1 Neapbih Eng

NEAP
National Environmental Action Plan
Participants
Federal Ministry of Physical Planning and Ramiz Mehmedagić, Minister

Environment
Ministry of Town Planning, Housing- Neđo Đurić, Minister

Communal Services, Civil Engineering
and Ecology, RS*
NEAP Directorate MSc. Denis Zvizdić, Co-director,

MSc. Dragan Milojčić, Co-director
NEAP Steering Committee – FBiH Ramiz Mehemedagić, Minister-president of SC,

Federal Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment
Behija Hadžihajdarević, Minister - Member of SC,
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management
and Forestry
Željko Mišanović, Minister - Member of SC, Federal
Ministry of Health
Hasan Bećirević, Minister - Member of SC, Federal
Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry
Besim Mehmedić, Minister - Member of SC, Federal
Ministry of Transport and Communications
Enes Sarač, President - Member of SC, Federal
Meteorological Institute
Zlatko Vučina, President - Member of SC, Federal
Institute for Public Health
Munira Zahiragić, Member of SC, Federal Institute
for Statistics
NEAP Steering Committee – RS* Prof. Dr. Neđo Đurić, Minister, Ministry of Town
Planning, Housing-Communal Services, Civil
Engineering and Ecology RS*
Dr. Rajko Latinović, Counselor to President of RS
Government for Agriculture
Dr. Milorad Balaban, Minister, Ministry of Health
and Social Welfare
Doc. Dr. Milenko Stanković, Assistant to Minister,
Ministry of Town Planning, Housing-Communal
Services, Civil Engineering and Ecology RS *
MSc. Mlađen Mandić, Assistant to Minister of Justice
Zdravko Krsmanović, Deputy Minister of Transport
and Communications
MSc. Svetislav Gligorević, Assistant to Minister of
Energy and Mining*
MSc. Ljubo Glamočić, Assistant to Minister of
Industry and Technology*
Boško Stojković, Assistant to Minister of Education*
Zoran Stjepanović, Assistant to Minister for Foreign
Economic Relations*
Mira Straživuk, Assistant to Minister of Finance
Vječeslav Miljić, Ministry of Science and Culture*
NEAP
Environmental Steering Committee Prof. Dr. Borislav Jakšić

BiH (ESC) Mladen Rudež
Mehmed Cero
Miroslav Vujatović
Dr. Vesna Pašić-Hercegovac
Doc. Dr. Milenko Stanković
MSc. Anđa Hadžiabdić
Boro Mandić
Prof. Dr. Tarik Kupusović (ex-member)
Filomena Primorac-Nikolić (ex-member)
The World Bank Team Rita Klees, Senior Environmental Specialist and
Environment Program Team Leader for BiH
Mirjana Karahasanović, Operations Analyst
The World Bank, Sarajevo Resident Mission
Dr. Viktor Simončič, Consultant
Consultant for Synthesizing, Drafting and BOSNA-S OIL SERVICES CO.

Finalizing the NEAP: CONSULTING BUREAU
Fethi Silajdžić, Project Manager
Esma Kreso, Environmental Specialist
Adnan Ibišević, Consultant
Šemsudin Hadžiefendić, Senior Advisor
Domagoj Bačić, Project development
Nikola Jovanović, Expert
Sabina Hodžić, Tech. assistant
Adnan Šećibović, Tech. assistant
Kenan Zekić, Design
Timur Selmanović, IT
Technical Support and Translation to INSTITUTE FOR URBANISM OF RS

Serbian Language: Branislav Bijelić
Nataša Glišić, Translation
Technical Assistance, Organization and REC BiH

Facilitation of NEAP Workshops: Nešad Šeremet
Đorđe Stefanović
* Note: Members of the NEAP Entity Steering Committees are representatives of Entity Ministries. During NEAP preparation
certain ministries were named as shown in the Participants list. The names of the indicated (*) ministries in RS have been changed
into: Ministry of Physical Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology RS; Ministry of Economy, Energy and Mining RS; Ministry of
Science and Technology RS; Ministry of Education and Culture RS; Ministry of Economic Relations and Coordination RS. The
Ministry of Science and Culture RS has been transformed into two ministries: Ministry of Science and Technology RS and Ministry
of Education and Culture RS.
NEAP
Members of Thematic Work Groups
Workgroup I: Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Knežević, Group Coordinator

Air Quality Management Prof. Dr. Jovan Đuković, Group Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Azra Jaganjac, Group Member
Prof. Dr. Milovan Pecelj, Group Member
Martin Tais, Air Quality Expert
Workgroup II: Prof. Dr. Hajrudin Simičić, Group Coordinator

Integrated Water Resources Prof. Dr. Mato Goluža, Group Coordinator
Doc. Dr. Duško Đurić, Group Coordinator
Management
MSc. Bogoljub Antonić, Group Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Halid Merdanić, Group Member
Workgroup III: Prof. Dr. Hamid Čustović, Group Coordinator

Protection, Use and Management of Doc. Dr. Mihajlo Marković, Group Coordinator
MSc. Rade Lukić, Group Member
Land Resources
MSc. Slavka Sufi -Mičić, Group Member
Prof. Dr. Husnija Resulović, Group Consultant
Workgroup IV: Prof. Dr. Refik Numić, Group Coordinator

Forest Management Rada Maunaga, Group Coordinator
Ljubomir Marić, Group Member
Prof. Dr. Jakov Pehar, Group Member
Workgroup V: Prof. Dr. Velida V. – Velagić, Group Coordinator

Waste Management Dr. Veljko Đukić, Group Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Fuad Ćatović, Group Member
Workgroup VI: Prof. Dr. Vlasta Žuljić, Group Coordinator

Integral Spatial Management Milan Adžić, Group Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Mithat Aganović, Group Member
Milan Jakšić, Group Member
Workgroup VII: Prof. Dr. Murat Prašo, Group Coordinator

Economy and Environment Prof. Dr. Lazo Roljić, Group Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Anton Jekauc, Group Member
Prof. Dr. Vlado Markuljević, Group Member
Workgroup VIII: Prof. Dr. Sulejman Redžić, Group Coordinator

Biodiversity, Geo-Diversity and Marinko Dalmatin, Group Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Muhamed Hamidović, Group Coordinator
Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage
Jelena Kadić, Group Coordinator
Doc. Dr. Milenko Radević, Group Coordinator
Dr. Ljiljana Ševo, Group Coordinator
Workgroup IX: Prof. Dr. Lejla Saračević, Group Coordinator

Public Health, Demography and Social Issues Dušanka Danojević, Group Coordinator
Mara Kresojević, Group Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Veselin Trninić, Group Coordinator
MSc. Alma Pobrić, Group Member
Jelena Đokić, Group Member
Workgroup X: Mehmedalija Huremović, Group Coordinator

Legislation and Institutional Framework Prof. Dr. Branko Morait, Group Coordinator
Kadira Močević, Group Member
Đorđe Vojinović, Group Member
Jovan Radić, Associated Consultant
NEAP
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 6
2 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - BACKGROUND ..................................................................... 9
2.1 General Information ............................................................................................................ 9
2.2 Socio - economic Features ................................................................................................ 9
2.3 Economy and Environment ................................................................................................ 12
3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA .................................. 19
4 NEAP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................... 28
5 STATUS OF THE ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................ 31
5.1 Air Quality Management ..................................................................................................... 31
5.1.1 Status of the Sector ............................................................................................................ 31
5.1.2 Problem Identification and Analysis ................................................................................... 32
5.1.3 Goals and Measures .......................................................................................................... 34
5.2 Integrated Water Resources Management ........................................................................ 36
5.3 Protection, Use and Management of Land Resources .................................................... 44
5.4 Forest Management ............................................................................................................ 50
5.5 Waste Management ............................................................................................................. 55
5.6 Integral Spatial Management ............................................................................................. 62
5.7 Biodiversity, Geodiversity and Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage ................. 67
5.8 Health and Safety ................................................................................................................ 77
5.8.1 Status of the sector and problem identification .................................................................. 77
5.8.2 Goals and measures .......................................................................................................... 82
6 IMPLEMENTATION, UPDATING AND SUPERVISION OF NEAP ............................................ 85
7 NEAP PRIORITIES ..................................................................................................................... 87
8 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 101
I Institutional Structure of BiH ................................................................................................. 101
II Environmental Management Structure ................................................................................ 103
III Constitutions ......................................................................................................................... 104
IV Legislation Published in Official Media .............................................................................. 105
V International Agreements ..................................................................................................... 116
VI Maps ...................................................................................................................................... 123
VII Photographs ........................................................................................................................ 127
NEAP
Foreword
In July 2000, the Governments of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika
Srpska received an International Development Fund (IDF) grant from the World Bank for
environmental capacity building. With the assistance of this grant, the National Environmental
Action Plan (NEAP) for Bosnia and Herzegovina was completed in early 2003. The goal of the
NEAP is identification of short and long-term priority actions and measures providing the basis
for preparation of a long-term environmental protection strategy in accordance with the
economic, social and political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The intention of the NEAP
is to facilitate the preparation of a unified environmental protection policy in the context of
macroeconomic reforms, poverty reduction strategy and the transition process.
The preparation of the NEAP was coordinated by the NEAP Directorate composed of two co-
directors, with two branch offices in relevant entity ministries responsible for environment, i.e.
in Sarajevo (Federal Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment) and in Banja Luka
(Ministry of Town Planning, Housing-Communal Services, Civil Engineering and Ecology).
The Entity NEAP Steering Committees, Environmental Steering Committee, ministries in
charge and the World Bank carried out supervision and follow-up of work, including coordination
with other environmental projects and activities.
A key element of the NEAP is the comprehensive analysis of the state of the environment. Ten
thematic areas were identified as covering the key environmental issues (air, water, land, forests,
waste, space, economy, biodiversity, health and demography, legal and institutional framework),
which were analyzed by working groups comprised of 50 local experts from all over BiH.
During 2001 and 2002, four workshops were held, which, besides the experts, were also
attended by the representatives of the state and entity authorities, representatives of Brčko District,
municipal authorities, institutions and professional institutes, NGOs and the private sector.
Representatives of international organizations and donors including the World Bank, OHR, USAID,
UNDP and REC, significantly contributed to the NEAP process through active participation.
Eight priority areas of NEAP were established through a joint multidisciplinary approach (Water
resources/wastewater, Sustainable development of rural areas, Environmental management,
Protection of biodiversity and landscape diversity, Waste/waste management, Economy, Public
health and Demining). Following this process, the participants and experts defined the priority
measures and activities, which are a necessary precondition for undertaking actions in each of
the above areas. As a result, in the open application process, the NEAP Directorate received
over 450 project proposals coming from different priority areas.
Now that the governments and assemblies of both entities have adopted the National Environmental
Action Plan, it is necessary to establish supervision and ensure efficient implementation and
updating. In line with this approach, during implementation of the NEAP, it is necessary to prepare a
National environmental protection program and appropriate cantonal and local programs for
realisation of projects included in the NEAP. In order to define the long-term Strategy for
sustainable development in BiH and poverty reduction, it is necessary to prepare and coordinate,
entity environmental protection strategies and plans. We expect active participation of all
interested parties and stakeholders during implementation of the NEAP and preparation of long-
tem strategies and plans, to ensure the proper integration and balance of socio-economic
development and environmental protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarajevo, March 2003 Banja Luka, March 2003
Ramiz Mehmedagić Mensur Šehagić

Minister, Federal Ministry of Physical Minister, Ministry of Physical Planning,
Planning and Environment Civil Engineering and Ecology, RS
NEAP
1 Introduction
As a country in transition, Bosnia and Herzegovina is faced in the post-war period with numerous
social, economic and other problems, among which the issue of environmental protection stands
out as one of the most crucial. In the pre-war period, the basic natural resources – water, air and
soil – of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the center of heavy industry and as the Republic providing
raw materials and energy that served as basis for economic development of former Yugoslavia,1
were subject to serious pollution. Large surfaces, above all those in urban areas, were exposed
to various forms of pollution, due to expansion of construction and building, manufacturing
industry and power industry (mines and large power facilities). True, the required norms and
standards, i.e. the measures designed to prevent such devastation of environment were indeed in
place, but in practice however, they were rather inconsistently applied.
During the war and post-war period, the process of devastation of natural resources continued.
Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged from the war with an almost totally destroyed infrastructure
(electric energy, water supply, sewerage, transport, etc.), ruined industry and collapsed economy.
More than two million landmines were planted throughout the country, thousands of tons of
various kinds of waste (municipal, construction, pharmaceutical, etc.) were, or are still waiting
to be properly disposed of, thousands of hectares of forests were destroyed or cut, large areas of high
quality agricultural land and pastures were laid to waste or contaminated.
In order to address the complexity of environmental issues and the importance of the
environment for future economic development, human health and social balance and well being,
the need for a National Environmental Action Plan (hereinafter NEAP) was recognized in
the late 1990s. Based on principles of sustainable development, full preparation of NEAP began
in 2000 with the financial and technical assistance from the World Bank.2 The NEAP provides
the basic framework for the future and for the first time comprehensively develops the structure
for environmental protection and guidelines for overall development of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. In general, the capacity for environmental management has been further facilitated
by a recently adopted set of environmental laws. These were prepared with financial and
technical support from the European Union and drew upon the already established principles of
European environmental legislation.
Participatory processes and the use of local expertise were emphasized in the methodology
adopted in preparing the NEAP. A NEAP Directorate composed of two co-directors, one from
each of the Entities, established to coordinate the NEAP process with ten thematic groups,
comprising some 50 BiH experts, was formed to guide the overall technical process. Two
branch NEAP Directorate offices to provide overall administrative and operational support were
established in each of the Entity environment Ministries in Sarajevo and Banja Luka.
The preparation of the NEAP was organized around democratic principles, with full transparency,
participation of the public and free access to all information. Most importantly, NEAP preparation
1
More than 50% of Yugoslav coal output, more than 50% of electric power output, and 70% of output of iron, lead and zinc metal
ores, as well as of nitrogen and chlorine-based chemical products, were being produced in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2
The World Bank has initiated and provided financial and technical assistance for the preparation of NEAP through an IDF Grant
in July 2000.
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focused on the direct involvement of all relevant stakeholders including representatives of the
Council of Ministers, Entity and Cantonal Ministries, members of the Environmental Steering
Committee (ESC), NEAP Steering Committees (NEAP SC),3 NGOs, local institutions, scientists,
experts and individuals.4 This was achieved through:
Four national level workshops in which all interested parties participated;

Field consultations in each of the ten Federation Cantons, each of the RS Regions, numerous
municipalities in each Entity and District Brčko;
Target round table discussions on specific themes, and lectures (for representatives of
businesses, NGOs, scientific institutions, etc.), as well as media appearances and interviews.
Recognizing the relationship between poverty and environment, since the natural resource base
in BiH is key to economic growth and development, additional studies were conducted during
the NEAP preparation to examine these linkages. These studies provided the basis for identifying
environmental priorities and also contributed to the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)
now under preparation. Thus, the NEAP has been instrumental in catalyzing cooperation between
the environment and economic community in BiH.
As the above considerations illustrate, NEAP needed to be developed as a dynamic program

document with the emphasis placed on environmentally sustainable development rather than
restrictive perspectives. Such an approach has established the following objectives to:
Base environmental protection upon principles of sustainable use of natural resources

recognizing the requirements of ambitious plans of economic development as the only
efficient tool for removing the consequences of poverty;
Strengthen administrative bodies responsible for implementation of environmental protection
through development of human resources, funds and organization;
Establish an integral environmental information system and enable implementation of
environmental monitoring;
Modify the legal, administrative, financial and institutional framework at all levels, as
steps towards approaching the EU;
Institute the process of obligatory incorporation of environmental protection policy in all
other sector policies together with the strengthening of parallel coordination between all
bodies and entities addressing the environmental protection issues;
Ensure ring-fenced funding to be used for implementation of environmental protection
programs and projects through the introduction of direct and indirect economic instruments
(fees for wastewater and emissions, user services, customs and tax differentiation, product
and administrative costs, etc.);
3
Entity NEAP Steering Committees. The Entity Governments issued Decrees on Creation of the Entity Steering Committees for
preparation of NEAP for Bosnia and Herzegovina (published in the Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 35/01 and Official Gazette of
Republika Srpska, no. 15/01).
4
Apart from 50 experts directly engaged, about 1000 participants, professionals from various fields, indirectly took part in the
preparation of NEAP.
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NEAP
Encourage the establishment of sustainable development funds for financing projects,

providing administrative support to sustainable management of cleaner production enterprises
(through proper choice of environmentally friendly technologies) and developing process
management with a focus on responsibilities and ethics towards the environment;
Provide significant support to scientific research and continuous education to establish a
nucleus of highly qualified professional personnel to implement and develop the
environmental protection policies; to stimulate the development of new technologies; to
upgrade the existing ones and/or replace them by environmentally acceptable alternatives;
Provide conditions for the development of entity, cantonal, municipal and sectoral
environmental protection programs and action plans;
Promote the principle of partnership and shared responsibility amongst all economic
entities (public and private entrepreneurs) and the NGO sector to become active partners
in implementing environmental protection policy from the early stages of development of
programs and projects and to be among the pioneers of their implementation;
Promote the principle of balance between the short-term and long-term needs of, and
benefits for, individuals, entrepreneurs, administration, and society as a whole. (Satisfy
human needs and improve the standard of living by efficient and appropriate management
of natural resources, through global partnership.)
This document is organized as follows: The first chapter, as presented so far, laid down the
goals and tasks of NEAP and provided insight into the preparation process. Following this, the
second chapter describes the socio-economic status of BiH along with the environmental
pressures exerted by key economic sectors. Environmental management in BiH is given in
chapter 3 relating to the structure and institutional framework, legislation, protection policy, as
well as the instruments of monitoring, implementing and financing of environmental protection.
This chapter also contains the international obligations of BiH and the issues of environmental
awareness and the need for education and scientific research. The fourth chapter describes the
NEAP preparation, based upon the principles of sustainable development and defines the
criteria and priorities for the thematic documents with the aim of resolving environmental
protection issues. Chapter 5 presents the state of the environment in eight key sectors and
proposes measures to address the crucial environmental problems. Chapter 6 defines the
institutional and technical requirements for implementation, updating and supervision of the
NEAP. Chapter 7 describes the eight priority environmental issues in BiH comprising: Water
resources and wastewater management; Sustainable development of rural areas; Environmental
management; Protection of biological and landscape diversity; Waste management; Sustainable
development of the economy; Public health; and Demining. These represent the results of the
multi-disciplinary analysis of priority environmental areas determined through participatory
procedures adopted during the preparation of NEAP.
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NEAP
2 Bosnia and Herzegovina - Background
2.1 General Information
Bosnia and Herzegovina is situated in South Eastern Europe, in the central part of the Balkan
Peninsula and has a total land area of 51,129 km2. The total length of its borders is 1,537 km of
which 762.5 km are land borders, 751.0 km river borders and 23.5 km sea borders. Bosnia and
Herzegovina has common frontiers with Republic of Croatia (931 km), Serbia (375 km) and
Montenegro (249 km). To the north, BiH has access to the River Sava, and to the south to the
Adriatic Sea, at Neum. The land is mainly hilly to mountainous with an average altitude of
500 meters. Of the total land area, 5% are lowlands, 24% hills, 42% mountains and 29% Karst
area. The climate is moderately continental, and in lesser part Mediterranean. Forests and
forestlands cover about 50% of the territory, while the total agricultural land covers 2.5 million
hectares or 0.7 hectares per capita. With its high average annual precipitation (1250 l/m2
compared with the European average of 1000 l/m2) Bosnia and Herzegovina possesses
significant water resources. There are seven river basins (Una, Vrbas, Bosna, Drina, Sava,
Neretva with Trebišnjica and Cetina) of which 75.7% belong to the Black Sea catchment and
24.3% to the Adriatic Sea catchment. There are also a large number of river lakes (on Pliva
and Una) and mountain lakes (in the area of Dinarides), as well as thermal and geothermal
groundwater resources.
The state of Bosnia and Herzegovina is regulated by the Dayton Agreement (signed on 14th of
December 1995 in Paris) and comprises the three separate administrative units of the Federation
BiH (divided into 10 cantons), the Republika Srpska and the District of Brčko. The official
languages are Bosnian, Serb and Croat.
According to the 1991 census, Bosnia and Herzegovina had a population of 4.4 million inhabitants
and a GDP per capita of about 2,500 USD, placing BiH among medium-developed countries.
The most recent estimates show that the population has decreased to 3.5 million inhabitants as a
result of the consequences of war and that the GDP has fallen to the substantially lower figure of
about 1200 USD per capita.
2.2 Socio-economic Features
Within former Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina was listed as generally under developed,
lagging some 15% behind the Yugoslav average GDP per capita and 46% behind the world
average. Due to significant investments before the war in the energy and industrial sectors, this
was changing, with the GDP being on a strong upward trend. Industry was becoming a
dominant sector and its share of GDP was about 60%. War however changed all this.
Significant changes in the structure of economy resulted with the industrial sector being the
worst affected. Few of the designated industrial zones in the cities now show industrial activity
and although this has had major negative consequences on the economy of the country, it has
resulted in positive impact upon the environment. Since the war, with assistance from abroad,
the level of economic activity has started to improve and now stands at approximately 1/3 of the
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NEAP
pre-war figure. There are however considerable hurdles, such as the process of ownership
transition, to be faced before the economy is fully revived capable of sustainable development.
Foreign trade dramatically declined after the war. Exports dropped from the pre-war level of 2
billion USD to about 500 million USD, whilst imports rose from 1.7 billion USD to the present
level of about 2.8 billion USD. This has resulted in the large trade deficit experienced today.
Employment has also suffered greatly from the changes brought on by the war. Previously the
economy and the public sector provided employment for about 1 million people; about 330
thousand were unemployed. After the war, the employment level dropped to about 650
thousand, while the number of unemployed rose to 420 thousand. The impact of this is even
greater when it is considered that the total population declined by one third in the same period.
Added to this, amongst those still employed a further 150 thousand are expected to be made
redundant following the process of privatization. This is illustrated in Table 1 below.
Table 1 Structure of Workforce in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Population available for work in BiH 2,468,745 (100.0%)
Economically active population 1,233,357 (50.0%)

Employed – recorded 629,382 (25.5%)
Unemployed – recorded 414,024 (16.8%)
Persons not on the records 189,951 (7.7%)
5
Economically inactive population 1,235,388 (50.0%)
Pensioners 316,705 (12.8%)
Persons currently attending education 332,365 (13.4%)
Persons out of work 586,318 (23.8%)
There is a direct correlation in BiH between poverty and degradation of environment. With
approximately 60 to 70% of the present BiH population barely at subsistence level, uncontrolled
and excessive exploitation of natural resources6 is taking place, particularly in agricultural areas,
exacerbated by large migrations of rural population towards the cities. This is exacerbated by
the low production of the state-owned enterprises that are currently working at only 10-15% of
their capacities. The end to this does not seem to be in sight as Donor funds are steadily being
reduced and domestic sources of funding, earmarked to overcome the enormous social problems,
are only slowly and negligibly increasing.
Considering social vulnerability and security, the population can be divided into four basic,
socially critical groups:
Refugees and displaced persons;
5
There are 19 social care institutions for adults in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 2,322 beneficiaries.
6
It is estimated that due to the expansion of construction and development of housing, industrial and infrastructure facilities, mining
pits, waste dumps, etc. over the last two years, BiH has been losing over 10,000 hectares of agricultural land annually, whilst the
annual volume of tree felling amounted to about 3.7 million m3.
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NEAP
Young people fit for work but who are forced to emigrate due to the lack of domestic job
opportunities;
Persons at subsistence level but determined to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina (population
capable for work; single mothers without regular social benefits; disabled veterans;
industrial invalids);
Population who are socio-economically provided for (less than 20% of population
including about 12% with family income in excess of 1,000 KM per month).
Demographic problems as a consequence of war. Recent population data are still being
compiled, but it has been estimated that about 5% of the 1991 population were either killed or
missing during the war (which lasted from 1992-1995). Of the remaining population, 2,678,000
inhabitants were displaced from their homes, 1,170,000 of them internally, and 1,250,000 are
refugees. There are also 73,635 registered disabled veterans and 18,116 civil victims of war,
among whom there is also a considerable number of children.7 Although rural migration to the
cities has been traditionally pronounced in Bosnia and Herzegovina in a large number of
municipalities, this has been accentuated by war and post-war events. According to the latest
data available, the ratio between the urban and rural population is 60:40 respectively, which is
almost the reverse of the 1991 situation when the urban population was 1.7 million (39.5% of
total). This resettlement trend has led to the complete decline of many rural settlements and the
appearance of under populated areas. A false image of a highly urbanized country and of heavy
pressure on environment is thus created.
When demographic indicators for 2000 are compared with 1996 data, unfavorable tendencies
result: (I) the number of live births is decreasing by 15%, (II) the number of deaths is increasing
by 17% (III) the natural growth of population has decreased from over 21,000 to about 9,000
persons. In addition, the brain drain of young and professionally qualified persons represents an
increasingly serious problem. These are following overseas job opportunities, but declining to
return once they have reached certain professional status abroad. This also affects the economic
recovery of BiH and slows down the resolution of both social and economic problems.
The problems of poverty and social issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been recently
comprehensively examined.8 It has been concluded that the solution lies precisely in economic
development, which implies the revitalization of the country's economic capacities and a return
to pre-war levels of employment and sustainable rural development.9 This in turn implies,
among other issues, the return of refugees and displaced persons and the creation of an enabling
environment for young well-qualified professionals and businesses. All of these could further
increase the pressure upon the environment, which is already, in many cases, in a weakening
state.
7
Information on different sources is available in the NEAP documentation.
8
"Poverty Assessment in BiH" is the result of a survey conducted on living standards in BiH for the year 2001 by a team of experts
from the World Bank in cooperation with representatives from the Institutes for Statistics of RS and FBiH and the BiH Agency for
Statistics.
9
The analysis of the system of settlements shows that there are about 1,500 sub-municipal centers with 500 – 2,000 inhabitants who
possessed the resources that could be used primarily for healthy food production.
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NEAP
2.3 Economy and the Environment
Structure and dynamics of economic development in BiH have had a significant impact on the
environment. In the pre-war period, BiH industry was based on the centralized development
policy of former Yugoslavia with heavy industry predominating. The heavy industry served as a
supplier to other republics within the former Yugoslavia and its presence, including energy,
mining, large landfills, slag, ashes, etc., made BiH one of the most polluted in the former state.
Even before the war, the economic crisis existing at that time, coupled with weak implementation
of environmental protection measures, resulted in the use of obsolete, polluting technologies.
Although the war resulted in the destruction of many of these polluting industries and a
significant reduction in the operating capacities, the legacy of the pre-war period still remained.
Despite the lower level of environmental pollution in the post-war period, approximately 30-
35% of the pre-war level, the negative pressures on environment are still very much present.
This situation is a consequence of BiH still being the source for the many local and other
markets primarily for lumber and coal-based power production that results in inefficient exploitation
of natural resources. The pressures exerted by key industrial and economic sectors are as follows:
Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing. The agricultural sector used to represent one of
the important economic sectors in BiH. However, since the war, this has been declining with the
contribution of this sector in the total GDP figure decreasing from 9.2% in 1999 to 7.2% in
2000. This has had an impact on the number of persons employed in these activities, which has
been reduced by one half from the pre-war level. In the year 2000, 20 thousand people were
engaged, representing only 3,2% of those employed.10
Limited soil resources and land capability characterize the conditions of the agricultural sector
in BiH. Those areas with suitable arable production potential cannot realize this potential
without the provision of irrigation facilities. At present, only about 2% of the cultivable soil of
BiH is irrigated and fertilizer usage is well below the European average. This is exacerbated by
the presence of numerous minefields and small land holdings (on average < 3 ha).
Forestry is another important component of the agricultural sector in BiH with about 50% of the
total land area or 2,500,000 ha being covered by forests. The productivity of this sector has
however been very low due to outdated technology, leading to a high percentage of waste in
wood processing.
There are two types of pressures related to these activities: (1) pressures from the surroundings
on the agricultural and forested land and (2) pressure from these activities on the surroundings.
The first reduces the available agricultural and forestry land, increases soil erosion and
devastation of resources, and has secondary negative consequences for water resources, water
regimes and fishing. The other pressures are caused by:
Inadequate usage of inorganic compounds, pesticides and herbicides in agriculture, which

is, however, at the moment negligible considering the quantities used;
Use of explosives and other forms of mass fishing in rivers and lakes;
10
This number contains only those individuals who are registered through employment in companies. Otherwise, a far greater number
of people is in the agriculture producing goods for their own needs, but they are not included in the employment's statistical data.
12
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Inadequate nutrients are given to fish bred in fish farms;

