Podgorica, (MINA) – The Government has adopted the proposal for the establishment of the environmental network Natura 2000 in Montenegro, which represents one of the country’s key obligations under the closing benchmark for Chapter 27- Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North (MERS) announced.

MERS added that the proposal was adopted on the recommendation of Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North Damjan Culafic.

“The establishment of the Natura 2000 network involves identification and designation of areas that provide adequate protection of species and habitats of importance to the EU, in line with the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive”, Culafic said.

According to him, it was the result of decades of research and data collection on species and habitats in both the terrestrial and marine areas of Montenegro. 

Culafic stressed that the proposed network includes 58 proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCI), 33 Special Protection Areas (SPA) for birds and seven marine sites of Community Importance, adding that the total terrestrial and marine area covered by the Natura 2000 amounts to 44.15% of Montenegro’s territory.