A fragile political framework
The lack of cooperation between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina makes it difficult for ecology to find its place. Yet each of the two subdivisions has a defined legal framework: the Ministry of Tourism and Environment for the Federation and the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology for the Serbian Republic. At the national level, Bosnia and Herzegovina is trying to follow in the footsteps of the European Union, and thus to show goodwill on the ecological level. This is why it signed the Paris agreements back in 2016, or why it adopted an action plan in 2017 to get closer to European environmental standards, with an allocated budget.
In reality, progress is slow, precisely because of the lack of finances. The post-war revival of industry is often equipped with antiquated equipment, often quite damaging to the environment. Although it is far from being unanimous, the younger generation seems to be more invested in environmental issues. Environmental associations are springing up all over the country, like Eko Centar, founded in Višegrad in 2020, which fights against the multiplication of mini hydroelectric power plants, or Eko Forum Zenica, which fights for an environmental policy in line with international standards.
The Bosnian water paradox
How is it possible that a country where water is one of the greatest riches has such difficulty in watering its population? With an extremely well-developed river system and high resources of 10,000m3 per capita, one of the highest scores in Central Europe, where the average is 2,400m3, water should not be a problem. However, only 65% of Bosnians are served by the public water system.
The main reason for this is the dilapidated infrastructure. It is estimated that it causes losses of up to 50% on the public network. In addition, due to the lack of wastewater treatment plants, only 3% of wastewater is treated (compared to 85% in the EU).
In addition, there is a purely political problem: the richness of the Bosnian river network, which makes the country one of the few European exporters of electricity, often seems to be sold off to investors who multiply dams. The Neretva, well known to holidaymakers for flowing under the Mostar bridge, is being swarmed by hydroelectric stations. In 2022, 70 projects of power stations are studied, whereas the situation does not justify it. The existing power plants are operated at only 25% of their capacity due to the lack of modern equipment. It would therefore be sufficient to invest in the existing plants. In 2017, the race for kilowatts had even dried up the Jablanica lake, which nevertheless allows the population to feed on an abundant fishing. Yet Bosnian hydroelectricity still has a bright future ahead of it, as a $200 million contract has been signed with a Chinese company to build the Dabar megawatt plant. Its labyrinthine network of tunnels will divert 210m3 per second, thus depriving the Hutovo Blato nature reserve. This area is home to an extraordinary biological wealth, particularly because of the presence of 250 species of birds, feeding on the fish of the marsh, soon to be dried up.
Lack of response to pollution
Like water, waste faces a significant lack of infrastructure. For example, only 0.5% of municipal waste is recycled, compared to an EU average of 44%. But recycling is not the priority, while the foundations of a waste management system have not been laid. The rate of landfilling is twice as high as in the rest of the continent. Along the roads and waterways, water bottles, plastic packaging, filled garbage bags and household appliances accumulate. The phenomenon is such that with the slightest rain, these unauthorized dumps shed part of their mass, which ends up in the rivers. The Drina River sometimes disappears under a thick layer of garbage. Its importance is however vital, since it irrigates the major part of the Bosnian forests.
This recurring problem is even a source of tension between Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, which share several rivers in common and therefore always pass the buck to upstream municipalities, without finding solutions. The European Union is trying to provide funds to improve the situation, but the road is still long.
The waste that is collected usually ends up being incinerated, and this toxic smoke is added to the fumes from coal-fired power plants and the exhaust fumes from vehicles from another era. Coal is a recurring problem, as the 18 power plants in the Balkans alone pollute more than the 250 European power plants. Sarajevo has sometimes been ranked as the city with the most polluted air in the world.
A biodiversity preserved by national parks
Despite this, Bosnian biodiversity is rather well preserved, since the country has escaped massive industrialization. Protected areas ensure the sustainability of this conservation, through nine different statutes, including the integral nature reserves, which benefit from a strict framework, four national parks or nature reserves.
Among its many treasures: the Perućica forest, one of the last primary forests in Europe, that is, a forest without any trace of human activity. It intends to remain so, since as an integral reserve, the rare visits are necessarily accompanied by a ranger. It is part of the Sutjeska National Park, the oldest in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In addition to hosting Mount Maglić, the highest peak in the country with its 2,386 m altitude, it is home to a fauna and flora of paramount importance. In particular, the highest concentration of wolves and bears in the country can be found here. The Balkan chamois(Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) has been the subject of a successful reintroduction program.
The Una National Park is the largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina with an area of almost 20,000 hectares. It protects the basin of the sublime river Una. Beyond the beauty of its turquoise rapids, its importance is vital both for the thirty species of fish that live there and for the flora, sometimes rare, that surrounds it.
The national park of Kozara, opened by order of Tito, shelters hilly and green landscapes typical of the north of the country. Firs, beeches, oaks and pines form the typical forest cover of Central Europe. Numerous small mammals, such as ferrets, squirrels and martens, live happily here. They also allow the presence of birds of prey, such as eagles and owls.
The young Drina National Park was created in 2017. If it allows on its scale to relieve the river Drina, it is not enough to completely relieve it, since it extends over three countries.
