Montenegro: Youth for Rivers – building new generations of river defenders

In May, Save Komarnica organised Montenegro's first Youth for Rivers camp across some of the country's most remarkable waterways, Cijevna, Morača, Zeta and Komarnica, aiming to inspire and empower young people to become ambassadors for Montenegro's wild and free-flowing rivers. While youth environmental movements have long been a driving force within the Blue Heart campaign in neighbouring countries, this energy is still emerging in Montenegro. The camp sought to inspire a new generation of river defenders.

Ten participants from diverse backgrounds were trained in kayaking and fly-fishing, alongside sessions on freshwater ecology, biodiversity and the restorative power of nature, deepening their understanding and connection to Montenegro's unique river ecosystems. The valuable exchange of experiences underscored that river protection is no single discipline's task, and that connecting young people with rivers is one of the strongest foundations for their long-term protection.

The first edition exceeded all expectations and confirmed what we had long believed: connecting young people with rivers is one of the strongest foundations for their long-term protection. We are confident that the participants we met during these six days are only at the beginning of their journey, and we intend to walk that path alongside them.

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