The Rivers of Montenegro: From Conflicts to Science-Based Management

Abstract

This concluding chapter briefly describes the main conclusions presented in the book The Rivers of Montenegro which has 12 chapters aimed at providing an extensive overview of the various hydrological and environmental aspects of the rivers and their basins in Montenegro. The book emphasizes the current gaps, recent advances, and future prospects of our knowledge of aquatic ecosystems in Montenegro which in the last decade has become the focus of ecological, social, and economic changes. This has led to an increase in potential conflicts over the management of water resources. Conflict between biodiversity conservation on the one hand and general human activity on the other is most commonly recognized in the public. However, recent emerging lessons from the development of small hydropower plants in Montenegro revealed that conflicts are much more complex and can severely affect both socioeconomic and ecological parameters.This book gives an ecologist’s perspective on these conflicts through a consensus approach that could expedite water resource protection taking into account the interests of all involved parties including the aims of governments and local communities, as well as environmental and flood control concerns.