Uncontrolled forest exploitation during and post war.
Production and processing of metal and machines. Before the war, around 157 thousand
persons, or 15.6% of the total, were employed in these industries. Annual exports were 630
million USD, mostly to European countries, resulting in a positive foreign trade balance of 385
million USD. After the war less than one third of the pre-war numbers were employed in this
sector and this has now increased to about half of the pre-war level (7.9%) but still represents
considerable over manning.
Environmental pressures from this industry are manifested through exploitation of raw materials
and production of large quantities of industrial waste.11 Although current production levels are
low, the previous limited attention to waste disposal and the very large land areas that they
occupied presents significant environmental pressures. In addition to the obvious problems,
many of the sites contain a range of harmful substances, that present additional pressure on soil,
water and public health. Besides these residual problems, additional processing problems still
exist such as irrational use of energy, large demand for cooling water used in combustion
processes. Inadequate technologies add to this with air and water pollution (lack of recycling
and release of wastewater directly in the environment).
Clothing, Textile, Leather and Hide. Before the war, this sector employed about 10.5% of the
total work force with around 105 thousand employees. These were engaged in a number of
related industries. Imported cotton was used to produce about 20 thousand tons of yarn and 50
million sqm. of fabric, 7 thousand tons of knitwear, 5 million sqm. of underwear and 50 million
sqm. of clothes annually. Over 4 million sqm. of processed natural leather, fur and imported
artificial leather was used to produce over 12 million pairs of shoes and 800 thousand sqm. of
gloves and accessories. The quality of production was high and many textile factories competed
well with famous producers on the most selective world markets. After the war this industry was
reduced to some 41.5% of the pre-war level (44 thousand persons) or 6.9% of the total work
force. Those parts that are still in business work mainly through loan (production) agreements
with foreign companies.
From the early 70's, a shift in emphasis was made from basic industry to processing, including
textile and leather. These were favored due to the relatively low costs of labor and this
development has proven to be relatively successful. This is illustrated by the export data
showing that this industry with an import of around 30 million USD and an export of about 350
million USD had a net positive foreign trade of 320 million USD.
Revitalization of this industry relies upon the import of cotton and regeneration of the country's
cattle farming industry. As many of the largest producers of yarn and textiles have been
destroyed, producers of final textile and leather products rely, for the time being, on either the
export of services (loan agreements) and reliable highly skilled, under-priced labor or a
comparative advantage over the business environment in the more developed countries.
Revitalization of this industry does present a compromise regarding the environmental pressures,
11
Before the war production of one ton of steel generated 1.4 tons of waste, one ton of raw aluminum required the excavation of 15
tons of bauxite and a by product of 3 tons of red mud waste and the production of lead and zinc generated annually about 375
thousand tons of waste.
13
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at least during the first decade of development and should be given a priority in the development
policy. These environmental pressures result from primary inputs such as energy, water, air and
chemicals for technological needs and emission such as waste, energy, dyes and wastewater. In
comparison to other sectors, environmental pressures of this industry are relatively small.
Mining and Quarries. Mining and quarries employed 58.4 thousand employees before the war,
and 32.5 thousand after the war (5.8% and 5.1%, of the total work force number respectively).
Production has declined to 33%, of which the production of coal and lignite is 40%, and other
ores and stone 23% of the pre war figures. Current contribution of these activities to the total
GDP amounts to about 2.5%. Considering the fact that mining is related mainly to domestic
production, the rising level of installed capacities used, almost completely depends on the
revitalization of coal fired power plants, processing industry (metal ores) and construction
industry (non-metals and construction materials). However, with the opening of the domestic
market to foreign competition, coupled with an inadequate reconstruction policy, further mine
closures can be expected.
Both the development of mining and quarries produce their own problems. Underground
exploitation can result in subsidence, as was experienced in Tuzla, and problems in the work
areas such as separation, agglomeration and disposal of waste. Surface exploitation results in a
loss of agricultural land and forests that are taken up by strip mining, waste disposal and plants
for separation and concentration of ore. Furthermore, mines and excavations usually leave chaos
behind, and separation and concentration plants leave dross, sometimes contaminated by heavy
metals.
Wood Processing and Production of Cellulose, Paper and Furniture. Wood, cellulose and
paper production engages 22.5 thousand employees, accounting for 3.5% of the total work force
and 32.7% of the pre-war number of employed people. Developed on relatively abundant
resources, this industry was one of the most successful for exports and could be used for
relatively easy revitalization of the pre-war employment rate. Physical capacity of wood
processing in the year 2000 was 38% of the capacity in 1991, while the capacity of cellulose and
paper production was 10%. These figures do not include data on a number of private timber
mills, both registered and unregistered, that use wood obtained from illegal forest exploitation.
Furniture production is an important part of the industry and if revitalized further, has very
attractive market prospects.
Environmental pressures were present both during and after the war when uncontrolled
deforestation took place for the production and export of wood products. Furthermore, little use
was made of the waste wood and rather than use it for example as firewood or production of smaller
pieces for households, or briquettes, etc., it was dumped around the timber mills or burnt.
Before the war four factories (Banja Luka, Prijedor, Drvar and Maglaj)12 were active in
production of cellulose. "Natron" Maglaj had been the most modern factory of natron cellulose
12
Cellulose factory in Drvar (annual capacity 40,000 t) has ceased production during the 1980-ies, when due to a change in
ownership changed its production switching over to high quality paper production. Cellulose factory Prijedor, built in 1952 with
equipment secured by reparation of old plant equipment after World War II, is now out-dated. It produces cellulose from evergreens
and its annual capacity is 60,000 tons. Factories of cellulose and viscosis in Banja Luka have ceased production during the war in
BiH. Their future function has not been defined yet.
14
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and paper in the Balkans. After its reconstruction in the 1980's, its capacity was increased to
75,000 tons of paper annually. Today, the factory operates at significantly reduced capacity.
In the final process of furniture production certain glues, impregnators, paints and varnishes are
used, all of which could be sources of pollution. As was the case with the primary production,
inefficient use of the timber resources resulting from the technologies used meant that wastage
was high. For this type of waste, there are some economically feasible uses such as using the
biomass waste for power production. At the moment, these have not been implemented due to a
lack of project support.
Power production (Hydro and Thermal), Gas, Water, Waste and Geothermal Energy.
Energy is the only branch of economy that has more employees after the war (18.0 thousand)
than before the war (16.3 thousand) representing 2.8% of the total work force. This situation is
more likely a result of excessive hiring, than of increased demand by the power industry. Some
power plants have never been rebuilt after the war and this is reflected in the lower contribution
of this sector to the total GDP, which has fallen from 10.8% to 6% in 2000.
Power is produced from both hydro and thermal (coal) sources. Facilities producing thermal power
do not possess adequate air protection measures so that environmental pressures have a "cross-
border" character (TE Kakanj, TE Ugljevik). The total hydro-potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina
amounts 6,100 MW although only 38.75% of this is actually utilized. Hydro power plants that
were constructed were built with relatively good environmental control.
Subterranean geothermal pools and lakes throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina present alternative
potential sources of thermal energy. These could be used for heating of houses and business
premises, for use as mineral water for medicinal purposes or drinking water and for recreational
purposes such as swimming pools. These would both reduce the dependence on alternative
expensive energy resources and also provide additional employment opportunities. Also, the
possibilities of the complex use of geothermal water and restorable alternative energy sources
(primarily biomass waste) that are currently neglected provide future development potential.
Food and Beverage Production. The food processing industry employs 17 thousand people,
68.9% of pre-war figures, or 2.7% of the total number of employed persons. Although at the
moment this is at a low level, the country's resources offer far greater development capacities.
Current output neither meets demand nor satisfies technological standards and they do not carry
the CE mark13 that would enable them to export their products to EC member states.14
The decrease in food and beverage production both during and after war has led to a large
imbalance between production and consumption. This is currently met through imports that are
about three times higher than the domestic production (and valued at 435 million USD in FBiH
alone), and about seven times higher than exports.15 One of the problems regarding imports is
that there is no quality control over the imported food and beverages (the same applies to
13
Mark of Conformité Européenne (European conformity)
14
This applies to a whole range of products from other industries and is not limited to food and beverage production.
15
Only 40% of the food consumed in BiH is produced locally.
15
NEAP
drugs), and domestic standards for these items are not harmonized with the European ones. In
that sense, additional effort is needed for overcoming this situation.
As has already been shown, the country's resources offer potential for the development of
organic food production, exploitation of natural (mineral) waters, production of soft drinks and
alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, brandy).
Environmental pressures are caused by the use of raw materials (domestic and imported),
applied production technologies, products launched on the market (locally produced and
imported) and packing material and household waste. In addition, if the waste from the meat
processing industry is not properly treated, it poses additional threats to the environment and
human health. All of these present risks for public health, air, soil, water and land.
Processing of Oil, Rubber and Chemicals. BiH has no domestic oil resources and thus these
were imported and processed by a single refinery in Bosanski Brod. The oil was transported
either by railway (from Ploče) or by pipeline from Krk Island (both terminals in Croatia).
Before the war this industry engaged 24.4 thousand employees, some 2.4% of the total work
force, but this was reduced by half after the war (12.6 thousand employees) and now involves
2.0% of the total work force.
The rubber production capacities were insignificant and the chemical industry was dominated
by the chemical concerns of SODA-SO in Tuzla and Azotara in Goražde. Although the refineries
and Soda-So survived the war, they do not have funds to restart production.
Pre-war environmental pressures comprised the resource inputs (raw materials, energy, process
water, air) and the emission of solid, liquid and gas products into the air, water and soil. After
the war the pressures were reduced, but there is a need for restarting production and this will
increase the environmental pressures with the exception of Goražde Azotara, which is expected
to stop operating completely.
Production and Processing of Tobacco. Around 2.2 thousand people were employed in the
production and processing of tobacco before the war and this was reduced to 1.3 thousand after
the war. These figures do not include cultivation and primary processing (picking, drying,
sorting, bulking) carried out on the individual farms. Even though this sector does not employ
many people, it is a significant exporter of high quality brands of raw tobacco and cigarettes.
Technologies adopted are mostly outdated and the domestic brands of cigarettes are being
replaced by imported brands on the market. To address this decline, the tobacco industry needs
to concentrate on the controlled production of high quality tobacco brands for which demand
exists on the European market.
Despite the proven harmfulness and its clear labeling on the products, the tobacco industry has
kept pace with the changing markets and provides income and employment in both the
production and processing of tobacco.
Transportation. Before the war, the transportation sector engaged 68.8 thousand employees.
This declined to 44.7 thousand employees after the war and makes up 7% of the total number of
16
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those employed, or 65% of the pre-war number. Contribution of this sector to the total GDP
of BiH is 9% (2000). The structure of this sector and the type of traffic generated has changed
significantly since the war. Reduced economic activities, an increase in the number of private
vehicles and the paralysis of the railway network have all contributed to this change.
The railway network (1031 km) has suffered from a significant reduction in large-scale freight
transportation (except of oil). Without this, it is highly questionable whether the conditions for
rational management exist, i.e. modernization of railways, although this provides the
environment friendlier alternative to other means of transportation.
Following a drastic slump in 1997 (11 liters per capita) fuel consumption is rapidly rising and it
is expected that road traffic will most probably continue to provide the basis of the country's
transportation system. The network currently is made up of 22,600 km of roads, with 3,800 km
classified as primary roads, 4,800 km as regional roads and 14,000 km as local roads. Only
about 20 km of highways meet European standards and all roads, even the main roads require
substantial improvements.
Water traffic in BiH is dependent upon the harbor Ploče in Croatia. Certain potential development
capacities exist in Neum (Adriatic Sea) area and along Sava River with its connection to
the Central European river systems.
Air traffic is a part of the transportation sector where further development can be expected. This
is expected to involve modernization and re-equipping rather than expansion of the airport network.
Environmental pressures result from the land use for transportation network, from the movement
of vehicles and inefficiencies in old vehicles. The first pressure presents a continuous change in
the land use along both sides of traffic routes. The other pressure comes from exhaust gases
(aggravated by the low quality of used fuel) and the third pressure is caused by the quality of
vehicles in circulation. Strategically speaking, the pressure cannot be reduced by substituting
road traffic with railway (electrified) traffic. This is due to the high construction costs of
building the railway in the BiH terrain. It is possible, however, to enable railway and water
traffic in accordance with the Transport Master Plan,16 and hence reduce the pressure to road
traffic. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce these pressures to minimum by co-signing European
standards on fuels, limit (or ban) the movement of vehicles without exhaust emission control
and other environment-friendly devices.
Tourism. The largest number of visitors to BiH (numbers of tourists and overnight stays)
occurred in 1986 when the number of tourists reached 2 million and the number of overnight
stays was recorded at 4.7 million, an average of 2.3 nights. In 2000, 390 thousand tourists
visited Bosnia and Herzegovina and of that figure, domestic tourism represents 220 thousand
visitors and foreign visitors comprised 170 thousand. These are only one fifth of the pre-war
figures with only the religious center of Međugorje equaling the pre-war numbers of visitors and
overnight stays.
16
Japan international Cooperation Agency (JICA): Study for Transport Master Plan in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Final Report
(Executive Summary), March 2001.
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There is considerable scope for improving tourism development, especially eco-tourism.

Potential exists for spa, mountain and seacoast tourism, both for the domestic and international
visitors. Basic limitations for its development are in the political instability of the country, quality
and (in)effectiveness of the domestic traffic and the general level of development. However,
with the exception of Međugorje, an increase in the demand for tourist capacities cannot be
expected until there is political stability in the country and better connection with the European
road network. Emphasis in the short term therefore needs to be put onto the stabilization of the
political climate and gradual development of attractive locations and destinations.
18
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3 Environmental Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Structure and institutional framework.17 Based on the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
environmental management is not institutionalized at the state level, but rather carried out
within the organizational structure of the entity governments, i.e. ministries on the entity level
that have environmental issues in their portfolios. The responsible ministries are the Ministry of
Physical Planning and Environment (FBiH), and Ministry of Physical Planning, Civil
Engineering and Ecology (RS).18 In Brčko District the environmental protection policy is a
direct responsibility of the Government through its sector for communal issues and its sector for
agriculture and forestry. Lower level environmental management is under the responsibility of
cantonal ministries in the FBiH and municipalities in RS.19
Although a state agency that would deal with environmental issues on the state level does not
exist, in the past cooperation concerning environmental issues between the two entity governments
has been carried out by the Environmental Steering Committee (ESC), which was established in
1998. Environmental issues in specific fields such as water resources, agriculture, forestry, public
health, etc. are managed by other relevant ministries.
Responsibilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in regards to environmental protection stipulated by

international agreements and conventions are within the jurisdiction of the state, i.e. the Council
of Ministers (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and Ministry of European
Integration).
Legislation. The existing environmental legislation is very heterogeneous, as there is certain

inconsistency between the laws from before the war and the new laws. The Law on Physical
Planning passed in 1974 established the requirements for environmental protection in Bosnia
and Herzegovina before the war. This law, whose provisions were completely based on the
constitutional rights of the population to the protection of health and environmental conditions,
and on the current principles of the international community in this area, treated all components
of the environment.20 Until adoption of new environmental legislation, this law stayed in effect
in FBiH even after the war, where some of its provisions are used still today. In RS, the Law on
Physical Planning, passed in 1996, set the requirements for environmental protection. In
addition, other legislation was also passed before the war regulating management of various
natural resources at that time.21
17
Institutional structure of BH is given in Annex 8-I
18
During preparation of the NEAP – " Ministry of Town Planning, Housing-Communal Services, Civil Engineering and Ecology"
19
Environmental management structure in BH is given in Annex 8-II.
20
The Law treats the overall issue of urbanism, physical planning and construction. Environmental protection is regulated as an
integral component of all activities in the environment, i.e. preference is given to the environmental protection through development
plans and controlled interventions in the environment (space). Control is practiced through issuing urban permits, construction
permits and use permits. Having in mind the importance and the role of the interventions in space relevant to the environment, it
gives the definition of responsibilities and basis for decision-making process in this area. This law lacks the provisions that would
direct the development and stimulate implementation of environment-friendly programs and technologies.
21
There are still about 70 laws and by-laws active in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska in this
domain, e.g. Law on Water, Law on Forests, Law on the Protection of Cultural and Historic Heritage, etc., however the regulation
lacks coordination in many segments, and is therefore inadequately implemented.
19
NEAP
In order to improve and standardize the environmental legislation, both entities drafted new sets
of environmental legislation22 that are harmonized with the legislation of the European Union.
The new set of laws consist of the following five laws:
Law on environmental protection;

Law on nature protection;
Law on air;
Law on water protection;
Law on waste management.
These laws have been adopted in RS, while they are currently undergoing the adoption
procedure in FBiH. This will be followed by drafting and adoption of additional laws and by-
laws (secondary legislation). The Law on Environmental Protection Fund prepared in
accordance with the Law on Environmental Protection, has also been adopted in RS, while in
FBiH it is undergoing the adoption procedure that will be completed very soon. It is expected
that adoption of these laws will play an important role in introducing comprehensive and
efficient environmental management in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Regarding environmental standardization, there are more than one hundred standards adopted in
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BAS TC 7 - ENVIRONMENT), all of which are based on the latest
ISO and EN principles.23
Environmental protection policy. The current state of the environment in BiH is not only the
result of war and the events that were happening in BiH over the last decade, but also as a result
of an inadequate environmental protection policy at that time. The importance and need to
address these issues more actively became evident during the social and economic system
reform process.
The environmental protection policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina to date, can be characterized as
follows:
Passive approach to practical protection and use of natural resources;

Insufficient information for the general public and other participants in the environmental
management process;
Partial inefficiency and lack of interest of the authorities, especially bodies responsible for
monitoring the implementation of policies and legislation;
Inadequate organization and training of technical and managerial organizations;
Lack of harmonization between relevant intersectoral interests and regulations; and
22
The laws were drawn up within the PHARE EU program.
23
Source: "Glasnik SMP 2/2002" – Official gazette – Institute for standardization, measures and intellectual property of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Eight of the adopted standards are pertaining to environmental management, more than 20 are related to air and
working environment, and more than 70 are related to the quality of water, etc.
20
NEAP
Continuous lack of finances for environmental protection programs.
Therefore, there is a need for a new efficient policy (which was the underlying reason for initiating
preparation of the NEAP document), that would completely meet the modern approach to
environmental management and accelerate the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina with
European and global movements.
In most of the highly developed European Union countries, the environmental policy is based
on sustainable development principles as given in chapters 5 and 6 of the EU Environmental
Action Plan. The sustainable development principles integrate the environmental policy into the
policies of all other sectors and bring the changes of social and economic behavior using
different instruments (economic progress and social stability through economical use of natural
resources and through protection of global and local eco-systems). They also introduce
partnership and shared responsibility principles into the participation of all interested subjects in
the implementation of environmental action plans. Such an approach must create efficient
prerequisites for implementation of sustainable development principles. However, this will also
require the introduction of a number of instruments and changes in the existing legislation. The
first steps in the change of the legislative framework have already been taken through the
preparation of the new set of environmental laws, but the integration of Bosnia and
Herzegovina24 with the movements within the EU is impossible without planning of
environmental protection policy in accordance with the following principles of sustainable
development:
Modern and timely planning and integration of the environmental policy with the plans
and policies of other sectors;
Institutional strengthening and capacity building;
Introduction of responsibilities and duties of all partners;
Use of efficient (and not only economic) instruments.
Environmental monitoring and information systems. Bosnia and Herzegovina as a cosignatory

or a member of a number of international conventions (Basel Convention, Vienna Convention,
Montreal Protocol, etc.) took over a range of different obligations related to environmental
monitoring, reporting to relevant secretariats of the convention and public information. Since
the year 2000, Bosnia and Herzegovina reports to the EIONET,25 through its NFP26 (Federal
Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment). Bosnia and Herzegovina is also preparing the
ratification of the Aarhus Convention that would provide access to information, public
participation in the decision-making process and approach to justice in environmental issues.
Additionally, the law on the free access to information was passed in 2001 both in the RS27 and
FBiH.28
24
The textual part of NEAP often uses the term the “State of Bosnia and Herzegovina” which stands for the both entities (FBiH and
RS) and Brčko District.
25
EIONET: Environmental Information & Observation Network
26
NFP: National Focal Point
27
Official Gazette RS nr. 01-572/01
28
Official Gazette FBiH nr. 32/01
21
NEAP
At the moment there is no comprehensive environmental monitoring and data collection system
in BiH. Different data are collected by a number of institutions without coordination and without a
unique database.29 There is neither data exchange nor reporting between the data collecting
institutions and higher levels of authorities, nor the information on the data that are already
collected (certain data on the state of the environment do exist, but they are either outdated, or
incomplete and unusable).
The institution responsible for environmental data collection in FBiH is the Ministry of Physical
Planning and Environment, through other ministries, expert institutes (Institute of Meteorology
of FBiH, Institute of Statistics of FBiH, Institute for Agropedology, BiH Forests, etc.). The
responsible institution in Republika Srpska is the Ministry of Physical Planning, Civil
Engineering and Ecology,30 through other ministries and specialized institutions such as the
Civil Engineering Institute, Institute of Hydro-meteorology, Institute of Statistics, etc.
Although there is currently no legal basis for the collection and storing of data and reporting, a
positive step ahead was made through the provisions of the new set of laws on environmental
protection. Framework laws on environmental protection contain provisions which regulate
public participation and access to information, reporting system and information collection, input
of environmental information in other registries, active reporting on environmental protection
and responsibilities. Moreover the laws on environmental protection stipulate responsibilities
for establishing an environmental information system. An ongoing environmental institutional
strengthening activity is the METAP31 project, which will propose a plan for institutional
reorganization in the domain of environment, development of a monitoring system, and
development of an environmental impact assessment system and guidelines for its use.
In order to establish an efficient and well-linked information system, it is necessary to define

those institutions that would be the topical centers for air, water, waste, soil, etc. These centers
would be responsible for collection of data from their fields (areas) of expertise, their processing
and distribution to all interested parties through the ministries responsible for the environment.
In this case, the ministries responsible for the environment would be the central bases for
collection and exchange of environmental data. This would be the first step towards the
establishment of the National Environmental Information System (NEIS), as the key instrument
for implementation of environmental policy and comprehensive environmental monitoring in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus providing the use of environmental information in decision and
policy making processes at all levels, based on principles of sustainable development.
Implementation (inspection control). Adoption of the set of new laws on environmental

protection, based on the concept of integrated pollution prevention control, foresees the
establishment of environmental inspectorates. Special attention is paid to preventive measures
29
There are some activities on collecting and exchange of information for the needs of a number of international contracts,
programs and projects. So for example, the monitoring of water is done by the Institute of Meteorology of FBiH in Sarajevo and
Mostar, Public Health Institute in Sarajevo, Republic Hydro-meteorological Institute in Banja Luka for RS, and the data is further
sent to local and international institutions. The Federal Institute of Meteorology is in charge of the monitoring and preparation of the
registry of emissions in the atmosphere by CORINAIR methodology. There is also a large number of maps and data on the
environment in different institutions such as the Institute for Agropedology, Institute for Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage,
Institute for Geodesy, etc., that are the foundation for environmental information system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
30
During preparation of the NEAP – " Ministry of Town Planning, Housing-Communal Services, Civil Engineering and Ecology"
31
Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP) – "Urgent Strengthening of Environmental Institutions in BiH"
22
NEAP
that are reflected in the environmental requirements for the preparation of periodical environmental
impact assessment studies and the periodic monitoring of the activities or facilities that endanger
or may endanger the environment. For that reason it is necessary to enhance the capacities and
level of training of inspectorates and their staff in accordance with the provisions of the new
environmental laws and recommendations of the regional compliance network BERCEN.32
According to the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, environmental inspection is at the

state level, but within the organizational structure of the entity governments. In RS, inspection
over implementation of the provisions of the framework law, which is in the portfolio of the
Ministry of Physical Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology, is carried out by the
municipality bodies responsible for environmental issues. In FBiH, inspection is under the
responsibility of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment, whose organizational model
is somewhat modified so that it provides for an Inspectorate, with a Chief Federal Inspector and
inspectors for each of the separate fields, i.e. physical planning, environment and construction.33
The process of establishing inspection control is currently ongoing.
Financing and economic instruments. The state-level and entity budgets currently make
certain income based on the economic instruments i.e. fees for use of natural resources, use of
water, disposal of municipal waste, special taxes, concessions and fees, taxes, etc. The income is
used to cover various public expenses, including environmental protection to some extent.34
NEAP requires systematic preparation and implementation of projects, trained project

coordinators and managers, developed financial relations with local and international financial
institutions, efficient financial management, efficient use of finances, etc.
New entity laws on environmental protection provide conditions for establishing an adequate
eco-economic structure, prevention of new and rehabilitation of already caused environmental
damage, preservation of protected natural units, promotion and application of available technologies
and alternatives, as well as research in the environment.
The funds for the above mentioned activities will be provided from the following sources:
remuneration from polluters and users of environment (fees for utilization of natural resources
and environmental impact fines), from donations and other sources,35 that would flow into the
entity budgets and funds, and that will be managed by the entity environmental protection
funds36 in accordance with the entity environmental strategic plans.
32
Balkan Environmental Regulation Compliance Enforcement Network
33
At this moment, based on the existing legislation entity level inspectorates are required to control all major industrial plants bi-
annually. Due to the lack of staff and finances, the Minister enforced a decree on commission inspection for each case separately,
either in critical situations or by the reporting requirement according to the list of major polluters, whose number is significantly
lower than before the war, due to outdated plants and closing down, destruction, privatization, lack of cost-efficiency. Moreover, the
registry of major polluters is also outdated.
34
The budgets generate income from special taxes on products that pollute the environment (tobacco products, oil derivatives,
personal vehicles, other motor vehicles, vessels and aircrafts), from taxes for motor vehicles and vessels, tolls, environmental
violation fines, concessions for water and waterworks.
35
Other sources can be the special fees for environmental protection, personal pollution sources, loans, investments by foreign
investors, etc.
36
Law on environmental protection fund was adopted in RS in August 2002, while this law is undergoing the adoption procedure in
the FBiH.
23
NEAP
The legislation stipulates the following economic instruments (based on the principles of
environmental efficiency, cost efficiency, incentives for reduction of pollution and technical
innovation and administrative acceptability):
Fees for wastewaters and emissions;

Fees for use of certain components of the environment;
Fees for producers, importers and distributors of products that endanger or exert pressure
upon the environment; Differential taxes and customs obligations in accordance with the
impact of products, technologies and/or services to the environment;
Administrative taxes for environmental activities and monitoring services;
Deposit cash return system; and
Financial guarantees for possible environmental damage.
European Union policy supports the "total life cycle of a product" principle, which means that
the prices of products and services must reflect the total environmental cost created during the
total life cycle of that product. In that way, environment friendly products are not less competitive
on the market than those that place a burden on the environment. The new entity framework
laws stipulate eco-labeling as a market stimulation mechanism for these products. A certification
system based on the BAS ISO 14000 is another market stimulation foreseen for companies
practicing environmental management.
International obligations and cooperation. Former Yugoslavia was a cosignatory and a

member of numerous international regulations in this field, and these were ratified later on by
Bosnia and Herzegovina on succession from former Yugoslavia. The list of conventions and
international agreements signed by Bosnia and Herzegovina is given in Appendix 8-III.
In the year 2000 Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified two international conventions: Framework
UN Convention on Climate Change and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. However, until now, due to lack of
organization and activities on the implementation of adopted international legislation, Bosnia
and Herzegovina insufficiently uses many advantages offered, including financial assistance for
implementation of subject documents, even though they are clearly defined and belong to the
members.
In the same manner, Bosnia and Herzegovina is participating in certain CEE and EU environmental
programs, where it needs to intensify communication on the international level.37 It is necessary
to inform the representatives of the local structures equally on current activities related to
international cooperation. Indicators on decentralization of international activities and obligations
are missing.
37
Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the GEF (Global Environmental Facility) in October 2001. GEF is the largest and strongest
global mechanism for support to global environmental protection and assistance to developing economies in implementation of
international environmental legislation. In short, GEF represents a financial support mechanism for international agreements on
biodiversity, climate changes and persistent organic pollutants. GEF also supports projects for of desertification, protection of
international water flows and protection of the ozone layer.
24
NEAP
Through implementation of activities given in the NEAP, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of
the international community, needs to take over its share of the responsibility for solving global
ecologic problems such as climate changes, damages to the ozone layer, degradation of water
resources, and protection of biodiversity.
Environmental awareness and public participation. One of the basic prerequisites for the
achievement of sustainable development is public participation and full environmental awareness
on all environmental issues. Public participation is not possible without adequate information
and education, as most environmental issues arise from the lack of knowledge, and insufficient
and incorrect information. In this sense it is necessary to establish mechanisms of information
exchange in all directions, in order to enable all participants and decision-making structures,
population and other stakeholders, to get timely, accurate and comprehensive information.
It is evident that there is insufficient interest for environmental issues in the media. Whether it is
the matter of print or electronic media, information on the environment is limited and often
pushed behind the issues that are often opposed to environmental interests.38 However, there are
some good examples of radio and TV programs, thematic articles in written media as well as
efforts of some NGOs and individuals in both entities who were the authors of respectable
publications in local languages.
A major step forward in enabling free information circulation within the EU was made in 1993,
when the general public was given right to access to environmental information (Guideline
90/313/EEC). Based on this Guideline, the citizens may demand access to environmental
information from the institutions that posses it regardless of whether a person has direct interest
in such information. The Guideline 85/337/EEC on environmental impact of some public and
private projects, which has later been replaced with the Guideline 97/11/EC (the so called EIS
Guideline), also provides grounds for access of the general public to the environmental
information and its participation in specific environmental actions. The UN/ECE Convention on
Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in the
Environmental Matters was signed in June 1998 in Aarhus, Denmark. It strengthens the right of
individuals to access to information and justice in the environmental matters and public participation
in decision-making processes.
Bearing in mind the above, it is necessary to develop a variety of public awareness raising
mechanisms, to increase the interest of the general public for permanent access to information
and to establish public databases on environmental protection. (BiH passed the Law on Access
to Information, BH Official Gazette 26/00). It is also necessary to provide conditions for
activities of NGOs, as an important factor in raising awareness among the citizens.
Education. Curricula and programs for preschool children include basic goals and tasks of
environmental education. However, due to the overall economic situation in the country, many
children are not included in the educational programs, but are mostly left to their families and
the environment.
38
The production of documentaries in Bosnia and Herzegovina is reduced to a very small number of programs that, though popular,
are only to some extent dealing with environmental issues, and much more with the development of some branches of the economy,
that sometimes exert pressure on natural resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
25
NEAP
Curricula of elementary and secondary schools do not provide a special subject that would deal
with this area alone, but it is partially dealt with within other subjects (such as a subject called
"Nature and Society"). These are insufficiently linked and coordinated and this prevents the
interdisciplinary approach necessary for understanding of environmental issues. On the other
hand, extra-curricular activities in elementary and secondary schools, initiated mostly by NGOs,
show good results and high awareness of school children on environmental issues. In higher
education, there is no comprehensive curriculum on the state level that would encompass
different aspects of the environment and its protection (the existing research is mainly directed
interdisciplinary), or sustainable development. At faculties of sciences and engineering,
environmental issues are often unsystematically and insufficiently treated. It is necessary to
initiate interdisciplinary and inter-faculty studies on post-graduate level.
The key issues in environmental education are:
Lack of an institutional system that would follow up the implementation of environmental

education;
Lack of curricula in elementary and secondary schools for environmental protection, as an
elective subject;
Lack of coordination among segments and sectors of environmental education and
sustainable development.
Therefore, the following steps need to be taken in order to overcome the above listed problems:
Preparation of an environmental strategy in accordance with UNCED39 guidelines;

