On October 12th , at the Hilton Hotel in Podgorica, the traveling exhibition “Landscape Fire Protection Through Your Lens” was opened. Mr. Srdjan Sasic, Country Project Staff, moderated the event and emphasized that the photographs convey a powerful message about the consequences of fires and the need for collective action.
“Landscape fires do not stop at borders, and neither should our cooperation, responsibility and efforts to prevent them. Behind every photograph lie places filled with memories, personal stories and powerful warnings of how much can change in just a few moments,” Sasic said, also referring to the fires that affected countries across the region, including Montenegro, during the summer.
The exhibition was officially opened by Mr. Igor Nisavic, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro, who said that the photographs are not only a testament to the consequences of fires but also a call to action.
“This exhibition draws public attention in a powerful and creative way to one of today’s most important issues – protecting nature from fires and addressing the consequences of climate change. It is particularly important that this initiative connects the countries of the Western Balkans, because fires know no borders, and neither should our solidarity and cooperation,” Nisavic stated.
Mr. Cvetan Nikolovski, Team Leader of the Landscape Fire Management Programme in the Western Balkans, highlighted that long-term nature protection requires a comprehensive approach involving prevention, cooperation and the engagement of local communities.
“Through the Programme, we are working on an approach that looks beyond the fire itself. We believe it is necessary to understand the causes, focus on prevention, adapt to climate change and strengthen cooperation between institutions, experts and citizens,” Nikolovski said, emphasizing that the exhibition conveys a message of shared responsibility for protecting landscapes throughout the Western Balkans.
At the event, the third prize in the competition was also awarded to photographer Evgenij Julkin for his powerful photograph taken in Sutomore, which captures the indifference of people relaxing on the beach while a hillside burns above them in the middle of the summer season.
The exhibition in Podgorica will remain open to all visitors until October 25, after which it will continue its journey to Tirana.
