Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Advisory mission to the World Heritage property “Durmitor National Park” (Montenegro)

On 5 November 2018, a team of experts from the World Heritage Centre and IUCN arrived in Montenegro for a joint Advisory mission to the World Heritage property “Durmitor National Park.”

The State Party of Montenegro invited the mission with the objectives to review a potential boundary modification and to assess the overall state of conservation of the World Heritage site. The mission included field visits and meetings with the responsible national and local authorities, as well as civil society organizations. As a conclusion to the site visit, a mission report with recommendations to the State Party will be prepared conjointly by the World Heritage Centre and IUCN in due course.

“Durmitor National Park” was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1980 for its exceptional scenic beauty, geological features and biodiversity values. The property’s Outstanding Universal Value is based on the World Heritage Committee’s selection criteria (vii), (viii) and (x). Located in Northern Montenegro, the National Park is shaped by glaciers, deep river canyons and underground caves, while alpine meadows are set against the stark backdrop of high and rugged peaks. Many rare species like the Brown Bear, Grey Wolf, and European Wild Cat are endemic to the National Park continue to live in its dense forests.a