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Durmitor National Park

Montenegro
Factors affecting the property in 2007*
  • Illegal activities
  • Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Water infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Proposed dam development on the Tara River;

b) Ski development in the Zabljak area;

c) Boundary issues;

d) Illegal logging and hunting.

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2007

Total amount provided to the property: USD 40,000 by UNESCO Venice;

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2007
Requests approved: 4 (from 1981-1988)
Total amount approved : 117,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2007**

UNESCO/IUCN mission 1996 and 2005.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2007

The World Heritage Committee did not examine the report on the state of conservation of the World Heritage property of Durmitor National Park at its 30th session. By its notification of succession dated 26 April 2007, the Republic of Montenegro has become a Party to the World Heritage Convention which is effective from 3 June 2006.

A report on the state of conservation of the property was submitted by the authorities on 31 January 2006. The report reiterated that the Buk Bijela dam project was stopped in 2005 and, following recommendations of both the joint 1996 and 2005 UNESCO/IUCN missions, minor boundary changes were adopted by the Committee in its Decision 29 COM 8B.15, excluding the town of Zabljak from the property.

The report further stated that a number of relevant authorities are working on the implementation of the specific recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission. Ongoing activities include the full implementation of the Physical Plan for the Durmitor Area and the management plan for Durmitor National Park, as well as efforts to prevent illegal activities within the park boundaries such as building, logging and the development of skiing facilities.

Ongoing cooperation with the Municipality of Zabljak is further aimed at controlling future development of the urban area and improving environmental conditions and standards. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning of Montenegro is working on preparatory steps for the ratification of the Aarhus Convention, as encouraged by the Committee in its Decision 29 COM 7B.21, and ratification is expected in 2007. In the future, this Ministry aims to establish stronger transboundary cooperation with relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report also mentions that the Ministry of Economy of Montenegro is at the same time working on a Strategy of Energy Development until 2025 which was to be adopted in 2006. The strategy will include the definition and discussion of alternative energy sources that will not adversely affect Durmitor National Park.

The conservation of the property is governed by the Physical Plan for the Durmitor Area and the management plan for Durmitor National Park for the years 2005-2020, which was adopted for the first five years in December 2004. These plans establish a zoning system and appropriate conservation and development measures. According to the current management plan, logging and hunting activities (with some exceptions) are completely forbidden in the core zones of the National Park. IUCN and UNESCO welcome the progress made in the implementation of recommendations of the 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission.

IUCN noted that increasing demand may lead to the development of further ski facilities. Such ski facilities should only be developed outside the park boundaries and in any case should seek to avoid any adverse impacts on the property. The State Party is encouraged to take into consideration a recent report by the International Ecotourism Society, which strongly recommends that Montenegro not pursue ski tourism and instead concentrate on summer tourism, built around its national parks and mountain towns. A draft Tourism Master Plan for the mountain regions of northern and central Montenegro, including the Durmitor National Park area, has drawn some criticism from UNDP and national and international NGOs such as the International Ecotourism Society. The draft Tourism Master Plan is reportedly being revised by the Government.

The State Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted a report dated 3 May 2006 informing the World Heritage Centre that the Board for Tender for the tender concerning hydro plants (five representatives from the Republika Srpska and five from Montenegro) held a joint session on 27 February 2006 and announced the unsuccessful public announcement for granting a concession for the construction of the hydro power plants of Buk Bijela and Srbinje. The State Party underlined that this confirms the commitment made by the authorities to comply with international standards and their collaboration with the authorities of Montenegro in the preservation of World Heritage.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2007
31 COM 7B.29
Durmitor National Park (Montenegro)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.       Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7B.Add,

2.       Recalling Decision 29 COM 7B.21, adopted at its 29th (Durban, 2005) session,

3.       Welcomes the confirmation by the State Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina that no concession has been granted for the hydro power plants of Buk Bijela and Srbinje;

4.       Notes that progress is being made in the implementation of the recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission;

5.       Urges both States Parties to continue to fully implement all recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission;

6.       Requests the State Party of Montenegro to ensure that no further development of ski facilities or other development that threatens the integrity of the property is allowed within the property;

7.       Also requests the State Party of Montenegro to provide the World Heritage Centre with a copy of the Mangement Plan for Durmitor National Park;

8.       Further requests both States Parties to keep the World Heritage Centre and IUCN informed on progress made in implementing the recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission and of any important changes, particularly those related to tourism development, in the state of conservation of the property.

Draft Decision: 31 COM 7B.29

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7B.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 29 COM 7B.21, adopted at its 29th (Durban, 2005) session,

3. Welcomes the confirmation by the State Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina that no concession has been granted for the hydro power plants of Buk Bijela and Srbinje;

4. Notes that progress is being made in the implementation of the recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission;

5. Urges both States Parties to continue to fully implement all recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission;

6. Requests the State Party of Montenegro to ensure that no further development of ski facilities or other development that threatens the integrity of the property is allowed within the property;

7. Also requests the State Party of Montenegro to provide the World Heritage Centre with a copy of the Mangement Plan for Durmitor National Park;

8. Further requests both States Parties to keep the World Heritage Centre and IUCN informed on progress made in implementing the recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission and of any important changes, particularly those related to tourism development, in the state of conservation of the property.

Report year: 2007
Montenegro
Date of Inscription: 1980
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(viii)(x)
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 31COM (2007)
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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