Participation in international programs of education and training;
Raising of interest for environmental issues in all structures of authorities;
Modernization of curricula starting with elementary education through secondary to
university education, with a special view on environmental protection issues;
Creation of prerequisites for systematic information and education of the public and
preparation of adequate teaching aids;
Support for the development and implementation of joint environmental projects, expert
and scientific groups, schools, economy, administrative bodies and different associations.
Science and development. Given the complexity of the issue of global environmental
protection, science together with the industry must provide new technologies, raw materials and
energy sources that would be to the best possible extent environmentally friendly.
Standard classification of sciences, accepted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, classifies all scientific
and research activities into six areas: natural sciences, engineering, biomedicine, bio-technical
sciences, social sciences and humanities. These activities are implemented in four basic types of
institutions: public (state) institutions, universities, economic institutions and other legal entities.
39
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
26
NEAP
A large number of scientists and researchers are active in this institutional system. Scientific
activities and research are coordinated through contracted scientific research and projects, i.e.
activities that are often implemented depending on the financial possibilities and current needs.
Bearing in mind that scientific and research activities need to be carried out in coordination with
current events world-wide,40 it is evident that future research will be primarily directed towards
the climate changes and growth of consumption of natural resources (water resources above all),
as well as demographic trends and degradation of the environment. In order to be effective and
credible, the goals and conclusions of scientific research need to have the support of the entire
society. It is therefore necessary to form consulting agencies and groups that would act together
with the scientists and society as a whole, in order to establish the common ethics of environment
and development.
The most important goal for improvement of the situation in this field is overcoming the poor
coordination of activities and more efficient support of scientific research relevant to preparation
and implementation of the environmental policy. To achieve this, the following steps will be
required:
Promotion of scientific research and provision for a better financial status of scientists;
Future scientific and research work will have to be multidisciplinary and connected to
strategic goals of environmental protection policy;
Within sectors it will be necessary to carry out co-ordination of a segment of scientific
research, most likely within the future Agency or advisory group, particularly in relation
to the process of approaching the EU;
To strengthen and develop scientific capacities, to provide conditions for their adequate
participation in creation and application of the results of scientific research and development
and to stop the exodus of scientists from BiH;
Active involvement in international scientific research, especially in searching for new
technological, environmentally friendly solutions;
Close cooperation with the business sector and the entire public.
40
E.g. The Sixth Action Program of the European Union introduced the goals and priorities that will become an integrated part of
the sustainable development strategy of the EU. In accordance with this program, the environmental policy needs to integrate the
implementation of the existing environmental legislation, integration of the environmental issues into other aspects, raising of public
awareness in order to change the consumers' habits, support environmentally friendly production technologies, more rational
organization of space and planning of the purpose of soil. Basic subjects dealt with by this programs are: facing climatic changes,
preserving the biodiversity, promotion of the environmental qualities, sustainable use of resources and waste management, place of
the European Union on the global scene and creation of a policy that would take care of the environment.
27
NEAP
4 NEAP and Sustainable Development
The very poor economic situation in the country, which is a result, in part, of the war and the
transition process, has led to the postponement of activities directed towards resolving existing
environmental protection issues and improving the environment. Thus, the need to prepare a
program document identifying the priority actions and measures aimed at improving the
environmental, social and economic situation in accordance with the principles of Agenda 21 is
obvious. The NEAP will serve this purpose. A key element of the NEAP is the comprehensive
analysis of the state of the environment. To organize this, ten thematic areas were identified as
covering the key environmental issues, and ten working groups were formed around these areas:
Air quality management;

Integrated water resources management;
Protection, use and management of land resources;
Forest management;
Waste management;
Integral spatial management;
Economy and environment;
Biodiversity, geo-diversity and protection of natural and cultural heritage;
Public health, demography and social issues;
Legal and institutional environmental management framework.
Each group was tasked with preparing a background paper with the NEAP Directorate
coordinating the work of the groups. Preparation of the thematic documents, and in fact the
entire NEAP, was guided by the following sustainable development principles:
Integration of environmental policy into the sectoral policies;

Partnership and shared responsibility;
Changes of behavior/attitudes in production and consumption;
Establishment of several instruments for implementation of set activities.
An effective environmental protection policy based on the sustainable development principles

can be implemented in practice only if all stakeholders are actively involved. The state41 should
have a leading role - apart from creating favorable environment for other actors to act, it must
also provide conditions for full use of all potentials of sector policies and various administrative
i.e. local levels. Moreover, the setting for cooperation with other countries must be established
as well. At the national level this primarily implies the incorporation of environmental protection
41
Entities (FBiH, RS) and Brčko District
28
NEAP
principles in all those areas that are under the responsibility of Entity governments and which
directly or indirectly have an effect on sustainable development.42
It is not possible to achieve sustainable development on global level if it has not been achieved
on local levels. The local levels can readily identify the majority of the relevant environmental
problems, i.e. local level is the arena where the citizens can have influence on resolution of the
problems. This level is the crucial one in the process of creating the conditions that enable the
changes in life styles and habits, production and consumption and use of space with the goal of
creating the economy-ecology approach and to combat poverty.
With the aim of actively involving all the interested parties in the preparation of the NEAP, four
workshops were organized,43 which, besides the coordinators and members of the working
groups, were also attended by the representatives of the state and entity authorities, members of
the Environmental Steering Committee BiH, members of the NEAP Steering Committees, and
representatives of the cantonal authorities, regional economic and intermunicipal communities,
municipal authorities, institutions and professional institutes, NGOs and the private sector.44
There was also active participation in the NEAP process by representatives of international
organizations and donors including the World Bank, OHR, USAID, UNDP and REC.
The contents and structure of thematic areas, as well as the methodology and organization for
preparing the NEAP document were adopted at the first NEAP workshop, while the following
criteria were defined for establishing priorities in addressing the key environmental issues:
Impact of environmental pollution on human health;

Impact of environmental pollution on eco-systems;
Socio-economic and economic significance;
Commitments and obligations from accepted international agreements.
The second workshop, along with expert analysis of thematic areas served for defining the
outline of the NEAP document and time schedule for completion.45
The goal of the third workshop was to identify the key five to ten environmental issues facing
BiH on the basis of the previously defined criteria for determining priorities, and after a detailed
analysis of the proposed 130 sector priorities. Through an iterative process, the participants used
an integrated, multidisciplinary analysis to come to a consensus on the priority areas (of NEAP)
in which there is a pressing need to undertake actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order of
their significance, the top eight environmental issues agreed upon are:
Water resources / wastewater;
42
This group encompasses all the areas, but those most important include physical planning, economy (industry, agriculture, energy
sector, transportation, tourism, etc), science, culture, market prices, fiscal policy, judiciary system, housing....
43
07-09 May 2001 in Laktaši, 08-10 October 2001 in Neum, 24-26 April 2002 in Teslić and 15-17 July 2002 in Zenica.
44
Based upon the initiative of the NEAP Directorate and expert assistance of the World Bank Consulant, field visits and working
consultative meetings, additional analyses, and consultations were carried out. Thus 1000 individuals were involved in the
preparation of NEAP, while the public regularly informed about the progress and results through electronic and print media.
45
The thematic documents in their integral form will be available in the entity ministries responsible for environment.
29
NEAP
Sustainable development of rural areas;

Environmental management (information system/integrated planning/education);
Protection of biodiversity and landscape diversity;
Waste / waste management;
Economy;
Public health;
Demining.
This does not cover the legal and institutional measures, which are a necessary precondition for
undertaking activities in each of the above areas (see chapter 7- Priorities)
Following the 3rd workshop, a team of local consultants working closely with the NEAP Directorate
and thematic working groups prepared a draft NEAP. During the same period, working groups
prepared action plans in each area of concern that were then incorporated into the NEAP.
Actions may be of the following types: policies, including laws, regulations, strategies and
master plans; institutional development; studies; and investments.
The draft NEAP was reviewed and generally agreed upon at the 4th, and final NEAP workshop.
Participants provided detailed and numerous comments that were incorporated into the final
NEAP. At the 4th workshop, working groups were tasked with selecting top actions to be taken,
based upon the following criteria:46
Socio-economic and environmental benefits of the project;

Financial and technical feasibility of the project;
The level of preparation;
"Bankability";
Fulfillment of internationally accepted obligations through the project;
Interest shown by the State, Entity, and lower levels of government and by the private
sector as well;
Donor interest.
During the last two workshops, particular attention was given to activities necessary for linking
the NEAP with the "Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper". For that purpose, four thematic documents
(NEAP/PRSP Papers)47 were prepared and the results of these documents have been incorporated
into the NEAP.
46
Based on the defined criteria and project proposal forms, the NEAP Directorate received over 450 project proposals coming from
different priority areas.
47
(I) "Implications of the National strategy for economic development on environment and sustainability "; (II) "Main
environmental protection guidelines in the NEAP and their impact on poverty and development "; (III) "Priorities of public health
and the environment in relation to poverty reduction "; (IV) "Demographical and social problems, environment and poverty".
30
NEAP
5 Status of the Environment
The state of the environment in BiH is very specific by component. While some components of
the environment, due to decreased industrial production, are in a much better state than in other
European countries (air quality, drinking water quality, forests), other components (waste,
wastewaters, mines on agricultural and forest land) are in a much worse state. In the following
chapter key environmental issues are analyzed with well-defined problems, along with actions
and measures required to improve the current state of the environment in BiH.
5.1 Air Quality Management
5.1.1 Status of the Sector
In BiH, the main sources of air pollution are stationary and include coal-power plants and
industry. Large thermal power facilities such as TE Kakanj and TE Tuzla, use domestic coals
with low calorific values and relatively high sulfur contents. Even though these facilities are
usually located in the vicinity of mines, equipped with tall stacks and modern filters for exhaust
gases, they still emit considerable quantities of sulphur dioxide, whose emission is not regulated
in BiH.
In the current general economic recession, industrial facilities in BIH either work at lower
capacity or are shut down completely. This resulted in a decrease in harmful emissions in to the
atmosphere. On the other hand, pollution caused by local traffic is increasing. Railroads are
electrified, but are still in the initial reconstruction stage, so all local transportation is carried out
by road, characterized by a large number of old vehicles and low and unmonitored fuel quality.
Systems, instruments and tools for air quality management in BiH
Institutional organization. Air quality management is under the jurisdiction of entity ministries
responsible for environment. The entity meteorological institutes carry out certain activities
regarding air quality monitoring. However, the monitoring quality assurance system has not yet
been established in BiH, so that existing data in most cases is not reliable.
Instruments. RS recently adopted a Law on Air Protection, and until adoption of the same law
in FBiH, issues related to air quality in FBiH, will be regulated by existing legislation on
physical planning. The new framework law on air will be a good instrument for improvement of
the situation in this field although important results will be achieved only after secondary
legislation is drafted and pollution charges are introduced.
Tools. Application of tools in air quality management in BiH is not well known. Spatial and
urban planners do not use emission cadastres and atmospheric distribution models to the extent
necessary. Methodologies developed in BiH before the war are used for reporting to international
organizations and these take into account local specificities (fuel quality, data collection
31
NEAP
capabilities), whereas methodologies, prescribed by international organizations (e.g. Corinair,

IPCC) are currently being introduced. The following tools are used:
DEM (Data Exchange Module) software adopted by the European Environmental Protection
Agency that is used by all European Union and PHARE countries;
Use of software that allows calculation of pollutant emissions into the air - namely
CORINAIR methodology and Software: COLLECTER,48 COPERT III,49 IMPORTER;50
and REPORTER.51
5.1.2 Problem Identification and Analysis
The sources (causes) of air pollution in BiH are:
Combustion of fuels used in BiH;

Industrial processes (metallurgy, refineries);
Traffic;
Other sources (incineration, self-ignition of wastes...).
Excessive air pollution from combustion processes is the result of the nature of industry (large
energy and metallurgy capacities, built for the needs of the major part of the former
Yugoslavia), and irrational use of energy in the total life cycle of products. Other causes are:
inappropriately constructed furnaces and boilers that were not designed for the specific types of
coals that are used, inexistence of technologies for improvement of coals intended for small
fireboxes and poor maintenance of power and industrial plants,
In the period up to 1992, the most important industrial sources of pollution were processes
connected with production of coke, iron and steel, aluminum and cement. Considering the air
pollution, most of these industrial objects are not properly located. The largest number of plants,
i.e. pollution sources, is located in northeastern quadrant of BiH. The city of Zenica was
developed adjacent to a steel complex. Cement factories in Kakanj and Lukavac are also located
next to settlements. In these and in many other cases provision of protective distance from
industrial facilities was not taken into consideration.
Traffic, especially in urban areas, is a significant source of air pollution. In the urban centers the
traffic (inadequate regulation, low speeds, frequent stop-and-go) endangers the health of the
population, as it causes high emission of pollutants.
48
COLLECTER – processing emission data on all pollutants in the air. Use of COLLECTER software tool enabled the
establishment of an efficient database for 1990 for the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina based on the information on fuel
consumption.
49
COPERT III – processes and analyzes data on emission from all vehicles. Use of COPERT III software tool enabled the
preparation of a database on emission from vehicles for 1990 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for 1998, 1999 and 2000 for the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
50
IMPORTER – connects these software tools and prepares databases for preparation of reports
51
REPORTER – presents reports on the pollutant emission in the atmosphere in accordance with the adopted EU conventions.
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NEAP
Emission of SO2 and CO2. In spite of the low degree of industrialization and urbanization in
BiH, emission of SO2 into the atmosphere is very high. According to latest available data from
1990, taking into account the quantity of emission per capita, BiH was the third among EEC
countries.52 In regard to the emission of CO2, in spite of the high share of fossil fuels in energy
production, the specific emission of CO2 in BiH is not high (Table 2), which is a result of low
overall energy consumption per capita.
Table 2 Emissions of CO2 as Compared to Other Countries
Country / Groups of countries Emissions per capita [tons/capita]

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Fossil fuels only) 5.4
OECD countries 12.1
Former socialist countries 9.5
Quality of fuels used. BiH coal has low heat content (on average twice lower than coals in
Poland and England). Thermal power plants use fractions of some of these coals with even lower
heat content. Fuels used have a wide range of sulfur content that ranges from 0.23% (Stanari) up
to 5.30% (Ugljevik and Čelebići). On the other hand, these coals have high ash content, while many
have high contents of alkali components.
Energy-intensive economy. The major cause of pollution in BiH lies in the sphere of energy
and industry. At the same time, a specific characteristic is the energy intensive economy (in
1992 BiH was consuming almost 2.5 times more energy per unit of income than Croatia or
Macedonia). One of the reasons is a lack of industrial co-generation facilities, especially in
urban zones where clean fuels are used (natural gas). These facilities are economically feasible
and the new Law on Electrical Energy enables and stimulates this type of energy production.
Emission Monitoring
International data exchange. A primary obligation for BiH due to international agreements
that concern air is the gathering of data necessary for evaluation of emission of gases that are
included in conventions.53 Bosnia and Herzegovina is now establishing a system for analysis of
statistical data and this will correspond to the current institutional configuration. In the forming
of this system, requirements concerning the environment are not yet included, so it is not
possible to obtain data needed for the determination of emissions from entity statistical agencies
or the state agency.
Climate Changes
Results of scientific research indicate that global climate changes, provoked by global pollution
of atmosphere by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (CO2, NO, CH4, etc.) will have
unforeseeable negative consequences in the first half of this century on economic development,
52
Bosnia and Herzegovina does not report emission data to EMEP within the framework of the 1979 Convention on Transboundary
Air Pollution so there are no available data to determine whether BiH is a net exporter or importer of sulfur compounds.
53
The most important methodology in this field is EMEP/CORINAIR from 1990, for preparation of cadastres of emission in the
atmosphere, which includes 11 main categories of emission sources by sectors as well as IPPC methodology from 1996. The
analysis includes a list of eight pollutants: SO2, NOX, NMVOC, NH4, CO, CH4, NO and CO2
33
NEAP
health of population and safety of economic goods. On local and regional level, important
changes concerning intensity and trends in air temperature, precipitation and other climate
elements can be expected. Hence, in the region of Southern Europe, to which BiH belongs,
beside further temperature growth in the range of 2 °C in the winter period, or 2-3 °C in the
summer period above actual average (with an increment of 0.3 to 0.5 °C per decade, which was
not recorded in the last 10,000 years), reduction of precipitation in the range of 5% up to 15%
especially in hotter part of the year, can be expected and consequently drying of soil humidity
by 15% to 25%. In addition to changes in the precipitation and temperature regime, important
changes in intensity and frequency of climatic extremities result in strong winds followed with
hailstones, destructive winds, floods, and long periods of drought, temperature waves, extremely
high and low temperatures, lowering of snow covers and snow mass, change of climatic zones
toward higher elevations and larger geographical areas, conditions favorable to forest fires, soil
sliding, erosion and other types of soil degradation, as well as synergetic influence of climatic
changes and polluted air, water and soil on increased degradation of biodiversity and especially
on forest eco-systems etc. Because of endangered food production, energy production, water
supply, human health and biological diversity, the region of Southern Europe is among the
world's regions that are greatly endangered by climate changes.
Although BiH suffers from consequences of global climate changes, it has a relatively small
influence on global climate changes and overall pollutant emissions in the region. BiH has
planned to ban, in the next five years, the use of substances that endanger the ozone layer. This
activity has started and is continuing with international cooperation.
5.1.3 Goals and Measures
The main strategic goal of BiH is active presence in international activities in reducing
transboundary air pollution, protection of global climate, and reducing the local air pollution.
Measures required for achieving the above-mentioned goal, are the following:
Institutional strengthening and capacity building, for activities in the domain of air pollution
protection, especially for active participation in the programmes under the UN Convention
and Kyoto Protocol;
Establishing a registry and database concerning emission of acid and green house gases,
including information about trends of local emissions and quantities of green house gasses
eliminated from the atmosphere by local absorbers (vegetation, forests...);
Exploration of the impact of altered air quality, and climate changes on human health,
water resources, agriculture, forest ecosystems, biodiversity, energy production, transport,
tourism and other economic activities which are directly dependent upon climate changes;
Investigation of the sensitivity of individual economic activities on acid deposits of climate
changes and adapting options on changing climate conditions on the territory of BiH;
Program of stabilization and gradual diminishing of acid and green house gasses by increase
in energy efficiency by technologic restructuring, by better use of energy sources and by
increased use of renewable energy sources (hydro, solar, wind and geothermal energy),
and by revitalization and upgrading of forest ecosystems;
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NEAP
Improvement of information systems and adequate incorporation of BiH in existing systems

(EIONET, World Meteorological Organization etc...);
Introduction of issues such as emissions, changes of air quality and climate changes in
school curricula in environmental education; introduction of specialized courses on
university level for energy, technology, meteorology and climatology; raising public
awareness concerning these issues;
Step by step participation in climatic research and developing capabilities for application
of modern methods for weather forecasting and climate forecasting in the scope of
scientific programs of World Meteorology Organization, World Climate Program and World
Program for research concerning atmosphere and environment.
35
NEAP
5.2 Integrated Water Resources Management
The substantial water resources of Bosnia and Herzegovina provide an important economic
potential, but as with other sectors, insufficient attention has been paid in the past to the
protection of water. This has been exacerbated by infrastructure damage caused by war
activities and the lack of adequate maintenance. Flood control infrastructure throughout the
country is damaged, outdated and deteriorated due to the war activities. The quality of potable
water is still unsatisfactory in some parts of the country with pollution caused by out-dated and
damaged pipelines and inadequate, poorly functioning chlorination systems. Therefore, there
still remains a public health threat, especially in the rural areas where much of the potable water
is supplied from individual wells. Few wastewater treatment plants exist with wastewater being
discharged directly into rivers and streams.
The legislative framework for the protection of water is being put in place with the authorities of
Republika Srpska having recently passed the new Law on Protection of Water. In the Federation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a similar law is currently undergoing the adoption procedure and
until it is passed, the Law on Water dating back to 1998 is still applicable. Besides this, there are
several existing Water Law regulations and by-laws in place as well as three cantonal water
laws.
Water resources
Catchment areas. Bosnia and Herzegovina is contained within the Black Sea catchment
(75.7%) and the Adriatic Sea catchment (24.3%). Within these two, there are seven other river
catchment areas: Una, Vrbas, Bosna, Drina, Sava (indirect catchment), Neretva with Trebišnjica
and Cetina. The rivers from the first four flow into the Sava River, a tributary of the Danube.
Neretva, Trebišnjica and Cetina drain into the Adriatic Sea.
The annual precipitation of BiH (1250 l/m2) is high when compared with the European average
(1000 l/m2) but this is unevenly distributed with a good proportion falling in the winter months.
Although the rivers are characterized by relatively high runoff (22 l/s/km2) there is great
variation in flow and much of this (57%) leaves the territory unused. In spite of the apparent
wealth of water resources, this significant spatial and time variation results in areas that
experience heavy flooding in winter months and suffer from drought in the summer.
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NEAP
54
Table 3 Hydrologic Characteristics of Main River Basins in BiH
Average
Mean Minimum
2 Population Specific Runoff
River basin Area [km ] Discharge Discharge
in 1991 [Qavg/A]
[m3/s] [m3/s]
[l/s/km2]
Sava (nearby basin) 5,506 635,353 63 1.5 11.44

Una (in BiH) 9,130 620,373 240 41.9 26.29
Vrbas 6,386 514,038 132 26.3 20.67
Bosna 10,457 1,820,080 163 24.2 15.59
Drina (in BiH) 7,420 422,422 124 24.1 17.13
Black Sea 38,719 4,012,266 722 118 18.65
Neretva and Trebišnjica 10,110 436,271 402 56.5 39.76
Cetina (in BiH) 2,300 79,089 31 1.8 13.48
Adriatic Sea 12,410 515,360 433 538 34.89
Total in BiH 51,129 4,527,626 1,155 176.3 22.59
SAVA
UNA
SANA
VRBAS
BOSNA
CETINA
DRINA
NERETVA
FBiH
RS
Brčko District TREBIŠNJICA

