NERETVA AND TREBIŠNJICA MANAGEMENT PROJECT (NTMP) Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Project Implementation Teams

Introduction of the Project NTMP is a regional cooperation project - Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Transboundary river basin on the territory of: Republic of Croatia Dubrovnik-Neretva County and Split-Dalmatia County Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Federation of BiH (FB&H) Herzegovina-Neretva County / Western Herzegovina County Herzeg-Bosnia County Republika Srpska (RS) Trebinje Region The Neretva is: the longest river of the Adriatic catchment area (215 km long, with only 22 km in Croatia) the water –richest tributary of the Adriatic Sea on the territory of these two countries complex karst hydrography makes it difficult to define the exact boundaries of the catchment area (around 10,500 km 2 ) the water regime of the Neretva River basin has been significantly modified by the construction of hydropower facilities in the upper and middle sections of the Neretva River and on the Trebišnjica River with 7 reservoirs built from 1954 to 1985.

Project Objectives & Outcomes The development and general environmental objective of the project is to provide mechanisms for the efficient and equitable water allocation among the users of the Neretva and Trebišnjica River Basin at the trans-boundary level, and for enhancing the basin ecosystems and biodiversity through improved water resource management. Comp. 1 Improved transboundary water resources management Institution and capacity building Measurement, monitoring, and information management Development of WIS, including GIS Development of Neretva and Trebišnjica RBMP Comp. 2 Improved manag. and use of wetlands ecosystems and biodiversity Improved management of ecological subsystems – Baćina Lakes Management plan for protected areas in Croatia Pilot scheme to mitigate salt water intrusion in the delta Launching the “Naša Neretva” newsletter Small-Scale Water Management Infrastructure Improved Operation of Reservoirs and HPPs Comp. 3 High priority investment of water pollution control Investments in WWT in 3 municipalities in RS and in 2 municipalities in the FBH Improvement in industrial wastewater treatment in a metallurgy plant in Konjic (galvanization), repair and replacement of existing and installation of additional equipment Comp. 4 Public participation and management of project implementation Scientific Community Involvement: financial support to multisectoral workshops; monitoring of project indicators; design of web site Civil Society Participation: support to NGOs; community-based water pollution and conservation projects Project management support to agencies responsible for implementation; procurement of office equipment and vehicles; training for national and local government officials

Results in Stress Reduction INDICATOR#1 Improvements of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP Bileća RS, WWTP Konjic FB&H, rec. of WWTP Ljubuški FB&H and rec. of WWTP in indust.rial zone Konjic) INDICATOR#2 Environmental water flows maintained INDICATOR#3 Irrigation Pilot Project on the location Glog (284 ha) completed. Established M&E to monitor sustainability and replicability reduction of water pollution from municipal and industrial sources (organic, nutrients and priority substances) in selected municipalities in the basin improved maintenance of environmental flows and improve ecosystem health and biodiversity in the basin reduction of saltwater intrusion (Pilot Irrigation Scheme in Neretva Delta).

Results in Environmental Status Improved water resource management and biodiversity conservation have been identified by both countries as key environmental issues in their National Environmental Action Plans (NEAPs approwed in 2003 in BH and in Croatia in 2001). The two National Action Plans (NAPs) for SAP MED implementation that were prepared by BiH and Croatia in 2005 are concentrated on the coastal areas and define the priority pollution reduction investments, focusing on nutrients and urban wastewater throughout the NTRB. NEAPs were approved in BiH in 2003 and in Croatia in B&H and Croatia have jointly identified protection of the Neretva Delta and improved transboundary and river-basin-level management as priority actions through the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Program (RERP) of the Southeast Europe (SEE) Stability Pact. The project will pilot a scheme to mitigate saltwater intrusion into the Neretva Delta and reduce pollutants from agriculture into the Neretva River. INDICATOR#1 - Improved water quality status (achievement, maintenance or improvement of existing to at least good status in compliance with the requirements stated in Regulation on water quality standard (Official Gazette 89/10) River Basins Management Plan (draft) for rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters in the Neretva & Trebišnjica Basin. Projects: Management plan for the Hutovo blato Nature Park Flora and Fauna Museum in Trebinje Vjetrenica Tourist Centre Launching the “Naša Neretva” newsletter Improved management of ecological subsystems – Baćina Lakes Management plan for protected areas in Croatia DELTA

Process Results Indicators Increased interstate cooperation and capacity for trans-boundary water resource management, / and application of IWRM principles RBMP available (central activity of the project, crucial for parties as guidance that can be replicated in other basins; contributes to B&H and Croatia's accession to EU. The technical working group formed to follow up the preparation of the Plan in details (4 members from B&H and Croatia) (CC and TA) The parties established Coordination Committee (CC) for implementation (coordination and monitoring) of joint activities under the NTMP (plan development; guidance for addressing the common issues), regular reporting on joint activities and implementation progress to ISWC. CC receives the support from the Technical Advisory Group (TA) - experts from both parties (water, environment, agriculture and energy sectors and representative of hydro-power plants, municipalities and non-governmental organizations) (ISWC) Treaty between the two countries Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina established a joint Interstate Water Commission (ISWC) in order to regulate water management relations.

Conclusion The Neretva and Trebišnjica Management Project is an international project implemented on the territory of the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is a successful continuation of long cooperation between the two countries in the field of water management. It’s an integral project which through a wide range of different activities comprehensively addresses complex problems of water and environmental management in an international river basin. The Project is implemented in the framework of available mechanisms of bilateral cooperation, improving cooperation on operative/implementing level and promoting coordinated operations of the established project implementation teams. The Project promotes the principles of environmental protection and integrated water management in accordance with the provisions of the Water Framework Directive. The Project thus contributes to the process of approximation and harmonization of national regulations, standards and practices to the EU water acquis. By providing funds for the promotion of active participation of the local public, the Project supports the idea about the need of protecting the basin’s environmental values and waters, as well as about developmental possibilities offered by that kind of protection. With direct investments in the construction and reconstruction of urban and industrial wastewater treatment plants, investments in the development of irrigation and prevention of salt water intrusion, and investments in the implementation of measures for improved management of the protected areas, the Project has a direct impact on the improvement of the overall and ecological status of waters and protected areas of the Neretva and Trebišnjica river basin.