Restoration of fire-affected areas in Piperi has been launched
The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development organised an operation to remove burnt and dead trees and to clear the terrain in Piperi.
This activity represents an announcement of future steps within the “Green Restoration of Montenegro” mechanism, through which fire-affected areas designated for planting will be systematically managed – using both traditional methods and drone-based seeding. The aim is to revitalise more than 1,000,000 m² of fire-affected land in Piperi and Kuči in the initial phase.
A specific segment relates to the restoration of orchards and vineyards.
It is important to note that the “Green Restoration of Montenegro” is being implemented within the framework of the largest national environmental campaign, “Čuvaj da te čuva”, launched and led by the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro and the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development.
The Ministry’s partners on this project include the Capital City, the “Let’s Green Montenegro” initiative, the Volunteer Firefighting Association of Montenegro, and the NGO KOD, with expert support from the Biotechnical Faculty and the Forest Administration.
Financial support is provided by the Eco Fund and by the initiative's general sponsor and donor, Jugopetrol AD.
The Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, Johann Sattler, stated that less than a year after the devastating fires, Montenegro is demonstrating that the strength of unity does not end with a crisis, but grows into a long-term commitment to preserving nature and life.
Copyright: Evropska kuća
“The ‘Green Restoration of Montenegro’ initiative, within the ‘Čuvaj da te čuva’ campaign, is a powerful example of how solidarity can be transformed into tangible results and lasting change for future generations,” said Sattler.
The Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, Damjan Ćulafić, said that they are making use of the fine spring weather to continue the national environmental campaign, “Čuvaj da te čuva”, and to launch sub-activities that were announced last year following the major fires in this part of Montenegro.
“This sub-activity will be called ‘Green Restoration of Montenegro’, and I would truly like to thank the entire team, primarily the Delegation of the European Union, as well as my team within the Ministry, for enabling such an idea to begin today and, of course, to develop further,” said the Minister.
According to him, the Ministry plans to carry out several successive actions in Piperi.
“First and foremost, five successive operations to clean fire-affected areas and eight successive tree-planting actions, with the aim of restoring the forest stock that was unfortunately destroyed last year following the devastating fires, which tragically also claimed an innocent life,” the Minister stated.
He expressed satisfaction that environmental protection activities in Montenegro are becoming increasingly dynamic and that the coalition of willing participants is growing.
The Minister added that in Montenegro, awareness of environmental protection is increasing. He stated that environmental protection isn’t the responsibility of a single institution or individual, but requires the engagement of the broadest social and political community.
“I am very pleased, both personally and as the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, as our campaign is not merely a marketing effort aimed at raising public awareness, but a set of real activities undertaken to protect and improve our natural environment, through concrete work on the ground”, the Minister concluded.
