1 Bosnia and Herzegovina REReP regional meeting on “ Towards Natura 2000 in South Eastern Europe ” May 29th, 2009 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Short overview of the legal/institutional framework of protected sites, existing ecological networks, regional/cross-border projects, priorities

B & H City / Municipality F BH RS 1, City / Municipality I – State level II – Entities III – Cantons IV – Local level ` Status of legal framework of protected sites and existing ecological networks BiH Government Structure Brčko Distrikt

Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina District Brčko Ministry of Security Ministry of Foreign Affairs BH GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Ministry of Civil Affairs Ministry of Finance and Treasury Ministry of Defence Ministry of Transport and Comunication Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina (7 staff members) is responsible for the environmental protection at the state level: International cooperation, Environmental protection policy defining, Main guidelines of the environmental protection, Cooperation and harmonization of the entity activities. MOFTER is responsible for ratification of different international agreements, conventions, protocols, etc and they are implemented by the entities. Ministry for Justice Ministry for Human Rights and Refugee Status of legal framework of protected sites and existing ecological networks

Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Federation of BiH Ministry of Physical Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology of RS and District Brčko are responsible for the environmental protection issues. Institutional Framework and environmental legislation: Constitution of BiH, Constitutions of entities, laws and by-laws. Following set of environmental laws are adopted (2002/2003/2007) at enitity level: 1.The Law on Environmental Protection 2.The Law on Air Protection 3.The Water Law 4.The Law on Waste Management 5.The Law on Nature Protection and 6.The Law on the Environmental Fund Status of legal framework of protected sites and existing ecological networks

5 In accordance with their laws entities have the authority to proclaim an area of special importance, a protected area.  The Law on Nature Protection of Federation of BiH (2003)  The Law on Nature Protection of Republic of Srpska (2002). These laws also include EU Habitats directive (92/43/EEC) and Wild Birds Directive (79/409/EEC).

Status of legal framework of protected sites and existing ecological networks Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified following Conventions which are important for the protection of nature: CBD (Official Gazette 13/02), CITES Convention (Official Gazette 11/08), BERN Convention (Official Gazette 08/08), RAMSAR Convention (succession, Official Gazette13/94) and Cartagena Protocol (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina 12/08). There are three proclaimed Ramsar sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina : Hutovo blato (24/09/01) 7,411 ha, Bardača wetlands (02/02/07) 3,500 ha, Livno karst field (11/04/08) 45,868 ha.

7 Status of legal framework of protected sites and existing ecological networks in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Legal framework: Entity laws on nature protection Cantonal laws in Federation of BiH Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Law on nature protection (“Official Gazette of the Federation of BiH, 33/03); Secondary legislation Regulation NATURA in passing stage Partial harmonization of the Law with regulations of the Directive on the conservation of wild birds and Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora. Development of new Law on nature protection is ongoing, and is based on regulations: CBD, CITES Convention, BERN Convention, RAMSAR Convention, BONN Convention and Directives of EU.

8 Status of legal framework of protected sites and existing ecological networks in Federation of BiH Institutional framework: Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism Cantonal ministries of environment The Institute for protection of cultural-historical and natural heritage – Canton Sarajevo Expert institution for research and monitoring of the state of the natural heritage has not been established yet at the level of BiH and Federation of BiH Institutions in FB&H and in some of its cantons with direct responsibility for natural resources management are forms of public enterprises/institutions/authorities established between to provide the following, already designated, protected areas protection and management: - National park “UNA” - Nature parks “Hutovo Blato” and “Blidinje” - Nature monuments “Skakavac“, “Vrelo Bosne” and “Tajan" - Protected landscape “Bijambare"

9 Status of legal framework of protected sites and existing ecological networks in Federation of BiH Protected sites : Non existance of the scientific – expert centre Lack of quality data base (at the national and federal level ) on protected areas The Register of protected areas not established The total surface under protected areas of Federation BiH is very low in general and it is not real state of protected natural potentials and identified natural resources The activites of the Ministry on establishing certain number of the protected ares in the Federation of BiH are ongoing. IUCN categorisation from the year 2008 will be included in the Law on nature protection which is at a stage of development. Bosnia and Herzegovina completed Pilot Project “Establishment of Emerald Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina”

