Montenegro: River excluded from Natura 2000 network via secret amendments
Vaso Knežević, an environmental protection advisor for the Municipality of Pljevlja and president of the "Lipljen" Sports Fishing Club, has revealed that a river has been removed from the Natura 2000 network through clandestine amendments. During public discussions held in April 2026, the draft proposed Natura 2000 areas were officially presented to the public. At that time, the "Ljubišnja – Ćehotina" area was defined as a single, ecologically coherent unit. Knežević, who is also an environmental activist, asserts that subsequent secret changes were made to this designation. These undisclosed modifications resulted in the exclusion of a river from the protected network. The activist highlighted this discrepancy, suggesting a lack of transparency in the environmental protection process.
The situation raises questions about the transparency and integrity of environmental protection processes in Montenegro. The alleged secret amendments to the Natura 2000 network designation suggest a potential disconnect between public consultation and final decision-making. This could undermine public trust and the effectiveness of conservation efforts if ecological units are altered without public knowledge or scientific justification. Future policy development should prioritize robust public engagement and clear communication channels to ensure that environmental designations reflect genuine ecological needs and stakeholder consensus, thereby fostering greater accountability and sustainable outcomes in the long term.
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