The great pelim returns to Montenegro: Rare plant successfully transplanted to Orjen

The rocky dolomite terrain in Kruševice, in Herceg Novi, is richer in one precious plant species - the great sage (Salvia brachyodon). It is a rare and endangered plant that has not been found in the territory of Montenegro for decades, but has now been successfully returned thanks to a project by the non-governmental organization Program for the Environment - EnvPro from Podgorica.

This action is part of the second phase of the project "Conservation of Endemic, Rare and Endangered Plant Species in Orjen", which has been funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) for years. The focus of the activities in 2024 was precisely on the conservation and return of the large pelima - a plant that is naturally distributed in small, isolated areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, but was also historically present in Montenegro.

A team of experts from Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia collected seeds from the Podštirovnik site, at the foot of Orjen on the Bosnian side. The seeds were then treated in a laboratory and grown under controlled conditions at the universities of Podgorica and Koper. After months of care, the developed seedlings of the large pelim were planted in a carefully selected location in Kruševice, whose natural characteristics most closely resemble the plant's original habitat.

The project was implemented with the support of the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro and the Secretariat for Ecology and Energy Efficiency of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, and volunteers, young researchers, as well as experts in the field of botany - Boštjan Surina (Rijeka Museum of Natural History), Peter Glasnović (University of the Coast, Koper), Snežana Dragićević, Ana Katnić and Milorad Vlaović participated in its implementation.

The return of the large pelima to the Montenegrin part of Orjen represents an important step in preserving the biodiversity of this mountain massif, but also a potential for the development of scientific and ecotourism. This rare plant, as part of the national natural heritage, is a symbol of the richness of our flora, which is important to preserve for generations to come.