The International Land Coalition (ILC), whose member is the Civil Initiative (GI) Save Sinjajevina, called on the Government to immediately cancel the decision on the military training ground on Sinjajevina and declare that mountain a regional nature park in the management of which the local community will participate.
The ILC and GI Save Sinjajevina said the coalition has over 300 members covering 84 countries and represents over 70 million people who depend on the land, such as young men and women, rural communities, farmers and herders.
ILC Global Coordinator Analisa Mauro, who visited Sinjajevina last week, said that the area must be protected from any kind of devastation.
She called on the decision-makers to protect katuns and the katun way of life by law.
"Here in Sinjajevina, we see how important the land is for animal husbandry, but also food production and environmental protection," said Mauro.
She said that it is a very symbolic case that they want to put in the center of the world's attention because, as she stated, like many other communities, she is still fighting for the recognition of her rights.
"It is very important for any country today to recognize the value of the common good, because the common good helps to create inclusive processes and build a strong society," said Mauro.
According to her, when it is separated from the decisions made at the state level, it disrupts the social relationship, but also has an impact on the way the planet is preserved.
"I am convinced that Montenegro is the first and probably the only ecological state in the world according to the Constitution, and that is why this should be one of the priorities in decision-making - to enact a policy that recognizes the value of the common good," said Mauro.
As reported, after visiting that mountain, the ILC delegation held a regional meeting in Kolašin, with the aim of securing land rights for rural communities for environmental protection, promoting resilient local food systems and strengthening democratic processes.
It is stated that the meeting resulted in the establishment of a cross-border collaborative network in the Balkans.
The cross-border collaborative network in the Balkans consists of ILC members and other organizations dealing with food security, public goods management, inequalities, climate and biodiversity.
"The celebration of the founding event in Kolašin is an indicator of collective solidarity in light of the military siege of the Sinjajevina region, one of the largest high-mountain pastures in continental Europe, whose biodiversity and existence have been threatened for several years by the Montenegrin government," the statement said.
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