Montenegro, An Official Eco Country: Reality Check-Up

23 Febuary 2023 | Andjela Djokic

#DidYouKnow that Montenegro is an ecological country as declared per its Constitution?

Aware of the debt to nature, the source of our health and the inspiration of our freedom and culture, we dedicate ourselves to its protection in the name of our survival and the future of our offspring. Regardless of our national, religious, political, and other beliefs, we know and accept that the dignity and sanctity of the human being are organically linked to the sanctity and purity of nature. By adopting this declaration, Montenegro is establishing a state relationship with nature and calls on the wisdom of all people to prevent the ecological catastrophe that threatens us.

The above paragraph, extracted from the Ecological Declaration of Montenegro from September 20, 1991, shows the dedication of the country of Montenegro, which recognised the environmental threats, to protect the most valuable that we have – Nature!

The written word means the world, and this document is proof of the uniqueness of this tiny gem in the Adriatic, but how is the situation now, 30+ years later? Let's go through some facts and check-ups to kick off this editorial, which will continue during the next couple of months in the form of interviews with eco-soldiers of Montenegro.

The advantages of this declaration during the last three decades didn't show off well in practice. The problematic and chaotic period in the Balkans stopped people and businesses from thinking of natural treasures and values. The environment faced several severe and minor issues (massive tourism problems, devastation, uncontrolled building, waste management, single-use products etc.). The positive side of this story is that Montenegrin nature is still intact in a vast percentage, and what it needs is preservation rather than regeneration, as concluded at the?Tivat Tourism Think Tank. Thus, in the text below, let us present you with the positive examples in the travel industry of Montenegro, which push the boundaries daily, putting all the efforts into a healthier environment and sustainable destination.

Starting from the institutional level, one of the best examples comes from the Montenegrin coast –?Tourism Board of Tivat (Turisti?ka organizacija Tivat).?The tourism development strategy of the municipality of Tivat points it out as a tourist destination with a year-round offer by preserving unique features, promoting existing and new experiences, and providing added value for the entire tourism industry chain. Tivat was named one of the winners of the Sustainable Top 100 Destination award for 2020 at a ceremony held as part of the Global Green Destinations Days (GGDD20). Namely,?The Good Practice Story of Tivatska Solila?won the 2020 Top 100 competition in the category of Nature & Ecotourism. This is an excellent recognition of Tivat'ss efforts to be?'safe, smart & sustainable'?and very encouraging towards further sustainable development of Boka Kotorska and Montenegro.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism made some progress, too, with their latest action plan integrated into the Strategy for 2022-2025. The representatives have cordially joined the #TTTT22 conference and discussed the plans with the audience, so there is hope for a lift-up in actions from the institutional level as soon as Montenegro gets some political stability.

Going further, we need to mention the Ulcinj Salina, amongst the most important bird areas in the Adriatic. About 240 bird species have been recorded in this area, which is 50% of the total bird species recorded in Europe. This place with extraordinary potential in wildlife conservation, the revival of salt production, and eco-tourism took more attention from the Ulcinj fellow citizens, the eco-warriors in tourism of Montenegro and abroad – and it is becoming a significant natural point for further travel offer development and the revitalisation of this place where humans and nature live in harmony.

After 15 years, five international conferences, and over 100.000 signatures to a petition, the Ulcinj Salina in Montenegro has finally been declared a Nature Park and a Ramsar Site - Wetland of International Importance in 2019. Initiated by the EuroNatur Foundation, Center for Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP) and Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association (MSJA), follow-up projects have been dedicated to the growing involvement and engagement of the local community towards sustainable development under the Adriatic Flyway of migrating birds while developing responsible travel offers.

Additionally, women's power does the job, so worth mentioning that the o?istiME informal group of women in tourism of Montenegro started a petition for a single-use plastic ban and introduction of the deposit refund scheme. The petition is still active and waiting for the proper moment to be put into action. In the meanwhile, everybody interested can sign it at this link.

When it comes to the private sector in Montenegro, the examples of good practice are growing in numbers and impact, some of which include - Undiscovered Montenegro & Villa Miela, 3etravel, Black Mountain, FitCamp Montenegro, Donkey Farm, Moric Olive Farm, Eco Village Nevidio, Eco Camp Earth Soldiers etc.

In the coming months, we will interview some fantastic stakeholders on their ecological doings in the travel space, so stay tuned for more exciting stories from Montenegro.

To conclude this piece, let us highlight the importance of small steps and individual efforts to create an image of the travelling destination that keeps its promises of an ecological state and the #WildBeauty brand - paying attention to the local community's social, environmental, and economic improvements. Let's gather around tourism that is not harming but supporting our local grounds! And keep in mind – it is a process, not a project.

Connect with our Green Destinations Representative - Montenegro, Kirsi Hyvaerinen , to learn more about current projects and collaborative opportunities in the region, such as Balkan Green. Kindly use this form to get in touch.