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The Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern EuropeREReP Record |
| Montenegro braces
for new challenges In spring 2007, Montenegrins celebrated their one-year anniversary of declaring independence from Serbia. Though a small nation geographically speaking (just 13,812 square kilometres), Montenegro offers a clear-blue sea, fast-running rivers, high mountains, dazzling countryside, and a cultural mix that is breathtaking and unforgettable. Despite the country’s abundance of wild beauty, Montenegro is dealing with an assortment of environmental and ecological problems, such as pollution from the Podgorica Aluminium Plant, wilderness dumping, illegal construction and—most significantly—energy lobbies active in trying to submerge the Tara River Canyon. With investment opportunities pouring into the world’s youngest country, Montenegro’s government must balance a demand for fresh money with the need to create necessary infrastructure for sustainable development and tourism. Darko Pajovic, a member of both the Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) and World Conservation Union (IUCN), said that Montenegro will need to greatly modify its environmental regulations if it hopes to one day join the European Union. Pajovic explained that this would basically entail bringing
Montenegrin environmental law into compliance with European rules, building
eco-funds, signing pollution agreements, regulating and monitoring wastewater
treatment and disposal, and actually implementing enacted legislation. Hard choices Nenezic argued, however, that the silos are unacceptable in view of tourist development needs alone. “If it were up to me, nothing like this would
be built directly on the coast, but at least 50 metres inland,”
he explained, adding that such a project has to first serve the interests
of the local population. “As important as this document is, much more is
needed,” said Nenezic. “Strong political support and the determination
and readiness of all segments of society are also required if sustainable
development is to become an integral part of economic and political dialogue. On the other hand, economic development and environmental concerns do not always walk hand in hand. Last year, and in 2005, various local media warned that the Podgorica Aluminium Plant (KAP) was responsible for pollution in Montenegro’s Zeta Valley. The Movement for Change (PzP), an NGO turned political party, even went so far as to accuse KAP of “ecocide.” Montenegrin authorities rejected PzP’s strong language, but did not flatly deny allegations of causing pollution. Russal, KAP’s new owner, promised improvements and has pledged to implement a five-year environmental programme. Pollution, however, is not the only environmental concern. According to media reports, there are plans to build up to 40 small to regular-sized hydroelectric power plants on Montenegrin rivers. Vanja Calovic, executive director of the Network for Affirmation of the NGO Sector (MANS), alleged that KAP and power-industry lobbyists are the only parties “in need of” these plants. One of the hydroelectric projects, Buk Bijela, would submerge the Tara River Canyon, a site protected by UNESCO. Two years ago, the Montenegrin Parliament adopted an official declaration to protect the canyon, but since then, high-ranking officials and some scientists have argued that such “popular sentiments” are inconsistent with the country’s need to boost its electrical energy capacity. Coping with more cash “I think that Montenegro should first obtain a
clear estimate of its power needs,” said Calovic. “Next, an
environmental impact assessment should be carried out for every proposed
solution, and the country should choose the solution that’s best
overall in terms of sustainable development.” Montenegro’s NGOs, in addition to confronting myriad environmental concerns, are also trying to find the best ways to cope with a recent influx of foreign investment. Many Montenegrins are tempted by the possibility of
earning millions of euros or dollars, simply by selling houses or property
to foreigners. Even rocky hideaways with zero road access or electricity
are selling for unheard-of amounts. Many foreign investors are also prepared
to invest in tourist infrastructure. Environmental NGOs have warned that
unchecked foreign investment in the tourism sector could drastically alter
Montenegro’s ecological balance and permanently scar its natural
beauty. “Further tourism development will account for larger and larger shares of employment and national revenue, and is therefore a top economic priority, said Tourism and Environment Minister Nenezic. “Of course, we’re firmly oriented toward preserving the very resources that attract tourism in the first place, including Montenegro’s natural and cultural heritage.” While the minister admitted that tourism development will create new pressures on the coastline, he added that new facilities will be created or remodeled in such a way as to create more beach space. “Tourists, however, are most strongly attracted to the natural coastline. Its preservation is therefore a precondition, not only for the preservation of natural balance, but also for long-term tourism development plans,” Nenezic said. “In order to address development pressures and urbanisation, the Tourism Master Plan is currently being revised along principles of sustainable development put forth by the UNWTO.” Nenezic emphasised that carrying capacity assessments and sustainability tests have not yet been applied to Montenegro’s tourism development plan; nor have they been applied to the National Spatial Plan, which regulates the use of coastal space and development orientation. “Because of this, we’re aiming to complete carrying-capacity assessments of tourism plans in northern Montenegro and Boka Kotorska Bay. A strategic environmental assessment [SEA] is also being carried out for the spatial plan,” said Nenezic. “The application of these and similar mechanisms are keys to further development and implementation of planning documents and decision making in the coastal region.” Nenezic stressed that international cooperation is critically important where environment protection is concerned. “Natural resources do not recognize national borders, and neither does pollution nor climate change,” Nenezic continued. “The concept of an integral approach to environment through the cooperation of national governments, professional institutions and the NGO sector has worldwide acceptance. To that extent, the assistance of EU support is vital.” Building cooperation “The very first projects that the REC implemented within the Stability Pact: Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme (REReP) in 2001 saw the completion of numerous activities in the fields of institution building, legal development and transboundary cooperation,” said Nenezic. “Even more important is that all of these activities were carried out in a regional context, which has helped to create networks of experts in which to exchange experiences in a variety of fields.” Montenegro surely has the potential to develop economically while remaining an earthly paradise and Mediterranean treasure. One way that the country can improve its chances for future EU membership is to step up and fulfil its environmental and ecological targets, which would benefit Europeans and Montenegrins for generations to come.
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