Overview
Status: in progress
Categorization: habitat and biodiversity
Country: Montenegro
Period: /
Contact info
Name: Dragana Drakulović
Organization: University of Montenegro
Email: draganadrakulovic@gmail.com
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Summary
Summary description: Boka Kotorska is one of the most renowned stretches of the Montenegrin coast, part of which has been designated as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. The area hosts a rich biodiversity, expressed in a huge variety of landscapes, from the bay itself to the mountains that surround it. When it comes to marine biodiversity specially valuable are areas of unique corralgenius assemblies are at Sopot and Dražin vrt. The largest populations of Savalia savaglia Bertoloni, species were recorded at this two sites. PE”Morsko Dobro” will be entity to manage marine protected area and who is supposed to establish strong and educated ranger service. During three territorial labs problems in protection of the Kotorsko-Risanski Bay with focus on coralligenius assemblies at area Sopot and Drazin vrt were discussed. All stakeholders welcome the initiative for better cooperation, coordination and exchange of information in between stakeholders. Discussions were focused on each element of Trend, Orientated and Preferred scenario. It was concluded that Mpa Contract tool can not be integrated in the existing legal framework since legal meaning of contract in Montenegro is different but that Memorandum on cooperation can support implementation of relevant objectives and can improve coordination and cooperation of the institutions in order to support efficient management and protection of the area.
Type: project
EU Challenges for sustainable tourism: further challenges
EU Principles: (iii) involving stakeholders, (iv) multilevel governance, (v) promoting awareness and commitment
Reason of interest for COASTING: Implementation of tree scenarios Trend, Orientated and Preferred as a basis for the discussion of stakeholders in order to understand actions needed for better protection of the marine protected pilot area Kotorsko Risanski zaliv- (Sopot area and Dražin vrt)as well as to identified gaps in the management effectiveness and practice was very good example how to motivate stakeholders to think about needed actions in order to improve management and protection practice. This leaded to better exchange of information and ideas as well as to the list of needed actions in order to improve situation in the pilot area. All this inputs were basis for the MoU which will give framework for better cooperation and coordination of the stakeholders.
Financial information
: 0.00 €
Financial sources: TBD
Background information
Territorial context: Savalia savaglia Bertoloni, 1819 (synonym Gerardia savaglia Bertoloni, 1819) is a colonial Anthozoa distributed in the Mediterranean Sea, on the Atlantic coasts of Spain and Portugal, and in the Canary Islands (Cerrano et al. 2010). The skeleton that holds the colony is black, so this species is often confused with black coral (Antipathella subpinnata Ellis & Solander, 1786), and otherwise the popular name of this species is "fake black coral". The genus Savalia is characterized by a wide bathymetric distribution, ie it inhabits areas from 15 m to over 900 m deep (Ocana, Brito, 2004; Giusti et al., 2015). Also, the specificity of this organism is the ability to create a thin and solid skeleton. It usually begins life on gorgonians or black corals. Polyps are usually yellow in color with tentacles spread in one circle, so this species is popularly known as "yellow coral". It is a relatively rare species listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.
Relation to policies and strategies: The Law on Nature Protection aiming to transpose the key EU legislation in this area, such as Habitats and Birds Directives. Law in general regulates the conditions and the manner of protection and conservation of nature by including: • protection of flora, fauna and geomorphological aspects; • declaration of natural assets protected and their conservation and management, with the purpose of conservation or improvement of the objectives of protection; • protection of all threatened, rare and autochthonous species; identification and assessment of the state of natural phenomena and processes; • implementation of measures for the protection of nature; • determining the guidelines and conditions for nature protection in spatial planning documentation, throughout all levels of development and regulatory plans, in concessional documentation, development programs and programs for management of natural resources (mining, energetics, transport, waterpower management, agriculture, forestry, hu
Regulation framework: Law on Nature Protection in Article 19 prescribes protection of sea and undersea environment stating that, among others, the conservation of the biological diversity of the sea shall be ensured by establishing the protected sea areas and implementing the measures for conservation and protection. The Law on Nature Protection among other provisions prescribes procedure and steps for the establishment of protected areas and ecological network as we as their management. Subject of the Law is as well, protection of the species. National Biodiversity Strategy with Action Plan for the period 2016-2020 has defined seven strategic targets and number of measures when it comes to the protection and conservation of biodiversity in the country including target to proclame 10% of the protected areas as marine protected areas till 2020. National Strategy on Sustainable Development with Action Plan until 2030 (NSSD 2030) improves the national sustainable development policy on the basis of results gai
Specific information
Objectives: To improve stakeholders involvement, cooperation and coordination of the relevant stakeholders in order to ensure efficient management and protection of the marine protected pilot area Kotorsko Risanski zaliv- (Sopot area and Dražin vrt).
Developers (and governance): University of Montenegro-Institute of Marine Biology Kotor
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Innovation aspects: Implementation of the scenarios as a basis for discussion to identified gaps and needed actions in order to defined list of priorities and in order to improve management practice.
Actions: During three territorial labs problems in protection of the Kotorsko-Risanski Bay with focus on coralligenius assemblies at area Sopot and Drazin vrt were discussed. All stakeholders welcome the initiative for better cooperation and exchange of information in between stakeholders. Discussions were focused on each element of Trend, Orientated and Preferred scenario. During first meeting on the trend scenario Institute for Marine Biology describe value of the area with specific focus on treats and pressures. After introductory part all institutions presented briefly role and responsibilities regarding protection of pilot area. Discussion started with consideration of Governance aspects of trend scenario in which three problems were discussed to be solved such as need for legal protection, straightening capacities of relevant inspectors and manager and need for better coordination of the relevant institutions. Regarding Environment also three problems were discussed related to Invasive al
Stakeholders involvement: Institute for Marine Biology Kotor held a series of participatory events (territorial labs) in February and March 2021 involving various stakeholders, including: Ministry for Ecology, Spatial planning and Urbanism, Environmental Protection Agency, PE”Morsko Dobro”, Administration for Inspection controls, Municipality of Kotor, Maritame Safety Administration, and Port of Kotor with the aim of establishing a participated governance for the MPA MoU of Kotorsko-Risanski Bay with focus on coralligenius assemblies at area Sopot and Drazin vrt. Due to Covid 19 pandemic measures and restrictions only possible way regarding participatory tools was organisation of online meetings. Three meetings were held in order to discuss in details all three scenarios as well as potential content of MoU. Meetings were thematic and dedicated to each scenario. After the meeting to all participants table of scenarios were sent and they were invited to integrate their additional proposals. Invitation e-mails, i
Results achieved: Main achieved results are signing of Mou which is framework for better cooperation and coordination od stakeholders, defining a list of priority actions in order to improve protection of the pilot area, improved coordination and cooperation of the relevant institutions and stakeholder involvement.
Potential for learning and transfer
Challenges and obstacles: Due to Covid 19 pandemic measures and restrictions only possible way regarding participatory tools was organisation of online meetings. Good approach was to set each meeting per thematic issue in order to allow participants to understand concept and to actively participate in the development of the scenarios. Positive aspect was that meeting participants were willing to contribute with their ideas, proposals and recommendations based on their own experience. Negative considerations about the met
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Transferability in COASTING project: Same methodology can be transferred to other similar pilot sites by providing mentoring on 3 scenarios and their implementation in order to improve involvement of stakeholders and cooperation and coordination of all relevant interested parties.