SHKODËR, July 12 /ATA/ The Shkodër Protected Areas Administration has called on tourist guides and tour operators conducting excursions in the Managed Nature Reserve of Lake Shkodër to exercise particular caution when navigating boats through areas covered with water lilies.
According to the authority, these habitats serve as important nesting and sheltering areas for numerous bird species, including the whiskered tern.
Authorities said repeated boat traffic through these areas can disrupt birds during the nesting season, increasing the risk of nest abandonment, egg damage and lower breeding success for the species, an important part of Lake Shkodër’s biodiversity.
As part of efforts to protect the reserve’s natural assets, tourist guides and tour operators are being urged to avoid entering water lily areas where nesting colonies have been identified, maintain a safe distance from bird habitats, inform visitors about the importance of protecting wildlife, and help promote responsible and sustainable tourism.
The Shkodër Protected Areas Administration (PAA) said biodiversity conservation is a shared responsibility and that the support of tour operators is key to ensuring Lake Shkodër remains both a safe refuge for bird species and a distinctive natural destination for future generations.
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