Montenegro establishes protected species list amid hunting controversy

Montenegrin Minister of Ecology, Damjan Ćulafić, has issued a decision establishing a list of protected plant, animal, and fungi species. The list includes over one thousand species, such as deer, chamois, wild cats, and bears, intended to clarify the government's stance on biodiversity protection.

This decision follows criticism from the NGO Breznica regarding a new regulation on hunting seasons. The NGO warned that the regulation could lead to ecological collapse and the legalization of poaching by allowing the hunting of species already at biological minimums. Breznica argued that the government's claim of being bound by European Union directives to allow hunting certain species is a misinterpretation of EU standards, specifically noting that the Balkan chamois is a strictly protected subspecies.