Bojana/Buna Delta - Ulcinj Salina

Names in the national language

Bojana (Montenegro), Buna/Bunë (Albania)

Ulcinj Salina (Montenegro)

Location and short description

The Bojana/Buna River (known in Montenegrin as Bojana and in Albanian as Buna) is the outflow of Lake Skadar towards the Adriatic Sea. Along its 44 km long course, it forms a unique natural corridor of wet meadows, natural beaches, freshwater lakes, lagoons and riparian forests. Along 30 km, the river marks the border between Montenegro and Albania, and forms a vast delta. Its extraordinary biodiversity makes the area a veritable Noah's Ark. The Ulcinj Salina is situated in the delta of the Bojana/Buna River in Montenegro at the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. With a total area of 15 km² it is one of the largest salinas in the mediterranean region. The salina hosts a variety of plants (144 species in salty basins), fish (24 species), amphibians (12 species), reptiles (28 species) and mammals (33 species).

Special features

The Bojana/Buna floodplain forests cover 750 ha (80 ha in Albania; 670 ha in Montenegro). They stretch no less than 9 km up-river from the island of Ada, forming the largest complex of floodplain forests on the eastern side of the Adriatic coast. The delta, including the salina, is one of the most important resting places for migratory birds flying over the Adriatic - North Africa migration route. As example, around 20,000 birds visit the salina every winter.

Main biotop types

Wet meadows, mediterranean salt meadows, natural beaches, saltwater lagoons and riparian forests

Species

• Mammals: Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), Golden jackal (Canis aureus)
• Birds: Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), Squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides), Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Stone curlew (Burhinidae), Bee eater (Merops apiaster), Spanish sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis), Collared pratincole (Glareola pratincola)
• Fish: Thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus), European sea sturgeron (Acipenser sturio)
• Amphibians: Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris), European tree frog (Hyla arborea)
• Reptiles: European green lizard (Lacerta viridis), Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus), Sheltopusik (Pseudopus apodus)
• Plants: Macedonian oak (Quercus trojana), Salt cedar (Salicornia)

Status of protection

Protected Landscape (Albania)

Important Bird Area, Important Plant Area (Montenegro)