Rivers and streams
River basin boundary
Figure 1 River Basins in Bosnia and Herzegovina
54
Source: "Okvirna vodoprivredna osnova BiH, 1998" (Water resources management framework for BiH, 1998).
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Natural lakes in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be classified as constant and periodical. The
constant lakes are classified as follows:
River lakes, mostly on Pliva and Una rivers. They are famous for their beauty, but are not
significant from the aspect of water use;
Mountain lakes, usually of glacial origin, can be found in the Dinarides region. They
cover 0.4 to 25 ha (Boračko lake) and have the volume from 10,000 m3 to 3,5 million m3.
Their importance is in their natural beauty, mountain tourism and cattle/breeding, whilst
their importance for water use is less significant.
Periodical lakes formed by flooding of Karst fields during some parts of the year, can be mostly
found in or near the tributaries of Adriatic Sea, i.e. Cetina, Trebišnjica and Neretva. Their total
volume is about 2.5x109 m3 and, hydrologically, they are very important in respect of the
extreme flood discharges in the lower Karst horizons.
Water (artificial) reservoirs. There are about 27 water reservoirs in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
13 of which are in the Neretva and Trebišnjica river basins and three on the river Drina. The
total useful volume of these reservoirs recorded in 1991 was 3,000 million m3.
Ground water in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found in three geographically separate areas
each with special characteristics. In the northern parts, the ground water reserves are within
alluvial sediments of unequal granulometrical composition along the Sava River and its
tributaries at a depth of about 50 m. Capacities in excess of 1 m3/s are found in Semberija and
Lijevče Polje regions, with Artesian water found at depths of 100-200 m. In the central parts of
BiH, groundwater accumulates in the caves and cavities of the limestone massifs and emerges
on the surface as lime wells in the Una, Sana, Bosna, Drina and Neretva river basins. The
southern parts of BiH belong to the Adriatic Sea catchment area and comprise large Karst fields.
The important wells are in the Cetina, Neretva and Trebišnjica river basins.
Water use
Water supply. Drinking water supply services cover only 56% of FBiH and 48% of RS,
compared with over 90% in Europe. Potable water in cities is supplied from: groundwater
(47%), wells and springs (27%), surface sources (20%), whereas the remainder comes from
infiltration. Some of the extracted water is of good enough quality to meet the potable water
requirements without treatment. Other sources require full treatment although they are
sometimes only disinfected. Gross specific consumption in most urban water supply systems
ranges from 200 to 600 liters/capita/day. Of this, about 100 to 200 liters/capita/day is used for
the supply of the population with the pattern of use being made up of 32% for household use,
35% for business and other uses with 33% on average being lost.
Some water supply systems are unable to meet the needs of consumers during the dry season.
Not only is the quantity insufficient, but also in many cases the quality requirements are not
met. This is either due to inadequate seasonal water resources or the insufficient capacity of all
or parts of the water supply systems. Additional problems arise from the lack of water protection
for sources, facilities and springs.
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Water resources are under potential threat from organic pollution resulting from the inadequate
direct protection and also insufficient wastewater treatment plants. Other threats come from
inadequate maintenance of sewage systems, intense exploitation of forests, uncontrolled use of
pesticides, etc. In most cases water sources are not bacteriologically safe.
Use of water for hydro power production (hydro energy). The total hydropower potential of
Bosnia and Herzegovina is 6,100 MW mostly located within the Drina, Neretva and Trebišnjica
river basins. Only about 38.75% of this is utilized and this meets approximately 40% of the total
electricity production. Additional unused potential that has already been studied exists in these
river basins and is greater than in all other river basins.55
Irrigation. The total arable land of Bosnia and Herzegovina is about 1,123,000 ha of which
only about 2% is irrigated. This is low, considering the world average of 15%, but is due to both
the unfavorable topography and the spatial differences between demand and supply. In the Karst
areas of Herzegovina the percentage irrigated is higher with up to 6-7% of arable land being
irrigated. The potential for irrigation has been examined and more than 154,500 ha have been
identified as suitable for irrigation in Herzegovina, Semberija, downstream of Vrbas River,
Dubička Ravan and Srednja Posavina.
Internal river traffic. The Sava River forms the border with Croatia and Yugoslavia and water
traffic is possible along the whole length of 332 km. On other rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
water traffic is only possible on the Una river for about 4,0 km. Water traffic is planned along
river Neretva between Čapljina (BiH) and Metković (Croatia).
Industrial water use. Industry in BiH uses water partially from the public water supply system
and partially from its own sources. Both sources have been damaged by the war and are still in a
very bad condition, especially the industries' own water intakes, due to the downturn in the BiH
economy and the decrease in industrial production.
Use of mineral and thermal water. Bosnia and Herzegovina has rich mineral water resources,
but has only developed these to a limited extent. Mineral and thermal water has good economic
potential especially in the areas of eco-tourism and health care. Some investments were made in
this sector before the war (e.g. "Hotel Reumal" and "Medical rehabilitation center" - Fojnica,
Banja Vrućica - Teslić) but little has been done to repair them after the war and no new
investments have been forthcoming.
Fishing and fish farming. Around 3,570 ha of fishponds for carp, with a capacity of 1,000 to
1,100 kg/ha, exist in Republika Srpska. The topography in the vicinity of the rivers would
permit the construction of more fishponds and estimates have put the potential at about 4,450
ha. Some large and a number of smaller private fishponds are found in FBiH and these are used
mostly for breeding of trout, carp and sheat-fish. There is still considerable scope for expansion
of fish farming in Bosnia and Herzegovina for breeding of trout, carp, sheat-fish and some other
breeds of fish, in spite of numerous technical problems.
55
Especially significant are the planned energy projects in HPP Buk Bijela in Drina river basin, HPP Dabar in Trebišnjica river
basin and proposed HPP on Neretva.
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Water quality protection
Wastewater discharge. Most wastewater (almost 90%) is released directly without treatment
into the nearest rivers, streams and underground channels. Around 56% of the urban population
is connected to sewerage systems. For settlements with a population of more than 10,000, the
extent of coverage rises to 72% whilst for smaller settlements this decreases to about 10%. In
many cases the sewerage systems have not been completed, often only partially designed and
constructed, and in some locations their capacity is insufficient to receive storm waters.
Maintenance is mostly inadequate and there are still no regulations or legislation for these
activities. Overflow from the systems occurs in the rainy season and affect around 65% of
municipal centers. The problems lie not only with the failure to complete the systems as
originally planned, but also to rectify war damage. Some parts of the systems thus require
replacement of the damaged areas and about 850 km of the pipelines require cleaning.56
Only seven cities with a population in excess of 5,000 inhabitants in Bosnia and Herzegovina
had treatment systems before the war. These were Sarajevo, Trebinje, Trnovo, Ljubuški, Grude,
Čelinac and Gradačac and the total capacity of these wastewater treatment plants was 700,000
PE (Population Equivalent). Since the war a treatment plant has been constructed in Srebrenik.
Out of the above treatment plants, only the plants in Sarajevo and Trnovo are still not
functioning due to war damage. In addition to the above urban systems, there were also 122
plants for treatment of industrial wastewater. Forty percent of these worked successfully but
none are in use due to the economic collapse and lack of equipment.
In 1991, the pollution load in BiH was approximately equivalent to a population of 9.5 million
people although the population was only 4.5 million. Industrial wastewater load accounted for
most of this and was equivalent to pollution generated by a population of 6.8 million. At the
same time, the municipal wastewater load was equivalent to a population of 2.7 million. That is
why the majority of the rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina were very polluted, some up to class
IV57 of quality, with the Bosna and Vrbas rivers being the most polluted.58 At present the
wastewater load is considerably lower as industry is not operating as before the war, but it is
still disproportionally high, as wastewaters are not treated.
Pollution of water by wild dumpsites. Water in Bosnia and Herzegovina is being polluted by
direct disposal of waste into rivers and very close to watercourses. This has been identified as a
significant problem in several locations in BiH. These include Šamac, Sava river alluvium
(where the spring sources for the city drinking water supply are located), Bijeljina, Modriča,
Goražde, and Višegrad. In addition, the drinking water springs for cities Ljubinje, Bileća and
Trebinje and some others are being affected by the TPP Gacko tailings causing leachate from
upper horizons to leach into the springs.
Uncontrolled deforestation and soil erosion
Uncontrolled deforestation, erosion of soil and mountain streams have special implications for
the water sector, reflected through (I) lack of biologic potential and increased erosion of Karst,
56
Water sector institutional strengthening project in RS and FBiH, PHARE 1999.
57
Based on PE analysis (population equivalent analysis) the quality of water flows in BiH, is categorized from class I to class V,
class I being the least polluted.
58
Water resources management basis, Institute for Water Resources Management in Sarajevo (1984-88).
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(II) creation of alluvia and sludge that results in reduced capacity and increased risk of flood and
pollution of water.
Introduction of pesticides and nutrients
There is no valid information on the degree of pollution of ground and surface water in Bosnia
and Herzegovina by pesticides. Fortunately, pesticides are not in wide use. It is expected that
their use will increase with development of agriculture and it will therefore be necessary to
ensure that appropriate protection measures are introduced. Relatively speaking, lower nutrient
concentrations are recorded in Una, Drina, Vrbas and Trebišnjica river basins. High concentrations
of phosphorus and ammonium are found in Ukrina River and all profiles of river Bosna and its
larger tributaries.
Water quality and monitoring
Systematic surface water quality testing and analysis in BiH were undertaken since 1965 at 58
locations. However, the complete monitoring system was destroyed during the war and
establishment of new monitoring stations relies upon appropriate human and financial resources.
With the available resources, the monitoring network is being gradually rehabilitated to cover
both water quality and quantity monitoring.
Protection from flooding
Excessive river and flood flows endanger about 250,000 ha of land in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
some 4% of the total territory or about 60% of lowlands. High groundwater tables are present in
an additional 420,000 ha of river valley land and about 300,000 ha of moderately steep or high
plains. By the beginning of the war in 1992, approximately 420 km of flood protection
embankments, 220 km of boundary channels, 30 pumping stations of 120 m3/s capacity and 80
km of flood regulation channels existed. About 80,000 ha of land were thus protected with flood
protection facilities with most of them located along the Sava and Neretva rivers and their
tributaries with only limited protection being provided in East Bosnia.
The existing facilities provide a good basis for further protection works, but there are insufficient
pump stations and density of the canal and embankment network to protect all of the agricultural
land. Repair of the existing systems is now needed and in addition, further expansion is also
required. At present there are no reservoirs that are used to assist with flood protection and the
transformation of flood flows. In addition, the level of protection and return periods used varies
from area to area. For large rivers, return periods of 20 to 100 years are used.
Financing principles
Water supply systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina are still being subsidized by either the entity,
cantonal (in FBiH) or municipal Governments. The current prices, established by the municipalities
and water companies, are too low to adequately meet the requirements for normal functioning
and maintenance. The funds that are being collected through water fees are insufficient for
major investments and this has resulted in low or inefficient investments, lack of development,
low service level, and, eventually, to resistance among the population to pay for the services.
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Table 4 below gives a comparison between average water and wastewater tariffs for households
in RS and FBiH and some European countries.
Table 4 Average Water and Wastewater Tariffs
Parameter [KM/m3] RS FBiH Hungary Estonia EU (average)
Water price 0.20 0.40 0.8 0.63 2.0

Wastewater price 0.09 0.20 0.8 0.81 1.5
Total 0.29 0.60 1.6 1.44 3.5
Mistakes in the past have led to uneconomical water consumption and further degradation of
this resource. Considering water as an economic good provides an instrument for reaching
efficient and adequate use, preservation and protection of this resource as a whole. The main
principles that contribute to the stability of investments and services are the principles of full
cost recovery and the "polluter pays".
Based on the above, the problems and their causes identified in the water sector in BiH are:
Inadequate water supply to the population and industry;

Inadequate protection of springs;
Lack of treatment of municipal and industrial wastewaters;
Numerous wild dumpsites are not remedied and are supplemented with new ones created
often close to water sources and watercourses;
Preventive measures are not applied;
Frequent incidental pollution of water resources;
Inadequate flood protection - unregulated river flows, floods, disasters;
Erosion of surface soil and landslides.
The causes of such problems are:
Lack of an integrated water management system;

Lack of an integrated water management strategy;
Lack of development plans and coordination on all decision-making levels;
Non-harmonized legislation;
Insufficient finances;
Lack of information systems;
Non-compliance with existing legislation;
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Lack of trained staff, equipment and institutions;

Destroyed or damaged infrastructure (water supply and sewage);
Large losses from the water supply systems;
Insufficient wastewater treatment plants;
Lack of monitoring systems;
Deforestation and soil erosion;
Irrational use of water on all levels;
Inadequate water pricing and low collection rate, resulting in a weak financial base for
water companies;
Lack of research and training activities at all levels.
Substantial investments will be required to meet the requirements of the EU guidelines for the
water sector, covering both potable water supply and wastewater removal and treatment.
According to the water sector institutional strengthening project in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(PHARE 1999), the basic goals that need to be achieved in the long run (by 2020) are:
Provision of sufficient quantities of high-quality water for water supply and other needs;
Protection of water resources and preservation of surface and ground water quality;
Protection from flooding.
This will be provided through integrated management of water resources and this will necessitate
the adoption of the following measures:
Reform and modernization of the water sector in accordance with the EU directives (river
basin integrated management model). It is proposed that water resource management be
based on the river basin model and that basic documents for use and management of water
resources need to be issued;
Strengthening of state level activities in the water sector, primarily in order to meet the
international requirements;
Establishment and introduction of new legislation/institutional structure that would delegate
water resources management to local level.
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5.3 Protection, Use and Management of Land Resources
Bosnia and Herzegovina covers an area of 5,112,879 hectares of which the Federation BiH
occupies 2,607,579 hectares and the Republic of Srpska 2,505,300 hectares. Around 52%
(2,600,000 ha) of the total land area is suitable for agriculture with the remaining considered as
forestland. Although the total agricultural land area in FBiH and RS is similar, when the
population of each are considered - 2,250,000 for FBiH and 1,450,000 for RS - the division of
agricultural land per capita in FBiH is at 0.56 ha whereas in RS it amounts to approx. 0.90 ha
per capita. Furthermore, when the areas of fertile fields and gardens are considered, the situation
in FBiH declines further and at 0.23 ha per capita is half that in RS.59 The various uses to which
the agricultural land is put are given in Table 5 below.
Table 5 Land Use in Bosnia and Herzegovina
FBiH [ha] RS [ha] FBiH [%] RS [%]
Total area 2,607,579 2,505,300 51.0 49.0

60
Forest and bare land 1,500,179 1,209,590 55.3 44.7
Agricultural land 1,258,796 1,298,619 49.2 50.8
Fertile fields and gardens 508,062 671,599 43.1 56.9

Agricultural cultures 461,360 616,548 42.8 57.2
Orchards 41,395 54,358 43.2 56.8
Vineyards 5,307 693 88.5 11.5
Meadows 248,291 236,922 51.2 48.8
Pasture 502,443 358,734 58.3 41.7
Agricultural land per capita 0.56 0.90
Fields and gardens per capita 0.23 0.46
59
The critical agricultural land area needed for production of the required amount of food and raw materials for the survival of the
population amounts to 0.17 ha per capita. The area per capita in FBiH is therefore a cause for concern.
60
Bare lands cover approximately 4 to 6% of the total BiH territory.
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Land use changes and losses of agricultural land are resulting from sudden urbanization,
industrialization and changes to commercial developments involving the introduction of new
technologies. The most important and most frequent causes of the reduction in available agricultural
land are given in Table 6.
Table 6 Most Frequent Loss of Agricultural Land
Cause of loss of agricultural land Lost area [ha] Lost area [%]
Surface pits 900 30

Landfills 300 10
Residential zones 600 20
Water accumulation 300 10
Roads 300 10
Industrial facilities 300 10
Erosion, landslides, etc. 300 10
Total 3,000 100.00
Moreover, for a better understanding of the impact in the change of land use on land resources,
it is useful to compare the ratio of different categories of land use per inhabitant (Table 7)61 and
the relative elevation of the available agricultural land (Table 8).62
Table 7 Ratio of Use of Land ha/Capita Table 8 Elevation Above Mean sea Level
Category ha/Capita Height above mean sea level [m] [%]
Ploughed fields and gardens 0.23 0-200 14.2

Total arable land 0.36 200-500 29.0
Total agricultural land 0.59 500-1000 32.4
1000-1500 20.8
1500-2000 3.8
> 2000 0.1
Total 100.0
61
The data for this report used the 1991 census data that gave BiH a total population of 4,364,649. Recent data would indicate that
the population has been reduced by one million persons since then. The internationally accepted ratio is 0.17 ha of ploughed land
and 0.40 ha of agricultural land per inhabitant. According to this data, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is above the
borderline values. In some municipalities, such as Tuzla, Zenica, Kakanj, Živinice, this ratio is considerably lower than borderline
values. Moreover, it is worrying that these areas suffer from the most severe loss of land.
62
Elevations up to 500 m are classified as flat and hilly area and in BiH this covers 43.2%.
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An important consideration is the size of individual land holdings. In Bosnia and Herzegovina
these are very small with 54% of the properties occupying an area of less than 2 ha (see Table 9).
Table 9 Size of Land Holdings in BiH
[ha] [%]
<1 34.5
1-2 19.5
2-3 13.5
3-5 16.0
5-8 10.5
8-10 3.1
> 10 2.9
Total 100.0
Analysis of the soil classes shows that the soil in BiH is very heterogeneous. Automorphous
soils make up 86% of the total, while the remaining 14% are hydromorphous soils. The content
of humus in agricultural soils is approximately 50% lower than in soils covered with forest
vegetation. Due to farming and treatment methods applied, the content of humus in agricultural
soils shows a tendency to decline further.
Semberija, Posavina and Krajina in the North of BiH have somewhat better conditions for
agricultural production with predominantly hydromorphic soils on flat and moderately undulating
terrain in the valleys of the Sava River and its tributaries. The central part of BiH is a mainly
hilly and mountainous region with a large portion of steep or sloping terrain. This area is
covered mainly by dystric cambisol, humus that overlies lime and dolomites, and lessivated soil,
as well as diluvial soils that are mainly covered by forests and pastures. Only a small percentage
of this area is suitable for farming and results in subdivisions into very small fields. Southern
parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina are dominated by shallow layers of soil on lime/dolomite
substrata and with sparse covering of vegetation and rock outcrops. Only narrow strips of land
located along the courses of the Neretva and Trebišnjica rivers are used for agriculture
(vegetables, fruits, vineyards, tobacco).63
Land use in Bosnia and Herzegovina suffers from inadequate and irrational planning of
resources. Loss of agricultural land in most cases results from unplanned building of residential
63
Agricultural production in some parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, given the small portion of quality soil, is characterized by
relatively low cropping intensities. The limiting factors are the following:
- contamination of large areas by mines cca 420,000 ha,
- large percent of hilly or undulating terrain, with over 83% of area having a slope of 13% or greater,
- acid reaction of soil on more than a third of the land,
- low proportion of humus,
- low content of the most important nutrients,
- low physiological depth of soil,
- excess water on about 14% of the territory,
- inadequate attention to improvement of soil fertility,
- small individual land holdings.
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and industrial facilities and infrastructure, irrational exploitation of mineral raw materials and
excessive erosion caused by deforestation and irregular treatment of slopes. In FBiH this loss
amounts to more than 3,000 ha per annum and in RS to more than 2,000 ha.
The main problems related to the destruction of soil and loss of productive agricultural
lands are the following:
Destruction of soil caused by exploitation of raw materials. Surface exploitation of mineral

ores (coal, iron ore, bauxite, clay) has resulted in 15,000 ha of affected land. The main consequence
of this kind of exploitation is not only the direct land loss due to the mining, but also the
additional land loss due to disposal of waste material adjacent to the mining area.
Landfills. Waste is dumped on large areas of fertile agricultural land, thus precluding the
possibility of agricultural production on that land. Industrial wastes are of particular concern and
these include:
Sand and ash from Thermal Power Plants (4 dumpsites in Lukavac, Kakanj, Ugljevik and
Gacko), taking up over 500 ha;
Red mud from alumina processing (Mostar, Zvornik);
Dumpsites around mines.
Construction of residential, industrial and other facilities. Due to irresponsible decision-

making, most infrastructure (settlements, roads, airports, water reservoirs) has been built on
fertile agricultural land, resulting in permanent consequences upon the environment in BiH.
Increase in soil acidity in the past few decades is also notable. Acidification (both natural and
due to emission) also degrades other soil characteristics, thus having adverse effect upon the
plant cover (reduced production of agricultural crops and destruction of forest cover). This is
widespread in places close to thermal power plants (Tuzla, Kakanj, Ugljevik, Gacko) and in
industrially developed centers (especially those associated with chemical industry) where there
are large scale emissions of SO2, CO2, NOx and other gases that cause acid rains and soil
acidification. As a result cations are leached out of the soil leading to decrease in soil fertility.
Erosion, landslides and deforestation. The hilly terrain and relatively high precipitation in
Bosnia and Herzegovina means that much of the country is exposed to water-induced erosion
(see section 5.2). This is most pronounced in the central and southern areas of the country where
annual precipitation reaches up to 2,000 mm. As more than 80% of the country has land slopes
in excess of 13%, water induced erosion is an increasingly present problem today particularly
when land cover is removed through uncontrolled exploitation of timber (see chapters 5.2 and 5.4).
Contamination of land with mines. During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina 6,000 ha of
land were directly destroyed by war actions and between 15,000 to 20,000 minefields were
created using over 1 million mines and other explosive devices. These were scattered over an
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area of 420,000 ha, or 8% of the total land area. The presence of these mines not only poses
direct threat to the population, but also prevents the use of land and exploitation of timber until
they have been cleared.
FBiH
RS
Brčko District
Approx. locations
of mined areas
Approx. locations
of cleared areas
Figure 2 Areas at Risk from Mines in BiH
Other problems that affect land use are:
Lack of systematic soil monitoring;

Lack of a soil/land informational system (SIS);
Lack of information on soil/land contamination to ensure healthy food production;
Lack of an adequate system of land assessment (land classification);
Lack of a unified inventory for land (separate registry and deed);
Lack of implementation of rehabilitation and remedial measures;
Low level of awareness regarding the significance of soil and land for sustainable
development and survival of mankind;
Low level of land use planning;
Lack of large-scale pedology maps that would serve for better physical and land use
planning.
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The basic goals in this area are:
Institutional strengthening for improved management, protection and use of land resources;
Reduction of soil degradation.
Measures necessary for achieving the above goals are:
Preparation of a state strategy (policy) for the protection of soil;

Preparation of a Law on Soil (protection, use and management), based on an integral
environmental protection policy; 64
Country wide inventory of the present land use balance for strategic planning needs;
Determination of the degree of contamination to provide conditions for organic food
production (institutional building for monitoring and measurement of extent of soil
contamination);
Improvement in fertility of intensively used land with a soil fertility monitoring system;
Establishment of a state or entity level agency or institute that would be in charge of the
implementation of soil management and protection policy;
Determination of the current and potential erosion of soil in Bosnia and Herzegovina and
protection measures (preparation of erosion and landslide maps);
Classification of soil for sustainable management and use in agriculture and forestry;
Determination of the quality of soil in order to define priorities;
Establishment of a systematic monitoring of soil, first within the Alpine-Adria association,
and then further on within the European integration processes;
Preparation of other soil (pedology) maps in order to provide for better spatial management
and reaching higher food and raw-material production level;
Establishment of comprehensive soil information systems (SIS);
Revitalization of "industrial deserts" left behind mines and thermal power plants;
Raising public awareness on the importance of land for sustainable development and future
generations;
Preparation of programs for rehabilitation of unused lands and for suitable development of
areas with land class restrictions such as sloping land for use as orchards and forests in
order to prevent erosion;
Reform of the land registry books.
64
Currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the issues related to land use and land development are covered by three laws:
Law on protection of agricultural land;
Law on mining;
Law on construction land;
Law on geology;
Law on sapatial planning.
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5.4 Forest Management
Forest based natural resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina are amongst the richest in Europe in
terms of the extent and variety of stock relative to the size of the country. As about 50 percent of
the territory of BiH is covered by forest, these resources represent an important asset. However,
the recent war and subsequent unregulated development has resulted in heavy damage at all
levels. In certain areas illegal logging operations occurred, along with forest clear-cuts and
degradation, which have led to the occurrence of many diseases, forest fires, ice and wind
breaks. It is also important to emphasize the fact that a large portion of the forested areas are
under mines, which makes any forest protection and rehabilitation activities impossible to
conduct. As an overall result, the sustainability of forest management and the stability of forest
ecosystems are threatened. The basic information on the state of the forest is given in Table 10.
Table 10 Forests in Bosnia and Herzegovina
State forests RS [ha] FBiH [ha] BiH [ha]
High forests 553,763 645,081 1,198,844

Low forests 259,034 260,403 519,437
Uncovered & barren lands 166,919 301,132 468,051
Total 979,716 1,206,616 2,186,332
Private forests: RS [ha] FBiH [ha] BiH [ha]
Area [ha] 229,874 293,563 523,437

Total 1,209,590 1,500,179 2,709,769
Timber stocks [m3]

High forests 132,717 141,776 274,493
Low forests 7,140 9,034 16,174
Total 139,857 150,810 290,667
3
Annual volume increase [m ]
High forests 3,559,400 3,850,000 7,409,400

Low forests 252,960 279,840 532,800
Total 3,812,360 4,129,840 7,942,200
3
Annual volume of timber harvest [m ]
High forests 3,336,500 3,614,000 6,005,000

Low forests 140,000 145,000 347,000
Total 3,476,500 3,759,000 7,235,500
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Forestry in BiH is regulated differently in the two entities. In RS65 the Law on Forests was
adopted in 1994 (amendments and changes to the Law were adopted in May 2002). In FBiH66 the
Law on Forests was adopted in 2002. FBiH has six protected forest areas (Trebević, Prenj,
Igman-jungle, Hutovo Blato, Blinsko lake), whilst RS has protected areas that include two
national parks ("Sutjeska" and "Kozara") and two old growth forests reserves ("Janj" and "Lom").
The major and key issues in forestry are given as follows:
Biotic and abiotic threats to forests. Bark beetle infestations started during the war and are
still the major forest health problem in Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands, especially those
stressed from war actions, drought and fires. Active control of insect population density is
initiated, but of limited success. Major diseases do not normally occur in natural forests. Now,
however, these are destabilized by war activities, and fires and insect attacks are causing
pathological problems. There is not sufficient information on the total forest health situation.
Forest fires have been frequent because of dry weather. No modern technology is available and
fire fighting has to go on by hand. Grazing, and fires started on purpose to expand pastures,
tends to lower the tree line in many mountainous areas. Protection of biodiversity is of concern.
Change in the primary function of forests. In the post-war period, illegal and irrational
exploitation of minerals (quarries), construction of new settlements, production facilities, leisure
homes, and through legal but inadequately planned construction of roads, industrial and other
facilities, has permanently changed the primary function of the forests. As a result the "survival"
and development of forests has faced permanent impacts.
Accessibility of forests. Due to a relatively low forest road density (about 7 meters/ha), over
harvesting occurs in areas with good access with only limited harvesting taking place in areas
with poor access. This has led to a significant decrease of standing volume and degradation of
forest ecosystems in the most accessible areas. These areas are in addition more often prone to
forest fires and insect infestations since over the last decade droughts have been more frequent.
65
In RS the following laws are in force:
Law on Forests;
Law on Changes and Amendments to the Law on Forests;
Law on Plant Protection;
Law on Seeds and Seeding Material;
Law on Hunting;
Law on National Parks:
- 29 regulatory acts (regulations, decrees and instructions);
- 129 acts with a legal basis (forestry commercial basis and hunting basis);
The Republic Forest Inspection oversees the implementation of laws. Legal regulations development and policies in forest
management are under the jurisdiction of the Entity government, more specifically the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Water
Resources.
66
The following laws that existed before the war are still in effect: Law on Plant Protection (a new law is being drafted); Law on
Hunting (the new Law is in the adoption procedure); Law on Seeds and Seeding Material (new Law is being drafted). 43 by-laws
are also under preparation. The Federal Forest Inspection at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry is
mandated to oversee the implementation of laws.
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NEAP
Inadequate forest management systems. Long-term planning is important for development of

the forestry sector, both in relation to forest management as well as value-added activities based
on timber and non-timber resources. The forest management planning in BiH is active only at
the level of Forest Management Plans and Annual Plans. A long-term program for forestry
was developed for the period 1971 to 2005 but has not been revised for the past 3 decades. To
meet changes in the basic criteria for planning it is necessary to revise the long-term plan,
whenever changes are substantial.
Lack of culture-raising and protective measures. Insufficient capacity exists in the

commercial forestry sector for seed and plant production, afforestation and silvicultural
activities. In order to implement certain phases of crop improvement, it is necessary to obtain
high quality planting material with known genetic background. Unfortunately, present practice,
as in the past, relies upon the use of imported seeding material of unknown origin as opposed to
using local stocks from the BiH genetically high quality forest stands.
Market. The lack of an economically sound forest industry capable of utilizing forest products
and of providing raw materials for secondary processing is the most serious constraint in
maintaining a sustainable forestry sector. The price currently being paid for poor quality logs is
insufficient to maintain the forest and forest infrastructure over a long period of time.
BiH has a significant area of high quality tall forests with natural regeneration. In order to
conduct a more successful and efficient rehabilitation and improvement of the forests, which is
the main goal, it is necessary on a wider scale to achieve specific goals to contribute to the
realization of this overall goal. These include:
Sustainable forest management and protection of biodiversity;

Rehabilitation of degraded forest ecosystems;
Defining new and expanding the existing natural reserves and protected areas for special
use;
Development of institutional and economic framework in the forestry sector;
In order to achieve the above goals, the following measures and activities are required:
Long-Term Program for Forest Development. This should define long-term policy and
strategy for providing a lasting forest management and biodiversity approach, the methods for
remedying wartime effects on degraded forest ecosystems and the policies and strategy for
raising young crops as well as measures for a more efficient protection of land and forests from
further degradation, natural catastrophes, plant illnesses and fires. This program needs to
incorporate all obligations and initiatives according to all of the agreed international conventions,
resolutions, action plans, strategies and directives with regards to long-term forest management
and biodiversity protection.
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NEAP
Mid-term plans of forest management. According to the Law on Forests in both entities,
SFE's can be in charge of forest management based on valid commercial forestry principles for
a period of 10 years. During such development, it is important to give priority to the
rehabilitation of the forests and preventing further degradation. It is especially necessary to
develop plans for the improvement of the tree crop and forest protection to cover not only the
rehabilitation of existing forest, but also the improvement of the existing stocks. Commercial
forest management plans need to be harmonized with the midterm plans and added in the form
of annexes. In addition it is necessary to develop nationwide standards for Forest Management
Planning.
Program of widespread forest reproduction. In BiH large areas of emergent forests, Karst
areas, barren and shrub lands are all good candidates for afforestation. These areas are most
frequently devastated and do not have any economic significance. However, from the aspect of
land, water, ecosystem and biodiversity protection, as well as the general effects on the human
environment these areas are very significant. This is why it is necessary to produce a mid-term
program, establish priorities according to the type of work, dynamics and resource allocation. It
is also required within the framework of the program to address the issue of re-forestation and
financing of the Karst areas.
Expansion of the protected areas. In the interest of implementing the concept of ecological
forestry, the areas designated for protection and as natural reserves with a specific use need to
be expanded. In this sense it is necessary to designate and protect specific landscapes that have
enormous aesthetic and other values:
New areas, such as jungle reserves, in the areas where no human activities have been
carried out and having the characteristics of jungle;
Areas that cannot be classified as jungles according to their structure, but not influenced
by human activities. These reserves would be used for scientific and educational purposes,
as well as for protection of biodiversity;
Areas for science that would be under the jurisdiction of faculties or institutions;
Forest areas to be used for sports, recreation, health tourism, rehabilitation centers and picnic
areas etc.;
Protected forest areas with the aim of protecting land, springs, rivers, brooks, lakes etc.;
High quality forests designated as sources of seed material for the purposes of protection
and reproduction of the gene bank;
All areas that contain ancient and endemic species (e.g. Pančićeva omorika, yew, "molika",
various endangered and self-growing (wild) herbs etc.);
Specific landscapes that have significant aesthetic and other values.
Forest certification. In order to promote the sustainable use of forest based resources, forest
management standards at a national level have to be developed. This would then encourage the
implementation of voluntary third-party forest certification schemes, which would enable export
into developed countries. Hence there is a need to certify forests and logging and forestry
companies in BiH.
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NEAP
Accessibility of forests. In order to increase economic impact, it is necessary to develop programs

for improving forest access and financing of the same.
Removal of mines from forests. Remaining land mines are posing a great problem for normal
forest management. Unfortunately, there is no precise information regarding the areas where
land mines are present throughout the forests. It is necessary to properly and precisely map all
mined areas and implement a program for their removal, and provide the financial resources for
such activities.
Monitoring. One of the significant local and global duties of BiH is the establishment of
monitoring (forest health among other issues) and determining the state of biodiversity. The
Convention on Biodiversity includes identification of significant biodiversity components,
conducting monitoring activities, identifying components and negative effects on biodiversity,
maintenance of the database and determining the biodiversity on the national level.
54
NEAP
5.5 Waste Management
Waste represents one of the main environmental issues in BiH with issues arising mainly due to
the inadequate management and the social attitude towards waste, lack of harmonization of
vertical and horizontal management and structural organization, as well as the lack of legal acts
and economic measures. The problem of population migration following wartime destruction
has further worsened the situation.
In BiH, the only possible location for the disposal of municipal and hazardous wastes (industrial,
healthcare and other) is at local (municipal) dumpsites. Most of these are poorly located and/or
inadequately equipped.67 A common practice is the disposal of waste on riverbeds, lakes,
abandoned quarries, mines, which represent an alternative method for "organized" (official)
waste disposal in BiH. A very small number of landfills can be classified, with a few shortcomings,
as sanitary landfills. These locations are: Uborak at Mostar, Krivodol, Bosanska Krupa, a small
landfill in Tešanj, and a large landfill in Smiljevići, Sarajevo. It is estimated that RS has 25
municipal dumpsites and countless illegal dumpsites, while in FBiH there are 50 municipal
dumpsites and a large number of wild disposal sites.
Collection of municipal waste from households is well organized in only a few municipalities.
Treatment of collected wastes is not resolved in a satisfactory manner, while wastes are not
segregated to municipal, hazardous and inert wastes. Figure 3 gives an estimate of the quantity
of daily waste generation in BiH.
Healthcare
120
Communal
1500 Industrial
4500
Figure 3 Estimated Structure of Daily Waste

