Steering Committee meeting

The meeting of the steering committee took place on November 11th. Emphases of the meeting have been reporting results of the SPF project implementation and approval of some new projects.

Opening ceremony of the mountain hut Krivi do

The ceremony of opening of the mountain hut Krivi do took place on the Bjelasica Mountain on October 1st. 

Mayor of the municipality Andrijevica Mr. Veselin Bakic, Austrian Ambassador Mr. Florian Raunig, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection Mr. Zoran Duletic and Director of the Austrian Montenegrin Cooperation Project Mrs. Doris Pollet Kammerlander addressed the auditorium.

More than 100 guests followed the ceremony, and visited the new premises of the mountain hut.

Notice:

Local team has new addresses.

Office- office@bjelasica-komovi.co.me 
Gorica Bojić - bojic@bjelasica-komovi.co.me
Vladimir Jablan - jablan@bjelasica-komovi.co.me
Ivan Mališić - malisic@bjelasica-komovi.co.me
Gojko Cimbaljević - cimbaljevic@bjelasica-komovi.co.me
Monika Stanić Orović - stanic@bjelasica-komovi.co.me

How to travel by public transport in the region of Bjelasica & Komovi

A little guidebook “How to travel by  public transport in the Bjelasica
and Komovi region” including time tables of bus and train has been published.  Tourists could use a variety of means of public transport to discover the mountains of Bjelasica and Komovi.
This guide should help to find their way around; it is also a contribution to all endeavors in supporting sustainability by using diverse environmentally friendly means of transportations.

The guide and timetables are available at the tourism organizations in the region of Bjelasica and Komovi.

Download guidebook “How to travel by public transport in the Bjelasica and Komovi region”.
Download time table.

The promotion of regional products of Bjelasica and Komovi

The promotion of regional products of Bjelasica and Komovi(honey, dried herbs, dried fruit, and handicraft items) has continued during the manifestation „Days of Bjelasica“, held on summer mountain settlement Bardov Do, municipality of Bijelo Polje, on Saturday, August 2.

These three products are in continuity being displayed together, symbolizing the „package“ of organic agricultural production and handicraft, already recognized as future brand of the region of Bjelasica and Komovi. / Read more - photo gallery /

Promotion of new projects in the National Park Lovćen

On Tuesday July 22nd, the promotion of projects in the National Park Lovćen took place. Deputy Director of National Parks of Montenegro Mr. Dragan Dragićević, Austrian Ambassador Mr. Florian Raunig and the Director of a visitor center in Ivanova Korita Ms. Mira Uskokovć addressed the auditorium. The hiking map Lovćen and the hiking guide booklet for the Loćcen Mountain has been presented; also the educational trail for kids with different stations full of surprises have been opened during the promotional ceremony.

Energy efficiency in Montenegro

The conference on "Energy efficiency in Montenegro – state and activities regarding energy efficiency in Montenegro" took place in Kolasin on May 24th. More than 40 representatives from municipalities and architecture or construction companies from North of Montenegro followed the conference. The Ministry of Economic Development, the Austrian Montenegrin partnership for Bjelasica and Komovi, CHF International and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) invited to this event – the first on such issue in Montenegro.

New infrastructure facilities in the NP Biogradska Gora

On Wednesday June 25th, the opening ceremony for the new infrastructure facilities in the National Park Biogradska Gora took place. Deputy Director of National Parks of Montenegro Mr. Dragan Dragicevic, Austrian Ambassador Mr. Florian Raunig, Deputy Chief of US Mission, Mrs. Arlene Ferrill, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection Mr. Zoran Duletic and the director of the NP Biogradska Gora Mr. Darko Brajuskovic, addressed the auditorium.

More than 100 guests followed the ceremony, and visited the new premises of the visitor center, the bungalows, the home of the rangers, the fish hatchery, the thematic educational trail and the enlarged souvenir shop. All these facilities will complete the scale of different offers for leisure time in the National Park.

A friendship football match

On Saturday, May 24th, a friendship football match between a group of architects and planners from Graz/Austria and the team of the Austrian-Montenegrin Partnership for Bjelasica and Komovi took place in Kolasin.

The team of the Austrian-Montenegrin Partnership for Bjelasica and Komovi was composed of mayors, deputy mayors, the national park director, people of the local project team and the various working groups.

