Piva-Lake / Komarnica Canyon junction
Montenegro: Piva reservoire / Komarnica river junction.
View from Gagovic-Brothers-bridge.
Montenegro, Donja Brezna. Junction between Piva-Lake (Piva-Jezero) - formerly Piva river and backwater flow-back into Komarnica Canyon. View towards Komarnica Canyon against water stream.
It looks beautiful for the general public. However, at this point the wilderness and biodiversity of Komarnica Canyon is already destroyed. Temperature of Piva Lake is significantly higher than the waters of the wild Komarnica river. The Komarnica wilderness starts upstream of this view.
location
43°3'31.09" N 18°53'2.46" E
Report on Komarnica
European Biodiversity Survey. 2025. Komarnica Valley Survey 2024. Report V2.0. European Biodiversity Survey, The Netherlands. 47 pp. www.biodiversitysurvey.eu/uncategorized/hello-world/
Photo: Dirk Lankenau
“THE HYDROPOWER PLANT PROJECT ON THE KOMARNICA IS UNSUSTAINABLE”
Third International Research Camp in Brezna: Komarnica Canyon in the Focus of European Science
The Montenegrin Ecologists Society (CDE), in cooperation with the renowned Dutch organisation Taxon Expeditions, successfully organised the third scientific research camp on the Komarnica River and in its surrounding area from 6 to 14 July. According to the organisers, this event is a unique undertaking in Montenegro, bringing together eminent scientists and researchers from across Europe and the world with a common goal: to document the invaluable richness of nature which, precisely because it remains insufficiently studied, is at risk of irreversible destruction through the planned construction of a large hydropower plant.
17 July 2026
11:50
Source: adria.tv
Photo: CDE
“This year’s research of Komarnica Canyon attracted considerable attention, bringing together participants from as many as 10 European countries. During the nine-day expedition, an international team of experts from various fields of biodiversity research conducted detailed field studies of the canyon. The aim was to collect comprehensive data on the biodiversity of Komarnica Canyon, so that we can understand which plant and animal species would be threatened by the construction of the hydropower plant,” the ecologists stated in their press release.
They recalled that, for many years, the CDE and its partners, through the Save Komarnica initiative, have consistently and dedicatedly worked to collect scientific evidence demonstrating that the proposed hydropower project on the Komarnica is not sustainable.
“Our goal is to draw the attention of the public and decision-makers to the catastrophic ecological, energy-related and economic consequences that such devastation would cause. Through these activities, which we are carrying out together with our partners, we are not only raising public awareness to a higher level, but also expanding our network of supporters and building a strong and irrefutable body of evidence necessary for the long-term preservation of Komarnica Canyon as a national and European natural treasure,” they emphasised.
An Opportunity for Students and “Citizen Science”
The educational component of this year’s camp was considered to be of particular importance. For the first time in Montenegro, biology students were given a unique opportunity to replace theoretical knowledge from textbooks with practical, hands-on fieldwork through free participation in the camp.
“Under the mentorship of leading professors and scientists from the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and Serbia, students had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with modern research methods, data-processing procedures, DNA analyses, the publication of scientific papers, and the methodology used to describe new species.
In addition to professional scientists, for the third consecutive year the expedition also opened its doors to nature enthusiasts through the concept of ‘citizen science’,” the organisers stated.
According to the ecologists, this enabled everyone who wishes to contribute to nature conservation to become actively involved and to participate directly in the study and protection of biodiversity.
Last year, the project received recognition as part of the prestigious EU Citizen Science Award, presented at the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz.
The ecologists point out that this recognition represents one of the most significant European awards in the field of citizen science and confirms the international importance of research into and protection of Komarnica Canyon.
“To date, 1,026 species of plants and animals have been recorded in Komarnica Canyon, including 26 species protected at the European level. These data, which are publicly available on the Observation.org platform, as well as in the report of the EU Biodiversity Survey project, clearly confirm the exceptional biological diversity of Komarnica Canyon and demonstrate the need for this area to be granted the highest level of protection,” they stated.
Andrijana Mićanović (CDE) said that the Montenegrin Ecologists Society feels privileged that leading figures in European science have recognised the importance of Montenegro’s natural heritage.