Generation in BiH (1999)
67
Waste disposal sites and dumpsites are not designed adequately, i.e, they are easily accessible (not fenced), they lack methane
collection, inert cover materials, leachate collection, etc.
55
NEAP
Industrial waste is most often dumped at the same dumpsites along with municipal waste. A
portion of the basic and heavy industry, such as mines, thermal power plants etc. have their own
dumpsites within their industrial complexes. These are used for the disposal of mining waste,
slag and ash.68 Figure 4 sets out the estimated surface area (ha) in BiH taken up by disposal sites
of certain types of industrial wastes. Disposal of industrial, especially hazardous industrial
wastes, is not legally defined in BiH. The only valid document in BiH is the Basel Convention,
which is only in the starting phases of application.
Mining waste disposal sites

6000 ha
Surface mines Ash and slag disposal sites

12839 ha 600 ha
Red mud disposal sites

300 ha
Communal waste disposal sites

1200 ha
Figure 4 Estimated Surface Area [ha] Occupied by Industrial Wastes
BiH lacks a modern incinerator that could be used for incineration of municipal and especially
hazardous wastes. Although facilities exist for the co-incineration of certain types of waste (old
tires, certain types of waste oils) in power generation and industrial furnaces (e.g. cement
factories in Kakanj and Lukavac, thermal power plants with high stacks - Kakanj, Tuzla, etc.)
this is not practiced due to disapproval of the general public.
Municipal and non-hazardous industrial wastes. Collection of certain types of secondary raw
materials is to some extent successful. Certain companies involved in the collection and retail of
waste materials exist. The most successful is the collection of scrap iron, non-ferrous metals and
paper.
Current status of waste management in BiH is characterized by the following:
The lack of a waste market and of selective collection aimed at recycling and reuse of
valuable components, represents a serious economic loss for the community;
Waste is not sorted into recyclables and non-recyclables, thus significantly increasing the
total amount of waste disposed of at landfills and dumpsites;
The energy value and potential of wastes is not utilized.
68
"Environmental Protection Assessment Report for Industrial, Medical and Other Hazardous Wastes in BiH" – March 2002,
Bosna-S Oil Services Co. - Sarajevo.
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NEAP
The Strategy of Solid Waste Management in BiH69 prepared in August 2001 and adopted by
entity governments represents a major step towards improvement of the current situation in BiH.
The strategy establishes basic guidelines and goals to be achieved in the field of waste management.
The strategy also sets out the five, ten and twenty-year estimates of amounts of industrial and
hazardous wastes to be generated in BIH (Figure 5).
200,000
150,000
m3 / day
100,000 FBiH
RS
50,000 BiH
0 1996 1999 2005 2010 2020
Figure 5 Estimated Industrial Waste Generation
This strategy proposes two options for an intermediate solution by forming regional landfills at
16 (entity option) or 14 (inter-entity option) locations, which would in the end, result in a long-
term solution made up of 5 major, regional landfills in BiH. The World Bank is active in the process
of improvement of the current waste management system, by investing significant financial
means in the construction of inter-municipal (regional) landfills that meet all environmental
protection criteria. The concept of such a waste management system includes waste collection
and transport, transfer stations and locations where waste could be finally disposed of from the
existing illegal dumpsites. The locations for the initial phase are, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Mostar,
Bijeljina, Bihać and Livno.
Hazardous wastes. 70 BiH lacks a controlled system of hazardous waste management which is
characterized as follows:
Legal regulations for hazardous wastes (secondary legislation on types of waste and the
methods for handling specific types of hazardous wastes) do not exist;
A registry of hazardous waste generators as well as cadastre of the total generated
hazardous waste does not exist (with exception of Canton Sarajevo that prepared a
hazardous waste inventory in the year 2000);
Hazardous waste separation is not carried out at the source of generation nor in later
stages;
69
BiH Solid Waste Management Strategy, project EU PHARE, conducted by AEA Technology Environment, Culham, Abingdon,
Oxfordshire, UK, in cooperation with local partners.
70
Hazardous wastes in BiH are analyzed in detail in the “Environmental Protection Assessment Report for Industrial, Medical and
Other Hazardous Wastes in BiH”, March 2002.
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NEAP
Hazardous waste landfills and facilities for processing and treatment of specific types of
hazardous wastes do not exist;
Wastes generated in health-care facilities are not segregated and are inadequately
disposed. A portion of infectious healthcare wastes is incinerated in ordinary furnaces for
waste incineration, while the remaining waste is disposed of at local dumpsites where it is
accessible to humans and animals.71
A significant step in the field of hazardous waste management was undertaken in Canton
Sarajevo with the aim of establishing an adequate waste management system. Software and
databases were prepared containing data on waste in the Canton, based on the EU Waste
Catalogue classification system.72
A specific problem in BiH is the leftover, expired pharmaceutical waste, generated through
different international aid programs during the war. This type of waste amounts to approximately
1000 t and is dispersed at over 90 locations throughout BiH. A portion of this waste has been
encapsulated in more than 1600 barrels at 6 locations (Mostar, Bosanski Petrovac, Banja Luka,
Prijedor, Goražde, Sarajevo) and is ready for disposal at landfills.73
Solutions to solid waste management applied up to date have not given positive results due to
the inadequate approach and over-stressing of the technical problems in relation to other issues.
The major causes of the existing situation and means for improvement can be identified in
different areas.
Legal regulations. BiH still lacks adequate legislation for solving the issue of waste
management at State and Entity level. The municipalities have attempted to compensate for this
deficiency by bringing about local regulations on waste management.
In FBiH, the Law on Wastes is at the adoption stage. The existing and currently active Law on
Physical Planning, Law on Communal Activities, and the Rules on Minimal Conditions for
Removal and Final Disposal of Municipal, Industrial and Other Wastes,74 did not regulate the
monitoring of industrial and hazardous wastes, nor did they include adequate sanctions for
subjects not adhering to these regulations. This issue is regulated in more detail through the Law
on Collection, Production and Trade of Secondary Raw Materials. 75
71
According to EU Directive 91/689/EEC non-segregated waste containing hazardous wastes is considered as hazardous.
72
Project: “Strategy of Management of Industrial and Special Wastes in Canton Sarajevo” (2000), with the following summarized
information for Canton Sarajevo (MEDA d.o.o. – Sarajevo):
143 companies posses or generate waste in their production processes;
165 types of wastes were identified; 47 types being hazardous and 118 types non-hazardous;
Overall waste (accumulated and generated) in 1999 amounts to 730,000 m3 and 31,500 t from which hazardous waste
amounts to 6,500 m3 and 400 t; while for 2000, total waste amounts to 720,000 m3 and 200,000 t out of which 7300 m3
and 600 t are hazardous.
73
Environmental Protection Assessment Report for Industrial, Medical and Other Hazardous Wastes in BiH, March 2002.
74
(Official Gazette SRBiH, 34/91)
75
(Official Gazette Federation BiH, no.35/98)
58
NEAP
In RS, the Law on Waste Management was adopted in August 2002, and regulates all categories
of waste and all activities, operations and processes in waste management. However, waste
management and disposal is adversely affected by the lack of a law on land protection. 76
Financing the waste management system. The existing system of financing waste
management is based on charging the population and businesses per square meter of occupied
space. The low level of collection from individuals and enterprises, restricted economic power
and limited environmental consciousness characterize the system. Organizations generating
hazardous wastes are not obliged to allocate funds for monitoring and disposal of such wastes.
Financing the waste management system in the future needs to be based on the "polluter pays"
principle. Currently this is not possible and additional financing is required from the state or
local budget and public enterprises (since communal enterprises are mostly publicly owned and
are financed from budget funds). It is expected that privatization of public communal enterprises
and a more significant private sector involvement will change the manner of financing. Until
this happens, the general public will have to take over a portion of costs of waste management
through higher prices for communal services. The current prices for waste collection,
wastewater treatment, and supply of drinking water are not economic and are insufficient for
meeting the goals of the NEAP. For the moment, the principle of charging for waste
management on the basis of space occupied (m2) should be implemented, especially for
industrial and hazardous wastes. Gradually, the charges should be based on the volume or
quantity of waste generated and one part of the costs could be recovered by recycling a portion
of the wastes. Costs for the disposal of industrial and hazardous wastes should be entirely
covered by those organizations generating the waste (industry and businesses).
Hence, the following sources for financing waste management should be considered:
Waste taxes;
Local budgets;
Citizens;
Entity budgets;
Other sources: loans, specific multilateral credits, (WB, EBRD, IBRD, EIB), local, entity
or state bonds, B.O.T. (build, operate, transfer), non-returnable financial means of the
European Community (PHARE, GEF and other programs).
System of transboundary waste control (export/import/transit). Ratification of the Basel

Convention enabled BiH to establish a system of control over the transboundary movements of
waste. Wastes generated and accumulated can be exported, with the accompanying documentation,
into other countries for treatment.
BiH has signed an agreement with OECD on free transboundary transport of wastes belonging
to the OECD Green Waste List. A specific problem arises from the fact that a unique system of
76
List of regulations that directly or indirectly deal with this part include some 20 regulations of SFRJ; SRBiH and RS in the span
of laws, bylaws of various levels, most of which deal with special types of waste (pharmaceuticals, radioactive materials, poisons
and dead animals).
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NEAP
control over the transboundary waste transport does not exist, which allows for misuse in this
sector and creation of a waste "black market". These wastes are moved to a number of locations
that are out of reach of the inspectors and state authorities.
Environmentally sound technologies, products and packaging. The existing import duties
and (fiscal) subsidies are not directed at products and technologies that utilize environmentally
friendly raw materials. They do not stimulate the introduction of technologies that generate low
quantities of waste and there is no stimulation for utilizing packaging that satisfies the criteria of
eco-balance established on a scientific basis.
Information system. Currently, BiH does not have an integrated information system for waste
management, which would contain all information on wastes (type - according to the European
Waste Catalogue, generation location, waste generators, disposal sites, manner of management
and disposal, and those responsible for disposal, etc.).
Indicators of the status of waste should, in its simplest state, include the following: overall
generated waste/gross national income, generated municipal waste/population, generated
hazardous waste/population, percentage of population covered with waste collection, amount of
adequately disposed waste in accordance with EU directives/overall generated waste. These
have not been explicitly defined up to date, due to the incompleteness of the existing database
and the lack of separation.
In order to attain the EU standard with regards to integrated waste management, high
investments will be needed and these cannot be immediately implemented in BiH. Gradual
changes are the only efficient means of introducing long-term improvements and sustainable
benefits. Hence, it is necessary to secure adequate conditions for achieving the following goals:
Establishment of an efficient waste management system in BiH;

Reduction in quantities of waste disposed on landfills;
Increased use of wastes for power production and generation of secondary raw materials;
Reduction in waste generation;
Implementation of economic measures.
In order to achieve these goals the following measures need to be applied:
In accordance with the principles and standards of the EU, prevent or reduce the
generation of wastes at the source of generation, especially focusing on reduction of
hazardous effects of such wastes;
Reduction of quantities of generated waste in general;
Treatment of wastes to ensure the return of secondary raw materials, recycling or reuse;
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NEAP
- Sorting of wastes according to type and material;

- Development of technical processes that utilize secondary raw materials;
- Utilization of waste for energy production and production of new materials;
Increase energy generation from waste and decrease emissions of greenhouse gases;
Incineration and/or disposal of wastes on sanitary landfills;77
Prevention through different technologies:
- Implementation and improvement of clean technologies;
- Improvement or elimination of environmentally unacceptable technologies (non-
sustainable environmental - economic aspect);
Prevention through product options:
- Supporting production of renewable products;
- Constant improvement of the environmental aspect of technical standards;
- Attempting to minimize the presence of hazardous constituents in products;
- Supporting changes in consumption patterns through awareness raising campaigns
for consumers;
Separation of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes at the source of generation;78
Safe and sound solutions for the disposal of hazardous wastes in BiH including:
- Establishing locations and preparation of a study for at least two (or more) landfills
for hazardous wastes;
- Exploring the possibilities of construction of a modern incineration plant for
hazardous wastes;
- Disposal of pharmaceutical wastes generated during the war period;
Establishing a waste market;
Establishing an efficient waste management system;
Financing the waste management system from above mentioned sources;
Establishing a system of education and raising public awareness.
77
The current state of the collection coverage in urban areas is at 60% and needs to be expanded in the mid-term (10 years) to 90%
of the population, while long-term aims (20-25 years) should cover 98% of the population. In rural areas long-term waste coverage
should icnrease to 60% of the area.
78
8 locations have been proposed for forming waste treatment centers (Banja Luka, Bihać, Bijeljina, Mostar, Rogatica, Sarajevo,
Tuzla and Zenica) for hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, which are transformed into energy or treated prior to final disposal, or
recycled.
61
NEAP
5.6 Integral Spatial Management
Before the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina was under a strong influence of three simultaneous
processes: industrialization, agrarian reform and urbanization. These resulted in imbalanced
urbanization as well as large and continuous migrations and redistribution of the population that
was reflected in the following:
Creation of depopulated zones, deserting of villages and some parts of the country; and
Polarization of demographic development trends in some parts of the country, and especially
in towns and some municipality centers, that increased operating costs in urban zones,
decay of some villages and irrational organization of land areas.
Sudden industrial development caused mass migrations away from rural areas. According to the
1991 census, 39.5% of the population was concentrated in urban zones, whereas the current
estimates indicate that this percentage has increased to approximately 50%. Densely populated
areas were created mostly around big towns, in the river valleys and in the lower parts of
predominantly highland areas. The unbalanced distribution that resulted gave some areas with
high population densities (such as the Zenica-Sarajevo basin that contains 22% of the total
country's population) far faster economic development than was possible in the depopulated
areas. The Pannonian region and its surroundings is another example as it contains 60% of the
total population, while vast areas in eastern, southeastern, south western and partially in
northern Bosnia and Herzegovina were empty, without towns and without adequate economic
development.
Sarajevo-Zenica region covers 8.3% of the country's area and in 1991 this contained 23% of the
population, 33% of the capital and 37% of gross domestic product. Tuzla region covers about
2.7% of the country's area, contains 6.5% of the population and 10% of the capital. Banja Luka
region covers about 5.9% of the land area, 7.8% of the employed inhabitants and 6.4% of the
capital.79
Due to the sudden increase in urbanization and inadequate spatial demographic policies,
rural areas lost their population, became underdeveloped and impoverished;
Regional division of Bosnia and Herzegovina was never officially adopted nor there was
any well-conceived policy of balanced regional development;
The most valuable space assigned by plans to different urban functions were usurped by
illegal construction;
79
In April 2001, the Government of RS passed a decision regarding the finalization of the spatial plan of RS. The plan contains
detailed data on RS. Similar data exists in the Spatial Planning Strategy of FBiH – phase I.
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NEAP
Consequences of war on available land area and its components were more than drastic:
All communications were cut and the infrastructure (water supply, electrical power lines,
road network, etc.) was damaged or broken in most cases;
The demographic map has changed dramatically;
A vast number of villages and parts of different towns have been destroyed;
Natural resources and architectural heritage were often destroyed or severely damaged;
Business and social activities facilities suffered mass destruction and are unusable;
Forests have been degraded by illegal exploitation, burning and occupation;
Water processing and supply facilities have been destroyed or damaged;
The land was occupied for military purposes and contaminated by landmines.
The devastation of the land continued in the post-war period in many aspects:
Illegal construction has occupied vast areas of towns and other parts of country;
Large areas of forest are exposed to destruction and mass (illegal) exploitation, with increased
contribution to erosion and flood flows;
Mineral resources are being destroyed and exploited illegally;
Protected water supply zones are not adequately protected;
The situation with surface and groundwater is of concern (wastewater, industrial water
and other pollutants are discharged in to rivers; large quantities of solid waste are being
thrown in the rivers);
The level of pollution caused by human activities (wood processing waste, landfills,
vehicle dumps, tire dumps, etc.) and industrial activities (caused by outdated technologies,
equipment and machinery) has increased;
Organized air protection does not exist while air pollution in urban zones is not recorded
(e.g. pollution caused by exhaust gases from vehicles that are outdated and out of order, or
use inadequate fuels);
Protection from noise and vibrations does not exist;
Less farmland is cultivated, the machinery used is outdated and the use of fertilizers and
pesticides is not controlled;
Urban settlements are spreading uncontrollably onto farming and ecologically "protected"
areas;
Vast areas of farmlands and grasslands are not being used;
Biodiversity is in danger in most parts of the country;
Reconstruction of villages is slow or non-existent; (total extinction of villages is a
threat, especially in highland areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which can have various
unforeseeable consequences);
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NEAP
Conditions for the return of refugees and displaced persons to their previous homes are not
favorable;
Reconstruction of destroyed housing and other structures, creation of necessary conditions
for reconstruction of rural settlements and revitalization of demographically vulnerable
areas, is partial or non-existent.
The basic goals for global implementation of integrated space management present a unique,
interdependent system of activities that need to be implemented in an orderly and planned
manner. This is to ensure that maximum benefit is attained from the land and natural resources
to promote sustainable development and eliminate the potential for further conflicts.
In order to overcome the observed problems in the area of spatial management, it is necessary to
create the conditions for the implementation of the following specific goals:
Reconstruction, protection and promotion of natural and created values (infrastructure,

settlements, economic and other potentials, etc.) and consolidation of the situation in the
most vulnerable demographic areas;
Harmonized economic, social and spatially balanced development of both rural and
urban parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Preservation and protection of the environment, natural and architectural heritage and
diversity, with responsible (sound) management of natural resources;
Management and use of land to ensure full integration of all activities in the region,
in Europe and worldwide.
Organized implementation of following measures is necessary for achievement of the above goals:
Adoption of missing pieces of legislation and by-laws, as follows:
Spatial management strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Framework law on environmental protection;
Report on the state of space and spatial management in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Law on spatial management in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Spatial plan of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Law on air;
Law on water protection;
Law on waste management;
Law on nature protection;
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NEAP
Law on noise and radiation.80
Preparation and adoption of:
Entity spatial plans;

Intermunicipal and cantonal spatial plans;
Spatial plans for areas of special importance,
Urban plans of towns and settlements of special importance;
Spatial plans of municipalities;
Planning and operational activities for reconstruction of rural zones.
Establishment of monitoring and information systems.
Preparation of a protection plan:
Identification of all sources of pollution (in municipalities and local communities);

Rehabilitation of land and its contents that produce harmful effects for the environment
Preparation of a rehabilitation plan for rural areas:
Reconstruction, repair and rehabilitation of rural areas. It is necessary to implement

rehabilitation projects for these rural areas (villages as producers of food surplus;
employers for both rural and displaced population and excess workforce from the
industry; villages as producers of pollution - controlled use of pesticides and fertilizers
in agriculture, finding solutions for waste disposal, fuel consumption, waste processing).
International cooperation:
Joining international projects, especially the projects of the Stability Pact and the European
Union, that are relevant for spatial management and environmental protection;
Joining the projects of the European Union, European Commission, European Regional
Development Fund, INTERREG Program and spatial management programs for Central
Europe, the Adriatic, Danube basin and South-East Europe.
Stimulation of well-planned investments, construction and other activities.
Establishment of institutional framework mechanisms:
Establishment of institutes for preparation of physical and urban planning documents on

municipal, cantonal and entity levels;
80
These laws have been adopted in RS during 2002, and are in the process of adoption in FBiH.
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Establishment of city Institutes for physical planning in all larger (over 50,000
inhabitants) regional centers;
Professional and practical training of staff (spatial planners) for preparation, follow-up and
implementation of planning documents;
Public participation in the process for preparation of physical and other plans;
Preparation of norms and standards for spatial (physical) planning.
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5.7 Biodiversity, Geodiversity and Protection of Natural and Cultural

Heritage
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a particularly rich biodiversity due to its location in three distinct
geological and climatic regions: (I) the Mediterranean region, (II) the Euro Siberian - Boreo
American region and (III) the Alpine-Nordic region. It is also home to a number of endemic
species and habitats, and the location of relict centers - refuge of tertiary flora and fauna,
preserved today in the specific conditions of paleo-climate. BiH is one of the countries in
Europe with the greatest diversity of species of plants and animals. Vascular flora counts for
about 5,000 confirmed taxa of species, sub-species, and variety and form level. As much as 30%
of the total endemic flora on the Balkans (1,800 species) is contained within the flora of Bosnia
and Herzegovina. There are still no reliable data on the number of bacteria, blue-green bacteria
or blue-green algae), but they are estimated to more than 2,000 species. Lichen and moss are
poorly documented, as are fungi, although it is estimated there are several thousand fungi.
Fauna inventories are more advanced and indicate that the animal kingdom is rich and diverse,
particularly in comparison to other countries in the Balkans and in Europe. This rich
biodiversity is endangered. Today there is a large number of registered domesticated plants in
fruit growing, wine growing, tillage, vegetable growing and horticulture that are only preserved
in certain parts of the country. There were previously a number of indigenous breeds of bovine
cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys and dogs. These are now decreasing and some are becoming
extinct.
BiH has an extremely high level of diversity of biotopes (habitats), i.e. geodiversity. This is
contributed by specific orography, geologic surface, hydrology and eco-climate. Given the area
of the country and the number of registered geologic rarities, Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of
the countries with the greatest diversities in Europe and worldwide. Even though it is under
significant anthropogenic pressure, geodiversity is still locally preserved, and it requires an
adequate sustainable management regime.
Centuries of coexistence and a broad range of interactivity between biologic and geologic
diversity, are best reflected in extremely high diversity of landscapes in the whole area of
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Landscapes include:
Mediterranean landscapes (Neum-Klek);

Supra-Mediterranean landscapes (lower flow of Neretva, Southeast and Southwest
Herzegovina);
Mediterranean-highland landscapes (Eastern and Western upper Herzegovina);
Pannonian landscapes (Posavina);
Highland (hills) landscapes (Central, Eastern and Western Bosnia);
Mountain landscapes.
However, many landscapes are now changed, devastated, and degraded through different
anthropogenic activities and transformed into lower forms of ecologic organization.
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The term "natural heritage" relates to parts of nature of great value, such as animal reserves,
spatially limited areas of nature, certain species of flora and fauna and their habitats, rarities in
nature - monuments of nature, memorial monuments of nature and protected zones. The natural
heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into three categories:
Estates of universal (international) significance;

Estates of special significance for history and culture of nations and ethnic groups;
Other valuable natural estates.
The term "Cultural heritage" refers to a part of natural environment with special ambient value.
Cultural heritage is closely related with the diversity of human cultures and it represents their
expression deriving from the centuries long processes of anthropogenesis and etnogenesis in this
area. In the domain of the diversity of human culture, including the cultural heritage, Bosnia and
Herzegovina is full of irreplaceable unique values. Cultural heritage in this context can be
classified as monuments of nature, and protected ambient units.
The Law on Protection of Nature was adopted in the RS in August 2002. It stipulates the
revitalization, protection, preservation and sustainable development of landscapes, units of
nature, plants, animals and their habitats, soil, minerals and fossils, as well as other components
of nature that are a part of the environment. The same law is currently being prepared for
adoption in the FBIH.
The most vulnerable areas in terms of biodiversity and natural and cultural heritage in Bosnia
and Herzegovina are given in Figure 6.
FBiH
RS
Brčko District
Rivers and streams
Areas with
anthropogenic pressures
Figure 6 Areas with Significant Anthropogenic Pressures
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Placing areas of significant and/or threatened biodiversity and natural and cultural heritage
under protected area status is the key protection instrument used in BiH. The Law on the
Protection of Nature (Official Gazette BH, nr. 4/65) defines the categories of protection and
protected parts of nature (Table 11).
Table 11 Categories of Protection and Protected Parts of Nature
Group Protection category Quantity Sub-group Quantity
I Strict Natural Preserve 3

II Managed Natural Preserve 2
III National Park 2
Geologic 2
IV Special Preserves Botanic 5
Ornithological 1
V Natural Landscapes Preserve 9
VI Herbal species 7
VII Animal species 5
Song-birds 153
Wading birds 66
Birds of prey 38
Geologic 3
VIII Geomorphologic 65
Monuments of Nature Paleontologic 1
Individual trees 21
Tree groups 1
In spite of the importance of nature and growingly influential anthropogenic factor, only several
aspects of nature were included in the various protection schemes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
These cover about 0.49% of the land areas while, by same estimates, their value is about 3%.
This puts Bosnia and Herzegovina on the very bottom of the European protected area chart by
the IUCN criteria.81 Wetland and aquatic ecosystems are some of the most endangered areas,
subject to intense devastation and degradation.
Due to inadequate post-war socio-economic situation, the pressure on natural heritage is increasingly
present. The best example for that is the unplanned urbanization of a broader region of two
small and sensitive protected zones: Hutovo Blato and Blidinje.
Financing of the protection of natural heritage is inadequate. In principle, it is financed from the
budget on the basis of partial use of protected estates: from the income earned by the activities
of the organization managing the natural estate and from other sources stipulated by the law on
environmental protection. These funds are realized through fees for use of protected natural
81
IUCN: International Union for the Conservation of Nature
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estates for tourism, catering, trade, film industry, etc., use of specially allocated fields (parking,
leisure activities, marketing purposes, etc.) and for use of the trademark of the protected natural
estate.
The Institute for Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage is responsible for
research, recording and valorization of the estates as well as for monitoring, preparation and
implementation of projects for their biologic and technical protection. However, due to
inadequate legal basis and finances, the activities of the Institute have been put on hold.
Cultural and Historic heritage and its natural environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been
significantly damaged during the war activities and are at further risk. Under these conditions,
the care of the biodiversity surrounding a piece of cultural heritage is often treated as a
secondary issue, which eventually results in a prolonged solution. Generally speaking, it can be
said that the preparation for the reconstruction of diversity of protected cultural and historical
heritage has never been done. A lack of financial support has meant that there has been
inadequate maintenance to ensure at least a minimum level of preservation.
Inadequately controlled exploitation of cultural and historical heritage and insufficient

interventions in the post-war period further endangered biodiversity of cultural estates. Various
interventions for expansion or adaptation that were undertaken to enable use of the cultural
estates without adequate supervision and control by qualified expert services, has led to further
damage of biodiversity of cultural and historic heritage.
In addition to this, it should be noted that a complete record of biodiversity of cultural and historic
heritage was never made while the evaluation and classification of same was insufficient.
Therefore the existing documents that are available are incomplete and should be reviewed and
corrected in a number of cases. The task involved in surveying the environment and determining
the cultural and historic heritage is a very lengthy assignment and is still proceeding.
Biodiversity
A number of problems in the area of biodiversity and geodiversity have been identified, together
with tangible causes for many of them. Many fauna are endangered. Especially endangered are
some mammals, from the game category, and animals that were exploited in the past, such as
snails and some reptiles. Reduction of their number to critical level has caused a reduction in the
number of some other animal populations - butterflies, grasshoppers, crickets and some other
representatives of meso- and micro-fauna.
According to the estimates of experts, today in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are more than 678
types of pteridophyta and spermatophyta that are endangered to some degree. By the IUCN
categorization, the spectrum of endangered plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina includes: 3 extinct
species, 5 probably extinct species, 43 very endangered, 286 endangered or vulnerable; 298 rare
or potentially endangered, and 52 species that are insufficiently explored. This is almost 19% of
the total number of species included in the evaluations that were carried out. One of the problems
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is the lack of data on endangered mosses (several dozens of species were identified) and algae,
but, based on the data on increasing pollution of water, it has been concluded that their
number is further decreasing.
It would be important to explore endangered fossil micro-flora. As a result of unreasonable and

unplanned soil utilization some very valuable paleo-habitats are being destroyed together with
paleo-flora.
A number of species of fungi in Bosnia and Herzegovina are on European and World Red Lists
as a result of loss of habitat, extensive and inadequate exploitation. According to some estimates
by mycologists, over 50% of higher fungi present in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Europe are
endangered. This means that 52% of basidimycotina are endangered, i.e. over 5,200 types of
fungi, and that 79% of mushroom species are endangered making it the most in danger of
extinction.
A large number of indigenous domestic plants and animals are under threat. As a result, many
types and breeds are completely extinct or are present in very small populations. The main cause
is that the introduction of plants and animals from other areas has repressed the indigenous types
and breeds. Besides this, many of them have not been bred, grafted, etc. for a very long time.
The causes of the above problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the following:
Natural freshwater ecosystems have been endangered first of all by pollution. It is difficult
to find river and lake ecosystems without a change of diversity caused by different levels
of eutrophication;
Intentional or accidental introduction of new species of fish is common in all aquatic
ecosystems;
Wetland habitats are limited to several separate regions. These areas, not being suitable
for cultivation, abundant with different species of birds and vascular plants are being
degraded by drainage improvements and rehabilitation, the construction of fish-ponds and
the construction of roads;
High-mountain areas are marked as biodiversity centers but under the current conditions
they are being changed by degradation of the upper forest boundary. This includes the
clearing of forests and burning of mountain pine (Pinus mugo) and mountain juniper
(Juniperus nana), extensive cattle-breeding, drying of high-mountain peat-bogs,
unplanned construction of tourist facilities and settlements, buildings and infrastructure
above the upper boundary of forest;
Excessive exploitation of natural resources resulting from the lack of a clear and defined
economic basis for forestry and hunting based on sustainable use of wildlife including the
complete and intensive felling of trees, unbalanced agricultural production, aquaculture
and hunting and poaching;
Unbalanced land management (illegal construction of settlements and production facilities,
construction of roads and other infrastructure, growth of urban zones);
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Absence of a clear institutional framework, based on expert and scientific data, for the
management and administration of biologic and geologic diversity;
Paucity of information on biologic and geologic diversity and absence of classification of
endangered species and habitats;
Absence of commitment towards international documents regulating sustainable
management of biodiversity such as: Convention on Conservation of European Wildlife
and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention); European Commission Habitat Directive (EC
Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC); Biodiversity Convention, CITES Convention, Ramsar
Convention, etc.;
Increasing trade in endangered plants, fungi and animal species;
Exclusion from the international projects such as: Natura 2000 - Coherent European
Network of Special Conservation Zones; European Ecologic Network (ECONET);
Deficiency of clear financial policy for management of biologic and geologic diversity;
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of few countries in Europe and in a broader region that
still does not have established inventory of flora, fauna and fungi. In addition, there is still
no scientifically based categorization of endangered flora and fungi. This means that it is
the only European country without the Red Book and without a prepared and evaluated
Red List.
Natural heritage
The natural heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina is faced with the following problems:
Intense degradation of natural heritage is present in all its components and is a consequence
of the increasing poverty experienced during the period of intense transition of the society
of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Absence of clear institutional framework for management of natural heritage on all
organizational levels;
Dearth of expert and scientific institutions for the establishment of a management database
containing information relevant to the development of economically and ecologically
acceptable natural heritage;
Ineffective and slow implementation of existing legislation and in the development of a
monitoring system;
Inadequate financial policy for the protection of natural heritage and shortage of
development programs for market economy in this area;
Weak cooperation with inter-governmental bodies, institutions and sectors and the non-
governmental sector;
Insufficient public information and awareness and receptiveness of the governmental
sector on the significance of the natural heritage;
Very small areas covered with adequate protection regime;
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Deficiency of information on the sensitivity of certain areas, categorization of endangered

elements of nature and their current situation;
Insufficient participation in international trends.
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina is faced with the following problems:
All of the listed problems derive from the shortage of finance and professionally trained
teams necessary for adequate, comprehensive and timely rehabilitation and protection of
diversity of cultural and historical heritage;
The war led to an institutional division in the protection of cultural estates. This further
highlighted the issue of responsibilities that included the problems with existing
documentation;
Repair of war damage to the environment surrounding protected cultural and historic
heritage has never been carried out;
There are no financial means that would enable repair of cultural estates in their natural
environment and there are no options under which alternative financing would be provided;
Further devastation of cultural estates and their natural environment was caused by the
widespread post-war poverty;
Absence of unique strategy for the future development of a service for protection of cultural
estates in their natural environment;
Inadequacies in the legal protection field (deficiency of adequate legislation that would be
directly related to natural environment of a monument);
Insufficient cooperation and coordination with other institutions whose activities could
contribute towards a more efficient and a more comprehensive protection of the natural
environment of cultural estates;
Incomplete record of cultural and historic heritage in its natural environment resulted from
the destruction of documentation that had been stored until 1992 in the Republic Institute
for Protection of Cultural, Historic and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina in
Sarajevo.
Biodiversity and geodiversity
Goals:
Protection and balanced management of biological, geological and landscape diversity;

