The conversation between the local population of the Pa\u0161trovi\u0107i 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 \u2013 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 Lalovi\u0107, whose excerpts were read for all attendees by actresses Ivana Mrvaljevi\u0107 and Dubravka Draki\u0107, accompanied softly by a jazz trio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Montenegrin Ecologists Society (MES) organised this event in Buljarica under the title “Potentials for the Sustainable Development of Buljarica: Conversation with the Local Population”<\/em> 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.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to productive discussions and presentations by experts who approached the concept of sustainable development from various angles, the local businesses \u201cWild Orange \u2013 Hide and eat\u201d<\/em> and \u201cMahakala retreats\u201d <\/em>were also presented, whose work supports the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Buljarica and educates tourists about its uniqueness.
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\nThe short animated film \u201cDusky Grouper\u201d<\/em> was premiered, created in co-production between MES and DOK Production.
\n In a special part of the artistic program, the writer and author of the trilogy “Hills of Wormwood”<\/em>, Jasenka Lalovi\u0107, participated, along with actresses Ivana Mrvaljevi\u0107 and Dubravka Draki\u0107, who read excerpts from the books of the aforementioned trilogy, which is largely set in the Pa\u0161trovi\u0107i region.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d emphasised the representative of the Montenegrin Ecologists Society, Andrijana Mi\u0107anovi\u0107<\/strong>, pointing out that these forms of nature protection do not exclude the socio-economic development of the local population \u2014 on the contrary.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Mi\u0107anovi\u0107 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTherefore, 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,\u201d added the representative of MES.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u201cIntegrating biodiversity into sectoral policies and practices and strengthening protection of biodiversity hotspots in Montenegro.\u201d<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe 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,\u201d said the MTEORRS representative, Director of the Directorate for Nature, Tamara Brajovi\u0107.<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn 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 \u2014 the best possible \u2014 vision of Buljarica’s future development. If the local population does not speak, decision-makers will not hear us,\u201d said the representative of local entrepreneurs from Buljarica, Stevo Davidovi\u0107<\/strong>.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In his presentation, the Dean of the Faculty of Business and Tourism in Budva, Prof. Dr. Rade Ratkovi\u0107<\/strong>, clearly outlined what Buljarica should not<\/em> become and what the main development strategies for the area should be.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe 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,\u201d stated Prof. Dr. Ratkovi\u0107.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe 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\u2026 Ultimately, Europe has a plan to transform into a green continent and thus set an example for other regions and continents,\u201d explained Dr. Dragan \u0106alovi\u0107, professor at the Faculty of Contemporary Arts in Belgrade.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0106alovi\u0107 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI 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 Pa\u0161trovi\u0107i people\u2014they have always known how to wisely judge and survive. I believe that regarding the direction Buljarica should take, we will make the right decisions,\u201d said writer Jasenka Lalovi\u0107<\/strong>.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a full day of learning, exchanging experiences, opinions, and ideas, the following CONCLUSIONS<\/strong> emerged from the discussion:<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n The main speakers in the discussion were: Prof. Dr. Rade Ratkovi\u0107 and Ivo Armenko \u2013 tourism experts; Tamara Brajovi\u0107, Director of the Directorate for Nature at MTEORRS; \u0110or\u0111e Gregovi\u0107 and Stevo Davidovi\u0107, representatives of the local population; Goran Gugi\u0107, ecology and protected areas expert; and Andrijana Mi\u0107anovi\u0107 from CDE. The panel discussion was moderated by Jelena Pavi\u0107evi\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tamara Brajovi\u0107<\/strong> 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. \u201cThe new PUP must foresee the remediation of what has been lost, where possible,\u201d and carefully plan the development of areas outside the urbanised parts of Budva, where Buljarica stands out with exceptional natural potential. \u201cThe tourism development strategy (which is in preparation) should be the basis for the PUP.\u201d<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tamara notes that the hinterland is relatively preserved, and that \u201cit is necessary to ensure synergy of space preservation by developing ecological sustainable tourism based on the principles of sustainable agriculture,\u201d but that all potentials need to be interconnected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jelena Pavi\u0107evi\u0107<\/strong>: One reason why legal solutions are poor is that citizens are not part of the working groups. Why aren\u2019t 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.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stevo Davidovi\u0107<\/strong>, olive grower from Buljarica and Secretary of the Secretariat for Urbanism and Sustainable Development of the Municipality of Budva:<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is good that Buljarica is being discussed in this kind of atmosphere, and not in a state of acute interest from some investor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is necessary to conduct studies specifically related to Buljarica \u2014 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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Olive growing and viticulture are traditional for Buljarica. One of the most important grape varieties in the world \u2014 Krato\u0161ija \u2014 has its strongest possible proof of origin in Buljarica. However, there is no attention or respect for such a treasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jelena Pavi\u0107evi\u0107:<\/strong> \u201cInsistence on growth is fatal for development!\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ivo Armenko:<\/strong> \u201cIt 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\u2019s 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\u2019s view through their window. MNE Tourist had great responsibility.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The beautiful villages of Pa\u0161trovi\u0107i are authentic; Spain has restored such places in style.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0110or\u0111e Gregovi\u0107:<\/strong> \u201cI wouldn\u2019t trade life in Buljarica for any money in the world. The problem is \u2014 the local community\u2019s 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 \u2014 tourism in untouched nature.\u201d<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n His vision of Buljarica: \u201cFishermen 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 \u2014 selling grain wholesale, in the house we have a small fountain from which we pour Stevo\u2019s 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 \u2014 it has hinterland, a lake, and open sea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrijana Mi\u0107anovi\u0107:<\/strong> \u201cMES 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\u2019s land area; in Europe, more than 90% of wetlands have been destroyed.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/strong>: about 180 bird species, over 60% of reptiles, and over 70% of Montenegro\u2019s amphibians, about 300 plant species, all closely tied to the wetland part of Buljarica.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/strong> Negative sentiment about biodiversity conservation and ecology among citizens is created mainly due to poor communication and lack of cooperation between different interested parties.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/strong> Buljarica offers a lot that can satisfy everyone.\u201d<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ivo Armenko: <\/strong>\u201cTourism 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!<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ivo Armenko recalls the tourist offer \u2018for birdwatchers,\u2019 i.e., birdwatching tours: \u201cGroups 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.<\/strong> Today, in Budva, there are only mosquitoes left; everything else is gone.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 m\u00b2 of building area, rents only 4 apartments, and the rest has been sold! We have allowed the profit rate to determine everything.\u201d<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Goran Gugi\u0107: <\/strong>“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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Goran is troubled by spatial planning and gives the example of Ulcinj, where building and \u2018development\u2019 are still planned as if climate change doesn\u2019t exist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Vesna Lem<\/strong>, local resident: \u201cI want to bring a bit more optimism to the conversation with one example \u2014 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This event was the culmination of the project \u201cEcological Networks \u2013 The Key to Development on the Foundations of Preserved Nature\u201d implemented by CDE with financial support from the Center for Civic Education (CGO), within the program \u201cCSOs in Montenegro \u2013 From Basic Services to Policy Shaping \u2013 M\u2019BASE\u201d 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 \u0160avnik on November 1, was additionally financially supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Northern Development (MTEORRS) through their GEF7 project \u201cIntegrating Biodiversity into Sectoral Policies and Practices and Strengthening Protection of Critical Biodiversity Areas in Montenegro.\u201d\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 Pa\u0161trovi\u0107i region, decision-makers, and independent experts was organised on Saturday, November 25, in Buljarica. Despite the natural drama of rain and wind …<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/drustvoekologa.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/3L1A0921-scaled.jpg\")
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