The fight for the protection of nature at the time of the general race to exploit its resources unites environmental activists in our country. Their mission is to achieve institutional protection of natural areas that are already recognized for their biological and landscape diversity. But how to encourage the government to make this their priority?
In terms of biological and landscape diversity, Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the richest countries in Europe.
Unfortunately, this is not a reason for the authorities to have a more responsible attitude towards nature – only 3% of the territory is protected nature areas, environmental activists warn.
“Citizens of BiH from both entities think the same – we want protected nature, sustainable development on these natural resources, not the benefit of individuals. What we represent and what we advocate – this is a benefit for the entire community, from water protection to air protection”, says Davor Supukovic, member of Citizens Association Fojnicani Maglaj.
In addition to the irresponsible attitude of society in general towards nature, there is also the problem of the country’s complex administrative structure, behind which lies the unwillingness to take concrete steps, including making decisions about protected areas.
“Republika Sprska has to some extent solved that situation, first of all, it has an institute that formally and technically completes the procedures, and most of them pass. In Federation of BiH, the situation is a little more complex because we have different levels of jurisdiction and the like”, explains Milena Ljubicic, WWF Adria Project Coordinator.
There are also economic interests – the exploitation of every natural resource is implied, so things are even more complicated. Environmental activists from Doboj and Petrovo who are fighting for the protection of Mount Ozren know this.
“We got into the story around Ozren in November 2021, when we found out about geological research that no one was even informed about. We succeeded, together with colleagues from the environmental association Studenac from Petrovo – so currently geological research is suspended”, says Sandra Trifkovic, a member of Citizens Association Cuvari Ozrena Doboj.
Environmental initiatives from Zenica and Teslic also seek the protection of specific natural areas.
“Zenica is the fourth largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there is not a single square meter of protected area. We all know that Zenica is one of the most polluted cities – not only in BiH, but also much wider. And that shows a lot about the attitude of the local government. The situation is almost no better when it comes to the cantonal government,” claims Jakub Spahic, secretary of the Citizens’ Association Eko Tvrtkovac Zenica.
The Teslic Mountain Citizens’ Association points out that the Municipality has not yet protected anything. Their representative, Jadranko Stankovic, specifies that there are 12 extremely respectable localities: “It should be noted that before the war we had one nature park, now there are small hydroelectric plants.”
It is not enough to envisage protected nature areas only in spatial planning documents of certain administrative entities, it is also necessary to establish them institutionally, including the issue of management. The models exist, as do the obligations of the authorities to harmonize and apply them. Because environmental protection is one of the most important, but also the most complex chapters in the accession negotiations for BiH’s membership in the EU.
“We only ask that the decision-makers honor what they themselves promised and what they themselves stated in their plans,” recalls Supukovic.
And while on the one hand environmental initiatives advocate systemic solutions for nature protection, there are also those who would use expert reports to prove the unjustification of the declaration of protected zones.
Of course, these are initiatives of the private and public sectors interested in the exploitation of natural resources, from water to forests and ores. Environmental associations are categorical, the time of uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources is running out, compromises must be sought. Otherwise, nature will respond fiercely. We witness it every day, Federalna writes.
