Visit-Montenegro.com : ‘Red Book’ and ‘Bank of Genes’ for Nature’s Preservation

Podgorica – Law on Nature’s Protection, which has been passed by the Parliament, will address problems of protection and use of natural resources in a comprehensive manner, establish the bank of genes, define the role and the importance of protected natural resources, but also – for the first time – address protection of caves in Montenegro as an important asset.

“Existing law from 1977 was good. However, the vision of protection of nature and biodiversity has changed completely within the European Union. As a consequence, EU has adopted series of directives.

Most important provisions of these directives, which have been addressed in this Law, are directives on the establishment of network of protected areas, under the name of Natura 2000 and, much older, Directive on Birds.

Their inclusion in legislative acts is a commitment for those countries which want to become EU member-states”, advisor with the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection, Lazarela Kalezic has told “Vijesti.”

In her words, most important novelties in this Law have to do with the classification of protected natural resources and definition of what specific categories mean, as well as the manner of management of these areas and natural resources.

“We have had a Legislative limbo up until now when it comes to the issue of caves, which have proven as a rather attractive destination for the tourists and experts alike.

These visits are, in most of the cases, unorganized and visitors often take along our natural treasures. It is, simply, needed that these resources were properly valorized – in a sustainable manner - as a tourist product.

At the end of the day, we do not even know how many caves we have got. This Law stipulates that caves should be listed and that licenses for entrance should be introduced.

Law also envisages development of Biodiversity Strategy, which should be completed by the end of the year.

The essence of this Law is to know what we can do, what we should not do and to teach us how to respect what we have”, Kalezic said.

This Law strictly forbids the use of “space and natural resources and wealth in the manner which would cause permanent degradation of biological, geological, hydrological, climatic, pedological and landscape diversity.”

“Works, activities and businesses conducted in nature must be planned in the manner which avoids or maximally diminishes infliction of damage to the nature.

If the work, activities or businesses in nature or the use of national resources is conducted without the preconditions which are set our in order to protect the nature or are in collision with such provisions, and if the damage to nature is inflicted as a consequence of that, the user of protected natural resource has an obligation to, without delay and at his own expense, remove the consequences of his actions”, the Law states.

In order to preserve genetic diversity of the wild plants, animals and fungus, Law envisages foundation of the bank of genes, which would preserve biological materials of a supervised or a grown population or parts of plants, animals or fungus, seeds, spores, reproductive cells and other biological material, which is used for the preservation of species, that is their genetic fund and potential.

In line with Natura 2000, Montenegro will found an environmental network, which will comprise of habitat types and localities which have environmental significance. Parts of this environmental network would be connected with natural or artificial environmental corridors, which would be defined by the government.

National and Regional Parks would exist in the form of protected areas, natural monuments, protected habitats and landscapes with remarkable characteristics.

Law also envisages the compilation of the list of strictly forbidden wild species of plants, animals and fungus, so called “Red Book”, which provides information about endangered species of wild plants, animals and fungus, localities where these species reside, sizes of their populations and level of endangerment.

“Protected natural resources are divided in following categories: first category – protected natural resource of remarkable importance; second category – protected natural resource of great importance; and, third category – important protected natural resource.

This Law envisages that each protected natural resource can be divided into zones where regime of protection of the first degree – strict protection - can be implemented; second degree envisages ‘active protection’, while third degree entails ‘sustainable use’, as well as the protected area.

This Law also forbids the introduction of foreign wild species into the ecosystems which are not their natural habitats. Breaching of this rule envisages financial fines which will be three to five times the amount of the minimal wage in the country.

Law foresees that the register of protected natural resources would be completed within a year from the day of the introduction of this law. Environmental Network – Natura 2000 – would be regulated within three years’ period; Cadastre of speleological objects would be defined in one years’ time; same period is also envisaged for the companies which conduct the transfer and distribution of electricity to introduce measures at pillars and technical components of medium and high voltage lines which would protect the birds from being electrocuted. Work on the “Red List” would be completed within a year.

Montenegrin Caves Protected at Last

Law stipulates that speleological objects – caves, cave ornaments and other parts of the caves, will be goods of public importance.

“It is forbidden to destroy or collect living organism and change habitat balance in the speleological object, their above-the-ground level and in its’ immediate surrounding.

It is forbidden to collect or destroy protected fossils, minerals, crystals and cave ornaments and inflict damage to them. Fossils, minerals, crystals and cave ornaments are the property of Montenegro.

Organized tours can visit, or use or arrange the speleological object or its’ part; open or close the entrance to the cave; build, rebuild, or fix underground object; conduct scientific and expert research; scuba-dive, shoot films or photograph. All these activities can be done only after the adequate license by the management instance has been issued, with the prior opinion issued by the Ministry in charge of agriculture, forestry and water resources.

Scientific and expert institutions and instances which conduct speleological research and speleological organizations are obliged to present relevant instances with the data collected during their research, within three months after the research had been completed.

Roads Must Not Prevent Migrations

“Public roads and other kinds of roads, as well as other objects, must be built in the manner which lessens the negative effect they have to the paths used for the migration by wild animals, allowing wild animals to safely go across in adequate space distances.

These measures are ensured with the provision of specific construction and special technical solutions on the objects themselves and in their surrounding.

Such solutions (ecological bridges, built crossings and passes, tunnels, pipes, trenches, security and coordination objects, fishing paths and elevators, etc.) must ensure safe and secure crossing for the wild animals, which are protected like natural resources.

Pillars and technical components of medium and high voltage must be built in a way which would protect birds from being electricuted or mechanically hurt”, thus Law envisages.

(26 August 2008)

By: D.PERUNIČIĆ