Ecologic classification of ecosystems as a precondition for sustainable protection and
management;
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Improvement of legislative background for protection and sustainable management of

biodiversity and geodiversity;
Treating biodiversity and geodiversity as one of the functions of development of Bosnia
and Herzegovina;
Assessment of the actual state of bio and geodiversity from the aspect of endangerment;
Prevention of biologic terrorism;
Preservation and protection of domesticated autochthonous genofund;
Promotion of environmental education and information;
Establishment of a monitoring system.
For achieving the goals above, the following measures are proposed:
Adoption and economic categorization and inventory of habitats in Mediterranean coastal

belt in accordance with CORINE methodology, MEDWET methodology and EMERALD
regulations;
Passing of basic legislation relevant to the biodiversity and geodiversity, in accordance
with the EU criteria, respecting local ecologic, economic and political specificities;
Ensuring conditions (on expert basis) for signing and/or ratification of international
documents relevant for sustainable management and protection of biodiversity and
geodiversity;
Preparation of programs and standards for sustainable use of biologic resources (wild
flora, fauna and fungi - medicinal herbs, snails, fish, etc.) in order to gain economic profit
and reduce poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Preparation of maps of flora, fauna and fungi in Bosnia and Herzegovina using internationally
accepted methodologies;
Assessment of the current state of endangered plants, animals and fungi (preparation and
adoption based on the IUCN criteria), Red List of animals, plants and fungi, based on the
same criteria and starting points;
Preparation of a national strategy and action plan of management of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) and invasive species of plants, animals and fungi;
Systematic inventory of invasive species of plants, animals, fungi and monera in accordance
with the international standards with a special overview of the level of invasivity, spread
and threat to domestic genofunds;
Preparation of an inventory of authentic types of plants (fruits, vegetables, horticulture) and
breeds of animals in accordance with the FAO propositions;
Creation of a national gene bank for domesticated plants and animals;
Propagation of endangered plants and animals in ex situ conditions.
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Natural heritage
Goals:
Protection of overall natural heritage in accordance with the IUCN standards;

Development of adequate methodology for sustainable management of natural heritage;
Evaluation of the current situation with natural heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Creation of legislative framework for efficient protection of natural heritage;
Development of environmental education curricula;
Introduction of monitoring systems and public access to information on natural heritage;
Involvement in international projects and foundations (MAB, ECONET, MAP, etc.).
Preparation of an adequate protection program for 15-20% of the BiH territory in

accordance with IUCN criteria and preparation of a strategy and action plan for balanced
protection;
Preparation of a program for balanced management of the area along the Adriatic coast;
Preparation of a program for sustainable management of endemic and refuge centers
(canyons of Una, Neretva, Vrbas, Drina and Sana rivers, valleys of Trebižat, Pliva and Tinja);
Preparation of a program for sustainable management of high-mountain areas and mountain
lakes;
Preparation of a program of balanced protection of geo-biodiversities (ecosystems in the
rifts, snow outcrops, rockeries);
Evaluation of the protection of individual natural estates or units under a certain level of
protection;
Classification of endangered units of natural heritage and preparation of so called Red
Map of Bosnia and Herzegovina for inauguration and development of sustainable physical
planning methodology;
Preparation of an inventory of endangered biodiversities, habitats and ecosystems and
cultural values;
Identification and classification of sensitive ecosystems and geologic heritage in local, entity
and global level.
Cultural heritage
Goals:
Conservation and sustainable management of cultural heritage in its natural environment;

Creation of legislative and institutional framework for sustainable management and
protection of cultural heritage;
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Efficient protection of the most vulnerable cultural units;

Education and training of staff and institutional cooperation.
Preparation of strategy and national protection programs for cultural heritage in natural
environment based on the principles of ecologic coexistence;
Development of further stages of the BiH Action Plan, prepared by the EU (Team Project
form Brussels 1997/98) in accordance with Dayton Peace Accords;
Preparation of inventory and (re) classification of cultural and historical heritage on national
and local level;
Provision of the necessary minimum of preventive activities on technical and physical
protection on the most endangered units;
Preparation of emergency protection projects on the most endangered cultural monuments
(Sase monastery, Dobrun monastery, Zavala monastery, Lomnica monastery, Isa-bey's
Tekija in Sarajevo, Ferhat-pasha's Mosque in Banja Luka, Mostar Old Bridge, Saint Ivo's
Church in Podmilačje, Aladža Mosque in Foča/Srbinje), and other cultural units such as
Prusac, Očevlje, Kreševo, Kraljeva Sutjeska, Donja Gradina Memorial, Sutjeska
Memorial, Kozara Memorial, Vraca-Sarajevo Memorial, Višegrad Old Spa, Srpske
Toplice Banja Luka, Čerezluk Foča/Srbinje, Banvir Old Town Trebinje, Bijela Tabija
Sarajevo, Jajce Old Town, Počitelj Old Town, Bobovac Old Town, Bulozi - Pale Old
Town, 23 Bosnian old towns-čaršije;
Development of information system for cultural heritage with guidelines for preventive
protection.
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5.8 Health and Safety
5.8.1 Status of the Sector and Problem Identification
Public health
Public health is strongly affected by water, air and soil pollution that is usually the result of
irrational and inadequate exploitation of natural resources. Although renewable water resources
in BiH are twice as great as the European average, only 50% of the population is served by
water, with approximately 32% of the urban population receiving healthy drinking water, while
only 55% of the supplied water is chemically and biologically monitored. With regards to air
pollution, on one hand it is decreased significantly because of decreased industrial production,
while on the other hand there is an increase in air pollution because of increasing road traffic.
Generally food production is not adversely affected by contamination with chemicals, synthetic
fertilizers and pesticides, except for specific areas where such products are used without control.
In that sense it is important to emphasize that there is a potential for production of healthy food
in BiH, which would replace the current imported low quality food.
Potable water. A large number of issues are related directly with the hygienic conditions of
water in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even though there is legislation on the monitoring of the
water quality and public health that includes the monitoring of the water resources, sanitary
zones of water supply facilities and hygienic conditions of water, it is implemented only
sporadically. Radiological control, although needed, was never carried out. According to
available data, the most frequent reasons for poor microbiological water quality were the
increased number of aerobic mesofilous bacteria and E. Colli,82 and the most frequent reasons
of poor physical and chemical characteristics, were increased utilization of potassium
permanganate, nitrites, nitrates and iron.83
Most urban homes have access to water within their houses (96%). However, in the rural areas
29% of the population has water in yards, 21% in houses, 18% have pumps, 14% have protected
sources and 12% have protected wells. As much as 50% of the population uses water from
central water supply systems, while the remaining 50% uses potable water from other water
supply facilities. Epidemics caused by water-transferred agents are of a seasonal character and
usually happen in smaller water-supply facilities that are not under constant monitoring by the
public health institutions.
Water supply systems are the responsibility of public enterprises. A register of water supply
facilities does not exist. The overall quality of water supply is unsatisfactory and still does not
meet the required standards. Modern methods of gas-based chlorination of water from public
water supply system is applied in a few systems, but most use the outdated chlorination method.
However, irrespective of the method of disinfection used, irregular and insufficient disinfection
of water leads to a number of waterborne epidemics of intestine infections.
82
1998 / 22.60%, 1999 / 18.34%, 2000 / 19.72%
83
1998 / 14.09%, 1999 / 11.79%, 2000 / 9.53%
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Quality of air (in open and closed space). BiH has always suffered from many sources of
pollution that have a significant impact on the health of the population. The most important
influences on air pollution come from industrial and power production plants, traffic and
individual furnaces and heating stoves during the winter months. Air quality in closed spaces is
an important element of a healthy environment. Radon emission from soil and construction
materials is a parameter treated seriously in other countries but not in BiH as it lacks the necessary
basic data and information.
Other factors worth mentioning are the influences of dust, heating, smoking, open flames and
heating devices on public health. In addition, various poisonous gases were used during the war
approximately 2,500 times at 200 different locations in the country. These therefore present a
new environmental hazard with uncertain consequences. In all cases, the high concentration of
air polluters that exist in urban areas has led to an increased death rate and disease rate related to
respiratory tract diseases and carcinomas.
Food safety. Before the war BiH had a well-developed and organized system for monitoring the
hygienic condition of food products. This was carried out in the laboratories of the Institute for
Health Protection and Veterinary Faculty in Sarajevo, as well as in all food industries that had
their own laboratories. Much of this equipment was destroyed during the war and this coupled
with a lack of trained staff, has resulted in a significant reduction in the control of food products
and animal food.
Transitory and parasite-caused diseases that are prevalent throughout Europe and threaten
consumers of meat and meat products, such as foot-and-mouth disease, foot rot and mad cow
disease,84 have still not been detected in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Comparatively recent data for FBiH (1998) shows that there were 14 epidemics of trichinelosis
with 186 diseased and 4 epidemics of alimentary toxoinfections with 77 diseased. In
Republika Srpska, during the past three years there were 5,664 cases of bacterial infection
through food and water. Analysis of five-year trend shows that the number of cases is on the
increase. In 1998, 19 food-transmitted epidemics were reported (1999: 13 epidemics; 2000: 7
epidemics). The most frequents agents of these epidemics are salmonella and staphylococcus
toxin, and the most frequent parasite is trichinella.
Disposal of solid waste. Waste management in Bosnia and Herzegovina is unsatisfactory from
the aspect of health care. Due to the accelerated growth of the quantities of waste, inadequate
disposal and treatment, solid waste represents one of the most significant environmental
problems. Current disposal practices cause direct pollution of the soil, water, food and air.85 The
solution of waste-related problems and improvement of the current situation is possible only
through the implementation of measures given in section 5.5.
Wastewater. All of the larger urban centers have a central sewerage system that disposes of
both household effluent and excess precipitation/runoff. Such system, however, only covers
84
The institutions in BiH cannot safely diagnose the mad cow disease in its early stage, due to the lack of adequate diagnostic
equipment.
85
BiH lacks a hazardous waste landfill.
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about half of the population of FBiH and just over a third of the population of RS. In rural areas,
a very small number of houses have septic tanks that are hygienically safe and well constructed.
In most cases either soakaways (concrete basins with porous bottom) or basins with the
overflow pipe discharging directly into rivers and streams are used. Few suitable sewerage
tankers exist for emptying of these tanks and thus in most cases they are often drained in an
unhygienic way. As a result, the risk of contamination of ground and surface water resources is
high. Measures required for overcoming wastewater related problems are given in section 5.2.
Noise and vibrations. After the war, a noise monitoring system has not been established in
BiH. Measurement of noise and vibrations in the working environment is carried out only
occasionally and thus there are no real data that would assist in assessing the impacts.
Influence of animal health on human health. Zoonoses are defined as diseases that can be
transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa. The most important zoonotic animal
diseases registered recently in Bosnia and Herzegovina are anthrax, echinococcus / hidatidosis,
leptospirosis, rabies, brucelosis, bovine tuberculosis, cisticercosis, trichinelosis, lajshmaniosis
and Q fever. Specific socio-economic and epizootiologic conditions such as uncontrolled
growth of urban zones without improvement of public health services, international trade of
animals and travel are all favorable for the spread of these diseases. Efficient control measures
coupled with continuous cooperation between veterinary and medical authorities and research
institutes are all needed to reduce the hazard that these diseases pose.
Radioactive waste from industry, medicine and research. According to the criteria of the
International Agency for Atomic Energy (IAEA), Bosnia and Herzegovina is classified as a B
type country, with broad range of use of sources of ionizing radiation in medicine, industry and
research. Many environmental problems exist in the use of these materials and few satisfactory
solutions have yet been proposed for the disposal of waste and residues. These include the
disposal of medium and low-active radioactive nuclear waste left from industrial use and
research, so-called lost sources of radiation,86 soil contamination by depleted uranium and slag
and ash from coal fired power production facilities. The issue of contamination of soil by
impoverished uranium and its influence on health, as a heavy metal and an ionizing radiation
source, has not yet been studied completely. Slag and ash from coal power stations that contain
high concentration of heavy metal, including radionuclides, are being deposited now on
inadequate landfill sites. These are not monitored for radioactivity and there is no systematic
evaluation of the influence of these sites on surface and ground water, soil, air, or the health of
surrounding population, plants and animals.
Non-ionizing radiation, that does not cause ionization of molecules and atoms by going
through matter, poses a health threat that is still not sufficiently analyzed. Health risks are
connected with electrostatic, electric and magnetic fields (high-voltage transmission lines and
low-voltage transmission networks), electromagnetic waves (emitted by all electric appliances),
microwave radiation (television satellites, mobile phones, radars, microwave ovens) and radio
frequency waves (emitted by radio-stations and battery supplied appliances).
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Lost sources of radiation are fire warning systems, radioactive lightning-rods, sources used in medicine and industry that are now
partly damaged by war and post-war activities and that pose a threat to anyone who comes in contact with them.
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Non-ionizing radiation protection is not defined by legislation and there are no measures and
plans for reduction of non-ionizing radiation exposure. An organized record of non-ionizing
radiation sources is not maintained in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the only records kept being
those maintained by different companies, usually for purpose of charging users for services (for
example TV subscription, mobile phones, etc). Research into health risks caused by non-ionizing
radiation is very limited.
Risk and accident management
Safe treatment of chemicals. The chemical industry, especially the basic chemical industry,
used to be one of the most developed and the most profitable industrial branches in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. After the war most of the large industrial companies producing and processing
chemicals stopped working and started privatization. Some quantities of chemicals remained in
the premises of factories that are partly monitored, if at all, and in principle they are not taken
into consideration during the privatization process. These chemicals are often stored in
inadequate conditions, are not owned by anyone, and are left unmonitored. This increases the
chance of abuse or accident. Often these companies go through partial privatization, in which
only some parts are privatized, and chemicals and other dangerous waste are stored in
inadequate conditions due to the lack of funds. The main problem is that the privatization
process does not require information on chemicals, hazardous waste and other elements
significant for health and environment, nor does it require disposal of such wastes. In spite of
this, some chemical industries, mostly processing plants, have succeeded in remaining in
production and have introduced ISO 9000 standards, and are preparing for certification
according to ISO 14000 standards. Mechanisms for promotion of cleaner technologies are
insufficient.
Trade of toxins, plant protection chemicals, industrial explosives and inflammable matter is
allowed only with permits and licenses. Poisons cannot be traded or used until classified
according to the poison level. Trade and use of the following chemicals is forbidden: aldrine,
dieldrine, hexachlorbenzene, hexachlorcyclohexane (technical), heptachlor, chlordane,
chlordymephorm, leptophose, natrium-fluoracetate, lead acetate and their derivatives, benzene
and derivatives containing more than 1% of benzene and other substances regulated by
individual decrees published in the official gazette. These poisons can be used in industry under
certain conditions but packaging, storing and transportation is carried out in accordance with
local and international regulations (ADR, RID etc.). It is strictly forbidden to store these poisons
in zones of drinking water sources and close to rivers and streams. Information systems for
exchange of information on trade of dangerous chemicals and dangerous chemical waste are not
yet developed. Official (state) list on use of banned and restricted chemicals has not been
prepared yet. A procedure for monitoring cross-border trade of the chemicals included on these
lists and for data exchange according to the PIC Convention does not exist. There is no State
level focal point for this convention and no clearly defined responsibility for implementation of
this Convention at entity level. This increases the possibility for illegal cross border trade of
hazardous chemicals, particularly as the state borders are porous and some illegal border
crossings present additional problems.
Exposure to chemical influences and protection. In food production, Bosnia and Herzegovina
uses almost one tenth of the synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used in the West. In spite of this,
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a problem of inadequate (non-professional) use remains. This leads to larger concentration of

chemicals in food and water compared with the quantity of chemicals used. Chemicals that are
used by unqualified and irresponsible persons often endanger the environment. Protection of
health and environment from harmful effects of chemicals are regulated by special by-laws, but
these are often out-dated and are not based on scientific and research results and guidelines.
Most regulations need to be revised while new laws need to be drafted, such as the by-law on
organic pollutants. Although, safety and technical regulations for workers working directly with
dangerous chemicals exist, monitoring, information exchange and public information systems
have not yet been established. There is no training for individual farmers in the use of
chemicals. Bosnia and Herzegovina is still not an active part of International Program for
Chemical Security (IFCS).
Accidents in industry. Special measures and regulations have been put in place to deal with
accidents in industry, explosions and fire, accidents during transportation of dangerous
substances and other accidents that can present danger to health and life and environmental
damage. However, the existing legislative framework gives no clear definition of the obligations
relating to estimating health and environmental risk and to the prevention of accidents after
plants and facilities are shut down or during restructuring and privatization. Entity level
ministries and inspectorates are in charge of implementation of the regulations and to record
accidents, but information systems for follow-up and accident and health hazard indicator data
exchange have not been developed sufficiently either on the entity or inter-entity level. There is
no estimate of risks caused by the decommissioning of plants and facilities, deterioration and
corrosion of tanks, silos, pipelines and other containers of chemicals. The emergency measures
and responsible parties for these specific cases are not defined.
Traffic accidents and road safety. One of the significant global health and environmental
problems is the growing intensity of traffic that contributes to the noise and air pollution in
urban zones. Traffic also has a high share in injuries and accidents among the population. Due
to the geographic layout of Bosnia and Herzegovina, settlements and industrial plants are widely
dispersed. As road traffic and local traffic increases, the number of accidents and injuries caused
by them is also on the rise. Meanwhile, railway traffic is in stagnation. As the number of injuries
and deaths by traffic accidents is growing from one year to another, it is important to point out
this as a risk factor for the health of the population.87
Civil defense
Civil defense is a method for organizing, preparing and involving civilians, legal entities, state
authorities and local authorities in protection and rescue of lives, goods and environment from
risks, consequences of elemental, technical and technological, and environmental accidents, and
destructions caused by war. Organization of civil defense is the responsibility of owners and
users of residential buildings or business premises, and bodies established for this purpose
according to the territorial principle (municipalities, towns, cantons and entities).
87
According to the official data of the Ministry of Interior, a rise in number of traffic accidents was recorded in the past five years
(1997/9480, 1998/10,802, 1999/12,548, 2000/11,940), and traffic accidents with casualties (1997/2,014, 1998/2,266, 1999/2,485,
2000/2,491).
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During the war, most civil defense equipment and facilities were destroyed, whether through
their intensive utilization or through war damage. What remains is either outdated or worn out,
or not very useful. The reconstruction and rehabilitation of production, public and residential
facilities did not include rehabilitation and refurbishing of civil defense premises to a level
required for efficient protection and rescue from elemental and other accidents. The situation
with respect to emergencies involving chemicals and accidents in plants that can cause chemical
pollution is especially alarming. This area needs maximum efficiency and organization, and
high-level of professionalism in actions. Today, civil defense is inadequately equipped for
urgent interventions. To rectify this situation and to purchase new equipment and devices for
protection and rescue of people and to provide suitable training, requires large financial support.
The main goals are the following:
Establishment of a system of evaluation, monitoring and prevention of all risks pertaining

to the health, safety and environment;
Introduction of measures for reducing the health risk from the surroundings;
Provision of long-term preventive protection of eco-systems and protection in case of
accidents.
In order to achieve the above goals, the following measures need to be undertaken:
Coordination of the existing legislation with the recommendations of WHO and EU

standards;
Public participation and health education of the population;
Establishment of a unique information system for monitoring and supervision of all
aspects of protection of the population in accordance with the risk points (HACCP - hazard
analysis of critical control points);
Modernization of the methodology and equipment and HR training;
Implementation of the accreditation system for laboratories (facilities, equipment, human
resources, training);
Improvement of the information system on monitoring, reporting, registration and follow-
up of certain diseases;
Establishment of protection zones around the majority of water sources and springs;
Preparation of prospective and retrospective epidemiological studies;
Establishment of a registry of state and private food producers;
Establishment of adequate protocol on inspectorates involved in public health monitoring;
Improvement of monitoring systems over the import of food products;
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Development and implementation of measures for the reduction of noise level in

residential and industrial areas ensuring optimum conditions for the health of the
population, what would require financial, administrative, material and technical means;
Provision of preliminary research and monitoring of the current situation and causes that
have either direct or indirect consequences on the health of the population;
Finding a permanent solution for the disposal of radioactive waste, including detection
and disposal of lost sources of radiation, and to establish a monitoring system for ionizing
radiation;
Identification of individual sources of electromagnetic radiation and ensuring adequate
monitoring;
Establishment of a coordination body for the prevention and monitoring of traffic accidents;
Promotion, coordination and reinforcement of legal, administrative, institutional, technical,
security and financial foundation and mechanisms, procedures and instruments for safe
management of chemicals and prevention of major accidents especially related to the
implementation of IPPC and ESPO convention;
Development of a system of monitoring for trade with dangerous chemicals;
Participation of civil defense in the process of the preparation of a registry of polluters and
a list of dangerous substances in order to identify the locations where dangerous activities
have been found with locations where poisonous and dangerous substances are produced,
stored, used or transported;
Establishment of a communication system between the civil defense and other institutions
relevant for protection and reporting;
Participation of civil defense in the process of preparation of investment projects that are
related to defense and protection of the population, goods and environment;
Securing funds needed for direct personal and mutual protection and human resque
operations.
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6 Implementation, Updating and Supervision of NEAP
Implementation. In order to successfully achieve the goals and measures of the NEAP, a clear
institutional framework and organizational structure are required. These would provide the
opportunity for constant improvements during the realization of NEAP as well as facilitating the
monitoring of progress during implementation and the dissemination of results and achievements
to all stakeholders.
The main organization and administrative predisposition for the implementation of the above
mentioned goal is the establishment of a coordination body (department) for implementation of
NEAP. This body (or its departments) would be formed within entity level ministries that are
responsible for the environmental issues, and their task would be:
To prepare working and operational "reports" for all the participants in this process,
especially for the responsible entity level ministries, entity level environmental advisory
board and inter-entity environmental council;
To prepare (mid-term and short-term) agenda for the implementation of NEAP with clearly
identified players, jurisdictions and timeframes;
To provide timely administrative and expert communication between all participants
in the implementation of measures and projects of NEAP;
To provide continuous improvements and updating of NEAP.
Given that a large number of projects will be implemented on local or entity and regional level,
it is necessary to provide good vertical coordination with administration bodies in charge of the
environmental issues. This means that within the local administration units (municipalities in
the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska), cantonal ministries
responsible for environmental issues (in FBiH), or competent regional institutions (in RS)
would have to nominate responsible staff (at least one person) for the coordination and
implementation of measures and projects of NEAP. At the same time, a system for education,
including funds needed for education of these staff members should be provided in order to
enable them to gain knowledge necessary for professional and administrative duties.
Framework environmental laws provide for the establishment of the Environmental Advisory
Council aimed at offering scientific and expert assistance to the entity Governments and the
ministries with issues related to the environment. This will fulfill one of the fundamental principles
for successful implementation of environmental projects - the principle of inter-sectoral coordination
and integration of the environmental protection policy in the policies of other relevant sectors
(collecting of information, regular basis reporting, communication of the participants in the
process, etc.). It is necessary that the representatives of entity level coordination bodies responsible
for implementation of NEAP be members of the Advisory Council. Furthermore, the laws also
provide for the creation of an inter-entity environmental body that will prepare an inter-entity
environmental protection program. Considering that the NEAP contains measures and activities
significant for promotion of environment on the country level, it is necessary that the members
of the Coordination bodies are also members of this body.
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NEAP Updating. NEAP BiH is an "open" document that will be updated regularly, hence it is
essential to ensure that goals, measures, directions and activities in the NEAP be updated by
responsible ministries at all levels, and the advisory board.
This will require the following:
To provide regular horizontal and vertical communication and cooperation between all
interested parties in the process;
To provide regular and timely reporting of all interested parties with clear information
about their obligations;
To initiate processes for the preparation of cantonal, regional (intermunicipal) and local
programs of environmental protection, together with programs and projects for improvement
of goals and measures of NEAP (with clear staffing, technical and financial implications
for the given aspect of environmental protection).
Supervision, including constant follow-up, analysis and summing up of the results of the
implementation of NEAP is one of the most important elements of successful implementation of
anticipated goals, measures and projects of the NEAP.
In that sense, supervision needs to include the following activities:
Follow-up of the implementation of goals, measures and projects of NEAP (monitoring of

NEAP as an integral part of the information system) based on the given indicators for each
thematic area;
Regular and timely information from the field - from local (municipal), cantonal and entity
level;
Capacity building (regular education system), technical (terrain vehicles, and other needed
photo and communication equipment) and informational strengthening (environmental
networking) of field "monitors" over the implementation of measures and projects of NEAP;
Strengthening of the partnership and shared responsibility principles.
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7 NEAP Priorities
All issues relating to environmental protection and the measures proposed for their resolution,
listed in chapter 5, are by far in excess of both the financial and institutional capabilities and
resources on hand. Therefore priority areas of the NEAP were defined during the 3rd NEAP
workshop, with the intent of handling these specific areas in the shortest possible time. The focus
was on two specific areas: legal and institutional strengthening, and preparation of strategies
for planning and environmental management. These are preconditions for implementing activities
proposed. The eight priority areas are:
Water resources / wastewaters;

Sustainable development of rural areas;
Environmental management (information systems / integral planning / education);
Protection of biological and landscape diversity;
Waste / waste management;
Economy / sustainable development of economy;
Public health;
Demining.
It is once again important to note that these priority areas were determined through the already
described prioritization process based on expert sectoral and multi-disciplinary analyses, as well
as on transparency and democratic principles with the participation of all stakeholders. Legal
and institutional priorities required for implementing the NEAP are represented in the table of
priorities.
Water resources / waste-waters
Based on the analysis of the current situation in all fields of environmental protection it was
determined that the area of water resources and wastewaters represents the first priority of the
NEAP. Pollution prevention and prevention of irrational and uncontrolled use of water represents
a necessary measure for protection of water which is one of the most important resources of
BiH.
River streams in BiH create seven river basins: Una, Vrbas, Bosna, Drina, Sava (nearby river
basin), Neretva with Trebišnjica and Cetina, which then form either the Black Sea or Adriatic
Sea catchment area. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a high amount of precipitation (250 l/m2
higher than the European average), while, due to poor water management approximately 57% of
this precipitation runs off unused. Other, abundant resources that are not efficiently used include
mineral and thermal waters that could be a basis for the development of health-tourism and eco-
tourism.
The water supply system of BiH covers approximately 50% of all households and other consumers.
The quality of raw water in the supply network in some areas is unsatisfactory due to the lack of
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protection of water sources and releases of untreated wastewaters into surface waters. The water
sources are primarily surface waters, rivers and lakes, both natural and artificial. The water
within the system is of questionable quality due to old and damaged piping, varying water
pressure and uncontrolled chlorination. Furthermore, wastewater treatment capacities are very
rare in BiH (pre-war: Sarajevo, Trebinje, Trnovo, Ljubuški, Grude, Čelinac and Gradačac) while
the existing sewage system serves 56% of population in urban areas and dropping to as low as
10% in rural areas. The lack of flood protection facilities endangers approx. 4% of the total
territory of BiH.
Considering the current situation and having in mind the necessary improvement in the field, the
following is proposed:
Establishment of a river basin management system;