Austrian ambassador in Montenegro, Mr. Florian Raunig together with the director of the national park Biogradska Gora, Darko Brajuskovic, and the director of the development project/ Austrian-Montenegrin Partnership for Bjelasica and Komovi, Ms Doris Pollet-Kammerlander, opened the match.

The game was uncertain until the very last minute. But at the end, the Montenegrins as the team of the Austrian-Montenegrin partnership could celebrate their result with 5:3. The skipper of the Montenegrin team took officially the Cup of Bjelasica & Komovi.

Climbing

It has been the initiative of Daniel Vinceg, the senior mountaineer and explorer of the Bjelasica flora, to develop a certain place in the vicinity of the town Kolasin for climbing. So the municipality of Kolasin together with the NGO “Natura” and the Austrian-Montenegrin Partnership realized that project.

Supported by five professional climbers from Austria, the members of NGO “Natura” installed 30 different routes of various levels of difficulty (for beginners and experienced climbers) on two rocks, which are very attractive also for people without any exercise.

On Saturday, May 24th, the official opening took place with a demonstration of climbing at the location named Biocinovici, 2.5km far away from the center of Kolašin. Almost one hundred people followed this demonstration, and interested ones had the opportunity to try the climbing.
In June, a training course for climbers will be organized.

English language courses

English language courses for advanced participants will start again in March 2008. The courses take place in four municipalities, and will go until end of June 2008.

Steering Committee meeting

The meeting of the steering committee took place on March 4th. Emphases of the meeting have been reporting on implementation of the projects approved in 2007, and approval of new projects for 2008..

Forth seminar for hiking and national park guides in Zabljak

In cooperation with the Mountaineering Association of Montenegro, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection, the last of four seminars for hiking and national park guides took place. It was held at Durmitor mountain, from February 7 - 10. The training program corresponds to the program in Austria and Alpine countries. The training seminar is implemented by VAVO (Verband Alpiner Vereine Österreichs). For this seminar, the focus was laid on winter tours, such as snow shoe hiking and on lectures about tour planning in snow, orientation in winterly conditions and how to preventing avalanches.

Ten participants passed successfully all four training seminar, and got the certificate of the Austrian umbrella organization of Alpine Clubs. This certificate will also provide the precondition for getting licenses as hiking guides when appropriate legislation in Montenegro is prepared for.

Contract for the pilot project in Bijelo Polje has been signed

The contract for the pilot project of local sustainable development in Bijelo Polje have been signed; cleaning and revitalization of the River Bistrica, including publishing a map will be supported.

Working group “National Trail Network” defined hiking and mountain biking trails

In December 2007 in a 3days meeting, the working group “National Trail Network” defined hiking and mountain biking trails, which will be the backbone of the trail network throughout Montenegro.
National and international experts agreed on identifying focus regions in hiking and biking development; one along the coastal transversal “Orijen –Lovcen – Rumija” and another one along the “CT-1 – Veruša – Komovi – Bjelasica – Sinjajevina – Durmitor”. 
As a part of these focus regions are places where  the Austrian Montenegrin Partnership is active already, we gladlysupport further efforts in marking and signposting in regions as Bjelasica,  Komovi, Sinjajevina and Lovćen.

Study trip to the Nordic ski centre...

Four representatives of the B & K region followed the invitation of the “ARGE Wechselland“ to have study trip the Nordic ski centre “Wechseland” in Lower Austria.  This region in Austria shows a very similar situation like someone can find in B & K region. It was a good opportunity to see the examples of best practice, and compare the possibilities, and implement experiences in developing of the Nordic skiing offer in the region of Bjelasica and Komovi.
The visit provided us with a first hand insight into the infrastructure needed for development and maintenance of Nordic trails, organization of tourist information, possibilities for private/public partnership in financing the development of a ski resort, cooperation and volunteer work of all stakeholders in the region, popularisation of winter sport activities among children through ski schools, and a holistic approach in development, much needed in our region.

Study trip of Montenegrin national parks to Austria

Director of National Parks of Montenegro together with a group of national park servants – in charge for info centres – visited Austrian national parks of Kalkalpen and Donauauen, and the nature park Eisenwurzen in order to learn about services of info centres in Austria. One representative of the Ministry of Environment and a team of State TV also joined the group.

