Montenegro's Natura 2000 nominations include key rivers; now it must be delivered

In a major milestone for the "Blue Heart of Europe," Montenegro has officially submitted its Natura 2000 ecological network proposal to the European Commission. This step is crucial for meeting the country's environmental benchmarks (Chapter 27) on its path to EU accession.

A decade of science and grassroots advocacy

This proposal is the culmination of an intensive mapping process of EU-important species and habitats across Montenegro's entire territory. Supported by the national budget, various international initiatives (including IPA, EUIF, GIZ, and UNEF/GEF), and by the NGO sector, these efforts have successfully established a robust national biodiversity database aligned with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

Thanks to the advocacy of civil society organisations involved since the process's inception in 2016, the total proposal covers an impressive 7,219.83 km², representing 50.97% of Montenegro’s total land area and approximately 7.06% of its marine territory.

Crucially, the proposed boundaries encompass some of the region’s most vital rivers, including the Komarnica, Piva, Lim, and Morača, as well as major tributaries such as the Mrtvica, Cijevna, and Zeta.

Critical omissions raise major concerns

Despite the overarching victory, local environmentalists and civil society groups urge cautious vigilance. Several ecological zones were excluded from the final submission.

While a portion of the Morača River is included, key sections were omitted from the network, and the Ćehotina River was removed entirely from the final proposal.

Civil society organisations are already preparing strategic positions to address these gaps directly with the EU Commission during upcoming biogeographical seminars.

What happens next?

While the database will now undergo a rigorous review by independent international experts and NGOs, activists emphasise that Montenegro cannot simply wait for EU accession to protect these spaces.

Because current national laws do not provide preventive protection for proposed Natura 2000 sites, these rivers remain legally vulnerable during the multi-year review process. Leaving them unprotected while the paperwork is processed risks irreversible damage. Activists are urgently calling on national institutions to establish immediate, interim safeguards for these territories today.