Execution of projects for long-term water supply of population in most endangered regions
in BiH, including rehabilitation of water losses in the water supply systems;
Construction and reconstruction of wastewater treatment plants and the sewage system;
Rehabilitation of flood protection systems (embankments, pumping stations, etc.) to the
required safety level;
Execution of projects related to use of water for irrigation and production of electricity.
Sustainable development of rural areas
The population in BiH has generally shifted from rural into urban areas due to intensive
industrialization that occurred in the past, and the recent wartime displacement. As a result,
additional pressure is exerted on natural resources through inadequate and irrational use, such as
unplanned construction on agricultural land, unselective forest harvesting, inadequate waste
disposal, mines, etc.
A large portion of rural areas has faced wartime destruction. At the same time, individual
agricultural land plots are small in size and do not allow large-scale production. As a result,
agricultural production in BiH does not meet the needs of the population, while more than half
of the agricultural products are imported.
Strategic development of agricultural and wood processing industry lies in sustainable

development of rural areas. Therefore the following priority measures are proposed in this field:
Establishing a basis for spatially balanced and sustainable development of rural areas;
Establishing a system for agricultural land management;
Implementation of programs for food production based on biological principles;
Preparation of a program for long-term development of forestry.
Environmental management (information systems / integral planning / education)

Major contribution to the currently unfavorable environmental situation in BiH is made by
inadequate environmental policies, neglect and lack of a proper environmental management
strategy. The environmental protection policy that was applied in BiH so far can be characterized
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primarily by a passive approach to environmental protection, insufficient access to information

by both the public and other participants in the process. In addition to inadequate environmental
protection policy, the lack of basic information and documentation for planning and environmental
management and the lack of a comprehensive information system and institutional education in
the field of environment, also poses a specific problem. BiH lacks a properly established natural
resources management system, environmental protection and institutional organization to support
such systems.
The key improvements suggested in this field are:
Introduction of information systems;

Introduction of comprehensive environmental monitoring;
Preparation of programs for integral spatial planning;
Preparation of documentation for planning and environmental management (geodetic and
other layouts);
Preparation of programs for environmental education and dissemination of environmental
information.
Protection of biological and landscape diversity
Unbalanced development in all segments of social and economic organization in BiH jeopardized
the biological and geological diversity as well as the natural resources. Currently the main
issues in the field of biodiversity, geodiversity and natural and cultural heritage in BiH are:
Unbalanced and divided spatial management (illegal construction, deruralization, unplanned

urbanization, etc.);
Unplanned exploitation of natural resources (intensive deforestation, degradation of
agricultural land, illegal hunting and fishing);
Degradation and pollution of high-mountain areas, wetland habitats in BiH as well as
illegal trade of endangered plants, fungi and animal species;
Lack of clear institutional framework for management of bio and geo diversity, and natural
and cultural heritage. Undefined stance toward international documents that regulate
sustainable management of biodiversity. Missing inventory of flora, fauna and fungi - Red
lists;
Inefficient implementation of existing legislation, development of monitoring system and
inadequate financing policy for protecting bio, geo diversity, natural and cultural heritage;
Only minor areas are under adequate protection regimes;
Lack of information on the sensitivity of specific areas, lack of categorization and
information on endangered monuments in nature;
Lack of finances that would enable the rehabilitation of cultural heritage;
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Lack of a unique strategy for future development of institutions for protecting cultural
heritage.
Hence, the following measures are proposed:
Preparation of a strategy and a National Action Program (NAP) for balanced management
of bio, geo and landscape diversity;
Preparation of strategies and national programs for protection of cultural heritage, based
on principles of ecological co-existence;
Preparation of a program for adequate protection of 15 - 20% of BiH territory.
Waste / waste management
Inadequate waste management in BiH is a result primarily of the social attitude towards waste.
Furthermore, the past waste management systems along with a lack of a comprehensive
information system were not at a sufficient level to provide for improvement. A lack of
managerial and professional harmonization, lack of organization, lack of economic measures
and lack of legislation characterize waste management. All these issues have led to an unknown
number of wild dumpsites throughout BiH, some 80 official municipal dumpsites, and few
landfills that could be considered as sanitary.
Another issue in waste management is approximately 1000 tons of expired pharmaceuticals left
over from the wartime donations. Since BiH does not posses legislation that deals with
hazardous wastes, sufficient financial resources, a system for handling and management of
hazardous wastes, or a disposal facility, these wastes are awaiting their disposal
The main problems in this field are:
Lack of a waste management information system;

Lack of an organized waste collection system;
Insufficient number of waste treatment and disposal facilities, especially those required for
treating hazardous wastes;
Lack of a cadastre of polluted areas;
Inadequate financing system for waste management; and
Lack of training and education of experts, authorities and the general public.
In order to improve the general waste management issue, the following measures are proposed:
Adoption of strategies and plans for waste management including operative programs for
implementation;
Elimination of wild dumpsites and rehabilitation of degraded locations;
Rehabilitation of existing landfills.
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Economy / sustainable economic development
During its past development within former SFR Yugoslavia, BiH became the center of heavy
industry and supplied raw materials to other republics. The direct result of such development
was high pollution levels. Following the war, characterized by destruction or damage to almost
all facilities and buildings, the economy of BiH is decreased to 1/3 of its pre-war activity. A
portion of the causes, apart from the destroyed plants, is the ownership transition occurring in
BiH during the process of privatization. Furthermore, most of the current economic activities
use outdated technologies that further degrade the environment
Economic activities addressed in the NEAP, before the war employed some 435 thousand
employees in 1.500 enterprises, while after the war this number has decreased to 280.000
employees. Current GDP per capita in BiH is approximately 1.200 USD, which is half of the
pre-war figure. One of the facts noted during the preparation of NEAP, is the direct link
between the needs for poverty reduction and environmental protection, which must be attended
urgently.
To overcome the mentioned problems the following priority measures are proposed:
Preparation of a strategy and establishment of a system for sustainable development of the

economy in BiH;
Harmonization of the taxation system in accordance with the strategy for sustainable
development of the economy;
Preparation of a strategy for development of the energy sector that would provide
balanced consumption of domestic (hydro, thermal and geothermal energy) and potential
foreign (oil and, gas) energy resources and introduce the use of new energy sources (geo-
thermal waters, wind, solar energy, etc.) with the intention of maximizing the utilization
of renewable domestic resources;
Implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP);
Preparation of an environmental and health impact assessment study of the program for
financing and construction of motorways in BiH;
Establishment of entity funds for strategic research;
Establishment of entity funds for land recultivation;
Reactivation of business entities that have realistic conditions for survival on the market
and the reorientation of a certain business by changing their product portfolios;
Reduction of village to city migrations through the urbanization of rural settlements and
the development of production in these areas;
Development of potentials for eco-tourism (spas, mountains, villages, sea) in its domestic
and international component.
Public health
Negative impact on public health is exerted by the current unfavorable state of the economy and
problems related to poverty in BiH. Primary issues of public health are: drinking water quality,
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food safety and poor waste management (only in 1999 there were more than 25 epidemic
diseases in BiH, that were transmitted by contaminated water and food). Radiation, noise
pollution and lack of animal health control exert further pressure on human health.
In order to improve the public health situation it is recommended that a universal health-care
policy and strategy be prepared in BiH, in accordance with the "HEALTH FOR THE 21st
CENTURY" document of the World Health Organization, that conceptually links health, poverty
and socio-economic development.
Demining
It is estimated that over a million land mines are spread throughout the 15-20,000 minefields
covering an area of 420 thousand hectares, constituting 8% of the total territory of BiH. Only
around Sarajevo there are approximately 1,500 minefields. The presence of a large number of
mines, besides endangering human lives, also prevents the exploitation of arable land, as well as
the exploitation of wood and forests. Regions under greatest pressure are those along the entity
lines, as well as many other areas, not yet identified. According to data provided by the Mine
Action Center of BiH, analyzing annually, the greatest number of accidents was registered in
1996, and since has been showing a decreasing trend.
Considering the fact that mines represent a life and health hazard, and that they exert great
pressure upon the environment in BiH, the preparation of a strategy for demining is strongly
recommended, followed by intensive demining.
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Areas, Measures and Activities Which are a Prerequisite for Implementing NEAP BiH
LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK / PREPARATION OF LAYOUTS
Priority field Priority Measure / Activity Term

Adoption of new framework environmental laws in FBiH; ST
Legal aspect Adoption of sectoral laws for forests, land, spatial planning, etc.; ST
Adoption of legal framework for establishing an Eco-fund(s) and an environmental protection agency(ies). ST
Establishment of an environmental protection agency(ies) in BiH; MT
Institutional framework Establishment of an Eco-fund(s).; ST
Founding of a body for implementation of the NEAP. ST
International aspect Preparation of a program for publishing international agreements. ST
Preparation of layouts Preparation and updating of: survey maps, polluter registries, land and soil quality registries, demographic data, registries MT
for planning and of urban resources, development potentials and other environmental management data;
environmental Execution of projects for development of digital land survey layouts as a basis for sustainable development in BiH; MT
management Integral assessment of the current state, potentials and cartographic representation of biologic, landscape and geologic MT
diversity with a strategy and action plans for sustainable protection.
Key: PR – priority ST – short-term MT – mid-term LT – long-term

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Priority Areas, Measures and Activities of NEAP BiH
Priority area: WATER RESOURCES / WASTEWATERS
Priority field Priority Measure / Activity Term

Collection of data and preparation of cadastres of (i) springs (ii) hydrologic data (quantity and quality) (iii) surface and ST
underground waters (iv) water consumers and polluters (v) water facilities and plants;
Integrated river basin Preparation of strategy, studies, and models for water management including international surroundings; MT
management Implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) guidelines; MT
Preparation and completion of river basin management plans. MT
Implementation of long-term water supply projects in the most endangered regions of BiH (specifically the increase of MT
Water supply karst underground waters for water supply in the North-west and West regions of BiH);
Identification and minimization (rehabilitation) of water losses in water supply systems where losses are up to 60%; MT
Waste water treatment Preparation and execution of projects for construction of new and rehabilitation of existing waste water treatment systems MT
and construction of (Sarajevo, Bihać, Tuzla, Banja Luka, Ključ, Bosanski Petrovac, Trnovo);
sewage systems Rehabilitation of existing and construction of new sewage systems in endangered regions of BiH. MT
Construction of new and rehabilitation of existing flood protection systems (embankments, pumping stations, etc.) to the ST, MT
required safety level;
Identification of potential and actual soil erosion caused by runoff; MT
Protection from waters Improvement of existing embankments along rivers Sava, Una, Bosna, Vrbas and Drina up to the level of 1,5 m above the LT
centennial highest water level;
Regulation of lower river flows (Una, Vrbas, Ukrina, Bosna and Drina) in the delta areas of the Sava river (approx. 20-30 MT
km for each river).
Use of water for Rehabilitation of existing and construction of new irrigation systems in adequate regions such as: Herzegovina, MT
irrigation and production Semberija, lower flow of river Vrbas, Dubička rama, and central Posavina;
of electricity Construction of multi-purpose water accumulations (reservoirs); LT
Construction of Hydro-electric power plants (dams). LT

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NEAP
Priority area: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS
Priority field Priority measure / Activity Term

Spatially balanced and Preparation of spatial planning and development programs (harmonization of entity spatial plans); ST
sustainable development Preparation of pilot studies for urban development of cities (Sarajevo and Banja Luka); ST
of rural areas Preparation of a rural area development strategy; ST
Program for establishment of agricultural – veterinary stations in rural areas. ST
Program for production of Identification and inventory of the current state and causes of land destruction with the aim of its revitalization for LT
food on biological production of healthy food;
principles Preparation of a program and standards for sustainable use of biological resources (wild flora, fauna and fungi – medical ST,MT
herbs, snails, fish, etc.) for gaining economic profit and reduction of poverty in BiH.
Inventory of land (soil classes); LT
Agricultural land Categorization of land to ensure its rational use; MT
management Rehabilitation of agricultural land for increasing crop production and reducing poverty; LT
Implementation of projects for agricultural production and modern food production, thereby improving the social standard ST,MT
of rural communities.
Preparation of program for long-term forestry development; ST
Demining; MT
Sustainable forest Construction of forest roads; LT
management Equipping of seed and dissemination centers; MT
Renewal of degraded tall forests, shrubbery and bare lands; LT
Monitoring of forest health; ST
Forest certification. ST

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NEAP
Priority area: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (INFORMATION SYSTEMS / INTEGRAL PLANNING / EDUCATION)

Projects for development and upgrading of databases (registries) using GIS Software; ST
Introduction of information Establishment of an integral spatial information system; ST
systems Establishment of a national environmental information system (NEIS); ST,MT
Supplying institutions with adequate equipment. ST,MT
Introduction of a comprehensive monitoring system in BiH; ST,MT,
LT
Establishment of a central database, training of personnel and improvement of the existing communication with the ST,MT
European Environment Agency (EEA/EIONET);
Establishment of a pollutant emission cadastre according to CORINAIR methodology; ST
Introduction of monitoring Emission and imission monitoring of large emitters in BiH (thermal power plants, cement factories in Lukavac and Kakanj, ST
Coke-chemical industry in Lukavac, Aluminij Mostar, Aluminum-oxide factory in Zvornik, Crude oil refinery in
Bosanski/Srpski Brod, Oil refinery Modriča);
Establishment of water, land and forest monitoring; ST,MT
Installation of an EMEP station at Ivan Sedlo; ST
Establishment of monitoring for ionizing radiation sources. ST
Preparation of spatial planning programs in BiH; ST
Preparation of entity spatial plans; ST
Integral spatial planning Preparation of a strategy for urban ad rural area development; ST
Preparation of traffic management project for cities; MT,LT
Preparation of recultivation plans for mines and quarries. MT
Training of staff for collection, processing and archiving of environmental data according to up to date methodology; MT
Education
Strengthening of public access mechanisms to environmental information and dissemination of environmental information MT
according to existing laws and new framework laws on environmental protection.

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Priority area: PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICAL AND LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY

Preparation of a strategy and National Action program (NAP) for protection of biodiversity; ST
Ecologic categorization of habitats according to CORINE-biotope mapping methodology MT
Ecologic and economic categorization and inventarization of habitats in the coastal area of the Mediterranean MT
according to CORINE and MEDWET methodology and EMERALD regulations;
Balanced management of Ecologic categorization of wetlands according to MEDWET methodology; MT,LT
biodiversity, geodiversity Inventarization of invasive kinds of plants, animals, fungi and moners according to FAO guidelines; MT
and landscape diversity Preparation and adoption of a Red List and Red Book of plants, fungi and animals in accordance with IUCN criteria; ST
Establishment of a National Gene Bank for domesticated plants and animals; LT
Preparation of programs for management of the coastal and sub-coastal area of BiH (Adriatic Sea) – establishment of LT
an eco penitentiary for entering the MAP network;
Sustainable management of endemic and refuge centers (canyons of rivers Una, Neretva, Vrbas, Drina and Sana and LT
Trebižat, Pliva and Tinja river valleys);
Program of balanced geo-biodiversity protection. LT
Preparation of a strategy and national programs for protection of cultural heritage; ST,MT
Valorization, inventarization and (re)categorization of ambiental natural values and the contained cultural heritage on MT
national and local level in order to identify protection priorities;
Protection of cultural Preparation of emergency protection projects on the most endangered cultural monuments (Sase monastery, Dobrun ST
heritage monastery, Zavala monastery, Lomnica monastery, Isa-bey's Tekija in Sarajevo, Ferhat-pasha's Mosque in Banja
Luka, Mostar Old Bridge, Saint Ivo's Church in Podmilačje, Aladža Mosque in Foča/Srbinje), and cultural units Prusac,
Očevlje, Kreševo, Kraljeva Sutjeska, Donja Gradina Memorial, Sutjeska Memorial, Kozara Memorial, Vraca-Sarajevo
Memorial, Višegrad Old Spa, Srpske Toplice Banja Luka, Čerezluk Foča/Srbinje, Banvir Old Town Trebinje, Bijela
Tabija Sarajevo, Jajce Old Town, Počitelj Old Town, Bobovac Old Town, Bulozi - Pale Old Town, 23 Bosnian old
towns-čaršije.
Protection regime Preparation of programs for placing 15-20% of BiH territory under adequate protection regimes; ST,LT
Identification of new and expansion of existing natural reserves. LT

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NEAP
Priority area: WASTE / WASTE MANAGEMENT

Adoption of the waste management strategy with an action plan for its implementation; ST,PR
Adoption of basic regulations for waste management according to EU regulations; ST,PR
Establishment of databases on wastes; ST
Preparation of programs for selective collection of waste and the evaluation of its finanacial and energy potential; PR
Introduction of a waste Formation of a network of organizations/laboratories for collection of data on waste; ST
management system Establishment of a waste market; ST
Preparation of studies for use of secondary waste materials; MT,PR
Introduction of adequate pricing for disposal of all kinds of wastes in an environmentally sound manner; ST,PR
Introduction of fees for disposal of electronic wastes, electrical appliances, old cars, tires, liquid and bulky waste; ST
Introduction of fees for hazardous waste generators; ST, PR
Introduction of fees for packaging and wrapping wastes. ST
Elimination of wild
dumpsites and
Identification and inventarization of land destruction due to contamination by wastes and recovery of such areas. ST
rehabilitation of
degraded areas

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Priority area: ECONOMY / SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Preparation of a strategy for sustainable economic development; MT
Encouragement of environmentally sustainable transport in BiH; MT
Establishment of euro-info centers; ST,MT
Preparation of fiscal system impact studies on environment and employment; ST
Sustainable economic Supporting cleaner production technologies (fiscal and customs subsidies); MT
development Establishment of a network of technological parks for support of micro and small businesses; ST
Preparation of strategy for rehabilitation and development of labor intensive businesses; MT
Preparation of strategy for eco-tourism development in BiH; ST
Preparation of a feasibility study for: utilization of geothermal waters for heating, food production, tourism and MT,LT
healthcare;
Recultivation of areas damaged by industrial activities; MT
Preparation of strategy for development of chemical industry in BiH. ST
Preparation of a study on alternative energy sources and development of pilot projects (use of low-effluent fuels, ST, MT
geothermal waters, solar energy and wind);
Preparation of an energy balance and strategy for development of the energy sector; ST
Energy use Increasing fossil fuel utilization efficiency; MT
Exploitation of biomass (primarily wood residue) for thermal power generation purposes; MT
Reduction of SO2 and NOx air pollution by applying desulfurization in selected power plants. LT

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Priority area: PUBLIC HEALTH

Establishment of a system for assessment, monitoring and prevention of all risks that link health with environment ST
(action plan for implementing NEHAP, and forming a Committee for implementing environmental protection policies
within healthcare, assessment of public health from the aspect of environmental impacts upon it, and assessment of
potential risk factors specific for certain areas in BiH, accreditation of laboratories);
Preparation of a registry and cadastre of polluters, disposal sites, radiation and noise emitters, chemicals, production ST
facilities and plants that use hazardous chemicals, GMO's (genetically modified organisms), harmonization of legislation
with WHO and EU guidelines, strengthening of inspection bodies, regular monitoring and dissemination of information to
the public;
Establishing a health policy Establishment of a Committee for food and nutrition policy; ST
in accordance with Preparation of a registry of food producers; ST
st
"Health for 21 Cenrury". Introduction of HACCP in the process of production, preparation and transport of food; MT
Establishment of an information system for food quality; ST
Establishment of a Regulatory organ for strengthening the system of supervision and prevention of exposure of the ST
population to radiation and preparation of an activity plan in accidental situations;
Establishment of an information system for transport monitoring and transport data exchange; ST
Adoption of legislation on safe handling of GMO's; ST
Preparation of a program for environmentally sound disposal of bio-hazardous "humanitarian aid" waste; ST
Preparation of a program for removal of radioactive lightning rods and resolving the issue of permanent disposal of ST
radioactive waste.
Priority area: DEMINING

Demining Implementation of demining activities in accordance with the state program in cooperation with MAC BiH. LT
Remark: This table contains priority areas voted on the III. NEAP WS, while the remaining priorities are given in respective chapters of NEAP.

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8 Appendices
Ia Administrative Structure of BiH during preparation of the NEAP
STATE LEVEL
PRESIDENCY
BIH COUNCIL OF MINISTERS PARLIAMENT OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CHAIRMAN House of Representatives
Ministry of Foreign Affairs House of Nations
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations
Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications
Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees Constitutional Court
Ministry of European Integration
Ministry of Treasury Central Bank
ENTITY LEVEL
PARLIAMENT OF FBIH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF RS

GOVERNMENT OF FBiH GOVERNMENT OF RS
PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF FBIH PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF FBIH
PRESIDENT OF FBiH GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT OF FBiH GOVERNMENT
Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment Ministry of Administration and Local Government
Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Agriculture, Water-Management and Forestry Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Transport and Communications Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Health Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance Ministry of Trade and Tourism
Ministry of Trade Ministry of Industry and Technology
Ministry of Justice Ministry of Energy and Mining
Ministry of Defense Ministry of Transport and Communications
Ministry of Interior Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management
Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Ministry of Town Planning, Housing-Communal Services,
Ministry for Issues of Veterans and Disabled Veterans of Civil Engineering and Ecology
the Defensive-Liberation War Ministry of Education and Culture
Ministry Social Policy, Displaced Persons and Refugees Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons
Minister without portfolio Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
Minister without portfolio Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations
Ministry of Sport and Youth
Ministry of Religion
Ministry for Veterans, War Victims and Labor
CANTONAL LEVEL
Cantonal Governments (FBiH)
Cantonal Assemblies (FBiH)
MUNICIPIAL LEVEL
City Assemblies (RS)
Municipal Assemblies (FBiH) Municipal Assemblies (RS)
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Ib Current Administrative Structure of BiH
STATE LEVEL
PRESIDENCY
BIH COUNCIL OF MINISTERS PARLIAMENT OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CHAIRMAN House of Representatives
Ministry of Foreign Affairs House of Nations
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Civil Affairs
Ministry of Communications Constitutional Court
Ministry of Safety
Ministry of Finance Central Bank
ENTITY LEVEL
PARLIAMENT OF FBIH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF RS

GOVERNMENT OF FBiH GOVERNMENT OF RS
PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF FBIH PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF FBIH
PRESIDENT OF FBiH GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT OF FBiH GOVERNMENT
Ministry of Defense Ministry of Administration and Local Government
Ministry of Interior Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Justice Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Finance Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Transport and Communications Ministry of Trade and Tourism
Ministry of Labor and Social Policy Ministry of Science and Technology
Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees Ministry of Economy, Energy and Development
Ministry for Issues of Veterans and Disabled Veterans Ministry of Transport and Communications
of the Defensive-Liberation War Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management
Ministry of Health Ministry of Physical Planning, Urbanism,
Ministry of Education and Science Civil Engineering and Ecology
Ministry of Culture and Sports Ministry of Education and Culture
Ministry of Trade Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons
Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
Ministry of Agriculture, Water-Management and Forestry Ministry of Economic Affairs and Coordination
Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Ministry of Labor and Veterans
CANTONAL LEVEL
Cantonal Governments (FBiH)
Cantonal Assemblies (FBiH)
MUNICIPIAL LEVEL
City Assemblies (RS)
Municipal Assemblies (FBiH) Municipal Assemblies (RS)
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II Environmental Management Structure in BiH
Common Institutions Responsible for Ratification of International Agreements
Parliament of FBiH (Inter-Entity) Environmental National Assembly of RS

District %UþNR
Government of FBiH Steering Committee Government of RS
Ministry of Physical Planning,

Federal Ministry of Physical
Urbanism, Civil Engineering
Planning and Environment
and Ecology
Environmental Advisory Body Environmental Advisory Body Mayor
Minister Minister
Inspectorate
Environmental Protection
Sector
Department of General OU for Communication,

Communal
Ecology and Environmental Cooperation and Raising
Sector
Assessment Public Awareness
Department for Protection of OU for Soil, Solid Waste and Environmental

Biodiversity and Natural Hazardous Waste Specialist
Ecosystems
Department for Air OU for Water and Natural Agricultural

Protection, Water Protection, Habitats Sector
Soil Protection and Waste
Management
OU for Air Protection and Inspector for

Protection from Radiation Ecology
OU for Inspection and

Supervision
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III Constitution
Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina
According to Article III (2) (c) of the Annex to the Dayton Peace Accord, the Entities shall
provide a safe and protected environment for all individuals within its jurisdiction, maintaining
agencies for the implementation of civil rights, which shall function in accordance with the
internationally accepted standards and which shall respect internationally accepted human rights
and fundamental freedoms, as listed in Article II and shall undertake other adequate measures.
The Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Article 2 by article 3 of chapter III

The Federal and Cantonal authorities have the following responsibilities:
Environmental policy,
Exploitation of natural resources.
These responsibilities can be fulfilled together or separately, or at the cantonal level as

coordinated by the Federation authorities. The Federation authorities should create a policy and
draft laws for each of these responsibilities (when the obligation in the area of the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina is the issue).
The Constitution of Republika Srpska
According to Article 12 of the Constitutional Law on implementation of the Constitution of

Republika Srpska (Official gazette of Republika Srpska, number 21/92), the SFRJ and SRBiH laws
and regulations which are in accordance with the Constitution of the Republika shall be applicable.
Article 35. Every man has a right to a healthy environment. Everybody has the legal obligation
to protect and promote the environment to the extend that can be reasonably expected of them.
The use and exploitation of elements that have a special cultural, scientific, artistic or historic
significance for the protection of nature and environment can be limited by law, with full
compensation to the owner. The Law promotes protection, use, promotion and management of
estates of general importance, and compensation for the use of estates of general interest and
town construction land.
Article 64. "The Republic protects and supports:

Rational utilization of natural potentials in order to protect and promote the quality of life and
quality of environment in general interest;
Preservation and promotion of historic, cultural and artistic heritage...", and in Article 68 (13):
"The Republic maintains and ensures the protection of the living environment".
The Statute of Brčko District
According to Article 9. of the Statute, the functions and responsibility of Brčko District are:
Environmental protection.
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IV Legal Regulations Published in the Official Gazettes of Bosnia

and Herzegovina
Hydro-meteorological issues
Law on hydro-meteorological issues of interest to the country 2/92-5, 13/94-189; Official

Gazette SFRJ 18/88, 63/90 – 1920.
Law on hydro-meteorological issues of interest to the Republic, 10/76-417,12/87-370, 7/92-
193.
Decision on the basic network of hydro-meteorological stations 6/86-182.
Rulebook on establishing the networks and work programs of hydrologic stations of
interest to the country; Official Gazette R BH 2/92-5, 13/94-189, Official Gazette SFRJ
50/90-1679.
Rulebook on establishing the networks and work programs of meteorological stations of
interest to the country 2/92-5, 13/94-189; Published in Official Gazette SFRJ, 50/90-1636.
Economic instruments
Decision on tariffs of special waterworks compensations; Official Gazette FBiH 46/98.

Decision on the degree of special waterworks compensations; Official Gazette SR BH
20/90, 2/91, 21/91.
Guidelines outlining the method, procedure and time schedules within which to calculate
and pay for the water fund contributions and special waterworks contributions; Official
Gazette SR BH 26/90, 43/90.
Guidelines on the method and procedure for directing and utilizing the funds allocated for
realization of financial plan of the Republic waterworks community fund; Official
Gazette SR BH 43/90.
Law on the taxation of marketing of goods and services (motivating re-use and recycling);
Official Gazette SR BH 5/95.
Rulebook on method of public income allocation from budget and non-budget funds in
FBiH; Official Gazette FBiH 60/01, 7/02, 9/02, 17/02, 27/02.
Product quality
Rulebook on the quality of heating oil; Official Gazette R BH 2/95,13/94, Official Gazette
SFRJ 24/82 and 5/83.
Rulebook on the quality of unleaded gasoline; Official Gazette R BH 2/95 and 13/94,
Official Gazette SFRJ 13/86.
Law on the quality control of certain products during import and export; Official
Gazette FBiH 21/97.
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Rulebook on method and procedure of controlling the quality of products during import
and export; Official Gazette F BH 21/97.
Transportation
Law on the transport of hazardous matter; Official Gazette R BH 13/94, Official Gazette
SFRJ 27/90, 45/90.
Rulebook on the method of transport of hazardous matter on roads; Official Gazette R BH
13/94 (2/92).
Accidents
Law on protection from elemental catastrophes; Official Gazette SR BH 40/90, 20/95.
Fire protection
Law on fire protection; Official Gazette SR BH 15/87, 37/88, 38/89.

