Montenegro wildfires threaten NATURA 2000 protected areas

Widespread wildfires are currently affecting multiple regions in Montenegro, including Podgorica, Cetinje, Nikšić, Kolašin, Plužine, Šavnik, and Pljevlja. Emergency services have deployed aircraft from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Montenegrin Army to combat the flames, dropping a total of 125 tons of water in a single day to protect vulnerable areas.

The environmental organization NVO Ozon has reported that the fires in the Nikšić municipality are occurring on or near lands proposed by the government for the NATURA 2000 European network of protected areas. The NGO expressed concern that these fires might be intentionally triggered by interest groups seeking to prevent the implementation of environmental protections that could hinder future investments, such as solar farms.

NVO Ozon has called on the Agency for Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Ecology to conduct a thorough analysis of the fire's consequences and the vulnerability of the candidate areas once the situation stabilizes. They emphasized the need for protective measures to prevent similar occurrences and urged authorities to prioritize public interest and transparently communicate the importance of the NATURA 2000 designation.