Third seminar for hiking and national park guides in Žabljak

In cooperation with the Mountaineering Association of Montenegro, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection, the third of four seminars for hiking and national park guides took place. It was held at Durmitor mountain, from October 31 – to November 3. The training program corresponds to the program in Austria and Alpine countries. The training seminar is implemented by VAVO (Verband Alpiner Vereine Österreichs).

Second seminar for hiking and national park guides in Andrijevica

In cooperation with the Mountaineering Association of Montenegro, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection, the second of four seminars for hiking and national park guides took place. It was held at the Eco Katun Stavna, from October 10 - 13. The training program corresponds to the program in Austria and Alpine countries. The training seminar is implemented by VAVO (Verband Alpiner Vereine Österreichs).

Contract for the pilot project in Kolašin has been signed

The contract for the pilot project of local sustainable development for Kolašin has been signed. The lightening and restoration of Dulovine promenade will be supported.

Contracts for projects in the NP Biogradska Gora have been signed

Contracts for following projects in the NP Biogradska Gora have been signed: Reconstruction of the Info center, reconstruction of the fish hatchery, and reconstruction of a shelter for the rangers and refurbishment of the bungalows. All construction work should be finished till June 2008.

Opening ceremony of the RTO building

The ceremony of opening building of the Regional Tourism Organisation took place in Kolašin on October 16.  The ceremony was very well received by media of Montenegro; around 100 guests followed the ceremony.

First seminar for hiking and national park guides in Kolašin

In cooperation with the Mountaineering Association of Montenegro, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection, the first of four seminars for hiking and national park guides took place. It was held at Vranjak in the mountaineering hut Bjelasica, from September 5th – 8th. The training program corresponds to the program in Austria and Alpine countries. The training seminar is implemented by VAVO (Verband Alpiner Vereine Österreichs).

Hiking trails marked and signposted

In cooperation with the RTO of Bjelasica & Komovi, marking and signposting of hiking trails in the region of Bjelasica & Komovi could be finished. Together with local mountaineering associations, the most attractive trails have been selected and been equipped according to the standards of the Mountaineering Association of Montenegro:

• trails have been marked
• 70 signpost have been set up according to Alpine standards
• 20 information boards have been installed at the starting point of every hiking trail

“The Mountains of Bjelasica – A Mountaineering Guide”

In cooperation with the RTO, a mountaineering guide for the Bjelasica mountain has been published. The author Markus Stöckl is an experienced and excellent travel writer. In the booklet you find precise descriptions of the most wonderful hiking trails in the Bjelasica Mountain. The guidebook is available for 3 euros in all local tourism organisations and national parks.

Contracts for pilot projects of local sustainable development have been signed

The contracts for Andrijevica and Berane concerning their pilot projects of local sustainable development have been signed. In Berane, a project for revitalisation of the natural and historical sight of Jasikovac including the construction of a jogging trail will be supported. In Andrijevica, activities for upgrading the Eco Katun Stavna will be supported.

Austrian kayak professionals in the North of Montenegro

A group of Austrian kayak professionals conducted their second assessment about the potential of kayaking in the North of Montenegro.

 Trend sport activities

A workshop on trend sport activities in the region of Bjelasica & Komovi took place from June 7th-9th. The workshop was very well visited by various groups of interested people, tour operators and sportsmen. There is a great potential for mountain biking, kayaking and other trend sport activities, and specific programs will be developed.

Seven German-speaking tour operators visited Montenegro

At the invitation of the Austrian-Montenegrin Partnership and the National Tourism Organization, seven German-speaking tour operators – specialized for hiking tours – visited Montenegro for a familiarization tip.  The program of the trip brought the tour operators to the mountains of Lovcen, Sinjavinja, Bjelasica and Komovi; also a rafting tour in the Tara Canyon was included. The program was finished by a workshop, where all seven tour operators showed serious interest in developing and providing Montenegro programs to their receipients.

Steering Committee meeting

The Steering Committee meeting of the Austrian Montenegrin cooperation project took place on June 8th. The emphases of the meeting have been the approval of projects supported by the Small Project Fund. Also the progress of development of the Bjelasica & Komovi region has been discussed and noticed.