“When professors and researchers from prestigious universities around the world come to study Komarnica, it sends a powerful message about the value of this area. We are particularly pleased to know that people from all over the world are willing to come to Montenegro simply to experience this fantastic place – and that some of them are encountering genuine wilderness for the first time. Their scientific contribution provides additional, irrefutable arguments as to why Komarnica deserves our full protection and why it must be preserved as a jewel of Europe’s natural heritage,” the CDE stated.
Dr Iva Njunjić (Taxon Expeditions) said that after three years of research it has become clear that Komarnica is not merely a jewel of Montenegro’s natural heritage, but an area of international scientific importance.
“Every expedition brings new discoveries, and I am convinced that we have only scratched the surface of what this canyon has to reveal. I am particularly proud that, through this project, we have succeeded in bringing together leading international researchers and students from Montenegro around a common goal – to contribute to nature conservation through science. When people from ten European countries come to Montenegro to study Komarnica, this is the best evidence of its exceptional value. I believe that science should be the foundation of all decisions concerning the future of this unique canyon,” Njunjić said.
It was emphasised that this expedition goes beyond the boundaries of scientific research and represents a call to responsibility.
“While science is diligently uncovering the biodiversity wealth of Komarnica Canyon, which we have only just begun to truly understand, it is our shared responsibility to stand up for the protection of nature. This means that we must stop viewing nature exclusively as a resource to be relentlessly and exhaustively exploited. Instead, we must understand nature as a fundamental value that we must first seek to understand and learn from, so that on these sound foundations we can build a truly sustainable future,” it was stated.
The ecologists emphasise that Komarnica represents enormous potential for the development of active and ecotourism, as well as for positioning Montenegro on the map of global scientific destinations.
“We believe that educational institutions, local governments and the managers of protected areas will recognise the importance of such activities and provide them with stronger support. Our common goal must be to invest systematically in educating future generations of young scientists, as well as to promote a concept in which science, nature conservation and sustainable development form an inseparable part of Montenegro’s identity and prosperity,” they concluded.
Piva-Lake / Komarnica Canyon junction
Montenegro: Piva reservoire / Komarnica river junction.
View from Gagovic-Brothers-bridge.
Montenegro, Donja Brezna. Junction between Piva-Lake (Piva-Jezero) - formerly Piva river and backwater flow-back into Komarnica Canyon. View towards Komarnica Canyon against water stream.
It looks beautiful for the general public. However, at this point the wilderness and biodiversity of Komarnica Canyon is already destroyed. Temperature of Piva Lake is significantly higher than the waters of the wild Komarnica river. The Komarnica wilderness starts upstream of this view.
location
43°3'31.09" N 18°53'2.46" E
Report on Komarnica
European Biodiversity Survey. 2025. Komarnica Valley Survey 2024. Report V2.0. European Biodiversity Survey, The Netherlands. 47 pp. www.biodiversitysurvey.eu/uncategorized/hello-world/
Photo: Dirk Lankenau
“THE HYDROPOWER PLANT PROJECT ON THE KOMARNICA IS UNSUSTAINABLE”
Third International Research Camp in Brezna: Komarnica Canyon in the Focus of European Science
The Montenegrin Ecologists Society (CDE), in cooperation with the renowned Dutch organisation Taxon Expeditions, successfully organised the third scientific research camp on the Komarnica River and in its surrounding area from 6 to 14 July. According to the organisers, this event is a unique undertaking in Montenegro, bringing together eminent scientists and researchers from across Europe and the world with a common goal: to document the invaluable richness of nature which, precisely because it remains insufficiently studied, is at risk of irreversible destruction through the planned construction of a large hydropower plant.
17 July 2026
11:50
Source: adria.tv
Photo: CDE
“This year’s research of Komarnica Canyon attracted considerable attention, bringing together participants from as many as 10 European countries. During the nine-day expedition, an international team of experts from various fields of biodiversity research conducted detailed field studies of the canyon. The aim was to collect comprehensive data on the biodiversity of Komarnica Canyon, so that we can understand which plant and animal species would be threatened by the construction of the hydropower plant,” the ecologists stated in their press release.
