Montenegro adopts Natura 2000 proposal covering half the country

Natura 2000 is the European Union’s flagship network for nature protection – the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world, spanning close to a fifth of the EU’s land area and significant marine areas besides. Rather than a collection of isolated reserves, it functions as a connected system, designed to safeguard Europe’s most threatened habitats and species while allowing the areas within it to remain living, working landscapes. For candidate countries like Montenegro, establishing a Natura 2000 network is also a core requirement of EU accession, making today’s proposal as much a step toward membership as it is a commitment to nature. 

The proposed network comprises: 

• 58 Sites of Community Importance (5,220 km², nearly 38% of Montenegro’s land area) 
• 32 Special Protection Areas for birds (5,104 km², almost 37%) 
• 7 marine Sites of Community Importance (179 km²) 

Together, these sites protect the species and habitats that make Montenegro one of the most biodiverse regions in Europe, spanning its forests, karst mountains, coastline, and wetlands. Among the species that stand to benefit are the Dalmatian Pelican and Pygmy Cormorant of Skadar Lake – one of Europe’s most important sites for both – alongside Golden Eagles soaring over the country’s limestone canyons and mountains. These landscapes, and the species that depend on them, are precisely what the new network is designed to secure for the long term. 

For nature, this means legal recognition and long-term protection for the areas that matter most, anchored in the EU’s most robust conservation framework. For Montenegro, it also represents an opportunity: a foundation for development that endures, rather than a constraint on it. Natura 2000 supports sustainable tourism, and forestry and agricultural practices aligned with the landscape, while opening access to EU funding streams that reward this kind of stewardship. Rural communities stand to benefit in particular, as preserved nature becomes an economic asset rather than a limitation. 

This outcome is the result of nearly a decade of work by scientists, national institutions, NGOs, and EU partners, including BirdLife Partner CZIP (Centre for Protection and Research of Birds), who contributed years of fieldwork, data collection, and advocacy toward this goal. 

The proposal will now proceed through documentation and submission to the European Commission, which will assess whether it adequately protects Montenegro’s key species and habitats. A positive assessment will allow these sites to formally join the Natura 2000 network upon Montenegro’s accession to the EU, positioning this decision as a milestone both for nature protection and for the country’s accession process. 

Attention now turns to establishing effective management structures to ensure these protections are implemented on the ground, alongside clear communication to help communities understand the value Natura 2000 offers. When supported by both strong governance and public understanding, nature protection and rural prosperity can develop hand in hand. 

Photo: Dalmatian Pelican, Yves Adams