Experts of UNESCO - There will be no hydroelectric power plant on Tara river ?

Expert Mission of UNESCO and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) stood against construction of hydroelectric power plant "Buk Bijela" and most probably end multiyear plans for flooding of the most beautiful canyon in Europe.

The Mission officially informed governments of Montenegro and Republic of Srpska that the World Inheritance Committee (MAB) would suggest that National Park "Durmitor" should be put on the list of endangered locations, because "Buk Bijela" project represents "potential threat to extremely universal value of the location, as well as to its integrity, especially because this monument of nature and UNESCO biosphere reservation, the Tara river basin, would be flooded according to the project for dam construction".

Expert Mission of UNESCO IUCN stayed in Montenegro and Republic of Srpska from January 16 to 21, 2005, on request of general director of UNESCO. They were also invited by the authorities of Montenegro and Republic of Srpska. The conclusions and recommendations from the voluminous report warn that "planned project would affect values and integrity of the location, because "Buk Bijela", settled downstream on the Tara river, would exert influence that would represent threat to the protected area ".

The Mission concluded that it represented potential danger to the values of the world inheritance and suggested that governments of Montenegro and Republic of Srpska should take their power production strategy into consideration very carefully, as well as power consumption, renewable energy and incomes.