The Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije participated from November 20 to 22 at the final MED GIAHS conference in Trevi (Italy), together with all project partners, as well as representatives of the Association of Rural Households of Montenegro, who represented the rural tourism sector at the event.
This event, which included the Final Conference of the project, the fifth Steering Committee meeting, the fourth interregional seminar and the third field visit, was an opportunity to present results, exchange experiences and define the next steps in the development of the agricultural heritage systems of the Mediterranean.
One of the most significant moments of the conference was the official presentation of the MED GIAHS network, a joint network dedicated to strengthening the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems-GIAHS sites in the Mediterranean region. The network was presented as a space for cooperation, joint planning and the development of common methodologies that will enable all existing and potential GIAHS areas to achieve stronger development. On this occasion, the key documents of the network were presented: the strategy for sustainable rural tourism in MED GIAHS areas, the joint catalogue of sustainable rural tourism, the guidelines for the preparation of action plans, as well as the joint training plan and accompanying guide.
Representatives of different Mediterranean areas shared experiences from their communities, emphasizing the importance of the new network as a mechanism for preserving and improving the agricultural, cultural and landscape identity of the Mediterranean. Representatives of the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije pointed out that the project has special importance for the katuns of Montenegro, as it supports the application process for the GIAHS list, and contributes to connecting traditional agriculture, local identity and the development of rural tourism through international cooperation and knowledge exchange.
The final part of the event was also dedicated to field visits to historical olive groves and agricultural estates in Trevi and Assisi, which enabled participants to directly observe the values of the living agricultural heritage that the MED GIAHS network seeks to preserve and improve. The Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije continues to actively contribute to the project and strengthen Montenegro’s role in the network of Mediterranean GIAHS territories, with the hope that the katuns of Montenegro will soon be officially included on the GIAHS list, thereby further supporting sustainable development, visibility and resilience of Montenegro’s rural communities.
