Declare Cijevna a monument of nature

Due to its natural beauty and rich flora and fauna, including as many as 103 different species of birds, the Cijevna River should be declared a natural monument.

That message was sent to the authorities from the round table, organized by the Center for the Protection and Conservation of Birds, which also conducted a study on the protection of the Cijevna Canyon, and the City Municipality of Tuzi.

Adviser for agriculture and environmental protection in GO Tuza, Ismeta Gjoka, hopes that state institutions, above all the capital city, will support the project.

"GO Tuza submitted an initiative in 2009 with justified reasons why the Cijevna canyon should be declared a natural monument. The project was included in the local environmental action plan of the Capital City 2010-2014. and it was supported, apart from state institutions, by the non-governmental sector, associations such as 'Green Home', 'Trofta', and 'Cijevna Canyon Lovers Association'. In July 2012, the project to declare the Cijevna canyon a natural monument was included with amendments in the Spatial Plan of Montenegro until 2020," said Gjoka.

She warned of devastation in the canyon, pointing out that the gravel was exploited this year as well, even though the concessions were not issued.

The project coordinator, Aleksandar Perović, said that the construction of the project was preceded by the cleaning of the yard of Elementary School "29. novembar" in Dinoša and the Cijevna riverbed and the installation of info-boards indicating what is prohibited to be done in the future nature monument.

Perović explained that they wanted to see how the local population would react, but also to raise the awareness of all visitors to the canyon.

"Unfortunately, one board was broken. We put a lot of effort into making this study... In the fishing society 'Trofta' and 'Cijevna lovers' association' they could not believe that 103 different species of birds are present in the canyon. It wasn't just the birds that got us started, but also the wealth of biodiversity, flora and fauna, and especially the rich fish stock, the wealth of amphibians, mammals..." Perović said.

He emphasized that Cijevna is sufficiently preserved, for which there are indicators of both plant and animal life, but that there are three or four "black spots", which is reflected in the exploitation of sand, gravel and stone.