NATURA 2000

The Birds Directive and Habitats Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC and Directive 92/43/EEC, Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) form the cornerstone of Europe’s nature conservation policy. In the center of these two Directives is a creation of network of sites – NATURA 2000. In 2007, WWF MedPO started the “Europe’s Living Heart” project, which supports the implementation of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 in BiH. The objective was to support the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the transposition and implementation of the provisions of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive through the entity laws on the nature protection. The overall objective was to contribute to environmentally sustainable economic development through the convergence of national standards, through strengthening administrative structures and improve the approximation with the acquis in the field of environmental protection.

The most important results of the project are the developed geographic information system (GIS), the Review of flora, fauna and habitats, and the interactive map of Natura 2000 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Review of flora, fauna and habitats present in BIH in relation to the EU Annex I and II of the Habitat Directive, which will be the basis for the designation of the future Natura 2000 sites, presents a valuable step forward in the process of data collection and monitoring of the nature status in BiH. The conclusion of the project was that the diversity of habitats and species, and their rich occurrence in BiH, still require considerable data collection. In terms of future management, Natura 2000 sites should be included in the spatial planning process. This is a first step towards a rather lengthy process of area designation in accordance with the national laws. However, even the designated sites lack proper management and actual protection.

Dinaric Arc Parks

The Dinaric Arc is a region of South-Eastern Europe that covers some 100. 000 km2 and more than 6.000 km of coastline, stretching over the entire area oriented towards the Adriatic Sea from Trieste (Italy) to Tirana (Albania). WWF started the project Dinaric Arc Parks in early 2012, with the aim to create an association of nature parks in the territory of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. This three – year project is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the MAVA Foundation. The main objective of “Dinaric Arc parks“ project is creating a platform of protected areas by connecting all parks of nature and national parks in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. Project activities will help to build cooperation with the private sector and improve everyday business through exchanging experiences and examples of good practice.