Marinela Đuretić, Director of the Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro
Montenegro’s National Parks: Protecting Nature, Driving Sustainable Growth
Montenegro owes its international recognition in large part to its exceptional natural riches. The national parks represent the most valuable treasuries of biodiversity, cultural heritage and authentic landscapes, but also significant potential for the development of sustainable tourism. In conversation with Diplomacy & Commerce Montenegro, the Director of the Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro, Marinela Đuretić, discusses the challenges of protecting nature at a time of growing tourist pressures, the importance of international cooperation, the involvement of local communities and the projects that contribute to preserving the natural heritage for future generations.
How would you assess the current balance between tourism development and the protection of natural resources in Montenegro?
Nature is Montenegro’s greatest asset and the main reason tourists visit us. The national parks, as the most valuable protected areas, play a special role not only in preserving biodiversity but also in developing the tourism offer. In recent years, we have seen tourism growth, which brings numerous economic benefits but also places additional pressure on natural resources. Urbanisation, unplanned construction, and an increase in visitors to sensitive areas require careful management and long-term planning. That is why tourism development must be founded on the principles of sustainability. Preserved nature is not an obstacle to development, but its most important resource. Only through a responsible attitude towards the landscape can we preserve natural values while ensuring a high-quality tourism offering. In that process, the National Parks of Montenegro have a significant role. Our task is to protect the country’s most valuable natural areas and to contribute to the development of sustainable tourism through 38 cooperation with institutions, local communities, and all users of the space.
What is the key role of the National Parks of Montenegro in the development of sustainable tourism?
The National Parks of Montenegro are among the most important tourism resources of our country and a strong pillar of sustainable development. Their natural diversity, rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, and the authenticity of local communities give Montenegro a distinctive tourism profile. From cruises on Lake Skadar and rafting on the Tara, to hiking, cycling and birdwatching, the national parks offer unique experiences that attract visitors from all over the world. At the same time, they contribute to the development of local communities by creating new jobs, promoting rural tourism, and promoting local products. Particularly important is linking Montenegro’s coast and north through a joint tourism offering, whereby the national parks become a key factor in more balanced regional development. The role of the Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro is to ensure the balance between nature protection and the tourism valorisation of the space. Through improving infrastructure, developing new content and cooperating with the local population and the tourism sector, we work to ensure that the national parks remain attractive destinations while preserving their natural values and authenticity.
What are the greatest challenges you face in preserving natural assets?
The National Parks of Montenegro today face numerous challenges, among which the following stand out: illegal construction, poaching, unlawful logging, fires, inadequate waste disposal and ever-greater pressures on the space. At the same time, climate change further complicates the management of protected areas through longer dry periods, increased fire risk, and changes in natural habitats. We see the response to these challenges in strengthening protection services, improving monitoring of natural values, enhancing cooperation with competent institutions and local communities, and applying contemporary standards of protected-area management. We devote particular attention to preserving forest and aquatic ecosystems, protecting endangered species and restoring degraded areas. Equally important are education and raising public awareness of the importance of preserving nature. Through cooperation with international partners and the implementation of numerous projects, we further strengthen the capacities of the National Parks and create the conditions for more effective protection of Montenegro’s most valuable natural areas.
How is the pressure of a growing number of visitors managed in protected areas?
The growth in visitor numbers confirms the attractiveness of the national parks, but also requires careful management to preserve their natural values. Our goal is to enable a high-quality stay for visitors while preserving sensitive ecosystems and habitats. To that end, we are developing visitor infrastructure, arranging trails and viewpoints, improving signage and conducting visit monitoring. We have introduced an electronic ticketing system and video surveillance, which enable us to track visitors’ movements better and protect the space more effectively. Activities must be directed in accordance with protection zones and management plans to reduce pressure on the most sensitive areas. With the support of the FAO, the first Carrying Capacity Study in Montenegro was prepared for Durmitor National Park, which represents an important tool for planning visits and preserving the natural values of this area.
How involved are local communities in the processes of protecting and sustainably using natural resources?
Local communities are among the most important partners in managing national parks. Sustainable nature protection is not possible without the active participation of the people who live and work in these areas, which is why we devote particular attention to cooperation with the local population, municipalities and other users of the space. An important mechanism for involving local communities is the Socio-Economic Councils, which have operated in all five national parks since 2015. Through their work, open communication, the exchange of opinions and more active participation of the local population in matters of nature protection and sustainable development have been enabled. Over the past year, we organised around 30 council sessions and participatory meetings to strengthen dialogue and partnerships with local communities. We believe that the best results are achieved precisely through cooperation and shared responsibility for preserving Montenegro’s natural values.
What is your cooperation with international organisations in the field of nature protection like?
International cooperation is one of the key pillars in the development of Montenegro’s National Parks. Through partnerships with organisations such as UNESCO, IUCN, WWF, the EUROPARC Federation and numerous other institutions, we improve nature protection, strengthen professional capacities and apply contemporary standards of protected-area management. We are particularly proud that, from 2026, through cooperation with the EUROPARC Federation, Montenegro will, for the first time, join the Junior Ranger programme. A significant success is also the membership of the Dulovine Botanical Garden in the BGCI organisation – as the first botanical garden from Montenegro in this global network — as well as the inclusion of Lake Skadar National Park in the Wilder Parks initiative of the Rewilding Europe programme. International cooperation brings new knowledge, experience, and financing opportunities, and also contributes to the improved international recognition of Montenegro and its national parks. Through joint projects and initiatives, we continue to strengthen the system of nature protection and to promote Montenegro as an example of responsible management of natural values.
