Paper/Speech Details of Conference Program for the 17th NISPAcee Annual Conference Program Overview I. Working Group on Local Government Author(s) Gretchen Mikeska Urban Institute Washington, DC United States Gretchen Mikeska, P.E.; Dr. John Tabor Title Development beyond the Central City: Eco-Infrastructure in Ulcinj, Montenegro File Paper files are available only for conference participants, please login first. Presenter Abstract Montenegro has long understood that tourism, particularly coastal tourism, is key to its long-term economic prosperity. Travel and tourism’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to rise from 26% in 2008 to 31% by 2018. Increasing the tourism sector’s contribution is even more important considering Montenegro’s recent independence from Serbia and its goal of EU membership. Due to its natural habitats, cultural attractions, and diverse landscapes, Montenegro should be able to further increase the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP. While its focus has previously been on economy tourism, luxury and ecological tourism are likely areas of significant sector growth. “Preparation of the Final Design for Eco-Infrastructure in the Bojana Delta”, part of the World Bank’s Montenegro Sustainable Tourism Development Project, began in 2007 by The Urban Institute (USA) and Hydro-Engineering Institute Sarajevo. Successor projects will construct the eco-infrastructure according to designs developed by the project. Project supporters believe Ulcinj has the environmental assets to attract a major eco-tourism industry. Wildlife habitats for waterfowl and migrating bids, sea turtles, and exotic plants can be connected with foot and bicycle trails along the Ulcinj coast and Bojana River, supported by an Information Center. To assess how the eco-infrastructure will be continually sustained, the paper will consider: 1. How to ensure long-term public access to publicly funded eco-infrastructure on or near private properties. Unless specific provisions are made in the Government of Montenegro’s three pending tenders in the project area and private landholder negotiations, eco-infrastructure could become inaccessible due to resort development and private property restrictions. 2. How to protect wildlife habitat on lands being developed as resorts and adjacent private property. Habitat that must be maintained in its natural condition, may cut across various properties, requiring special measures applied to multiple owners. 3. How to finance and operate the eco-infrastructure. On-going operating costs could be funded by user fees, stakeholders and/or businesses benefiting from the new eco-infrastructure. A combination of options will likely be needed to sustain the proposed eco-infrastructure: • Confining trails and facilities to publicly-owned land • Swapping publicly-owned developable land with privately owned land to be set aside for habitat and eco-tourism trails and facilities • Requiring pubic access to eco-infrastructure facilities that are located on resort lands • Purchase by the government, land banks, or international environmental organizations land needed for wildlife habitat and eco-tourism • Expropriation of private land for habitat and eco-infrastructure • Maintaining eco-infrastructure through public private partnerships that will operate and maintain the facilities by charging user fees and selling concession goods to tourists • Obtaining easements from landowners that host critical wildlife habitat and eco-infrastructure • Conducting scientific assessments of plant and wildlife conditions initially and periodically thereafter to determine whether the habitat is being maintained or is deteriorating • Preparing and implementing management plans to ensure appropriate levels of usage and environmental protection International experience backs use of these possible options (ex. The Ellwood Devereux Coast of Santa Barbara, California, USA; Crna Mlaka Ornithological Reserve, Croatia; Eduardo Avaroa National Park, Bolivia).
