Within the area of Ulcinj maritime salt production was practiced, however the salt production stopped in 2013. Later, in 2019, the Salina was declared to be a Nature Park. Already at that time the found condition indicated
- the deterioration of the infrastructure of the saltworks due to the interruption of salt production
- the long-term bankruptcy process
- the lack of a separate management structure.
In 2022, the deterioration of the basin’s infrastructure reached such a level that the unhindered running of the key ecological process, namely the flooding of the area with sea water, was called into question. Due to the international importance of the area, an important benchmark for closing Chapter 27 of the negotiations for Montenegro’s accession to the European Union refers to the Ulcinj Salina and requires, among other things, the rehabilitation of the infrastructure of the saltworks. Renovating the infrastructure of the saltworks would enable the resumption of salt production, at least on a showcase level as visitor attraction.
In 2023, for the first time, reconstruction works were carried out on the key levees of the central pools of the salt works in a length of 6.6 km, which represents approximately 10% of the total length of embankments and levees of the salt works. Valuable experience was gained through this intervention in this extremely demanding construction site. The operation was financed with donor funds. In addition, a geodetic 3D-survey was made for the entire area of the salt works in 2022, also financed with donor funds.
As the protected area records a constant increase in the number of visitors, it is necessary that the reconstruction works include the construction of basic visitor management infrastructure:
- construction and equipping of pedestrian and bicycle trails (along the perimeter of the levees) as well as trails for people with restricted movement
- designing and building observation platforms at the locations determined by the plan of temporary facilities
- set up of a bird ringing center (potentially to be located within the historical administration building)
- signposts of main intersections (standard brown signage), paths and boundaries of the protected area
- renovation of a souvenir shop
- integration of the historical administration building as part of Salina management
- identification of the location for a potential future building of a spa centre shall be considered
Ulcinj Salina Nature Park is exposed to the deterioration of the infrastructure of the saltworks due to the interruption of salt production in 2013. This seriously jeopardizes the natural values that have led to the declaration of this protected area of international importance, because the key ecological process – flooding of the entire area with shallow salty seawater – is interrupted.
The international significance of the area, its importance for the ecological network of the European Union NATURA 2000 was also recognised by the European Commission, and therefore a significant part of the request from the joint position for the closure of Chapter 27 refers to Ulcinj Salina Nature Park. At the same time, this protected area records a constant annual increase in the number of visitors, and there is a lack of adequate infrastructure for visitors that provides quality services and programs, which are in line with conservation goals and objectives
Main objectives of the Project were as follows:
- Construction and reconstruction of salt works and visitor infrastructure in Ulcinj Salina Nature Park
- to ensure and maintain the key ecological process as well as the prerequisites for the resumption of salt production in accordance with conservation measurements, preferable in a traditional way, through the reconstruction of the infrastructure of the saltworks, primarily the dikes, canal network and pumping stations
- to provide an appropriate visitor management infrastructure
- to ensure alternative solar energy supply in order to sustainably operate the pumping stations
- to have an expertise of the structural status of the historical administration building, which was for years abandon and which was partially impacted by earthquakes
Main tasks were as follows:
- Feasibility Study, incl. Conceptual Design, which was to be structured:
- Reconstruction of levees and related infrastructure, e.g. pumping stations, incl. e-supply thereof (from solar panels, potentially to be placed on the roof of the hangar)
- Nature Protection: signposts, bird watching towers etc.
- Visitors’ Centre/ Infrastructure
- Preparation of Detailed Design of levees (length ~7,5 km)
- Development of ToR, aiming the structural survey of the existing historical administration building and the hangar; as a follow up of the latter, the survey of the two buildings was contracted and financed under PPF Incidentals
All Activities were concluded, as there were:
- Feasibility Study, incl. Conceptual Design and cost estimation, of the following:
- Rehabilitation of the Dykes/ Levees, channels and pumping stations
- Visitors Centre and visitor Infrastructure (observation platforms, signposts etc.)
- Tourism Concept
- Detailed Design for selected dykes; total length ~ 7.6 km