2021-2022 European Union, Ministry of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media
Montenegrin Ecologists Society (MES) has initiated a project entitled “From Education and Connecting Children with Nature, through Dendrochronological Research, to Raising Awareness About Climate Change Over the Past Several Centuries in Montenegro,” financially supported by the European Union.
This project focuses on studying mountain pine (Pinus heldreichii) forests – an endemic and relict species that forms unique and highly significant habitats in the mountains of Montenegro. Mountain pine survived the last Ice Age, and individual trees can live for over 1,000 years. This species inhabits areas with poor soil fertility, where other tree species struggle to survive.
Through this project, MES will begin examining the historical records stored in the rings of old mountain pine trees. Changes in microclimatic and other environmental conditions experienced by a tree during its lifetime are recorded in its growth rings. The project includes establishing the first dendrochronological laboratory in Montenegro, where wood samples will be analysed to reconstruct past growth conditions over the centuries. This will provide data on historical climate changes, as well as on sudden events such as wildfires. Using this information, future climate scenarios can be predicted and adaptive strategies designed for forests and ecosystems affected by these changes. Dendrochronological research is especially important for mountain pine forests, as these trees are highly flammable and large areas of these forests are lost to wildfires every year.
A key part of the project is to rebuild and strengthen the relationship between children and nature, particularly those living near mountain pine forests. By organising two wilderness camps, along with workshops both outdoors and in schools, children will be introduced to the value of biodiversity and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of natural ecosystems. The goal is to foster a sense of care and responsibility for nature, which provides numerous free ecosystem services and protects us from the adverse effects of climate change.
At the end of the project, an art exhibition dedicated to mountain pine forests and their biodiversity will be organized, conveying important messages to the wider public about the interdependence between nature and humans. By looking into the mountain pine, we can glimpse the past; by planting it, we create a safer future.
