Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Publishers: EXPEDITIO, Cultural Heritage Association NAPREDAK Gornja Lastva, The Olive Growers Association “Boka”, The Petrović Njegoš Foundation Editors: Aleksandra Kapetanović, Marija Nikolić, Biljana Gligorić, Tatjana Rajić Photographs: EXPEDITIO, Anton Gula Marković (cover photograph), Wiwik Dharmiasih (p. 11), Fotolia (pp. 4-9) Printing: Biro Konto, Igalo, Montenegro Circulation: 1000 copies The place and year of publication: Kotor, 2018

This project is funded by the European Union.

This booklet has been produced with the assistance of the European Union, ORCA and partners of a regional Consortium, implementing the “Sustainable Agriculture for Sustainable Balkans: Strengthening advocacy capacities of CSOs and developing policies in the Western Balkans” project. The contents of this booklet is the sole responsibility of EXPEDITIO, NAPREDAK Gornja Lastva and Olive Growers Association BOKA and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, ORCA or the partners of the Consortium.

Cover photograph: Gornja Lastva

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Contents Agricultural landscapes

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International context

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The values and importance of traditional agricultural landscapes

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Agricultural landscapes in Montenegro

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The state of traditional agricultural landscapes

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Examples of activities focusing on the study, protection and restoration of traditional agricultural landscapes

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Recommendations for improving the framework for the protection, planning and rehabilitation of traditional agricultural landscapes in Montenegro 33

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

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Agricultural Landscapes Agricultural landscapes are a testimony to humanity’s long interaction with the land, often unique examples of people and nature coexisting and influencing each other. They demonstrate a rich cultural and landscape diversity, sustainable land-use systems and in some cases people’s daily struggle for survival under extreme climatic and environmental conditions.

Batad, Philippines

Folegandros, Greece

Yunnan, China

The Rhine Valley, Germany

Öland, Sweden

The Pyrenees, France

(World Heritage, broj 69, 2013, https://whc. unesco.org/en/review/69/)

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Human cultural development is inexorably linked to the development of agriculture.

It has been some 12000 years since humans gave up their huntergatherer ways.

They grasped the idea of saving and planting seeds from season to season, which meant that instead of constantly foraging for food, they could stay in one place.

They were able to concentrate on building their communities and, at the same time, develop agricultural systems adapted to local climates that allowed them to survive and even flourish in the lands where they settled. With each generation improving upon the previous, these ingenious

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

systems have brought with them the indigenous knowledge of the centuries.

(Accenting the ‘culture’ in agriculture, FAO)

Worldwide, specific agricultural systems and landscapes have been

created, shaped and maintained by generations of farmers and herders based on diverse natural resources, using locally adapted management practices.

The Douro Valley, Portugal

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Agricultural activity and developed agricultural systems have not only resulted in food and livelihood security for people, indigenous knowledge systems, resilient ecosystems and biodiversity protection, but also in outstanding landscapes.

Traditional agricultural landscapes created over time through different agricultural practices of people in an area represent the primary form of cultural landscape.

people and places through time, cultural landscape represents the widest and most comprehensive category of cultural heritage..

(Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, Faro Convention, 2005)

Cultural landscapes represent the combined works of nature and of man. They are

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illustrative of the evolution of human society and settlement over time, under the influence of the physical constraints and/or opportunities presented by their natural environment and of successive social, economic and cultural forces, both external and internal.

(Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention)

Starting from a wider definition of cultural heritage that includes all aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between Primorske planine i Lovćen Lavaux, Switzerland

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

International context

The Batad Rice Terraces, Philippines

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted in 1972 the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage The most important characteristic of the Convention is that it summarizes in one document the concepts of nature protection and the cultural heritage preservation. The Convention recognizes the ways in which people and nature interact, and the basic need to maintain the balance between them.

The World Heritage Convention was revised in 1992 in order to introduce the concept of cultural landscape. The term cultural landscape embraces a diversity of manifestations of the interaction between humankind and its natural environment. Agricultural landscapes belong to the category of organically evolved landscapes that have resulted from agricultural activities.

Many agricultural landscapes are continuing landscapes that retain an active role, while some of them are relict landscapes in which an evolutionary process came to an end at some time in the past.

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Today 13 per cent of World Heritage sites are properties that have agricultural and/ or pastoral characteristics.

Nearly 75 per cent of all cultural landscapes on the World Heritage List have some agricultural or pastoral features, although they may not be the main reason for the inscription. Analysis of the sites on national Tentative Lists indicates that 10 per cent of them are of agricultural and pastoral importance. http://whc.unesco.org/

Yunnan, China

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Cinque Terre, Italy

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

In order to safeguard and support the world’s agricultural heritage systems, in response to the global trends that undermine family agriculture and traditional agricultural systems, in 2002, during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations launched a Global Partnership Initiative on conservation and adaptive management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems - GIAHS.

