Montenegrin forests - a warehouse without a key or a lock

A forest is like a warehouse without a key or a lock, guarded by those who take for themselves whatever they need, because no one protects or supervises it, a group of citizens from Rožaje told Portal ETV, emphasizing that proof of their claims is last year’s tender for the sale of standing timber, by which, they claim, the state lost more than 3-4 million euros.

- And nothing happened. Thousands of cubic meters were sold instead of dry wood for firewood. Raw forest was cut, more than 50 percent of it. It was not recorded, it was treated as someone’s personal property - the citizens of Rožaje say angrily.

MORE THAN 500,000 CUBIC METERS OF DRIED TREES

They called on all members of the Montenegrin Parliament to react to this devastation, especially those from the Bosniak Party, because, as they say, they know very well what is happening to the forests of Rožaje.

- Today, when the forest has been infected by insects and largely looted, individuals who were responsible for taking care of it and ordering rehabilitation measures in the early stages of the infestation are now publicly saying that someone from politics or the profession is to blame… And nothing happens - warn the interlocutors of Portal ETV.

Forests in Rožaje are being cut even in the so-called urban zone.

They repeat earlier claims that the Forest Administration „gave timber to some, sold it to others, and it all circulated around and ended up in their pockets, all under the pretext of helping citizens“.

- The forests are state-owned, they have been destroyed, why don’t you schedule a special session in Parliament or at least include one agenda item on this issue? So that people can hear and see what has been done there. Our claims that the forests are destroyed are also confirmed by criminal complaints filed against individuals from the Forest Administration. Forests have been devastated in all municipalities, especially in Rožaje and Berane, and the wood-processing industry has been destroyed, leaving a large number of workers without jobs. We import furniture from Kosovo, while exporting raw timber to Kosovo. Imagine where this is leading us, and again - nothing happens – say the citizens of Rožaje.

They warn that there are more than 500,000 cubic meters of dried trees in Montenegrin forests, most of which are infected by bark beetles.

- Summer is approaching, and the risk of fires is increasing, yet again nothing happens. No one reacts. We demand the formation of a state commission that would visit all forests in Montenegro and establish the factual situation, to finally stop claims that citizens are reacting for political or other reasons. Municipal commissions should also be formed, and rehabilitation plans and measures must be urgently prepared. What about the new state-owned enterprise? While waiting for it to be established, companies are collapsing, workers are losing their jobs, pellet production has almost stopped… Who benefits from this situation? There is an old saying - when someone robs another, people say „he dried him out“. In the case of Montenegrin forests - they have not only been destroyed and looted, they have literally dried out - conclude the citizens who addressed Portal ETV.

The condition of forests in Montenegro is alarming, they are disappearing before everyone’s eyes, but appeals, primarily from residents of forest-rich areas, remain unanswered. So far, their voice has only been heard by State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Andrija Delić and Head of the Forestry Directorate Ranko Kankaraš. However, they lack support from the ministry led by Minister Vladimir Joković and from the Government. The two of them have independently entered into a fight against the forestry mafia and have so far filed multiple criminal complaints against current and former officials and employees of the Forest Administration.

OBSTRUCTION OF THE STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISE

The start of operations of the state-owned enterprise for forest management „Montenegro Forests“, established by the Government last year, is also being obstructed. So far, the only step taken has been the appointment of the Board of Directors. The company has still not been registered, and unofficial sources previously warned about the composition of the Board, where four out of five members are from Pljevlja, and almost all are in serious conflicts of interest due to family, godparent, and business ties.

As previously reported, the composition of the Board of Directors of „Montenegro Forests“ was also strongly criticized by the President of the Municipal Assembly of Rožaje, Almir Avdić, due to the fact that there was no place for a representative from that town in this governing body.

- Rožaje is among the most forest-rich areas in the Balkans. As much as 70% of the revenue from our forests belongs to our municipality. Our economy and development have relied precisely on this resource. Generations of citizens have lived from forestry and wood processing. Today, when a company is being formed to manage that resource, Rožaje is completely excluded from the decision-making process - he warned, announcing that he would request an explanation from the Government on the criteria used to exclude Rožaje from the Board of Directors.

Portal ETV asked the Government and the Ministry led by Vladimir Joković about the criteria for selecting Board members of the state enterprise that will manage forests, and whether they were aware of family, godparent, and business connections among them, as well as whether they believe these members can set aside personal interests and make decisions in the public interest. They also asked why there are no representatives from other northern municipalities on the Board, but received no answers.

A complaint has also been submitted to the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption regarding suspected conflicts of interest in the Board of Directors of „Montenegro Forests“. The institution told Portal ETV that a case has been opened and that the public will be informed of the outcome.