Two-Day Workshop Held: Participatory Management in Protected Areas in Montenegro

Effective and sustainable management of protected areas is only possible when local communities are truly involved—not as observers, but as equal partners. For this reason, the establishment and strengthening of participatory bodies such as socio-economic forums represent a key step toward responsible, genuine, and long-term conservation of natural values.

This was the key message of the two-day workshop dedicated to participatory management in protected areas in Montenegro, organized by Parks Dinarides on April 24–25 in Andrijevica. The event gathered representatives of institutions, protected area managers, local communities, and civil society organizations, with a special focus on the role and benefits of establishing socio-economic forums, as well as sharing experiences from their current operations.

In his opening remarks, Zoran Mrdak, President of Parks Dinarides, highlighted that the first socio-economic forums were established a decade ago and that managing protected areas is inseparable from cooperation with local communities. These forums are, therefore, key mechanisms of action and trust that enable the active involvement of all stakeholders.

“Modern management of protected areas is impossible without a serious body that ensures honest cooperation with the local community. Over the years, we’ve faced many challenges and resistance from locals regarding the designation of protected areas. This tells us that some processes were not inclusive, participatory, or transparent. We need sincere commitment, trust, and a systematic approach. Without that, we won’t achieve results,” Mrdak said.

Dejan Nikočević, Acting Director-General of the Directorate for Nature Protection at the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, stated that without the active participation of the entire community, participatory management remains just a concept on paper. He reminded attendees of the EU’s 2030 biodiversity goals—to effectively protect 30% of land and 30% of the sea—which means a lot of work lies ahead.

“Encouragingly, since 2017, terrestrial areas have been continuously mapped to define the future European ecological network Natura 2000. Declaring this network will significantly contribute to increasing the percentage of protected areas. However, we also need to ensure effective management, or we’ll end up with so-called ‘paper parks.’ To prepare for effective management, our Ministry is amending existing legislation through the Nature Protection Act and the National Parks Act,” Nikočević said.

Marinela Đuretić, Director of the Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro, emphasized that sustainable management requires the local community to be an active participant, not just a passive observer.

“The importance of our relationship with local communities will also be reflected in our new management plans. We believe protected areas should not be closed-off spaces but areas of open dialogue, innovation, and joint solutions. If we work together, listen, and learn from each other, national parks can become examples of successfully balancing conservation and development,” Đuretić said.

The importance of establishing socio-economic forums was also discussed by Milan Marsenić, Director of the Komovi Nature Park. He noted that in cooperation with Parks Dinarides, such a forum will be established in that area as well, aiming for more effective collaboration with the local population.

The two-day workshop in Andrijevica also provided participants with concrete examples of how these forums function in Montenegro and in countries of the region such as Croatia and Serbia.

Veselin Luburić, Head of the Department for Spatial Protection and Sustainable Development at National Parks of Montenegro, emphasized that socio-economic forums play an emancipatory role by enabling local community inclusion in planning and decision-making processes.

“The goal is for the local community to feel the benefits of national parks—not just see them as places where certain activities are restricted. Through a sensitive approach, we need to showcase the opportunities they offer. The satisfaction of local communities is one of our primary goals. Strengthening the work of socio-economic forums and community inclusion will be a top priority going forward,” Luburić stated.

Goran Gugić, a nature protection expert, shared experiences from the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park in Croatia. He explained how user councils established genuine and lasting cooperation between protected area managers and the local community.

“In Lonjsko Polje, local cattle herders are key because grazing drives one of the park’s main ecological processes. At first, they saw us as ‘the protectors’ who would restrict their development. But through cooperation, they realized we share the same interests. They began to see the park not as a limitation, but as a resource supporting what they’ve done for centuries. Everyone knows their role, and everything is coordinated—that’s the essence of it all,” Gugić concluded.

From Serbia, experiences with user councils were shared by Ranko Milanović, Head of Information, Presentation, and Tourism at Tara National Park. He said the council brought local managers closer to the community and generated tangible benefits.

“For example, last year we introduced an entrance fee to NP Tara, and the entire revenue was entrusted to the Council. Based on their ideas, we included various activities in our 2025 management plan—from archaeological research and school trips for children to funding project initiatives. We’ve finally found a common language. We recognize and align each other’s interests and move toward shared benefits,” Milanović said.

During the workshop, the Legal Framework Analysis and Recommendations for Improving the Functioning of Socio-Economic Forums in protected areas of Montenegro was also presented, marking a significant step toward enhancing local community participation in nature conservation and sustainable development.

Let us recall that the workshop was organized within the project “Empowering Local Communities for Sustainable Management of Protected Areas,” supported through the program Supported = Empowered, implemented by the Fund for Active Citizenship (fAKT) in partnership with the Foundation for the Development of Local Community “Slagalica” from Croatia. The program is funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration.