organised on November 25, 2023, at Montebay Villa, in Buljarica
Potentials for the Sustainable Development of Buljarica: “The World that Modern Tourists Dream Of”
The conversation between the local population of the Paštrovići region, decision-makers, and independent experts was organised on Saturday, November 25, in Buljarica. Despite the natural drama of rain and wind playing above the marsh and the sea, the participants exchanged ideas in the warm atmosphere of Montebay Villa, located in the non-urbanised part of Buljarica. Besides exchanging personal impressions and experiences of this area, participants had the opportunity to dive into its landscape through photographs – windows into the natural and cultural beauties of this place, as well as trying authentic local cuisine, or moving into the world of Montenegrin mountainous landscapes described in the books of Buljarica native Jasenka Lalović, whose excerpts were read for all attendees by actresses Ivana Mrvaljević and Dubravka Drakić, accompanied softly by a jazz trio.
Montenegrin Ecologists Society (MES) organised this event in Buljarica under the title “Potentials for the Sustainable Development of Buljarica: Conversation with the Local Population” with the goal of opening a space to initiate dialogue between the local population, independent experts from various fields, and decision-makers regarding the potentials, obstacles, and solutions for the development of Buljarica as a preserved natural and cultural gem of the Montenegrin coast.
In addition to productive discussions and presentations by experts who approached the concept of sustainable development from various angles, the local businesses “Wild Orange – Hide and eat” and “Mahakala retreats” were also presented, whose work supports the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Buljarica and educates tourists about its uniqueness. The short animated film “Dusky Grouper” was premiered, created in co-production between MES and DOK Production.
In a special part of the artistic program, the writer and author of the trilogy “Hills of Wormwood”, Jasenka Lalović, participated, along with actresses Ivana Mrvaljević and Dubravka Drakić, who read excerpts from the books of the aforementioned trilogy, which is largely set in the Paštrovići region.
“The event was not accidentally organised in Buljarica. Since 2016, as a group of biologists, we have been researching this area, and so far we have come across very interesting data which show that Buljarica deserves a protection status not only on a national but also on an international level, since it has already been nominated as an Emerald site, as an Important Bird Area, and an Important Plant Area,” emphasised the representative of the Montenegrin Ecologists Society, Andrijana Mićanović, pointing out that these forms of nature protection do not exclude the socio-economic development of the local population — on the contrary.
However, Mićanović reminds of the uncertainty regarding the fate of this area, due to the contradictions present in various strategies and planning documents, where the options for development and the future of the Buljarica region exclude one another. On one hand, in some documents this area is recognised as highly valuable from the perspective of nature conservation and therefore important for protection, while in other documents there have been various plans for the development of elite and luxury complexes in Buljarica.
“Therefore, the goal was for this event to serve as an occasion to bring together all interested parties in one place. No matter how important an area is and how many rare plant and animal species it is home to, protection must not and should not be established unless the opinions and practices of the local population that have existed so far are taken into account,” added the representative of MES.
The mission of this project, which aims to show that nature and biodiversity protection is not a bogeyman, but that protected areas and sustainable development of the local population can and should take place as two parallel and synergistic processes, was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Development of the North (MTEORRS) through their project “Integrating biodiversity into sectoral policies and practices and strengthening protection of biodiversity hotspots in Montenegro.”
“We are raising awareness within the local community so that they understand they are our partners in the context of protection, and that they represent one of the key aspects and values when we create protection for an area. The local population must be our primary target group so that the protected area, after being proclaimed, can be sustainable and effective,” said the MTEORRS representative, Director of the Directorate for Nature, Tamara Brajović.
Precisely for that reason, it was significant that today’s event was attended by a considerable number of residents of Buljarica, who were best positioned to express their wishes and goals and to appeal for solving the problems they are facing.
“On one hand, Buljarica is an area with a lot of potential, however, on the other hand, it is a place where people live without a sewage network in the 21st century. It is necessary to take into account all aspects of development and the needs of the local community in order to reach an implementable and realistic — the best possible — vision of Buljarica’s future development. If the local population does not speak, decision-makers will not hear us,” said the representative of local entrepreneurs from Buljarica, Stevo Davidović.
In his presentation, the Dean of the Faculty of Business and Tourism in Budva, Prof. Dr. Rade Ratković, clearly outlined what Buljarica should not become and what the main development strategies for the area should be.
“We already have our dream and vision for Buljarica: no to the sale of Buljarica, no to mass tourism, no to unsustainable development based on destruction or alteration of natural resources. We advocate for the preservation of biodiversity and geography, for leaving nature undisturbed. No to experiments involving pumping seawater into the fields. In Buljarica, we should create tourism not of large concentration, but with multiple tourist products that have an ecological component and follow the trends of post-pandemic tourism, where people enjoy nature, healthy food, clean air, and comfort without crowds. So in Buljarica, we want the world that modern tourists dream of,” stated Prof. Dr. Ratković.
A significant part of the gathering was devoted to highlighting the importance and benefits of the European Green Deal. Residents of Buljarica, independent experts, and decision-makers from Montenegro were able to better familiarize themselves with this plan, which strongly concerns countries aspiring to join the European Union.
“The European Green Deal ultimately aims to achieve a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050, but also to reach a series of goals related to energy, transport, food production, social organization, urban planning… Ultimately, Europe has a plan to transform into a green continent and thus set an example for other regions and continents,” explained Dr. Dragan Ćalović, professor at the Faculty of Contemporary Arts in Belgrade.
Ćalović emphasized that a good communication strategy is crucial for implementing the Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda, to explain to the public and decision-makers the benefits of these transformations. The event in Buljarica was a step in that direction.
“I always proudly state that I am from Buljarica; I am a child raised and grown here. I place great hope in the wisdom of the Paštrovići people—they have always known how to wisely judge and survive. I believe that regarding the direction Buljarica should take, we will make the right decisions,” said writer Jasenka Lalović.
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After a full day of learning, exchanging experiences, opinions, and ideas, the following CONCLUSIONS emerged from the discussion:
The main speakers in the discussion were: Prof. Dr. Rade Ratković and Ivo Armenko – tourism experts; Tamara Brajović, Director of the Directorate for Nature at MTEORRS; Đorđe Gregović and Stevo Davidović, representatives of the local population; Goran Gugić, ecology and protected areas expert; and Andrijana Mićanović from CDE. The panel discussion was moderated by Jelena Pavićević.
Tamara Brajović emphasized that for more than a decade there has been no spatial urban plan (PUP) for the municipality of Budva. It is necessary to ensure that the local population and investors use the space in accordance with expert knowledge and science. The current situation of omissions and shortcomings caused by the lack of planning documents has led to chaos in the urban core of Budva. “The new PUP must foresee the remediation of what has been lost, where possible,” and carefully plan the development of areas outside the urbanised parts of Budva, where Buljarica stands out with exceptional natural potential. “The tourism development strategy (which is in preparation) should be the basis for the PUP.”
The Integrated Coastal Zone Management Program of Montenegro (CAMP CG) has recorded all vulnerable coastal areas, noting that the percentage of built capacities amounts to 60% of the total coastal area, characterized today by overdevelopment and heavy spatial exhaustion.
Tamara notes that the hinterland is relatively preserved, and that “it is necessary to ensure synergy of space preservation by developing ecological sustainable tourism based on the principles of sustainable agriculture,” but that all potentials need to be interconnected.
Jelena Pavićević: One reason why legal solutions are poor is that citizens are not part of the working groups. Why aren’t good legal solutions implemented? Because they are not well communicated; citizens do not know what is in those laws. Citizens cannot clearly state their rights guaranteed by certain laws. They are divided: they either like or dislike a legal solution, are for or against it, but cannot explain the substantive reasons for their position.
Stevo Davidović, olive grower from Buljarica and Secretary of the Secretariat for Urbanism and Sustainable Development of the Municipality of Budva:
“It is good that Buljarica is being discussed in this kind of atmosphere, and not in a state of acute interest from some investor.
It is necessary to conduct studies specifically related to Buljarica — how it can develop and what development model makes sense. In Budva today, over 90% of citizen initiatives boil down to increasing the building density on private plots to make them more marketable. Such a value system has been built. And we ask ourselves, who is to blame for that? It is not the citizens’ job to change such a system. In the last 15 years, we had a system of plotting buildings and growth, but not development. It is unclear what the Municipality intends to do with Buljarica. Studies need to be done.
Olive growing and viticulture are traditional for Buljarica. One of the most important grape varieties in the world — Kratošija — has its strongest possible proof of origin in Buljarica. However, there is no attention or respect for such a treasure.
Buljarica has no sewage system, there is a problem with illegal beach dumping, illegal construction, swamps, its system of canals, and formerly cultivated fields and pastures are abandoned and neglected. Buljarica today is in a state of emergency, and it has been waiting for development for 50 years.”
Jelena Pavićević: “Insistence on growth is fatal for development!”
Ivo Armenko: “It is difficult to compare periods. There was an organised society, social property, work done in the interests of the state. It was known what was in the interest and it was respected. The large system MNE Tourist created 80% of Montenegro’s tourist offer. It was unthinkable for municipalities, municipal assemblies, and the state assembly to adopt any measure or law without consulting MNE Tourist. At that time, it was unthinkable to approve a building plan that would close a neighbour’s view through their window. MNE Tourist had great responsibility.
Private interest is not organised! Today, tourism is managed by people whose motivation is capital placement, money laundering, with no unity or community, so there is neither strength nor influence.
The beautiful villages of Paštrovići are authentic; Spain has restored such places in style.”
Đorđe Gregović: “I wouldn’t trade life in Buljarica for any money in the world. The problem is — the local community’s response is missing. Either there is no response, or plans have been made behind their backs. Buljarica should be known for camper and Robinson tourism — tourism in untouched nature.”
His vision of Buljarica: “Fishermen come out and catch 6 kg of fish by noon, you come to Buljarica, everything is neat, you walk to Jaz, the canal network is fixed, the threshing floor is restored, there is a bazaar — selling grain wholesale, in the house we have a small fountain from which we pour Stevo’s olive oil, and although residents have the privilege of having more mosquitoes than anywhere else. Buljarica, precisely because of its location, has tremendous potential that everyone can see, understand, and accept. Decision-makers are wise enough to respect and value local interests, which has not been the case so far; mostly, the offered options have excluded local residents. Buljarica is in the middle of the Montenegrin coast, everything is equally far — it has hinterland, a lake, and open sea.”
Andrijana Mićanović: “MES has been actively involved in Buljarica for many years, conducting scientific research since 2016, which has so far resulted in very interesting data. From an ecology and biodiversity perspective, Buljarica is one of the few Mediterranean wetland areas, and wetlands are globally the most endangered ecosystems because they cover less than 5% of the world’s land area; in Europe, more than 90% of wetlands have been destroyed.
The basic benefits of wetlands: CO2 storage, flood control, water purification; out of 100% of described species worldwide, over 40% are wetland species. Research on Buljarica revealed astonishing data: about 180 bird species, over 60% of reptiles, and over 70% of Montenegro’s amphibians, about 300 plant species, all closely tied to the wetland part of Buljarica.
Buljarica has been exposed to humans for many years, constantly, and it would be impossible and selfish to talk about its protection without involving the needs and practices of the local population. The key to protection is involving the local community. Negative sentiment about biodiversity conservation and ecology among citizens is created mainly due to poor communication and lack of cooperation between different interested parties.
MES wants to show, using Buljarica as an example, that preserved nature and humans can go hand in hand. Living on 5% of the world’s territory should be seen as a privilege. Worldwide, billions of dollars are invested in wetland restoration. In fact, the world is producing wetlands today because they store more CO2 per area than forests. Protection of Buljarica would not mean strict protection, like in national parks. Buljarica should be part of the ecological network, which is a perfect example of a local community development concept based on preserved nature. Buljarica offers a lot that can satisfy everyone.”
Ivo Armenko: “Tourism both devastates and enriches; good tourist facilities are beneficial. A large part of our development relates to the simulation of tourist activity, bypassing plans and laws, so much of our development has been done according to investor demands! Tourism in Montenegro today is not the product of a fixed development plan! We once had a good normative framework for the development of the country. There were always compromises. True tourism experts know the value of nature. We had the example of Petrovac, which gave additional value to Buljarica.
Ivo Armenko recalls the tourist offer ‘for birdwatchers,’ i.e., birdwatching tours: “Groups of English tourists came by the hundreds; Kastel Lastva and Palas were full when the Germans (who formed an important group of tourists) were not yet on holiday. These people could stay in the marsh for up to a month. The best excursions were connected with nature. Today, in Budva, there are only mosquitoes left; everything else is gone.
Who endangered the concept of sustainable tourism? Tourism and the economy can work with compromise. Today, while drawing skyscrapers, all those skyscrapers on the plans have hotel brands (Marriott, Hilton, Jedro), but in the end, the apartments in those skyscrapers are offered for sale. An example is the Tre Cane skyscraper near Slovenska Beach (an economic facility and brand of Montenegro), which has 64,000 m² of building area, rents only 4 apartments, and the rest has been sold! We have allowed the profit rate to determine everything.”
Goran Gugić: “The issue here is not the strength of protection but the evaluation of what natural and cultural values we have, which is very important for the tourism sector. Tourism is based on selling natural and cultural values.”
Goran is troubled by spatial planning and gives the example of Ulcinj, where building and ‘development’ are still planned as if climate change doesn’t exist.”
Dr. Vesna Lem, local resident: “I want to bring a bit more optimism to the conversation with one example — the last guests left a week ago; they considered coming here their biggest business risk. They came to a country they barely knew existed shortly before and got 10 times more than they expected.”
This event was the culmination of the project “Ecological Networks – The Key to Development on the Foundations of Preserved Nature” implemented by CDE with financial support from the Center for Civic Education (CGO), within the program “CSOs in Montenegro – From Basic Services to Policy Shaping – M’BASE” funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro. This event, as well as a similar event organised by MES in Šavnik on November 1, was additionally financially supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Northern Development (MTEORRS) through their GEF7 project “Integrating Biodiversity into Sectoral Policies and Practices and Strengthening Protection of Critical Biodiversity Areas in Montenegro.”