Montenegro government declares katun tradition cultural heritage to save mountain farming

The Montenegrin government declared the katun tradition as intangible cultural heritage at the end of 2025 to preserve the country's mountain identity.

Families in Montenegro spend their summers in katuns, which are traditional seasonal settlements in high mountain regions. These residents move their livestock to high-altitude pastures as the snow melts in mid-June. This migration, known as izdig, allows the animals to graze on nutrient-rich grass while maintaining the open landscape.

Without these herders, the mountains quickly overgrow with vegetation, and the distribution of seeds across the ridges stops. While some families continue the tradition, many children prefer modern life in cities or coastal areas. Younger generations often find the physical labor and lack of amenities, such as running water or internet, difficult to sustain. This shift has led to a decline in traditional farming, with the number of katun farmers dropping to 1,638 in 2020.

Many older residents, who perform all tasks by hand, face the reality that they may have no successors to carry on the work. To combat this decline, the government provides financial support to farmers and encourages agro-tourism. Some younger farmers are adopting modern methods, such as using machines to milk cows and selling products to large retail chains. Others are transitioning to hosting tourists in modified katuns.

The authorities also plan to nominate the izdig migration for UNESCO status to ensure the survival of this mountain culture.