About the project

The Governments of Montenegro and Albania have received a grant from the Global Environment Facility, totaling approximately US$ 4, 55 million, to finance the Lake Skadar/Shkodra Integrated Ecosystem Management Project. The Montenegrin Ministry of Tourism and Sustainable Development and the Albanian Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration, in coordination with partners in sectoral Ministries, local governments, and universities etc, have the overall responsibility for the project implementation. Project Objectives are: to maintain and enhance the long-term value and environmental services of Lake Skadar-Shkoder and its natural resources, to help establish and strengthen institutional mechanisms for transboundary cooperation, to improve sustainable management of Lake Skadar-Shkoder Project Components are: a) Capacity Building for Improved Understanding and Joint Management of the Lake with main focus on establishment of joint institutional structures and preparation of joint management documents, b) Promoting Sustainable Use of the Lake with main focus on sustainable fisheries and sustainable tourism, c) Catalyze Pollution Reduction Investments with main focus on investments to stimulate pollution reduction activities to the lake waters and educate and encourage people to replicate demonstration projects

RESULTS: PROCESS A Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis has been conducted and a Joint Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for Lake Skadar-Shkoder has been prepared. Both these documents have been approved and SAP endorsed by Albanian and Montenegrin Ministries of Environment. A bilateral Agreement between the Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Rebublic of Montenegro and Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration of Republic of Albania for the Protection and Sustainable Development of Skadar-Shkodra Lake was endoresed by both parties. A high-level Skadar-Shkodra Lake Commission (SLC), its Secretariat and 4 joint Working Groups (WG) has been established and operational. The mandate of SLC is to monitor implementation of strategic documents drawn by the two parties for the conservation and management of the Lake; the mandate of the WGs is to facilitate discussions on specific issues and to steer joint program implementation. It has been agreed that these joint structures (SLC, Secretariat and WGs) will remain sustainable beyond the project closure. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources is signed between the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment of Montenegro and Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration of the Republic of Albania, through which the parties agreed to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources including Skadar-Shkodra Lake and functioning of cross border structures such as the SLC and WGs. An Administration of the Managed Nature Reserve in Albania consisting of 26 persons is established by the Ministry of Environment Forestry and Water Administration and is functional, and prepration of a Management Plan for the Nature Reserve is ongoing. Development of the Study on waste inventory, site investigation, option analyses and feasibility study for the KAP (Aluminum plant Podgorica) hazardous waste containment is currently ongoing. Future Remediation of the KAP waste dump facility (based on the feasibility study produced within this Project and the financing provided from the Government of Montenegro) would protect drinking water supplies, increase real estate values, improve the ecosystem, and reduce some of the local populations’ pollution-related concerns.

INDICATOR#1 Skadar-Shkodra Lake Commission (SLC) and Working Groups are operational, sustainable and monitoring implementation of priority joint activities identified in SAP. Status: Shkodra Lake Commission (SLC), Secretariat and Working Groups are established and operating. One year before LSEIMP closure, these joint structures financing will be included in Governments’ budgets to ensure sustainability. INDICATOR#2 Predictive hydrological model of Lake Skadar-Shkoder completed and being used to analyze likely impacts of policies and proposed investment. Status: Final hydrological model completed; its outreach and dissemination is under way. INDICATOR#3 Lake Management Plan completed and actions taken to legally operationalize the plan. Status: Preparation of Management plan for Lake Managed Nature Reserve in Albania and Development of Lake-wide Management Strategy, including Fishery Management Plans is ongoing. INDICATOR#4 Government of Montenegro/KAP owners (Rusal) agreement on preferred solution and joint action plan for containment/disposal of hazardous waste dump site at KAP site Status: draft KAP site investigation report has been prepared; best practice option for site investigation and Feasibility study have been initiated. INDICATOR#5 Increased local understanding of and engagement in sustainable tourism and natural resource management Status Socioeconomic study has been completed; Public awareness campaign is ongoing and so far included joint organization of school children eco-camp, a Lake cleaning week, and the environmental education kit, as well as preparation of a TV publicity spot in both countries and the joint Albanian and Montenegrin Lake Event. INDICATOR#6 Status of key transboundary indicators of Lake water quality and ecology maintained or improved Status: 72 water samples were tested for physical-chemical parameters and it resulted that the quality of the Shkodra lake water is good according to the European Community Standards.

RESULTS: STRESS REDUCTION

INDICATOR#1 Area of water buffer vegetation restored in pilot areas to reduce sedimentation and runoff. Status: More than 50% of these works completed; Improvement of lakeside vegetation, willow and sage through community based management will start soon; Refurbishment of a stream in the mountainous area to avoid erosion and pollution of the lake waters especially in a spawning area will start soon in line with the developed environmental and social impact assessment; Reforestation of 18.5ha with 45,000 seedlings of pine trees in an erosion prone mountainous area immediately on the lakeshores in Albanian side of the lake is completed to avoid run off as well INDICATOR#2 Targeted tourism infrastructure renovations/construction completed and attracting visitors. Status: Design in MN and procurement procedure in Albania in process; less than 75% work completed INDICATOR#3 Reduction in numbers of fishermen using illegal fishing methods Status: Number of illegal fishermen has decreased from 44% to 38%; Protection of spawning areas during spawning time was conducted and this resulted in a considerable decrease of fishing during this period INDICATOR#4 Sewage collections and wastewater treatment system established at Vranjina village Status Design for Construction of the Vranjina Waste Water Treatment Plant has been prepared and construction works planned to start early Spring 2012.

Some of the main project achievements up to date are: a) Joint bilateral structures (Skadar-Shkodra Lake Commission (SLC), SLC Secretariat and Working Groups are operational, sustainable and implementing priority joint activities identified in SAP, b) Solutions for decreasing toxic and non-toxic pollutants entering into Lake Skadar-Shkoder identified and actions taken to reduce contamination and, c) Regulatory capacity, infrastructure and community level mechanisms and incentives in place to support natural resource management and sustainable tourism development