The Centre for Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP), the Montenegrin Ecologists Society (MES) and the international organisation EuroNatur have taken a significant step towards protecting one of Montenegro’s most valuable natural treasures — by signing a Memorandum of Cooperation on the project “Promoting Qualified Protection of the Morača River in Montenegro”. The Memorandum was signed in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North, thereby granting the partnership official state backing and a firm institutional framework.
The goals of the future cooperation among the signatories are both wide-ranging and far-reaching. In addition to raising public awareness about the importance of preserving nature, biodiversity and key ecosystems in Montenegro, the Memorandum provides for the organisation of a series of joint activities — from professional training sessions and seminars, to round tables, public debates and conferences. All of these activities are aimed at strengthening the capacities of relevant institutions and stakeholders, so that regulations in the field of nature protection are adequately and consistently implemented. Particular emphasis is placed on the sustainable management of protected areas, the mainstreaming of biodiversity principles into sectoral policies and practices, as well as on encouraging sustainable development, knowledge sharing and inter-organisational networking.
The Memorandum was signed by Jovana Janjušević, Executive Director of CZIP, Andrijana Mićanović, Secretary General of CDE, Annette Spangenberg, representative of EuroNatur, and the Minister Damjan Ćulafić — whose signature symbolically affirms the commitment of state authorities to actively support the efforts of civil society in protecting Montenegro’s natural heritage.
