Tivat Salina was developed The premiere of documentary The Endangered Treasure of Ulcinj was held in Ada Bojana Two video spots Crkvice - Embraced by Nature and Piva - Quest for Stecci, with over 8 thousands of views on Youtube Three billboards Experience Orjen/Vrmac/ Tivat Salina, watch the birds were placed on five locations in the Bay of Kotor, with the aim of promoting these areas as birdwatching destinations 5 info graphics and 3 billboards on the influence of wind power plants on birds were placed Photo competition was organized - The four membered judging panel and the followers of CZIP Facebook page selected five most beautiful photos out of 127 submitted photos, which represented the pearls of Green Belt: Prokletije
Mountains, Ulcinj Saline, Skadar Lake and Cijevna River canyon. The winners of the 1st and 2nd place in Montenegro s competition, won the 3rd and 4th place in Balkan s competition. The first exhibition of photographs and exhibit of birds was organized during the Green December Festival in the EU Info Centre in Montenegro. Presentation on Tivat Salina was declared as the best one on the Young and Mediterranean Meetings in Nice. Promotion Publications Recipes of delicacies from the trainings on wild herbs, as well as culinary secrets of the participants of the same training were brought together in the mini cookbook Tastes of Orjen. Guidebook for the birds of Orjen and Vrmac Meet Platije Piva - Quest for Stecci 17
18 we are proud of Work on the Ulcinj Saline: - The Draft of the Spatial Plan for the Coastal Zone was changed, which had prevented an attempt to transform Ulcinj Saline into a urban construction land (the original plan foresaw an accommodation capacity of 1500 beds on the Saline area). - The European Parliament adopted the recommendation of the Bundestag that the Ulcinj Saline and the question on the necessity of the Saline s protection should be the center of the recommendations of the Resolution on the Progress Report on Montenegro for 2015. - The Ulcinj Saline was mentioned for the second time in a row in the Progress Report on Montenegro, where it was concluded that there is a delay in implementation of active protection of the area. - We have won an award for the protection of the Ulcinj Saline campaign at the Bird Watching Fair in Comacchio, Italy. Work on Skadar Lake: Record year for pelicans, 178 individuals were counted Comments were prepared for the Special Purpose
Spatial Plan for the NP Skadar Lake, contributing to the withdrawal of the draft from the procedure. Conducted research: Our researches in Orjen will serve as the basis for the protection of this area. Three new species have been discovered for Montenegro: Peter Sackl, PhD, citrine wagtail (Motacillacitreola), Borut Rubinić, broad-billed sandpiper (Limicola falcinellus), Tehran Palavrtić, tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus). The database on large game was created after the 4 year long research period. Measures for population recovery of specific species: The platform for nesting of white storks was set up in Berane. Thirty bird houses for peregrine falcon were built with the support of CGES (Electric Transmission System of Montenegro). 19
20 challenges Affair - Salt for the Prime Minister - Representative of the Center was questioned by inspector for violent crimes due to the delivery of the New Year s gift to the Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic. The gift was a tube with the salt from the Ulcinj Saline. Loss of nesting season of flamingos and other bird species in the Ulcinj Saline due to inadequate water management regime. Stepping out from the Advisory Board for Ulcinj Saline due to the absence of formal protection of the area. Camera traps used for monitoring of wild animals in Montenegrin forests were destroyed again.
Birdwatching towers situated in Tivat Salina and Ulcinj Saline were damaged. The first satellite tagged bird in Montenegro - Griffon Vulture Milo - has not been located. Finance report 7 employees 18 completed projects Annual budget: 254.245,00 The suppression of poaching. 21
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