In 2026, EOMAP has become a new member of the Mountain Partnership. In this context, we contribute to the alliance’s goal by a study on water quality at a tourism hotspot: Black Lake in Montenegro.

Established in 2002, the Mountain Partnership is a United Nations alliance of members committed to enhancing the livelihoods of mountain communities and safeguarding mountain ecosystems worldwide. The Governments of Italy and Switzerland, alongside the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) collaborated to launch the initiative in 2002.

Assessing tourism impacts on lake water quality

In the case study at Crno Jezero – Black Lake – in Montenegro we investigated the relationship between tourism intensity and water quality. For providing actionable insights, we integrated visitor statistics with satellite-derived Earth Observation (EO) data.

Annual visitor records (2021–2025) were combined with water quality indicators, such as chlorophyll a (CHL), turbidity (TUR), and total suspended matter (TSM). For this, seasonal visitor patterns were extrapolated from 2025 data to enable consistent monthly and quarterly comparisons across the study period. Results show a clear summer tourism peak. However, no consistent correlation between visitor numbers and water quality was identified. Both short-term (monthly) and seasonal (quarterly) analyses indicate that fluctuations in CHL, TUR, and TSM are not systematically linked to tourism intensity.

A short anomaly in water quality in 2024

A distinct anomaly in October 2024, marked by elevated water quality indicators despite low visitor numbers, was attributed to heavy rainfall and runoff. This emphasizes the dominant role of natural hydrological processes. Long-term EO-based analysis (2017–2025) further confirms stable baseline conditions, with no significant trends in key water quality indicators.

These findings highlight the importance of water management and ecosystem-based approaches in understanding lake dynamics. They also support strategies for ecosystem management, restoration and disaster risk reduction, particularly in the context of climate change, where increasing hydrological variability is expected to impact freshwater systems more strongly.

A way forward: Combine near real time monitoring with visitor tracking

In order to further refine insights, the data should incorporate higher-resolution visitor data and insitu measurements. For tracking the impact of tourism on the water quality of Crno Jezero, near real time monitoring combined with actual visitor numbers could be a promising way forward.

Assessing environmental and socio-economic stressors

The study is part of the project “Sustainable management of natural resources in mountain areas”, supported by the Italian government. It contributes to the Programme of Work of FAO’s Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) and covers further studies in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan. Its primary aim is to improve the livelihoods of rural mountain communities through sustainable management of natural resources. This involves strengthening the technical capacities of key stakeholders in assessing environmental and socio-economic stressors.

Let’s connect

Learn more about integrated water quality monitoring here.

For actionable insights on your lake, please contact the water quality team.