Montenegro: Sinjajevina – Protecting Montenegro’s living landscape from militarization – European Commons and OECMsArticle by Diana Neacsu in dialogue with Pablo Dominguez
Photo: In the heart of Montenegro, the Sinjajevina mountain range stands as a testament to the enduring bond between people and land, a rare and invaluable common facing an urgent fight for survival. 2019 © Nikola LUČIĆ
A landscape shaped by people and nature
Photos: Sinja(je)vina (Montenegro) © Wake Up Films
The Sinjajevina highlands are a unique combination of limestone mountains and pastoral grasslands, marked by seasonal herding settlements called katuns that belong to eight distinct tribal communities. Each tribe has its own governance structures and traditional land management practices that ensure sustainable use of the land. This form of pastoralism has helped Sinjajevina develop into a biodiversity hotspot and an example of human-nature coexistence. It is now recognized as:
- a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO,
- an Important Plant Area and Emerald site by the Bern convention,
- as well as a future Natura 2000 site by the EU for its ecological corridor value, rare alpine flora and fauna, and especially its value for birds.
Photo: A project to install a military training and weapon testing polygon on a large portion of Sinjajevina’s territory, critically threatens its natural and cultural landscapes and the livelihoods of thousands of people. 2019 © Pablo Domínguez (inset courtesy of Google Earth Engine)
In 2018, a study by the Montenegrin Agency for Nature and Environmental Protection proposed the establishment of a Regional Natural Park for Sinjajevina, reinforcing its ecological importance. However, in a shocking turn of events, the government reversed course, sidelining conservation in favor of militarization. In September 2019, with no environmental, socio-economic or heath impact assessments, and without consulting the local communities, the government announced the creation of a military training ground in the heart of Sinjajevina, against more than 6,000 signatures of Montenegrin citizens, most of which from Sinjajevina. NATO allied forces soon arrived to begin artillery exercises in the region, directly endangering the carefully balanced ecosystems and the cultural heritage built over generations.
Local resistance and the rise of a movement
Photo: Sinja(je)vina (Montenegro) 2019 © Wake Up Films
The government’s decision provoked immediate backlash. Local pastoralists and environmentalists formed a coalition, the Save Sinjajevina Association, to oppose the military plans and request the creation of a protected area co-designed and co-governed by the local communities of Sinjajevina. In October 2020, as news spread of an upcoming NATO military exercise, more than 150 locals set up a protest camp in Sinjajevina’s pastures, blocking access and serving as “human shields” to prevent artillery shelling in their ancestral lands. For over two months, the camp stood as a symbol of resistance, supported by environmental organizations and human rights advocates across Europe.
Photo: © Wake Up Films.
Despite ongoing efforts to protect Sinjajevina, the battle continues. “Sinjajevina is more than our home,” says Gara, an over 60-year-old herder and mother of two children. “It’s our way of life, passed down for generations. We just can’t live without it.” For local pastoralists, this common land is both a cultural legacy and a means of survival, offering food, medicinal plants, and outstanding landscapes for all. Militarization threatens all of this, including potential contamination of critical water sources, such as the Savina Voda lake, and the purity of the renowned mineral springs in the Lipovo valley just under the declared military ground.
Far-reaching implications of militarization
The impact of militarization extends beyond the loss of land or livelihood. If pastoralists are forced to leave Sinjajevina, Montenegro risks losing a cultural and ecological gem shaped by thousands of years of co-adaptation between humans and nature. The local economy, which relies on products like the prized skorup cheese, would suffer greatly, as would the emerging eco-tourism industry, which draws visitors from around the world to experience Sinjajevina’s breathtaking landscapes and traditional culture.
The proposed military site in Sinjajevina represents a threat not only to the local community but to environmental rights and the integrity of the commons. It has galvanized international support, including from the European Parliament, which has urged the Montenegrin government to address environmental violations and protect the rights of its citizens. Sinjajevina’s pastoral ecosystem, essential for carbon storage and climate resilience, demonstrates the ecological importance of traditional practices. Studies show that pastoralist systems like Sinjajevina’s have minimal carbon footprints and may even offset emissions by storing carbon in the soil.
A growing movement for dialogue and preservation
Photo: Sinja(je)vina (Montenegro) 2019 © Nikola LUČIĆ
The Save Sinjajevina campaign has continued to garner support, with a new battery of more than 20,000 signatures collected in 2022 from international supporters, including nearly 100 NGOs worldwide. Campaign organizers have presented their petition to both the Montenegrin government and the EU, calling for the creation of a protected area co-designed and co-managed by local communities. A growing coalition of NGOs, scientists, and policymakers advocates for Sinjajevina’s preservation, highlighting the need for dialogue among the Montenegrin government, local communities, and environmental organizations.
Local activists believe the solution lies in a cooperative approach. “Respecting local communities is a must,” says Laura Zampetti, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro. “If the government won’t meet with the Save Sinjajevina association, we will organize discussions to ensure their voices are heard.” This collaborative approach aligns with international frameworks, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which mandates that indigenous and local communities must have a say in decisions affecting their lands.
The Future of Sinjajevina: A call to action
Photo: New horizons Sinja(je)vina (Montenegro). 2018 © Wake Up Films
The story of Sinjajevina exemplifies the power of local communities in protecting their commons and shaping the future of their landscapes. For the herders of Sinjajevina, this struggle is about more than preserving land; it’s about safeguarding a way of life and mother nature, as some call it. Their resistance has already persuaded government officials to acknowledge the outcry, and has recently led to commitments from Montenegro’s Ministry of Ecology, as well as from the current Prime Minister to consider Sinjajevina’s protected status. Thisgives locals a glimmer of hope. However, until a binding legal framework ensures the area’s protection, the people of Sinjajevina are prepared to continue their resistance.
As Milan Sekulovic, President of the Save Sinjajevina Association, reflects, “We are overwhelmed and proud of the enormous international support we have received. People everywhere realize that destroying Sinjajevina is like destroying Europe’s green heart. As long as we lack legal protections, we will keep fighting.”
Sinjajevina’s defenders stand as an inspiration to communities worldwide, showing the strength of the commons, collective action and the need for policies that respect both people and the planet. They remind us that common lands are more than resources; they are heritage, identity, and a testament to sustainable living. The world is watching Sinjajevina, and with continued solidarity, its people may just be able to preserve this common for generations to come.
Learn more about Sinjajevina here.