The non-governmental organization Eko-team sent an appeal to declare the upper course of the Ćehotina river a protected area as soon as possible.
"Given the environmental, economic, social and demographic challenges faced by the residents of Pljevlja, as a mining region, and exposed to serious levels of pollution, we want to highlight the necessity of quick action in protecting the upper course of the Ćehotina river, as one of the opportunities for a more sustainable future of this the northernmost Montenegrin municipality," said Eco-team executive director Milija Čabarkapa.
He said that the planned Nature Park "Upper Stream of the Ćehotina River" offers vital resources and benefits for the citizens of Pljevlja. "This panned protected area represents a potential oasis of health and sustainability for residents facing the consequences of pollution and environmental challenges. This park not only provides protection for rich biodiversity but also provides space for recreation and relaxation, necessary in the context of stress caused by environmental problems," he adds.
He said that it is "urgent and imperative" that the upper reaches of the ijehotina be declared a protected area as soon as possible. "Such a decision will enable the active protection of natural resources, provide the necessary measures to preserve the ecosystem and provide permanent support to the health and well-being of the citizens of Pljevlja, especially to the local communities, but also to the local self-government, bearing in mind that the protected area will stimulate numerous socio-economic activities on that area", points out Čabarkapa.
This step, as he said, will not only provide protection of natural resources, but will also be a symbol of commitment to sustainable development and a healthier environment for all citizens of Pljevlja.
"Politicians, officials and everyone else in the decision-making chain should support the declaration of the upper course of the Ćehotina river as a protected area, which will send a strong message about the commitment to nature conservation and improving the quality of life of citizens. Urgency in making this decision is crucial for taking care of the health and future of Pljevlja, and bearing in mind the challenging process of just transition that Pljevlja must face as a mining region", emphasizes Čabarkapa.
The municipality of Pljevlja formally initiated the procedure for the protection of the upper reaches of the Ćehotina River, in accordance with the Nature Protection Act, in 2021 by ordering the creation of a Protection Study at the Environmental Protection Agency, which proposed that the river be protected in the category of a nature park, to which was approved by the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism in 2022. The final decision on the declaration of the upper course of the Ćehotina river as a protected area should be made by the Municipal Assembly of Pljevlja, for which, Čabarkapa reminds, it has been waiting for more than a year and a half.
The municipality of Plevlja implements the procedure for the protection of the upper reaches of the Ćehotina river on the initiative of Eco-team, within the framework of the regional initiative "Together for Rivers", which was launched by the global organization for nature protection The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
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