Which projects would you single out as the most significant in the recent period?
In recent years, we have implemented several significant projects that contribute to nature protection, infrastructure improvement, and the strengthening of national parks’ capacities. I would single out the PA.CON II project, carried out in Lovćen National Park, which encompasses the improvement of hiking infrastructure, the reconstruction of the Visitor Centre at Ivanova korita and the arrangement of the “Kraljevo počivalo” viewpoint. Also significant is the SWIM project, within the Horizon Europe programme, aimed at preserving aquatic ecosystems and protecting migratory fish species. I consider the project “Lake Skadar – Transboundary Biosphere Reserve” particularly important; through it, Lake Skadar has been nominated for the UNESCO MAB [Man and the Biosphere] programme. So too is the ForestConnect project, which improves habitat conditions and reduces conflicts between wild animals and the local population. Likewise, through the Eco DaLLi project, we are working to preserve the biodiversity of the River Tara and Durmitor National Park, while with the support of the Eco Fund, a project to improve municipal infrastructure in Durmitor National Park was successfully implemented, further enhancing the protection of the Black Lake [Crno jezero] ecosystem. These projects confirm that the national parks are not only guardians of nature, but also active participants in sustainable development and international cooperation.
How do you see the balance between economic development and the preservation of ecosystems?
The role of the Public Enterprise in preserving Montenegro’s nature is becoming increasingly significant and demanding amid growing challenges. One of the key goals of our institution is to build and preserve, in cooperation with institutions and organisations, a balance between economic development and the preservation of nature – one in which economic progress is not achieved at the expense of natural resources, but in keeping with their preservation and the long-term stability of ecosystems. The Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro plays a key role in establishing and maintaining the balance between economic development and ecosystem protection, a fundamental principle of our country’s sustainable development. Through the management of the most valuable natural areas, the Enterprise directly contributes to preserving biodiversity, ecosystem stability, and the long-term protection of natural resources, while enabling their sustainable valorisation. Through professional supervision, monitoring of the state of nature, implementation of management plans, and protection of sensitive habitats, the Enterprise actively contributes to the preservation of natural ecosystems. These activities are particularly important in the context of the increasingly pronounced pressures of urbanisation, climate change and intensive tourism development. A particularly important role is played by the involvement of local communities in planning and management processes, because it is precisely they who live with the natural resources and depend directly upon them. The application of legal and institutional protection measures, together with the strengthening of environmental awareness, contributes to a more responsible attitude towards nature as a key asset of contemporary development. In this way, it is possible to establish a model of development that is economically stable, competitive, and sustainable over the long term, while preserving natural values and ecosystems as the foundation of quality of life and the development of future generations.
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AS A DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
The National Parks of Montenegro today represent one of the most significant pillars of sustainable tourism. From cruises on Lake Skadar and rafting on the Tara to hiking, cycling, and birdwatching, these protected areas offer unique experiences that attract visitors from all over the world. At the same time, they contribute to the development of local communities through new jobs, the growth of rural tourism and the promotion of local products. The key to success is establishing a balance between the tourism valorisation of the space and the preservation of the natural values that represent Montenegro’s greatest asset.
How important is visitor education in preserving the national parks?
Education is one of the most important tools for nature protection. When people understand the value of national parks and the importance of preserving biodiversity, they behave more responsibly towards the space they visit. National parks are not only protected areas but also open-air classrooms. Through workshops, educational programmes, guided tours and various promotional activities, we strive to develop, in children, young people and adults, an awareness of the importance of protecting nature and using natural resources sustainably. We devote particular attention to working with the youngest. Over the past year, we organised more than 60 educational workshops in which around 4,250 children took part, while through marking numerous environmental dates, we further promoted the values of the national parks and the protection of the environment.
NATURE IS PROTECTED THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Over the past year, the National Parks of Montenegro organised more than 60 educational workshops in which around 4,250 children took part. Through educational programmes, guided tours and awareness-raising campaigns, a culture of responsible behaviour towards nature is being developed. As Director Marinela Đuretić emphasises, national parks are not only protected areas, but also open-air classrooms that help new generations understand the importance of biodiversity and the preservation of natural resources.
What message would you send to the public and to tourists when it comes to responsible behaviour in nature?
My message is simple — enjoy nature, but respect it. The national parks are among Montenegro’s most valuable natural treasures, and each of us has a responsibility to help preserve them. It is enough to observe a few basic rules: do not leave waste, do not disturb animals, do not pick protected plants, and use only marked trails. Seemingly small things can have great significance for the preservation of nature. That is why I call on all visitors to be our partners in protecting nature. Let us leave behind only memories and photographs, and preserve nature just as we found it. Experience the Parks and discover a unique world of original beauty, rich natural and cultural heritage and an attractive tourism offer. We invite you to feel, through an active holiday, the unspoilt wilderness of Montenegro and gradually discover the exceptional values of its protected natural areas.