Podgorica, (MINA) – The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North (MERS) has entered the final phase of establishing the Natura 2000 ecological network, which will soon be submitted to the European Commission (EC) for alignment and consideration, said Minister Damjan Culafic.

According to MERS’s press release, he assessed that this is one of the most important steps that Montenegro has made in the field of nature protection since declaring itself an ecological state.

Culafic said that once the Natura 2000 ecological network is established, the Government will be able to say that it has achieved results that represent the biggest institutional progress in the last three and a half decades in the field of ecology, nature protection and fulfillment of obligations under Chapter 27.

According to Culafic, the establishment of the Natura 2000 network represents an opportunity for Montenegro to plan for the long-term preservation of its extraordinary natural wealth, but also to promote sustainable use of those resources for long-term economic development of the country.

“Therefore, this is an ideal opportunity for Montenegro as a state to lay the foundations for a new long-term development plan of the country, but ensuring the maximum level of preservation of our most valuable natural areas”, said Culafic.

He recalled that around 15 percent of Montenegro’s territory is currently under protection, while a much larger percentage of its land and sea will be covered through the Natura 2000 network.

Culafic pointed out that MERS, alongside its legislative activities, will continue to strengthen administrative and professional capacities in the field of nature protection, as well as to intensify the process of harmonizing national legislation with the EU acquis within the Chapter 27 framework.