Prime Minister of Montenegro
Mr. Igor Lukšić
Address: Karađorđeva bb,
81000
Podgorica,Montenegro
Dear Sir Luksic,

We, signed here,strongly protest against the conversion of 15 km2 of Ulcinj Salina to the touristic development area intended for the construction of hotels and golfcourses. We do not want to reconcile with the fact that, in the year marking the 20 years of the proclamation of Montenegro for the ecological state, government does nothing to protect one of the most valuable ecological areas in the country.

For your information:

1989. Ulcinj Salina was recognized as the Important Bird Area;

2004. the Board of Salina proclaimed it for the first private nature park in Montenegro;

2006. its recognized as the Emerald site of Bern Convention;

2007. the form is filled for its declaration of Ramsar wetland of international

importance because of the nine criteria it fully meets the six;

2008. the Salina is on the list of potential Natura 2000 sites in Montenegro.

Salina is the most important site for nesting, wintering and roosting for birds on their migration along eastern coast of Adriatic. Of about 500 species of European birds, 250 species or 50% are registered on Salina. A quarter of the total number of nesting birds of Montenegro is nesting in Ulcinj Salina.
Salina provides service for a number of endangered species of fish, amphibians and reptiles, and more than 70 species of birds from the Annex I Bird Directive. 15 species of birds registered in Salina in certain periods of the year exceed 1% of the regional-global population of these species.

An infrastructure for bird watching is already set up in Salina along with The Salt museum, and recently it’s a target site for many research institutions and organizations in the country and abroad. It has already taken a significant spot on the European bird watchers map.
Please, reconsider the regulations of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro until 2020, which was passed in 2007, which, despite the opposition from the citizens of

Ulcinj and the numerous non-governmental organizations, has created from a potential protected area – as Salina was defined in the draft of this Plan, a touristic development area.

Salina, despite its importance for the biodiversity and the economy of the country, has its own cultural and historical significance as it is more than 80 years responsible for the development of Ulcinj, and is one of the oldest factories in the country. Salina is the most ideal example of the synergy of financial exploitation of land (salt production) and nature conservation. It is an example of sustainable production, because it is based on the action of sun and wind. Operation of this plant alone is responsible for the survival of flora and fauna.

We demand from You as Prime Minister of the state, to examine the course of privatization of Ulcinj Salina and its conversion of basins from oases of biodiversity to the touristic development area.

We expect of you to use your influence and in this case subdue the private interest of the owner of Salina to the public interest-the preservation of the salt factory and enabling continuing of its providing of services to people, and flora and fauna, as an international resource. Concreting and drainage of Salinas basins, Montenegro, which has 20 years ago declared it self the first ecological state in the world, is risking its reputation in international circles, as in environmental and in political.