Montenegrin National Land Coalition gains support
On July 12th, the scenic high pastures of Sinjajevina mountain in Montenegro hosted the annual "Katun" (Montenegrin Commons) gathering, organized by the Civic Initiative Save Sinjajevina to mark Petrovdan Day. This event brought together approximately 150 participants from across the region, including international volunteers from France, Ukraine, and Russia.
ABOUT THE EVENT
This annual gathering is held to celebrate and protect land rights and cultural heritage in Sinjajevina. The Save Sinjajevina Civic Initiative, with the support of ILC- EMENA, has recently started facilitating a Montenegrin National Land Coalition based on a strategy developed to align with the vision of pastoralists and farmers organizing to preserve their tenure rights and heritage through “katun” protection and promotion all across the country.
A brand new network of grassroots organizations, public administrations and other national and international stakeholders is being built within the brand new NLC. The purpose is to engage in the long term to protect and promote the social, cultural, and ecosystem heritage represented by the communities living in and depending on the Katuns systems.
AMPLIFYING COMMUNITY VOICES
During the gathering, Milan Sekulovic, President of the Civic Initiative Save Sinjajevina, endorsed the Montenegrin ILC National Land Coalition. He celebrated the coalition for safeguarding the cherished "Katun territories across Sinjajevina and throughout Montenegro, with a focus on promoting land rights at national scale”.
The gathering, spearheaded by the Civic Initiative Save Sinjajevina, underscored the importance of community engagement in preserving traditions and fostering unity in protecting Sinjajevina's cultural heritage and rich biodiversity. Attendees concluded with a communal walk and discussions on land tenure rights for the inhabitants of Sinjajevina and the rest of the country.