The Government of Montenegro, supported by SNV and LUX development has recently considered a new draft law on forests, developed in close collaboration with all stakeholders. Formal public debates on the draft law will follow soon. The law is expected to be approved by the Parliament by the middle of 2010.
“Finally, we got a contemporary forest law based on all international and EU requirements which is for the first time also really our, Montenegrin product. A great partnership and consensus between Forest administration, National private forest owners’ association and the Ministry was reached. Contribution of SNV was immeasurable in these regards”, repeatedly emphasized Dr Milosav Andjelic, Assistant Minister for forestry.
SNV had a leading expert role in facilitation of the drafting process and including the private owners’ representatives in the development processes as well as for supporting them with corresponding technical bases.
“A number of innovative and inclusive legal solutions for private forest sector support make the new draft forest law amongst the most inclusive forest laws in the region,” says Franc Ferlin, SNV forestry advisor and sector leader.
For example, the private forest ownership right including non-wood forest products is clearly defined. On that account, private forest owners’ organisation will receive financial compensations for commercial use of non-wood products. Private forests owners could also perform forest measures in public interest for which significant public financial support (subsidies) is possible. All forest management planning will be assured by state forest administration also for private forests. Forestry extension service will be provided from the state administration but possible also by licensed private institutions or persons. Furthermore, technical and administrative procedures needed for felling of timber will partly be liberated, e.g. barriers for private forest owners partly removed. In addition, responsibilities for issuing certificates of felled wood’ origin and proving legality of felled timber will be transferred from state administration to private forest owners. Private forest owners’ representatives will participate in all forestry planning and decision making processes at national and local levels, among others via new forest councils.
For further information, please contact Franc Ferlin, SNV forestry advisor at fferlin@snvworld.org.