Brief Sub-Project Description
Bjelasica Mountain together with National Park Biogradska Gora represents a unique biogeographical and ecological entity. The purity of the nature with incredible genetic, specie and ecosystem diversity remained intact until the present day. Mosaic of natural and almost fully natural landscapes with characteristic way of utilization, makes a unique phenomenon in Europe Natural resources within Biogradska Gora are tremendous and still are far beyond from sustainably used. Because of the natural beauties’ potential for development of tourist facilities suitable for recreation is enormous.
According to the Spatial plan of the National Park Biogradska Gora, protected zone covers the area of 19,470 ha, out of which 7,070 ha is situated within the municipality of Kolasin, 3,830 ha within the municipality of Mojkovac, 5,600 ha within the municipality of Berane, 2,320 ha within the municipality of Andrijevica and 650 ha within the municipality of Bijelo Polje.
Although it is the smallest of five National Parks in Montenegro, Biogradska Gora National Park contains great diversity of flora and fauna. There are 26 different habitats of plants with 220 different plants, 150 kinds of birds, and 10 kinds of mammals live in this Park and in its forest, there are 86 kinds of trees and shrubs. In the waters of the park exists three kinds of trout and 350 kinds of insects.
Biogradsko Jezero is located in the heart of Biogradska Gora national park (56.5 km²) that is declared as a protected area since 1952, at an altitude of 1,094 m. It is the biggest and most attractive lake of 5 glacial lakes scattered across the national park and one of the most significant natural assets of Montenegro. It has an area of 228,500 m², 870 m long and 261 m wide. depth of 4.5 m. Its maximum and average depths are 12,1 m and 4.5 m respectively. Its water is supplied mainly by Biogradska River with an outflow by Jezerstica Stream.
In the last decade, it is detected that water level (and water amount) of the Biogradsko Jezero became significantly instable and diminishing gradually endangering its natural values including all ecological environment at and around it.
Driving force behind this negative development is predicted as geological status of the train and deterioration of the water balance of the lake by the pressure of climate change.
Although Biogradska Jezero has been focused within the scope of several national and international studies and a number of scientific and engineering studies have been/are being implemented, an overview of these studies leading to definition of the problem and its mitigation (if possible) is not available.
The PPF assignment targets to analyse the available studies and documents concerning to the Biogradska Jezero, identify a plan for its rehabilitation and prepare necessary documents for the implementation of the required mitigation measures.
A staged approach was defined as follows:
- Stage 1 Analysis of present situation, incl. identification and planning of required preparatory studies and surveys
- Stage 2 Implementation of required Surveys and Data Collection
- Stage 3 Definition of mitigation (and remedy) means and Elaboration of DoA/ AD for a company elaborating a Conceptual Design for Rehabilitation of Biogradslo Jezero
- Stage 4 Preparation of all Documents to mature “the Project” as ready for Implementation
- Stage 5 Tendering and Works and soft Measure Implementation
Stages 1 – 3 were completed under PPF and Stages 4 – 5 remain to be implemented.
Sub-Project Implementation
NAT.02 started as a SPASS Activity (SPASS#04), which is considered as Stage 1 thereof. In total 3 Stages were implemented. Information for all Stages are presented all at once hereunder.
All required Activities were concluded, as there were:
- Initiation Workshop
- (Pre-) Kick-Off Meetings held
- Collection of available data and documentation thereof
- Surveys/ Services contracted, namely:
- Supply and Installation of Equipment for hydrological Monitoring at Biogradsko Jezero
- Hydrometric Surveys
- Supervision of Geodetic Surveys
- Geophysical Surveys
- Terrestrial Surveys
- Tracing Survey
- Geoelectrical Tomography
- Data collection/ interpretation
- Round Table Discussion (Europe House, Podgorica, 18/11/24)
- Final Reports for all Stages, including recommendations for downstream Stages