They recalled that, for many years, the CDE and its partners, through the Save Komarnica initiative, have consistently and dedicatedly worked to collect scientific evidence demonstrating that the proposed hydropower project on the Komarnica is not sustainable.
“Our goal is to draw the attention of the public and decision-makers to the catastrophic ecological, energy-related and economic consequences that such devastation would cause. Through these activities, which we are carrying out together with our partners, we are not only raising public awareness to a higher level, but also expanding our network of supporters and building a strong and irrefutable body of evidence necessary for the long-term preservation of Komarnica Canyon as a national and European natural treasure,” they emphasised.
An Opportunity for Students and “Citizen Science”
The educational component of this year’s camp was considered to be of particular importance. For the first time in Montenegro, biology students were given a unique opportunity to replace theoretical knowledge from textbooks with practical, hands-on fieldwork through free participation in the camp.
“Under the mentorship of leading professors and scientists from the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and Serbia, students had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with modern research methods, data-processing procedures, DNA analyses, the publication of scientific papers, and the methodology used to describe new species.
In addition to professional scientists, for the third consecutive year the expedition also opened its doors to nature enthusiasts through the concept of ‘citizen science’,” the organisers stated.
According to the ecologists, this enabled everyone who wishes to contribute to nature conservation to become actively involved and to participate directly in the study and protection of biodiversity.
Last year, the project received recognition as part of the prestigious EU Citizen Science Award, presented at the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz.
The ecologists point out that this recognition represents one of the most significant European awards in the field of citizen science and confirms the international importance of research into and protection of Komarnica Canyon.
“To date, 1,026 species of plants and animals have been recorded in Komarnica Canyon, including 26 species protected at the European level. These data, which are publicly available on the Observation.org platform, as well as in the report of the EU Biodiversity Survey project, clearly confirm the exceptional biological diversity of Komarnica Canyon and demonstrate the need for this area to be granted the highest level of protection,” they stated.
Andrijana Mićanović (CDE) said that the Montenegrin Ecologists Society feels privileged that leading figures in European science have recognised the importance of Montenegro’s natural heritage.
“When professors and researchers from prestigious universities around the world come to study Komarnica, it sends a powerful message about the value of this area. We are particularly pleased to know that people from all over the world are willing to come to Montenegro simply to experience this fantastic place – and that some of them are encountering genuine wilderness for the first time. Their scientific contribution provides additional, irrefutable arguments as to why Komarnica deserves our full protection and why it must be preserved as a jewel of Europe’s natural heritage,” the CDE stated.
Dr Iva Njunjić (Taxon Expeditions) said that after three years of research it has become clear that Komarnica is not merely a jewel of Montenegro’s natural heritage, but an area of international scientific importance.
“Every expedition brings new discoveries, and I am convinced that we have only scratched the surface of what this canyon has to reveal. I am particularly proud that, through this project, we have succeeded in bringing together leading international researchers and students from Montenegro around a common goal – to contribute to nature conservation through science. When people from ten European countries come to Montenegro to study Komarnica, this is the best evidence of its exceptional value. I believe that science should be the foundation of all decisions concerning the future of this unique canyon,” Njunjić said.
It was emphasised that this expedition goes beyond the boundaries of scientific research and represents a call to responsibility.
“While science is diligently uncovering the biodiversity wealth of Komarnica Canyon, which we have only just begun to truly understand, it is our shared responsibility to stand up for the protection of nature. This means that we must stop viewing nature exclusively as a resource to be relentlessly and exhaustively exploited. Instead, we must understand nature as a fundamental value that we must first seek to understand and learn from, so that on these sound foundations we can build a truly sustainable future,” it was stated.
The ecologists emphasise that Komarnica represents enormous potential for the development of active and ecotourism, as well as for positioning Montenegro on the map of global scientific destinations.
“We believe that educational institutions, local governments and the managers of protected areas will recognise the importance of such activities and provide them with stronger support. Our common goal must be to invest systematically in educating future generations of young scientists, as well as to promote a concept in which science, nature conservation and sustainable development form an inseparable part of Montenegro’s identity and prosperity,” they concluded.