The overall goal of the GIAHS Programme is to identify and safeguard Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems through catalyzing and establishing a long-term programme to support such systems and enhance global, national and local benefits derived through their dynamic conservation, sustainable management and enhanced viability.

GIAHS systems represent a continuation of historic

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traditions and knowledge that have evolved over the centuries. Agricultural heritage landscapes are not only important landmarks of historical value but also depend on living and evolving agricultural communities.

These communities are the custodians of an institutional, ecological and cultural heritage which provides a variety of benefits and services at the local, national and global levels. Around 50 sites from all over the world have been recognized as GIAHS. www.fao.org/giahs/en

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Subak system for rice fields on Bali Island

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

The values and importance of traditional agricultural landscapes

Agriculture enhances space, raises it to the level of cultural property, and also provides food for man. Traditional agricultural landscapes

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represent the basic resources of a territory and have great economic value, contributing also to the overall cultural landscape value.

Agricultural landscapes are the reflection of the people and communities that have created them, of their needs and skills. At the same time, agricultural landscapes form and reflect the identity of both people and places. They are the symbols of people’s duration and belonging to a place, the symbols of their efforts and hard work, the symbols of their respect for nature and land.

Costiera Amalfitana, Italy

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Traditional agricultural landscapes in Montenegro

Međa sa vertikalnim međašima, centralni dio Crne Gore

Katun Dugi doci, Boka Kotorska

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Examples of traditional agricultural landscapes exist in quite preserved state all over the territory of Montenegro.

They are characterized by an exceptional diversity in a relatively small area.

The coastal area of Montenegro is a typical Mediterranean landscape.

The relatively scarce areas of arable land within this predominantly karst region are

Boka Kotorska

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usually found as small fields or sloping terraces. These terraced fields were created on sloping terrain, supported on dry-stone walls made of local stone without using any mortar. The fields were used to grow olive trees, vineyards and other crops.

Considerable areas covered with vineyards are found around Skadar Lake, as well as in fields and on sloping

Crmnica

terraces.

The central, karst area of Montenegro is intersected by very small fertile fields and depressions – enclosed by dry-stone walls. Terraced fields supported on dry-stone walls are found on the hills in this area, as well.

Fertile fields and valleys, usually found alongside larger rivers, are very rare. A

KuÄ?i

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

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specific type of agricultural landscape has been formed in these zones, characterized by elongated plowed fields, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the river or a roadway.

In the northern area of Montenegro, landscapes featuring villages of dispersed type have been formed around the fertile river valleys and on the hillsides. In this

Surroundings of Nikťić

landscape, houses with utility buildings are situated in the centre of large estates that usually include orchards, plowed fields, pastures and a section of forest.

In almost all mountainous areas of Montenegro it is possible to find katuni. Katuni area temporary summer settlements that developed in the areas where people engaged in animal farming,

Surroundings of Plav

and where, due to lack of grazing in certain periods of the year, herders used to move their livestock in search for richer pastures. These landscapes, often situated at the border of forests and pastures, are characterized by katuni of compact type, with cottages and folds.

Piva Mountain

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

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Olive groves, Dobre vode, Bar

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Vineyards, Crmnica

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

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LjeĹĄanska nahija

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Smokovci, above Skadar Lake

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

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Surroundings of NikĹĄi

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Konjuhe

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

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Velika

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Katuni, KuÄ?i Mountains

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

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Dobri do, Durmitor

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

The state of traditional agricultural landscapes

Neglected olive groves on the terraced fields, Gornji Stoliv

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

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Agricultural landscape is completely influenced by the activity that has formed it.

When agriculture dies out the landscape returns to its natural state. Because the agricultural production decreased or even completely halted in some areas of Montenegro, most traditional agricultural landscapes have become overgrown with vegetation and turned into forest land.

Neglected terraced fields, Gornji Morinj, Boka Kotorska

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Furthermore, in Montenegro, there is a prevailing trend towards conversion and urbanization of agricultural land. The existing development trends are still threatening to degrade the authentic landscape and destroy its values.

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Dobrota, 2016.

Dobrota, an aerial shot, the middle of the 20th century

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Dobrota, the remains of terraced field in the upper part of the settlement

Dobrota, urbanization of the area where terraced fields used to be situated

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The dying out of activities, coupled with the new trends in agriculture towards replacing the autochthonous species with the new ones and the excessive urbanization lead to an accelerated transformation of agricultural landscapes or to the disappearance of part of the cultural landscape even before it has been recognized as cultural heritage.

