A trip to the underdeveloped north of Montenegro takes you through some of the most beautiful mountainous forest areas in Europe. In this region an estimated 60,000 private forest owners, who are often small subsistence farmers, live. They own one third of the total forest area of Montenegro; an important resource that offers significant economic opportunities. Until recently, private forest owners were not organized and isolated from any decision making related to the management of their property. It was felt that joining forces would serve the interests of the predominantly poor mountainous farmers and forest owners, making them important players at local and national level regarding policies, laws, strategy, and issues related to forest management. SNV assisted in the process of forming local associations.

Key local actors:
Private forest owners are often relatively poor farmers and foresters with limited education, little exposure to information and almost no contact with formal authorities. The main problems they encounter are weak markets linked by poor infrastructure and property issues, which leave them with limited possibilities to exploit their forests. For this reason, cooperation is a crucial source of support. The establishment of a Private Forest Owners Association marks the first time that private forest owners have come together. The Association acts as an institution to bring critical issues to the attention of local and national authorities.

Working Method:
The formation of associations aims to increase farm and forest production in a sustainable way and improve product marketing, resulting in more jobs and increased income. Together with local organizations, SNV assists in the formation of associations through organizing meetings, explaining the formal registration process for an association and linking the various municipality associations to a national association. SNV initiated the organization of associations in Andrijevica, Berane, Rozaje and Pljevlja − four interested municipalities in the north, with relatively large areas of privately owned forest, a high dependency on small-scale agro-forestry farming, and little or no alternatives for income generation.

The local organizations mobilize private forest owners by facilitating awareness raising, information sharing, motivation and enrolment. These organizations are the driving force behind the formation of the associations at community and municipality levels. Initial workshops, which are promoted in the local media, examine private forest owners’ expectations, priorities and their motivation for establishing an association, and explain the advantages of becoming organized. Depending on the outcome of the workshop, an assembly follows, at which interested forest owners decide to establish an association, elect local representatives and adopt the statute of the association. The final step is the official registration of the Private Forest Owners Association. Once the associations are formed, SNV provides training, information and support related to business management and marketing.

Impact:
For the first time, private forest owners are formulating common goals and taking the initiative to defend their interests. They recognize that the establishment of an association represents an opportunity to find solutions and realize alternatives to their common problems and concerns. Ultimately, this will lead to increased income for their families.

In several municipalities, as a result of stakeholder meetings, it has been decided to establish associations as official Non-Governmental Organizations. This formal process has been completed in various municipalities, with five Private Forest Owners Associations being created at municipality level.

The drafting of the National Forest Policy provided organized private forest owners with a great opportunity to influence strategy, with their representatives for the first time becoming actively involved in the preparation of policies on private forest management, including one on property issues.

SNV will continue to support capacity building of local organizations and associations that focuses on joint forest management and income opportunities.

Statements:
Mr. Goran Dukic said: ”Our support to the formation of the Private Forest Owners Association gives us a big opportunity to improve the management and preservation of our forests.”

Mr. Miodrag Bakic: “We got the chance to express our opinions and visions and got inspiration from others.”

Mr. Mano Sekularac, a private forest owner said: “It will be very useful to have an association that protects the interest of the small private forest enterprises. No one cares for our forest as we do….”

Mr. Milanko Zejak, a private forest owner from Barice: ”We need such associations as we have been excluded from all decision making processes so far.”