According to the climate change vulnerability model produced during the Coastal Area Management Programme CAMP Montenegro, droughts, forest fires and stormy winds have the biggest impact in the areas of Herceg Novi and Budva municipalities and southern part of the coast. Heavy rains have the biggest impact in the parts of Kotor municipality and in Budvas hinterland. From the aspect of vulnerability to sea level rise, the following areas are found to be vulnerable: confluence of the river Sutorina, Kostanjica Risan stretch, north-western part of Vrmac, Tivat Salinas, Jaz beach and a part of Mrčevo field, Buljarica, Čanj, Velika beach, and Ada Bojana. In addition to applying the coastal setback on some of the said locations, it is necessary to develop adaptation system which also includes other important measures and instruments enabling adaptation to climate change impacts in the context of implementing adaptation measures.
For this reason, priority should be given to activities that will create preconditions for implementing climate change adaptation measures and increase resilience to climate change impacts.
Activities
1. Assess possible impacts of flooding caused by sea level rise and small torrent flows.
2. Define adaptation measures to climate change in spatial plans and relevant national strategies for the identified impacts of sea level rise and small torrent flows, including, among others:
- Introduction of selected climate change adaptation technologies;
- Improvement of observation and warning system in examining coastal zone vulnerability;
- Improving early warning and response systems;
- Modernisation and increase in the number of meteorological stations along the coastal zone;
- Development of regional and local climate information services adapted to tourism and spatial planning sectors.
3. Organise workshops to exchange knowledge on suitable examples of climate change adaptation.
4. Raise awareness of all the stakeholders in tourism (both public and private sector) on the need to protect the coastal zone from damages caused by floods, droughts, forest fires, strong rains, storms, coastal erosion and high waves activities as a consequence of climate change.
Pilot project
Based on the assessment of possible impacts of flooding caused by the sea level rise, priority locations with the expected strongest impacts of climate change should be defined. On these locations, a pilot project to test application of the proposed climate change adaptation measures should be carried out. It is possible to implement this activity through the development of the ICZM Plan related to variability and climate change, and by using similar plans as a model.
Pilot project should be carried out on a selected location or in one of coastal municipalities so that:
1. Operational programme is developed for implementing climate change adaptation measures proposed within the assessment of the possible impacts of flooding caused by sea level rise; cost-benefit analysis and cost assessment in case of non-implementation of adaptation measures is conducted;
2. Climate change adaptation measures for the observed location are incorporated into spatial planning documentation and strategic documents;
3. Workshops for expert and interested public on climate change impacts and related risks, as well as on suitable climate change adaptation measures are organised.