International tourism authorities have repeatedly confirmed that Montenegrin katuns are not merely seasonal mountain settlements, but a “living system of knowledge, skills, customs, and the relationship between man and nature,” which has shaped our landscapes, identity, and rural communities.
Published in: Monitor.me
Finally, in this year, which is marked globally as the Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, the katuns in the north have entered with national protection status. Prior to this, at one of the world’s most important tourism fairs, FITUR in Spain, the project “A Glimpse into Montenegro Wild Beauty: Katun Roads” won the prestigious award for the best active tourism product in the international category.
Montenegro is preparing to submit a nomination for the katuns to be included in the GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems) list of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). If the process is successful, the katuns would find themselves on the list of globally significant agricultural heritage systems, creating the conditions for prospective UNESCO protection, as have Austria, Greece, Italy, and Albania.
GIAHS sites represent areas where local communities have, over centuries, developed specific agricultural methods in harmony with natural conditions. Unlike many other forms of heritage protection, GIAHS sites are so-called “living landscapes,” meaning that agricultural activities within them are still actively practiced.
According to FAO data, there are currently more than a hundred GIAHS systems spread across dozens of countries worldwide. Examples include the rice-fish agricultural system in China, traditional terraced agricultural systems in the Peruvian Andes, and terraced lemon cultivation on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The program contributes to preserving traditional practices, protecting biodiversity, and strengthening the rural economy.
The fact that the “izdig” (the seasonal movement to mountain pastures) has been declared a national intangible cultural asset of Montenegro is seen by the Regional Development Agency (RDA) for Bjelasica, Komovi, and Prokletije as the fruit of the collective work of herders, institutions, and organizations who understand the value of living heritage.
At the initiative of the RDA and the Association for Rural Tourism, the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Properties developed a study confirming that the “izdig” meets all criteria to be declared an asset of national importance. “This represents the first comprehensive institutional confirmation that katuns are a complex system of natural, agricultural, and cultural heritage,” says the RDA.
Unlike most EU countries where this practice has almost died out, there are about 1,300 households in Montenegro that still practice the “izdig.” However, of the more than 1,200 mapped on old charts, only about 400 are active today. This is a consequence of the shortage of young herders and the abandonment of traditional mountain life.
Depopulation and Infrastructure: The construction of new roads, while improving accessibility, simultaneously contributes to degradation. Better access facilitates the arrival of individuals who misuse the right to the “izdig” or purchase land for other purposes. Paradoxical situations arise where cottage owners are disturbed by the presence of livestock in areas traditionally intended for animal husbandry.
Administrative Barriers: Although herders produce high-quality products, illogicalities arise in practice. For instance, herders must meet technical requirements like installing ceramic tiles in processing rooms to qualify for subsidies. “Transporting materials to inaccessible katuns without electricity is extremely expensive and changes the character of production. Ceramic tiles seem completely unnatural in an environment based on simplicity,” the RDA states.
The victory of “Katun Roads” at the Spanish tourism fair highlighted how this route allows visitors to discover wild beauty and encounter local traditions. Similarly, the publication “Mountain Table” (Gorska trpeza) won international acclaim, including a showcase at the Alfred Nobel Museum in Sweden.
Although Montenegrin katuns are gaining international attention, this visibility is not enough to ensure their survival. Without strategic state support, an increase in the number of herders, and the creation of optimal conditions for the return of younger generations, the survival of the katuns remains under threat.
Dragana Šćepanović
