GI Let's Save Sinjajevina: We hope that Sinjajevina will be declared a nature park at one of the next sessions

The Civic Initiative (CI) Let's Save Sinjajevina is pleased to welcome and sincerely thank the Government of Montenegro for its historic decision, which, after years of struggle, provides support to the people in protecting Sinjajevina from the establishment of a military training ground, the CI announced today.

"We thank the Prime Minister and all the ministers who voted for this decision - you have shown that democracy works, that the voice of the people is valued and that the precious resources of our country and planet are protected. This was a necessary prerequisite for declaring Sinjajevina a Nature Park, in accordance with the Protection Study prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Montenegro), which has been awaited since 2016. We hope that Sinjajevina will be declared a Nature Park at one of the next sessions," the statement said.

The GI Save Sinjajevina added that "this wise and far-reaching decision opens the door wide for us to come up with a new Law on the Protection of this area as soon as possible, which, in addition to its unique natural values, will also recognize and protect the local livestock communities of Sinjajevina and their millennia-old practices of sustainable living and work."

"With this law, Montenegro would join Italy, France and Spain, which were the first in the world to recognize the irreplaceable importance of livestock farmers and their practices in nature conservation. Therefore, we invite all citizens, the entire Government of Montenegro, members of parliament, representatives of municipalities, relevant institutions and the non-governmental sector, to join the St. Peter's Day celebration of this historic decision on July 12th — the first step towards the long-term protection and sustainable development of Sinjajevina (Margita and Savine vode, starting at 12 o'clock)," the statement reads.

At today's session, the government canceled the initiative to establish a military training ground in Sinjajevina, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić announced today.