Durmitor National Park

• Construction of a dam on the Tara river (issue resolved)
• Construction of an asphalt plant and the resulting water pollution (issue resolved)
• Fire in June 1995 
• Uncontrolled expansion of the village
• Adjacent development of a large sport facility 
• Mine tailing threat to the Tara River Canyon

A mission in 1996, reviewed the state of conservation of the site and the damage to the Park headquarters building in Zabljak, caused by a fire in 1995 which destroyed library and reference collections. At its twentieth session (Merida, 1996), the Committee commended the Park authorities for rapidly reconstructing and completely refurbishing the building to make it operational. The Committee however was concerned about the unplanned and uncontrolled expansion of the village of Zabljak and adjacent developments and requested clarification regarding the boundary adjustments under consideration. With regard to international assistance provided from the Fund to mitigate the mine tailings threat to the Tara River Canyon portion of the World Heritage site, the Committee considered an engineering evaluation of the earthen containment structures built within the earthquake prone flood plains. The Committee also invited the State Party to encourage the Director of the Park to participate in network and training efforts with other World Heritage site managers in the region. At the time of the preparation of this document a response from the State Party to the Committee's concerns and suggestions is awaited.

The Bureau, based on additional information that may be available at the time of its meeting may recommend appropriate actions to the consideration of the State Party and of the Committee.


21st extraordinary session of the Bureau in 1997:
The Bureau, at its twenty-first ordinary session held in June 1997, had requested the Park management to submit, before 15 September 1997, a map showing the proposed modification of the Park's boundaries to excise a 40 ha. area around the village of Zabljak, which had already been approved by the Government of the Republic of Montenegro. Furthermore, the Bureau had sought clarification from the Park authorities on whether they considered that an engineering evaluation of the earthen containment structures in the flood plains of the Tara River was needed and expressed its concerns regarding plans for tapping the hydropower potential of the Tara River and requested more information on such plans.

The Bureau requested the Centre to contact the Park authorities to obtain information, before 1 May 1998, with regard to all of the concerns raised by the Bureau.

The Bureau, at its twenty-first ordinary session held in June 1997, had requested the Park management to submit, before 15 September 1997, a map showing the proposed modification of the Park's boundaries to excise a 40 ha area around the village of Zabljak; this proposed modification had already been approved by the Government of the Republic of Montenegro. Furthermore, the Bureau sought clarification from the Park authorities on whether they considered that an engineering evaluation of the earthen containment structures in the flood plains of the Tara River was needed. In addition, the Bureau expressed its concerns regarding plans for tapping the hydropower potential of the Tara River and suggested that more information on such plans be submitted to the Committee session in December 1997. The response of the Park authorities to all the requests of the Bureau, outlined above, is awaited.

The Bureau may wish to examine information that may be available at the time of its session and take appropriate action thereupon.