Advancing Protected Area Expansion and Management Reforms through EU Integration in Montenegro

Summary (50–75 words)
Montenegro is progressing toward the 30×30 target by expanding its protected area network, improving management standards, and aligning with EU Natura 2000 requirements. Approximately 13 percent of its land and 1.79 percent of marine waters are currently protected. Supported by GEF-7, the country is developing legal, planning, and monitoring tools to strengthen governance and effectiveness, alongside ongoing national mapping of habitats and species to guide future site designations.

Accelerating Conservation Progress in Montenegro

Montenegro has made tangible progress toward achieving the 30×30 target, though further expansion is required to meet the global goal. Currently, around 13 percent of the national territory and less than 2 percent of marine waters fall under formal protection. Over the past two years, the country designated two new Marine Protected Areas and one new terrestrial protected area. However, boundary adjustments to certain existing sites resulted in minor reductions in total coverage, leading to limited net expansion.

To address this, Montenegro is leveraging its EU accession process to accelerate progress toward 30×30. The establishment of the Natura 2000 ecological network is a key driver, with extensive habitat and species mapping underway. By 2025, approximately 76 percent of terrestrial areas and 10 percent of marine area had been surveyed to identify sites of high biodiversity value. Montenegro is mapping the total area of the country (including sea area) in order to receive a high-quality analysis that will help in defining Natura 2000 sites.

On the qualitative side, Montenegro is implementing a GEF-7 project aimed at strengthening the enabling environment for protected area management. This includes drafting a bylaw for Protected Area Management Plans, standardizing planning procedures, and developing guidelines on climate adaptation, participatory governance, biodiversity monitoring, visitor management, and sustainable financing. In 2024, the country established a Coordinating Group for Protected Areas Management to bring together managers of protected areas and marine protected areas, institutions, agencies, local governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders. This mechanism enhances communication, knowledge sharing, and collaborative decision making across the protected area network.

Outcomes and Lessons

Montenegro’s experience shows how EU integration can serve as a catalyst for national conservation reform. The Natura 2000 mapping initiative provides a strong scientific basis for expanding the protected area network, while new legal and technical instruments improve planning and management standards. The establishment of a coordinating body for protected areas marks an important institutional step for fostering cross-sector collaboration. Key lessons

include maintaining steady progress toward EU-aligned conservation goals, ensuring stakeholder participation in planning processes, and integrating biodiversity considerations into broader national development priorities. By linking global commitments with national reforms, Montenegro is strengthening its framework for achieving the 30×30 target.