Podgora proclaimed as a first eco village

Project “Count down until 2010” is being carried out by numerous ecological organizations from BiH, Serbia, and Montenegro following the sustainable development of several villages in these states. Their choice, along with the help of local people this time is Podgora, a village north from Zabljak located on the edge of the National Park “Durmitor” and the canyon of Tara.

In the center of the village on the crossroad and in front of the panel with the road directions towards the marked tracks which take funs of nature to many sightseeing places over the canyon of Tara, which is under the dual protection of UNESCO, yesterday numerous local people and guests were gathered.

The president of the “Most”” Sinisa Stevovic reminded that this village had a school, a library, cultural artistic association and famous craftsmen in 1936.
- Starting from today we have local people who have understood the advantages of an eco village. They have contributed to promotion of their area as a sustainable tourist attraction and harmony of life with nature by the principles of sustainable development. Today we have local people who are offering accommodation, and soon we will have here first certified agricultural manufacturers. I hope that soon we will enable people to come back here, to live well, to take care and improve the village. We have to work in a planned way, preserve the springs, flora and fauna, arrange the wells, put in function the school again and the youth home, but also we have to preserve our tradition and avoid the mass tourism and wild construction – said Stevovic, and pointed out that many Durmitor and Montenegrin villages have potentials to become a part of the unique network and a special brand.

Those present were greeted and congratulated on this pioneer attempt by the advisor in the Government’s office for sustainable development PhD Silvia Droves, the vice president of the Municipality of Mojkovac and the representative of the Mojkovac NGO’s “Planinar” and MAC “Dzambas” Stevan Grdinic, the president of the Mountain association of Montenegro Brano perovic, and the president of LC Podgora Mirko Stevovic.
The column of those preset went over the eco path towards the sightseeing places. Straight from there you have a beautiful sight on several kilometers of the flow of River Tara, on the entire canyon of its right tributary Draga, and on the panorama of the villages in that area.

O.P.