The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has, after the meeting in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), highlighted serious concerns regarding the possible impacts of the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Komarnica River on the Durmitor National Park, which is part of the World Natural Heritage.
UNESCO called on the state of Montenegro to carefully assess the potential consequences of the project on the exceptional universal value of this area, especially taking into account the possible future extension of that protected area to the Dragišnica and Komarnica Nature Park, which was proposed by UNESCO.
According to UNESCO, if it is determined that the construction of a hydroelectric power plant could result in negative impacts on the OUV, the design may be approved.
– This can be understood in a different way. Namely, the Elaborate on environmental impact assessment, which was finalized and put up for public discussion at the beginning of 2022, already showed that the construction of the HPP on the Komarnica River would have many irreversible negative effects on the nature of the area, and for many of the negative impacts described, the Elaborate clearly emphasizes that there are no so-called mitigation measures for those impacts, which raises serious questions about the justification of the project.
This fact already points to the fact that the HPP on the Komarnica River should not be built, which is additionally warned by the UNESCO Committee – it was announced from the organization Spasimo Komarnicu.
They note that the projected hydroelectric power plant on the Komarnica River has already caused concern regarding its impact on ecosystems, biodiversity, and even on the social aspect of the population, and UNESCO warns that these concerns should be carefully considered before proceeding with any steps in to the project.
UNESCO at the world level has only 227 areas that are part of the World Natural Heritage and Montenegrin Durmitor is one of them. Fulfilling UNESCO’s recommendations is essential for Montenegro because it enables the country to position itself as a responsible guardian of World Heritage, thereby opening the door for international support, investment and cooperation.
Rejecting those recommendations, in addition to the catastrophic consequences for nature, can have serious consequences for the integrity and long-term development of the country, and seriously threaten the reputation of Montenegro on the European and world stage.
The choice is clear: act responsibly towards current and future generations and reap the benefits or ignore the recommendations and face long-term consequences – they say in Spasimo Komarnicu.
Montenegro business destination. Don’t go there, live there.Â
