This week, NGO Green Home held a five-day educational camp with the highlight on the biodiversity of the Bojana Delta at Lake Šas. The camp was attended by students, nature lovers, ecologists, adventurers, and enthusiasts who had the opportunity to learn about the rich biodiversity of this area.
The Bojana Delta is a very fragile ecosystem with numerous endangered species inhabiting it, such as eels and the Skadar frog. It is under significant pressure from improperly disposed waste, wastewater entering the area via the Bojana River, wastewater from holiday homes in the lower reaches of the Bojana River, agricultural runoff carrying pesticides and artificial fertilizers, illegal fishing and hunting, the presence of invasive species, habitat conversion, and land-use changes, as well as the threat of inadequate planning and construction of large infrastructure projects.
Aimed at becoming active in protecting this area, camp participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the area and its biodiversity values through expert lectures on various topics and field visits. They learned about the birds inhabiting this area and the importance of Lake Šas and the entire Bojana Delta for bird habitats. Attention was drawn to the presence of 15 snake species in Montenegro, of which only three are venomous. Special emphasis was placed on the presence of invasive species such as Amorpha fruticosa, which occupies habitats around Lake Šas and the Bojana Delta, posing a threat to native species. They also learned about the state of eel populations in the Bojana Delta waters and the typical fish species of this area, as well as bats, moles, shrews, and other mammals present here, and their vulnerability to anthropogenic activities.
These valuable insights have strengthened the capacities of camp participants, contributing to a better overall understanding of the natural values of the Bojana Delta.
This camp was organized within the project “Support to Better Management of the Bojana Delta in Montenegro,” aimed at supporting the sustainable management of the Bojana Delta, which is one of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA). The project is financially supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).
