November is the month for the partners of Nature Returns to meet for reporting on last years’ achievements and planning next steps of the project. The nine partners of Nature Returns met this week in Montenegro, taking also the opportunity for discussing the future management of the Ulcinj Salina Nature Park and attending the 8th International Conference on the Ulcinj Salina.

The Ulcinj Salina is Montenegro’s most recent Nature Park and one of the 5 pilot sites of Nature Returns. The Conference was a great moment to report on the work done during the last year and to show the developments of the elaboration of the management plan. Hopefully, management and governance of the park will be defined soon and businesses promoted by the project can assist conservation efforts in this area.

The first year of the project just ended and some significant landmarks have been reached: the methodological guide and the monitoring scheme for the project is prepared; the five pilot sites have been selected after the criteria developed for their identification; all site teams have been established and trained; management plans have been elaborated or existing plans are now translated into the project’s methodology; and the list of businesses that can help reverting the most significant threats on each site are now identified, following open calls for business ideas to the local communities.

It is now time for jumping into the most exciting and crucial phase of the project: to call for entrepreneurs that are interested in taking business opportunities in each site and to promote companies that will take part of the project. We aim launching businesses that will help reducing, for example, invasive species, preventing wood logging or disturbance to natural areas. Follow our next news for each site’s call for entrepreneurs.