Status of legal framework of protected sites and existing ecological networks in Republika Srpska Information on existing legislative framework and responsible institutions for site protection A. Legal framework -Law on Environmental Protection / consol. text (OG RS 28/07) -Law on Nature Protection, consol. text ( OG RS 113/08) in accordance with art. 42 RS Government, by proposal of the Ministry, brings up the Decree on establishment of NATURA 2000 sites -Rulebook on on the contents, establishing and Implementing the specific management Measures for protected areas (not passed yet) -Rulebook on the Protected Areas Register (not passed yet) level of harmonization of the existing laws with the EU Directives:  Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive) = 3,5%  Directive 92/43/EEC on conservation of natural habitats wild fauna and flora (Habitat ’ s Directive) = 21%

B. Overview of protected sites in Republika Srpska, including the % of protected territory in the country titleEntityTotal area (ha) NP „ Sutjeska “ RS ,00 NP „ Kozara “ RS 3.494,00 FR Janj RS 295 FR Lom RS 298 % of the RS area covered is about 2%

Institutional framework in Republika Srpska Ministry of Physical Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology Institute for Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage, RS Municipalities Academia – Forestry, Agriculture, Biology, Architecture depts. Managements of National Parks Museum RS

13 Short overview of regional and cross-border projects, future priorities in B&H The protection of nature in Bosnia nad Herzegovina is realised through different projects which are funded from various sources: GEF, IPA, etc and implemented by different agencies: UNDP, World bank, REC, etc. The following projects are examples of several ongoing biodiversity projects.

14 Short overview of regional and cross-border projects, future priorities in B&H Country priorities for GEF 4 (fiscal years ): Biodiversity (group allocation 3.5 mil USD) Climate change (group allocation 3.1 mil USD) There are 2 nominated biodiverisity GEF regional projects: –Mainstreaming Karst Peatlands Conservation Concerns into Key Economic Sectors, –Conservation and sustainable use of medical and aromatic plants.

15 Short overview of regional and cross-border projects, future priorities in B&H “Mainstreaming Karst Peatlands Conservation Concerns into Key Economic Sectors” grant from GEF: USD 950,000 Karst fields are important production landscapes that are characteristic for the Mediterannean region. The project will: assist in preparation of biodiversity-minded policy instrument - a Cantonal spatial plan, introduce municipal-level regulations for karst field biodiversity use by local population parallel to strengthening enforcement capacity of municipal and cantonal officers and inspectors; develop by-laws and methodological guidance on ecologically safe peat mining, promote an international (Croatia-BiH) formal agreement and plan for cross-border water management plan.

16 Short overview of regional and cross-border projects, future priorities in B&H “Conservation and sustainable use of medical and aromatic plants”; expected grant from GEF: USD 1, This is a project that is being developed by UNDP. This agro-biodiversity project will be a medium sized project and will have an objective of encouraging cultivation of plants that are currently being over-harvested, thus reducing pressure from the wild species.

Short overview of regional and cross-border projects, future priorities in B&H finalized project: Pilot Project “ Establishment of Emerald Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina ” Other ongoing projects: Sava River Basin Management other cross-border projects ( Sutjeska NP enlargement through the Tara Canyon)

18 Short overview of regional and cross-border projects, future priorities in B&H GEF Project “Neretva Trebišnjica River Basin Management” –This is regional cross-border project between B&H and Republic of Croatia –Budget is USD 8, –Implementation Agency: World Bank The Neretva and Trebišnjica River Basin Management Project for Europe and Central Asia aims to provide mechanisms for the efficient and equitable water allocation amongst the users of the Neretva and Trebišnjica river basin (NTRB) at the transboundary level and for enhancing the basin ecosystems and biodiversity through improved water resources management.

19 Short overview of regional and cross-border projects, future priorities in B&H GEF Project “ Forest and mountain protected areas” The project development objective (PDO) is to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity for sustainable PA and natural resource management, and expand the national network of forest and mountain PAs. The project focuses on improving the management effectiveness of four existing PAs, bringing two additional sites under protected status, assessing feasibility for another site and promoting sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation activities in or around PAs. Only 0,5% of land area is under protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the completion of this project this is expected to be 3%.

Key future priorities  the work on laws and by laws drafting shall continue, it is a long-lasting process that should involve different stakeholders, and well thought out consultation process  development of databases, and monitoring system for nature protection  establishment of the PA register at the entity level  better cooperation and information exchange