Dobrota

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Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

Examples of activities focusing on the study, protection and restoration of traditional agricultural landscapes

Mali Zalazi

Workshop on dry-stone walls reconstruction in Gornjoj Lastvi

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

For several years now different activities have been realized in the village of Gornja Lastva, on Vrmac Hill, related to the protection and restoration of the rural heritage and agriculture.

Within the framework of the AGRISCAPE&ME project, a pilot activity was carried out in order to examine the current state and past experiences related to agriculture, with a view to providing the basis for

Grape harvesters, first half 20th c.

Gornja Lastva, the first half of the 20th century

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its future revival.

The project activities included: - analysis of available documents, including the archival documents and historical and cartographic materials, primarily the

The remains of terraced fields

Urban Plan for the revitalization of traditional settlements

A meeting with landowners

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Austro-Hungarian cadastral plans from 1838; - interviews with the owners of estates; - determining and analyzing the use of land and creating a GIS database.

The conducted researches have produced the data which will enable the revival of former uses of arable land. The restoration of agricultural landscape can be the starting point for the revival and development of agricultural activity.

An extract from the cadastral plan, 1838.

The pilot project results – Land use analysis

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

The neglect, devastation and disappearance of traditional agricultural landscapes leads not only to the loss of an important part of cultural landscape, but also to the loss of one of the main resources of our space.

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By protecting, restoring and maintaining the existing agricultural landscapes, we contribute to protecting an important part of the cultural heritage, and safeguarding an extremely valuable resource for the sustainable agriculture and sustainable development.

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Recommendations for improving the framework for the protection, planning and rehabilitation of traditional agricultural landscapes in Montenegro

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

agricultural landscapes in Montenegro, it is necessary to: • improve the legal and institutional framework, especially for the three key areas for agricultural landscape: agriculture and rural development, spatial planning and cultural heritage protection; • carry out detailed identification, mapping The safeguarding of traditional and analysis of traditional agricultural landscapes agricultural landscapes; depends on the state of • analyze and define agriculture, its maintenance possible models for the and restoration in areas use and management, where it is abandoned. with special focus on In order to contribute to ownership issues; improving the framework for • stimulate people to the protection, planning and remain in/ return to rehabilitation of traditional

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•

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villages and work in agriculture and create a framework for the participation of different stakeholders in protecting agricultural landscapes; provide incentive measures, at the state and local levels, for the restoration of agriculture; provide education, training, promotion to increase the knowledge and awareness of the value and importance of agricultural landscapes; discourage, through spatial planning solutions, the conversion of agricultural land and encourage the maintenance of agricultural landscapes.

Traditional Agricultural Landscapes in Montenegro

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Maintaining agricultural landscapes enhances the quality of life of communities and of the planet and addresses critical issues such as adaptation to climate change and risks.

Agricultural landscapes are repositories of the knowledge of past generations which, in their apparent simplicity, hold the key that will allow us to face future challenges‌ https://whc.unesco.org/en/review/69/

Risan, Mala

Regeneration of traditional agriculture landscape for sustainable agriculture – AGRISCAPE&ME The aim of the project AGRISCAPE&ME is to contribute to developing sustainable agriculture through advocating regeneration, conservation and enhancement of traditional agricultural landscape, as part of the overall cultural landscape.

Back cover photo: Čavori, Lovćen

Partners: EXPEDITIO Centre for Sustainable Spatial Development Cultural Heritage Association NAPREDAK Gornja Lastva The Olive Growers Association “Boka“ – Boka Kotorska Associate: The Rural Development Network of Montenegro In partnership with: The Petrović Njegoš Foundation

CIP - Kaталогизација у публикацији Национална библиотека Црне Горе, Цетиње ISBN 978-9940-502-28-7 (EXPEDITIO) ISBN 978-9940-684-01-3 (Kulturno zavičajno udruženje “Napredak”) COBISS.CG-ID 35936272

The project is funded by the EU within the framework of the regional project “Sustainable agriculture for sustainable Balkans: Strengthening advocacy capacities of CSOs and developing policies in the Western Balkans”, which is implemented by the regional consortium of civil society organizations from Albania (The Institute for Environmental Policy - IEP), the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FLOROZON), Kosovo* (NGO AKTIV) and Montenegro (The Centre for Protection and Research of Birds – CZIP), led by the Organization for Respect and Care of Animals – ORCA from Serbia. *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

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www.agriscape.org www.sasb-eu.org