River Net Plastic Web

The "River net plastic web" project is led by three women whose expertise and experience complement each other. Ivana Čogurić Rašović is the President of the organisation and project coordinator. She is a graduate journalist and an Eco Ambassador of Montenegro, a recognition awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro for her contribution to environmental protection and awareness.

Jelena Lacman is the Vice President and project assistant. A graduate psychologist, she contributes to the project through her experience in community engagement and understanding of social and environmental challenges. Maja Popović is the organisation’s Secretary and coordinates the implementation of waste collection activities. A graduate economist, she brings strong organisational and coordination skills to the team.

The project centred on seven waste collection actions along the Gračanica river, during which more than 150t of waste were collected, including 270 kilograms of plastic collected manually. The actions were supported by numerous institutions and organisations, including the EU Delegation in the Montenegro. The project also included two awareness campaigns, a publication titled River Net Plastic Web, surveys among local residents and a policy paper presented to decision makers at a round table.

The initiative was launched to bring greater visibility to one of Montenegro’s most serious environmental problems and encourage concrete action. The Gračanica river has become a critical environmental hotspot, with extensive waste pollution threatening ecosystems and the wellbeing of communities. As Montenegro moves towards EU membership, addressing this problem is important to prevent further environmental degradation and meet environmental standards.

The initiative is driven by the belief that protecting the Gračanica river is a matter of public interest and that meaningful change begins with visibility, evidence and collective action.

Support from the Aether Fund help strengthen advocacy, raise public awareness, develop practical recommendations and bring the issue closer to decision makers, creating stronger foundations for the long term protection and restoration of the river.