Montenegro: Establishment of the first regional park „PIVA“ A participatory approach to sustainable development decision-making Key lessons learned Public participation lead to acceptable agreements and solutions Transparency forms the basis for the success of the initiative Provision of adequate information reduces arbitrary assumptions with negative conclusions Public participation helps build a communal spirit Outcome(s) Preservation of natural values of the area Increase of the number of employed persons Increased income used for protection, furthering and development of this area; Important increase of the number of visitors to this area compared to the previous period; Raised awareness among the local population and visitors about the importance to preserve the regional park. Future steps Carry out a comprehensive planning of the public participation process; Intensify the communication with citizens; Take in consideration public opinion in the decision making process regarding environmental issues