Second meeting of the Komovi Nature Park participatory team focuses on annual action plan

The second meeting of the Participatory–Collaborative Body of Komovi Nature Park, dedicated to the development of the one-year Action Plan, was held yesterday in Andrijevica. This meeting marked the continuation of efforts to establish a permanent, open framework of cooperation between the park management, competent institutions, and the local community — with the aim of improving coordination and joint action in the Komovi area. This approach reaffirms the practice that management plans for protected areas should be created with the community and for the community, as emphasized during the establishment of this body.

Milica Kandić, representative of Parks Dinarides – Network of Protected Areas of the Dinarides, highlighted that the focus of the meeting was on defining concrete, measurable activities with clearly determined deadlines and responsible parties, aligned with the needs identified in the field. In this context, the Draft Rules of Procedure were discussed, confirming the advisory and voluntary character of the body. Participants then proposed a set of activities in three key areas: cooperation, nature protection, and promotion and education.

Ivan Mališić from the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, emphasized the importance of inter-municipal coordination in the area shared by Podgorica, Kolašin, and Andrijevica, especially through the development of unified plans and implementation of joint activities. He also reminded participants of the benefits that a participatory and collaborative management approach can bring to the local community.

“It is very important to establish a participatory form of cooperation between the Nature Park and the local population first, and then with all other institutions operating in this area, in order to create synergy, avoid overlap in actions, and ensure proper protection of the space. In addition, it is essential to adopt one-year and five-year management plans and define concrete activities. The Nature Park can become a magnet for nature lovers and tourists, which would bring great benefits to the local community and opportunities to improve their households,” said Mališić.

In that spirit, participants proposed a number of initiatives in the field of cooperation — such as the establishment of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the three management entities responsible for the protected area (Podgorica, Kolašin, and Andrijevica), as well as a Memorandum of Cooperation between Komovi Nature Park and the Forestry Administration – Regional Unit Andrijevica, with the aim of setting up joint field interventions, data exchange, and improved coordination.

Regarding nature protection and spatial management, participants suggested activities to strengthen cooperation in the field of hunting management. They also proposed the development of a map of degraded habitats within Komovi Nature Park, in coordination with forest rangers, and actions addressing the issue of excessive use of ATVs (quad vehicles) in the park.

In the area of promotion and education, members emphasized the importance of activities such as trail marking, installation of visitor infrastructure, environmental education of children on the importance of protected areas and proper behavior within them, as well as the development of promotional materials consistent with the visual identity of Komovi Nature Park.

Members of the participatory–collaborative body were also invited to review the proposed list of activities in the coming days, provide comments, and suggest additions, so that the working version of the Action Plan can be finalized with clear responsibilities and timelines. It was agreed that the next meeting will be held in mid-December, to review the progress since the last meeting, confirm priorities, and jointly contribute to a more detailed long-term plan.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Agency for the Management of Protected Areas of Podgorica, who exchanged experiences with colleagues from Andrijevica in order to improve cooperation and ensure more efficient park management.

The Participatory–Collaborative Body of Komovi Nature Park was established on October 7 – symbolically on the Dinarides Protection Day. It was designed as a platform for dialogue and alignment of interests among all stakeholders connected with the Nature Park, to enhance management and support sustainable development in the area.

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

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