The Regional Development Agency (RDA), in cooperation with the Association of Rural Households of Montenegro, launched a strategic initiative to include Montenegrin katuns in the GIAHS network (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems).
International Significance
At a recently held online workshop, key stakeholders from various sectors analyzed the potential for obtaining this prestigious status, following the decision of the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Heritage to safeguard the tradition of seasonal migration to katuns as intangible cultural heritage.
Workshop Focus
Special attention was given to katun architecture and cultural landscape elements. Discussions highlighted the authenticity of huts built from stone and wood, traditional roofing materials such as shingles, and the need to protect these structures from inadequate interventions.
Katuns are an inseparable part of Montenegro’s cultural identity – a blend of nature, tradition, and sustainable agriculture.
Support and Participants
The initiative is carried out with the support of the FAO/EBRD program, with participation from numerous experts and institutions: GIAHS Secretariat, FAO REU section (Aurelie Fernandez, Clelia Maria Puzzo, Carolina Starr), Nemanja Grgić (EBRD), as well as domestic experts Aleksandra Kapetanović (Expeditio), Jelena Krivčević (RDA BKP), Biljana Božović (NTO), Maja Kovačević (Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism), and representatives of the Mountaineering Association, academia, and the private sector.
The process is long-term but essential for katuns to gain international recognition and support as unique systems combining nature, tradition, and sustainable agriculture.
