On the Dinarides Protection Day, a participatory–collaborative body established in Komovi Nature Park

Representatives of Parks Dinarides – Network of Protected Areas of the Dinarides and Komovi Nature Park organized the founding meeting yesterday in Andrijevica, where the Participatory–Collaborative Body was officially established.

This is a permanent mechanism that brings together local residents, protected area managers, and representatives of key actors and institutions, with the goal of efficient and sustainable management of Komovi Nature Park.

The meeting, held under the theme “Participation as a Standard of Good Governance in Protected Areas”, reaffirmed that the voice of the community and transparent decision-making processes are not an addition, but an essential practice of modern management of natural assets.

The newly established body is designed as a platform for dialogue and alignment of interests among all stakeholders connected with Komovi Nature Park, in order to enhance management and promote the sustainable development of the area. During the meeting, participants highlighted the importance of involving all actors in decision-making and emphasized that plans should be created with the community and for the community.

It was further underlined that the focus of this mechanism will be on measurable steps, from joint planning to monitoring the implementation of decisions, ensuring that the benefits are visible to both residents and visitors.

Milica Kandić, representative of Parks Dinarides, stressed that such a framework contributes to more effective solutions and strengthens trust in park management.

“Most protected areas in the region already have participatory bodies. We wanted to establish this system here in Komovi Nature Park on solid foundations and to select representatives of local communities and institutions who can truly contribute to its work. On the other hand, the Nature Park can also contribute to them. The cooperation and communication are mutually beneficial,” said Kandić.

She also emphasized the necessity of developing a detailed action plan for the body’s future work.

Milan Marsenić, Director of Komovi Nature Park, stated that this marks an important step towards stronger cooperation with local residents and institutions, expressing hope that the newly formed participatory–collaborative body will soon deliver tangible results.

“We are here to improve conditions for locals, tourists, and all members of the body. To solve problems together, I also call on other parks that haven’t yet established such bodies to do so,” Marsenić said.

Branko Đukić, Director of the Tourism Organization of Andrijevica Municipality, noted that all initiatives must be sustainable and serve the interests of both local government and residents, as well as visitors who enjoy Komovi.

“Through this body, we must work to protect the mountain — if biodiversity is threatened, there will be no tourism. Komovi are a magnet for tourists, and our data show that people from all over the world visit them. That’s why bodies like this are essential for developing sustainable tourism,” added Đukić.

The establishment of the Participatory–Collaborative Body in Komovi Nature Park was symbolically held on October 7 – the Dinarides Protection Day.

The work and functioning of the body are regulated by key documents — the Decision on Establishment, Rules of Procedure, and Membership Agreement. Its work is public, with meeting minutes recorded and made available to interested stakeholders.

In the coming period, efforts will focus on the development of a comprehensive, long-term Work Plan for the participatory body, with clearly defined topics, deadlines, and responsible parties. This process will be preceded by another working meeting to refine priorities, review submitted proposals, and agree on specific actions and models of cooperation.

For more information about the establishment of participatory bodies in protected areas and their functioning, visit: https://parksdinarides.org/

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