Total: 51,233 sq km
Land: 51,233 sq km
Coastline: 20 km
Population: 3,482,495 (July 1999 est.)
Source: CIA Worldfact Book (1999)
Bosnia-Herzegovina
According to the Dayton Agreement, Bosnia-Herzegovina
(B&H) comprised of two highly autonomous entities,
Federation of B&H (F B&H) and Republic of Srpska
(RS). The Federation of B&H consists of ten Cantons,
which are governmental entities. Accordingly, the Federation
of B&H and Republic of Srpska have separate policies,
institutions and organizations in the environment
sector.
(Source: CIA World Factbook 1999)
Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the following information. The information was taken from Bosnia's submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: April 1997). For further information on Bosnia's social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Bosnia at:
http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/bosnia/index.htm
No information on Oceans and Coasts
COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
EUCC has compiled country files on Integrated Coastal
Management (ICM) for all coastal states of Europe and
Central Asia. Summaries for all countries will become
available in August. This page provides a preliminary
summary on the following items for
Bosnia-Herzegovina:
- Spatial planning
- Environment
- Nature Conservation
- Sectoral Development
- Framework for Development of ICZM
- National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
- Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM
1. Spatial planning
1.1 Legislation and Regulations
Law on Physical Planing, in F B&H, (1974).
Law of Space Planing, in RS, (1996).
1.2 Administrative Competencies
At the entities level:
Federal Ministry of Urban Planing and environment in F B&H. Ministry for Urbanism, Residential - Communal Activities, Civil Works and Ecology.
At the Cantonal Level in F B&H:
Cantonal Ministries for Physical Planing and the Environment.
1.3 Coastal Policy
Spatial Plan of Bosnia and Herzigovina to the year 2000.
Planing activities where treated within Regional Plan of
South Adriatic Area through the General Plan for former SR
B&H (1981-2000). The Neum Municipality Area Plan was
prepared during eighties as the first planing documentation
referring to the whole municipal territory. As result of pre
ñwar non-regular functioning of the governmental
bodies as well as the same situation after the war, Neum
Municipality Area Plan has never been adopted.
2. Environment
2.1 Legislation and Regulations
Federal Water Law, (1998). Law on Elements of Water
Regime important for Two or More Republics, or Autonomic
Provinces and on Inter-State Waters.
Law on Physical Planning.
Law on Sea Fishing.
Law on Hydro-Meteorological Activities of Republic Interest;
Decree on Classification of Waters in Inter-Republic Water
Streams, Inter-State Waters and Yugoslavia Coastal
Seawaters; Decree on Classification of Waters and Yugoslavia
Coastal Seawaters Within the Border of SR B&H; Decree on
Categorisation of Water Streams; Physical Plan of B&H
for Period 1981-2000; Program of Measures and Activities for
Protection of
Environment in SR B&H. Decision on maximum allowed
concentration of radionuclide and hazardous matters in
inter-republic water streams, inter-state waters, and waters
of coastal sea.
Both entities prepared draft Environmental Laws, but they
have not
been adopted. The main reason for that is that both, Federal
and RS
Laws, are not harmonised between each other, as well as not
adjusted to the EU principles.
2.2 Administrative Competencies
The Environmental Steering Committee for B&H (ESC
B&H) was
established in 1998, as inter-entity body for harmonisation
and co-ordination of entities environmental activities and
policy.
At the entities level:
Federal Ministry of Urban Planing and environment in F
B&H.
Ministry for Urbanism, Residential -Communal Activities,
Civil Works and Ecology.
At the Cantonal Level in FB&H:
Cantonal Ministries for Physical Planing and the Environment in F B&H.
2.3 Environmental Policy
No information received.
3. Nature Conservation
3.1 Legislation and Regulations
Law on protection of the Nature, (1970).
Law on Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural
Heritage, from the former SR B&H, (1985).
3.2 Administrative Competencies
Environmental Steering Committee for B&H (ESC B&H) was established in 1998, as inter - entity body for harmonisation and co-ordination of entities environmental activities and policy.
At the entities level:
Federal Ministry of Urban Planing and environment in F
B&H.
Ministry for Urbanism, Residential -Communal Activities,
Civil Works and Ecology.
At the Cantonal Level in FB&H:
Cantonal Ministries for Physical Planing and the Environment in F B&H.
3.3 System of Protected Areas
Only 0.55 % of the B&H territory is protected by the
Law. (General Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina, prepared
before the war, planed to increase this percentage of
protected zones from 0.55% to 16%, etc.). There are 5 Strict
reservations, 3 managing
reservations, 2 national parks, 29 Special reservations, 16
Natural sites and 195 various natural monuments.
Additionally, there are certain individual actions on
protection of habitat of threatened species, such as the
actions on protection of Hutovo Blato wetland (delta of
river Neretva), through the implementation of project
financed by EU - Life Third Country Program 1999.
4. Sectoral Development
4.1 Coastal Defence
No information received.
4.2 Recreation and Tourism
The Federal Ministry of Trade and tourism as well as Cantonal ministries are responsible bodies for development and promotion of tourism.
At the moment, the first priority is to prepare the
strategy for tourism
development since all cultural and natural
pre-qualifications for that already exist.
4.3 Fisheries and Aquaculture, 4.4 Transport, 4.5 Harbours and Shipping, 4.6 Industry, 4.7 Agriculture.
No information received.
5. Framework for Development of ICZM
6. National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
7. Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM
Development of ICZM process in B&H did not start. The
main reasons for such situation could be summarised as
follows:
Complicated political situation, practically no existing
legal framework and sector Laws on environment, lack of
adequate relevant institutions and human resources at all
political levels in B&H. [17]
References
17
Information provided by Zdenko Mimice, JP
ëMarecoí, Neum and Selma Cengic,
Hydro-Engineering Institute, Sarajevo.
Prepared by Martijn Onderstal at EUCC International Secretariat
© Copyright: European Union for Coastal Conservation
(EUCC), 2000