Montenegro
Country profile
The Republic of Montenegro achieved independence in 2006 and is located in the eastern part of SEE.
The country is bordered by Adriatic Sea to the south and Croatia on the west; Bosnia and Herzegovina on the north-west; Serbia in the north-east; and Albania in the south-east. Montenegro has faced political and eco-nomic transitions, regional conflict, economic sanctions and NATO interventions. The political transition has impacted the economy and development of the country due to an influx of refugees and a "brain drain" from the country. Montenegro has embarked on an ambitious programme of reform, driven by the European Union accession process and independence. Market reforms have yielded moderate success, with control over inflation and a reduction in unemployment.
Montenegro is mostly mountainous, with a segment of karst topography and a narrow coastal plain.
Due the mountainous topography of the country, economic activities are concentrated in the small narrow plains.
The karst topography is generally at an elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level.
The geographic area of the country is 13,812 square kilometres, relatively small in size.
Scadar Lake, located in the south of the country, extends across the boundary into the territory of Albania.
The estimated population of the country is 684,736 (2007) with a density of 45 people per square kilometre.
The country's GDP is USD 11.458 billion (2005 estimate).
Risk assessment
There is little retrospective country-specific disaster data available. Based on the combined data for Serbia and Montenegro available in EM-DAT, risk assessment has been attempted in section 3.8.2, above. However, some additional information available solely for Montenegro from various sources is presented here.
Montenegro is vulnerable to earthquake, flood and fire (forest fire and industrial fire). There are also threats due to technological hazards
related to mining and other industrial activities in the country. The best and most fertile land in Montenegro is regularly flooded.
The Pazicko polje is vulnerable to flooding, and flood events were reported there in 1980 and 2001.
The valley of River Lim at the estuary of the River Moraca, and the Zeta plain are also susceptible to flood.
Flooding occurs irregularly in other areas due to the karstic structure.
Montenegro is exposed to low- and medium-intensity earthquakes, and occasionally to devastating earthquakes of large magnitude.
Modern research has confirmed the lasting existence of a high level of seismic activity and earthquake hazard in this part of the lithosphere, practically the entire region of Montenegro. The coastal area, the Zeta-Skadar depression and the Berane basin should be highlighted as significant seismically active areas of the country. The earthquake of 15 April 1979 at the coast and wider area of Skadar Lake had a devastating effect. There is a high probability of intensive manifestations of destructive geological phenomena during the strong earthquakes: liquefaction, activation of large slides and huge rockslides in the region.
The populated coastal plains of the country are in the high seismic zone of VIII and IX degree EMS98 scale (Anonymous 2006).
Observations
The country has developed a broad framework under the Ministry of Interior for handling emergency situations and civil security. The national spatial plan of Montenegro (Anonymous 2006) is a comprehensive document highlighting some of the major hazards in the country and recommending a spatial plan for designing mitigation measures. The report has integrated risk mitigation measures to a good extent into the spatial development plan, even though vulnerability due to different hazards is not worked out. In line with this report, developing a country-level GIS database can not only leverage the spatial planning activities, but also help inpreparing a disaster management plan for the country. The country requires legislation on land-use planning and building codes, and an improved firefighting system, particularly in the populated part of the country. UNDP is active in the country, and is assisting in strengthening the national capacities for efficient management of external assistance. Considering the size of the country and its geological setting, transboundary initiatives play a crucial role in disaster mitigation and preparedness.