Fire protection of woods: the Law on woods; Official Gazette R BH 23/93, 13/94, 9/95.
Air quality protection
Air quality protection: the Law on physical planning; Official Gazette SR BH 9/87, 18/76.
Decree on reporting the facilities that can endanger air quality 2/92-5, 13/94-189;
Official Gazette SFRJ, 14/66-287.
Decision on Protection of air from pollution; Official Gazette SO Tuzla 4/90.
Decision on protection of air from pollution on the territory of municipality Kakanj;
Number: 01-/1-023-5/92.
Rulebook on protection of air from pollution 18/76-812.
Water protection
Law on waters; Official Gazette BiH 18/98.

Rulebook on hazardous matter that should not be disposed of in waters; Official Gazette
SFRJ 3/66,7/66.
Decree on categorization of watercourses; Official Gazette SR BH 42/67.
Rulebook on types, method and scope of measurements and testing of used water and
released contaminated water; Official Gazette SR BH 38/76.
Decision on determining the borders of watersheds on the territory of SR BiH; Official
Gazette SR BH 7/77, Official Gazette FBiH 37/98.
Decree on the flood defense plan for the rivers Sava and Neretva; Official Gazette SR BH
5/78.
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Decree on classification of water and classification of water of coastal areas of Yugoslavia

Located in SR BiH; Official Gazette SR BH 19/80.
Rulebook on types, method and scope of measurements and testing of used water and
released contaminated water; Official Gazette SR BH 39/85, 20/90.
Decision on the maximum allowed concentrations of radionuclides, and hazardous
substances in international watercourses, international waters and coastal waters; Official
Gazette SR BH 13/94, (2/92), Official Gazette SFRJ 8/78.
Decree on the water classification of Inter-Republic watercourses, international waters and
coastal waters of Yugoslavia; Official Gazette SR BH 13/94 (2/92), Official Gazette SFRJ
6/78.
Decree on flood defense plans; Official Gazette FBiH number 3/02.
Decree on concessions on waters and public water goods; Official Gazette FBiH number
8/00.
Decision on borders of water areas; Official Gazette FBiH number 37/98.
Decision on borders of main watersheds; Official Gazette FBiH number 37/98.
Rulebook on types, method and scope of measurement and testing of used water,
wastewater and removed material from water-flow; Official Gazette FBiH number 48/98,
36/00, 35/01.
Guidelines on method, procedure and time schedules for calculation and payment of
special waterworks compensations; Official Gazette FBiH number 49/98
Rulebook on content, shape, conditions and method of issuing and storage of
waterworks acts; Official Gazette FBiH number 22/02.
Rulebook on the minimum content of the general act on maintenance, use and
supervision of waterworks facilities; Official Gazette FBiH number 49/01.
Rulebook on conditions that must be met by the authorized laboratories and the content and
the procedure with the issuance of authorizations; Official Gazette FBiH number 54/99.
Methodology in specific fields
Law on concessions (management of natural resources); Official Gazette SR BH 27/91.

Directive on mandatory, unified methodology for the preparation and development of
physical, urban plans and activities 22/87-764, 18/90-507.
Directive on mandatory, unified methodology for the preparation and development of
physical, urban plans and urban projects 37/87-1137.
Directive on monitoring, inspection and acceptance of works and placing on public
review any data regarding the cadastre classification of soils and determining the right
on real estate 21/91-715.
Law on free zones (environmental protection conditions); Official Gazette F BH 20/95,
Official Gazette F BH 2/95.
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Environmental protection
Law on physical planning, Canton Sarajevo; Official Gazette13/99, Amendments 19/99

Rulebook on the special control regime of activities that might endanger the environment
2/76-72, 23/76-929, 23/82-935, 26/88-787.
Law on physical planning; Herzeg-Bosnia Canton Official Gazette 14/98.
Decision on establishing the construction facilities, activities and undertakings which
could seriously affect the environment of the Posavina Canton; Posavina Canton Official
Gazette 5/00.
Law on physical planning (environmental protection section); Official Gazette SR BH 9/87,
23/88, 24/89, 10/90, 14/90, 15/90, 14/91, 7/92.
Work protection and safety
Rulebook on conditions for establishing work places requiring special work conditions
and medical checks at these locations; Official Gazette SR BH 2/91.
Rulebook on the method and procedure of conducting mandatory health checks and
research on work safety; Official Gazette SR BH 2/91.
Rulebook on record-keeping, paperwork and annual report contents regarding work
safety; Official Gazette SR BH 2/91.
Radiation
Law on determining the agency for dealing with issues of ionizing radiation protection;
Law on protection from ionizing radiation and special safety measures while utilizing
nuclear energy; Official Gazette SFRJ 50/90, (Official Gazette SR BH 2/92).
Law on protection from ionizing radiation and radiation protection; Official Gazette FBiH
15/99.
Law on responsibility for nuclear disasters; Official Gazette SFRJ 22/78, 34/79, Official
Gazette R BH 2/92, 13/94.
Rulebook on locations, methods and time schedules for measurement of radioactive matter
contamination; 2/92-5, 13/94-189 Official Gazette SFRJ, 40/86-1190.
Rulebook on the method of collection, recording, processing, storing and final management
and release of radioactive waste into the environment; 2/92-5, 13/94-189 SFRJ, 40/86-
1195.
Rulebook on the maximum allowed limit of radioactive contamination of the living
environment and carrying out decontamination; 2/92-5, 13/94-189 Official Gazette SFRJ,
8/87-226, 27/90-990 (amended).
Rulebook on zones of material balance and the method of keeping records of the nuclear
material and submitting data from these records; 2/92-5, 13/94-189 SFRJ, 9/88-210.
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NEAP
Rulebook on conditions for location, construction, experimental work, commencing with

the processing and the use of nuclear facilities (for protection from ionizing radiation);
2/92-5, 13/94-189. Published in Official Gazette SFRJ, 52/88-1405.
Rulebook on development and content of safety and contamination reports as well as other
documentation needed for establishing the safety of nuclear facilities; 2/92-5, 13/94-189
SFRJ, 68/88-1716.
Forests
Law on forests; Official Gazette R BH 23/93, 13/94, 9/95, 37/95.
Fishing, hunting and cattle raising
Law on hunting; Official Gazette SR BH 7/77.

Rulebook on compensation for costs resulting from the harm done to the fish fund;
Law on freshwater fishing; Official Gazette SR BH 35/79, 32/87, 29/90.
Mining and energy
Law on mining; Official Gazette R BH 24/93, 13/94.

Law on energy; Official Gazette R BH 1/93, 13/94.
Waste
Law on collection and transport of secondary raw materials and waste materials;
Official Gazette F BH 35/98.
Rulebook on minimal conditions for removal and final disposal of communal, industrial and
other wastes 34/91-1027.
Chemical safety
Decision on conducting the procedure "Acceptance upon prior notification on international

transport of pesticides, industrial and used chemicals and waste for public use (PIC)";
Official Gazette FBiH 169/95.
Agriculture
Law on agricultural land; Official Gazette F BH 2/98.
Noise
Rulebook on allowed thresholds of noise intensity; 46/89-1218.
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Funds
Decision on creating a fund for environmental protection; Zenica-Doboj Canton Official

Gazette 8/00.
Physical planning
Law on unified records of spatial units; 2/92-5, 13/94-189, Official Gazette SFRJ, 18/88-
497.
Law on physical planning; 9/87-245, 23/88-689, 24/89-671, 10/90-288, 14/90-411 (amended)
15/90-421, 14/91-471, 7/92-193.
Law on establishing populated areas and on amendments of names of populated areas in
certain municipalities; 24/86-828, 29/86-1067 (amended), 33/90-910, Article 3: Law
32/91-987.
Law on construction land; 34/86-1113, 1/90-12, 19/90-811, 3/93-53, 13/94-189.
Physical plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the time period of 1981-2000; 15/89-389.
Decision on establishing towns and townships; 33/75-1254.
Decision on the level of compensation for utilization of data in the real-estate cadastre
(and tariffs); 41/89-1025, 7/90-205, 43/90-1284, 22/91-738, 7/93-138, 11/94-178.
Rulebook on the urban-construction measures of protection in case of elemental catastrophes
and war-time; 29/75-1077.
Law on protection and use of cultural, historical and natural heritage; Official Gazette BiH
3/78 and 20/85.
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina - the Official Gazette
Law on collection, production and trade in secondary and waste material; 35/98-1260.
This Law puts out of force all regulations that previously regulated the issue stipulated by
this Law before it was in force.
Law on free access to information in FBiH; Official Gazette 32/01.
Guidelines for defining the allowed maximum quantities of harmful and hazardous
substances in soil and investigation methods thereof; 11/99-251.
Regulations on the conditions of technical equipment in the business premises used for
collection, processing and production of hazardous substances and secondary raw
materials; 3/00-41.
Sarajevo Canton - the Official Gazette
Law on air quality; 10/99-383. This Law puts out of force, at the territory of Sarajevo
Canton, the Decree on conservation of air quality, published in the Official Gazette of the
city of Sarajevo number 25/80.
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Law on protection against noise; 10/99-398. This Law puts out of force, at the territory of
Sarajevo Canton, the Decree on protection against noise published in the Official Gazette
of the city of Sarajevo number 34/80.
Decree on forming of the expert council for environmental protection; 3/98-49.
Decree on protection of the mountain potable water springs of Sarajevo water system and
open stream of Moščanica river; 22/97-539.
Urban planning consent, the document serving as a base for the issuance of construction
permits, also defines the environmental conditions; See: article 102. Law on physical
planning - 13/99-505.
Law on physical planning 13/99-505, changes and annexes 19/99-733. This Law does not
put out of force the Law on physical planning published in the Official Gazette SR BiH
number 9/87-245, - clarified text - 23/98-689, 24/89-671, 10/90-288, 14/90- 411, 15/90-
421, and 14/91-471, and Official Gazette R BiH number 25/94-426 and the Law on
application of the Law on physical planning, Official Gazette R BiH number 16/92-410,
13/94-189 and 20/95-583, and by-laws that were issued based on it, and that are under
jurisdiction of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in cases not stipulated by this
Law until otherwise decided by the responsible authorities.
Zenica-Doboj Canton - the Official Gazette
Law on the annulment of the Law on waste and secondary material 3/99-45.
Law on waste and secondary material published in the Official Gazette of Zenica-Doboj
Canton number 16/97-1055.
Regulations on minimum technical conditions for collection of waste material and production
of secondary raw material; 4/98-147.
Law on environmental protection; 1/00-1.
Decree on the establishment of the environmental protection fund; 8/00-346.
Regulations on a special regime of monitoring of the activities that present or can present
an environmental hazard 10/00-425.
Decree on threshold values of pollutant emissions and borderline pollution values 11/00-
482.
Tuzla Canton - the official gazette
Law on water of Tuzla Canton; Official Gazette TK 15/99

Law on forests of Tuzla Canton; Official Gazette TK 10/99
Law on protection of nature; 10/99-341. This Law shall be harmonized with the
Federation level Law stipulating the issue of the protection of nature immediately when
the Federation level Law is put in force.
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Law on the establishment of the public enterprise for thermal processing of waste
"Piroliza" Tuzla; 1/98-10.
Decree on establishment of the ecology fund; 3/99-54.
Law on air protection; 6/00-228.
Law on the annulment of the Law on establishment of the public enterprise for thermal
processing of waste "Piroliza" Tuzla 10/00-437. Text of the Law on establishment of the
public enterprise for thermal processing of waste "Piroliza" Tuzla as published in the
Official Gazette of Tuzla Canton number 1/98-10.
West-Herzegovina Canton - the Official Gazette
Middle-Bosnia Canton - the Official Gazette
Rulebook on the method of collecting, storing, sorting and managing the purchase of the
secondary raw materials and waste; Middle Bosnia Canton Official Gazette 7/99.
Law on protection from noise; 11/00-366.
Law on air quality; 11/00-382.
Rulebook on the method of collecting, storing, sorting and managing the purchase of the
secondary raw materials and waste; 7/99-274.
Posavina Canton - the Official Gazette

Decree on definition of constructions, activities and procedures that can significantly
affect the environment of the Posavina Canton; 5/00-260.
Regulations on selection and maintenance of fire extinguishers; 2/00-87.
Law on physical planning 5/99-349. This Law puts out of force the regulations on physical
planning that were being applied in the Canton, except for the provisions stipulating the
jurisdiction of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the laws previously in force
in the Canton shall be applied.
Regulations on project supervision 4/00-162.
Law on construction 5/99-371. This Law puts out of force the regulations on construction
activities in the Canton.
Herzeg-Bosnia Canton - the Official Gazette
Decree on a permanent allocation of the kindergarten facility and the construction site for
further extension of the kindergarten in Drvar; 5/98-149.
Decree on landscaping works around the buildings of Cantonal Government in Livno and
Cantonal Parliament in Tomislavgrad; 3/99-108.
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Secondary legislation on waters that is, as a result of Article 242 (2) of the Law on water,
applicable on the territory of FBiH until new secondary legislation is adopted:
Decree on classification of waters of Republic waters that flow through Republics, as well
as international waters and the waters of the Yugoslav sea; Official Gazette SFRJ number
6/78.
Decision on the maximum degree of concentration of radionuclides and hazardous
substances in the waters that flow through Republics, as well as international waters and
the waters of the Yugoslav sea; Official Gazette SFRJ number 8/78.
Decree on the classification of water and waters form the Yugoslav sea along the border
of SRBiH; Official Gazette SRBiH number 19/80.
Decree on categorization of water flow; Official Gazette SRBiH number 42/67.
Rulebook on hazardous substances that should not be disposed of in water; Official
Gazette SFRJ number 3/66, 7/66.
Rulebook on hygiene of drinking water; Official Gazette SFRJ number 33/87.
Rulebook on method of taking samples and method for laboratory analysis of drinking
water; Official Gazette SFRJ number 33/87.
Republika Srpska - the Official Gazette
Environmental Protection
Law on environmental protection; Official Gazette RS 53/02.

Law on air protection; Official Gazette RS 53/02.
Law on protection of water; Official Gazette RS 53/02.
Law on waste management; Official Gazette RS 53/02.
Law on environmental protection; Official Gazette RS 52/02.
Law on environmental protection fund; Official Gazette RS 52/02.
Construction land
Law on construction land. Basic text of the Law was published in the Official Gazette SR
BiH number 34/86-1113, 1/90-12, 19/90-811, and changes and annexes in the Official
Gazette of Republika Srpska number 29/94-800, 23/98-560.
Law on changes and amendments to the Law on land for construction 5/99-51.
Decree on conditions and methods of allocation of land for construction that is free of
charge 11/99-182. This Decree puts out of force the instruction on conditions and methods
of allocation of land for construction that is free of charge, published in the Official
Gazette RS number 5/99-62.
Law on a general administrative procedure; Official Gazette RS 13/02.
113
NEAP
Meteorological and hydrological issues
Law on meteorological and hydrological activities; Official Gazette RS 20/00.
Ionizing radiation
Law on protection from ionizing radiation; Official Gazette RS 52/01.
Water
Law on water; Official Gazette RS 10/98.
Energy
Law on electrical energy; Official Gazette RS 10/97, 23/98.

Law on electrical energy supply inspections; Official Gazette RS 12/93.
Companies
Law on companies; Official Gazette RS 24/98.
Communal activities
Law on communal activities; Official Gazette RS 11/95.
Agriculture
Law on agricultural land; Official Gazette RS 13/97.

Law on vegetation protection; Official Gazette RS 13/97.
Law on seeds and nursery plant; Official gazette RS 13/97.
Forests
Law on forests; Official Gazette RS 14/94, 8/96, 10/97, 23/98, 18/99.

Decree on banning export of forest materials used in primary processing outside RS;
Official Gazette RS 28/98.
Rulebook on measures of forest and crop fire protection; Official Gazette RS 16/96.
Rulebook on the cadastre of forests and forested land; Official Gazette RS 30/94.
Hunting
Law on hunting; Official Gazette RS 13/94, 3/97, 10/97.
Information
Law on freedom of information in BiH; Official Gazette RS 5/01.
114
NEAP
Physical planning
Law on physical planning 19/96-777, 25/96-1023, 10/98-246. (Amendment of the Law on

physical planning published in Official Gazette no. 25/97-667 was annulled through a
special Law on annulments 3/98-33.). The day this Law becomes valid, the Law on
physical planning published in the Official Gazette of SR BiH no. 9/87-245, 23/88-689,
24/89-671, 10/90-288, 14/90-411 (amended), 15/90-421, 14/91-471 becomes invalid.
Law on amendments and additions to the Law on physical planning; Official Gazette RS
53/02.
Funds
Law on annulment of the Law on funds for spatial distribution of the population 3/98-33.
The annulled Law on funds for spatial distribution of the population which was adopted
by the People's Council of Republika Srpska on 17.11.1997 and was published in the
Official Gazette of RS no. 33/97-1103.
Other laws
Criminal law; Official Gazette RS 22/00.
115
NEAP
V International Agreements
International Agreements, Conventions and Protocols to which BiH is a signatory

to or has completed the ratification process
Air
Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, Geneva, 1979 (in force as of March
16, 1986) (Official Gazette R BH 13/94, Official Gazette SFRJ MU 11/86).
Protocol to the 1979 convention on long-range transboundary air pollution on long term
financing of the co-operative programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range
transmission of air pollutants in Europe (EMEP), Geneva, 1984 (in force as of: January
28, 1988) (Official Gazette R BH 13/94, Official Gazette SFRJ MU 2/87).
Vienna convention for the protection of the ozone layer, Vienna, 1985 (in force as of:
September 22, 1988) (Official Gazette R BH 13/94, Official Gazette SFRJ MU 1/90).
Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, Montreal, 1987 (in force as
of: January 01, 1989.) (Official Gazette SFRJ MU 16/90), amended and reviewed: London
1990, Copenhagen 1992, Vienna 1995, Montreal 1997, and Beijing 1999.
United Nations framework convention on climate change, Rio de Janeiro, 1992 (in force
as of: March 21, 1994) (Official Gazette BH 19/00).
Natural heritage
International plant protection convention, Rome, 1951 (in force as of: April 03, 1952),
(Official Gazette R BH 13/94, Official Gazette SFRJ MU 11/86).
Convention on biological diversity, Rio de Janeiro, 1992 (in force as of: December 29,
1993).
UN Convention to combat desertification in countries experiencing serious drought
and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, Paris 14 October 1994 (BiH signed on 26
August 2002).
Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat,
Ramsar 1971, notification on Succession in 2001.
Nuclear safety
Convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency,

Vienna, adopted on 26 September 1986 (came into force on 26 February 1987) (Official
Register R BH 13/94, Official Register SFRJ MU 4/91).
Convention on early notification of a nuclear accident, Vienna 1986 (came into force on
27 October 1986) (Official Register R BH 13/94, Official Register SFRJ MU 15/89).
116
NEAP
Water
Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution 16.02.1976
(Barcelona Convention). Came into force in 1978. Official Gazette, SFRJ MU 12/77.
Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based
sources, Athens 1980 (came into force on 17 June 1983). Amended in Syracuse (Italy)
1996 (Official Register R BH 13/94, Official Register SFRJ MU 1/90).
Protocol concerning specially protected areas and biological diversity in the
Mediterranean, Monaco 1996 (previous name: Protocol concerning specially protected
areas in the Mediterranean, Geneva 1982) (came into force on 23 March 1986) (Official
Register R BH 13/94, Official Register SFRJ MU 9/85).
International convention for the prevention of pollution of the Sea by oil, London 1954
(came into force on 26 July 1958) (Official Register R BH 13/94, Official Register SFRJ
MU 60/73, 53/74).
International convention for the prevention of pollution from ships, London 1973 (came
into force on 2 October 1983) (Official Register R BH 13/94, Official Register SFRJ MU
2/85).
Waste
Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and

their disposal, Basel 22 March 1989 (came into force on 5 May 1992) (Official Register
BH 31/00).
Amendment to the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of
hazardous wastes and their disposal, Brussels 1997.
Overview of the Legislation and Provisions with which certain Conventions have
been Ratified
Law on ratification of the Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution 2/92-5,

13/94-189. Official Register SFRJ 11/86-3.
Law on ratification of the Protocol to the Convention on long-range transboundary air
pollution on long-term financing of co-operative programme for monitoring and
evaluation of the long-range transmission of air pollutants in Europe (EMEP) 2/92-5,
Law on ratification of the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer, with
attachments I and II 2/92-5, 13/94-189. Official Register SFRJ 1/90-3.
Decree on ratification of the Memorandum on Agreement to enforce the European
research project on the radar meteorological network (COST project 73) 2/92-5, 13/94-
189. Official Register SFRJ, 3/90-44.
Law on ratification of the Convention for physical protection of nuclear material 2/92-5,
117
NEAP
Decree on ratification of the System for notification of accidents IAEA (IAEA-IRS)

2/92-5, 13/94-189. Official Register SFRJ 1/87-49.
Decree on ratification of the Convention on early notification of a nuclear accident 2/92-5,
Law on ratification of the Convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or
radiological emergency 2/92-5, 13/94-189. Published in the Official Register SFRJ 4/91-
29.
Law on ratification of the international Convention for the prevention of pollution of the
sea by Oil 2/92-5, 13/94-189. Official Register SFRJ, 60/73-1737, 53/74-1709.
Decree on ratification of the international Convention for the prevention of pollution
from ships, 1973 (and the Protocol from 1978) 2/92-5, 13/94-189. Official Register SFRJ
2/85-59, 2/85-68.
Law on ratification of the Protocol concerning specially protected areas in the
Mediterranean, written in Geneva, 3.04.1982. 2/92-5, 13/94-189. Official Register SFRJ
9/85-321.
Law on ratification of Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against
pollution from land-based sources, with Annexes I, II and III. 2/92-5, 13/94-189. Official
Register SFRJ 1/90-16.
Law on ratification of the Agreement on protection of River Tisa and its tributaries from
pollution 2/92-5, 13/94-189. Official Register SFRJ 1/90-30.
Decision to allow the ratification of Treaty on energetic charter and Protocol to the
energetic charter, on energetic efficiency and resulting environmental problems 8/00-84.
Decision to ratify the Framework of the Conventions of the United Nations on climate
changes 19/00-418.
Decree on the ratification of the revised text of the international Convention on plant
protection Official Register R BH 13/94 (2/92) Official Register SFRJ MU 1/85
Decision to ratify the Convention on the control of transboundary movements of
hazardous wastes and their disposal; Official Register BH 31/00.
Treaty for which the Government of the United States of America is a depositor
Convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter,
written in Washington, London, Mexico City and Moscow, December 29, 1972 (in force
as of August 30,1975; Official Register SRBiH 15/95).
International Agreements and Conventions to which BiH is not a signatory
Air
Protocol on the reduction of sulphur emissions or their transboundary fluxes, Helsinki 1985.
118
NEAP
Protocol concerning the control of nitrogen oxides or their transboundary fluxes, Sophia
1988 (in force as of February 14, 1991).
Protocol concerning the control of emissions of volatile organic compounds or their
transboundary fluxes, 1991 (in force as of September 29, 1997).
Protocol on further reduction of sulphur emissions, Oslo 1994 (in force as of August 5,
1998).
Protocol on heavy metals, Aarhus 1998.
Protocol to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone, Geteborg 1999.
Amendment of the Montreal Protocol: London 1990, Copenhagen 1992, Vienna 1995,
Montreal 1997, Peking 1999.
Kyoto Protocols, Kyoto, 1997.
Chemicals
Convention concerning the use of white lead in painting, Geneva 1921. (in force as of
August 31, 1923.).
Convention on the prior informed consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and
pesticides in international trade, Rotterdam 1998.
Convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of
bacteriological (biological) and toxic weapons and their destruction, London,
Washington, Moscow 1972 (in force as of March 26, 1975).
Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants , 22.05.2001 (not in force).
Hazards
Convention concerning prevention and control of occupational hazards caused by

carcinogenic substances and agents, Geneva, 1974 (in force as of: June 10, 1976).
Convention concerning protection against hazards of poisoning arising from benzene,
Geneva, 1971 (in force as of: July 27, 1973).
Convention concerning safety in the use of asbestos, Geneva, 1986 (in force as of: June
16, 1989).
Convention concerning the protection of workers against occupational hazards in the
working environment due to air pollution, noise and vibration, Geneva, 1977 (in force as
of July 11, 1979).
Convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context, Espoo, 1991
(in force as of 1997).
Convention on the transborder effects of industrial accidents, Helsinki 1992 (in force as of
April 19, 2000).
119
NEAP
Health
Convention concerning occupational health services, Geneva 1985 (in force as of

February 17, 1988.).
Convention concerning occupational safety and health and the working environment,
Geneva 1981. (in force as of August 11, 1983.).
Natural heritage
Convention for the establishment of the European and Mediterranean plant protection
organization, Paris 1951 (in force as of November 1, 1953).
Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora,
Washington 1973, amended in Bonn 1979 (in force as of July 1, 1975).
Protocol on biological safety within Convention of United Nations on biological diversity,
Montreal, 2000. (not in force).
Convention on the Conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (Berne
Convention), Berne 1979 (in force as of June 1, 1982).
Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, Paris
1972 (in force as of December 1975).
Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals, Bonn, 1979. (in
force as of 1983.)
International Convention for the protection of birds, Paris 1950 (in force as of January
17, 1963).
European Convention for the protection of animals for slaughter, Strasbourg 1979 (in
force as of June 11, 1982).
European convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, Strasbourg
1976 (in force as of September 10, 1978).
Nuclear security
Convention on the physical protection of nuclear material, Vienna and New York 1980 (in
force as of February 8, 1987) (Official Register SFRJ MU 9/85).
Convention on civil liability for nuclear damage, Vienna 1963 (in force as of November
12, 1977) (Official Register SFRJ MU 5/77).
Convention on nuclear security, Vienna June 17, 1994.
Treaty on the prohibition of the emplacement of nuclear weapons and other weapons of
mass destruction on the seabed and the ocean floor and in the subsoil thereof, London,
Washington, Moscow 1971 (in force as of May 18, 1972).
Treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water,
Moscow 1963 (in force as of October 10, 1963).
120
NEAP
The public
Convention on free access to information, public participation in decision making and

access to justice in environmental matters, Aarhus 1998.
International Convention on civil liability for oil pollution damage, Brussels 1969 (in force
as of June 19, 1975).
Water
Convention concerning fishing in the waters of the Danube, Bucharest 1958 (in force as of
December 20, 1958).
Convention on co-operation for the protection and sustainable use of the River Danube,
Sofia 1994.
Protocol concerning co-operation in combating pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by oil
and other harmful substances in cases of emergency, Barcelona 1976 (in force as of
February 12, 1978) (Official Register SFRJ MU 12/77).
Protocol for the prevention of pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by dumping from the
ships and aircraft, Barcelona 1976 (in force as of February 12, 1978) (Official Register
SFRJ MU 12/77).
Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution resulting from
exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf and the seabed and its sub-soil,
Madrid, 1994. (not in force).
Protocol on the prevention of pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by transboundary movements
of hazardous wastes and their disposal, Izmir, 1996.
Agreement for the establishment of a general fisheries council for the Mediterranean,
Rome 1949 (in force as of February 20, 1952).
Amendment to the Agreement concerning cooperation in taking measures against pollution of
the sea by oil, London 1971.
Convention on fishing and conservation of the living resources of the high seas, Geneva
1958 (in force as of March 20, 1966) (Official Register SFRJ MU 4/65).
Convention on the continental shelf, Geneva 1958 (in force as of June 10, 1964).
Convention on the high seas, Geneva 1958 (in force as of September 30, 1962).
Convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter,
written in Washington, Mexico City and Moscow 1972 (in force as of August 30, 1975)
(Official Register SFRJ MU 13/77).
Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international
lakes, Helsinki, 1992. (in force as of October 6, 1996.).
International Convention relating to intervention on the high seas in cases of oil pollution
casualties, Brussels 1969 (in force as of May 6, 1975).
121
NEAP
Protocol relating to intervention on the high seas in cases of pollution by substances other
then oil, London 1973 (in force as of March 10, 1983).
United Nations convention on the law of the sea, Montego Bay 1982.
Protocol of 1978 relating to the international convention for the prevention of pollution
form ships, London 1978 (in force as of October 2, 1983).
Agreement concerning measures for the protection of the stocks of deep-sea prawns,
European lobsters, Norway lobsters and crabs, Oslo 1952 (in force as of January 26,
1953).
Protocol on water and health, London 1999.
Treaty for which IMO is a Depositor
International Convention on the establishment of an international fund for compensation

for oil pollution damage, Brussels 18 December 1961 (in force as of October 16, 1978).
Treaty for which the General Secretary of the United Nations is a Depositor
Convention on continental shelf, Geneva 29 April 1958 (in force as of June 10, 1964).
122
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VI Maps
Sava
Sana
Una
Banja Luka
Vrbas
Bosna
Cetina
Sarajevo
Drina
Mostar
Neretva
Trebišnjica
GISDATA Sarajevo
Relief Map
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatia
Serbia
Montenegro
Adriatic Sea
State borders
123
NEAP
Legend
Prijedor
District Brčko
Bihać Banja Luka Brčko Republika Srpska
Bijeljina
Federation of BiH (cantons)
Tuzla Una-Sana
West Bosnia
Zenica
Herzegovina-Neretva
West Herzegovina
Sarajevo Central Bosnia
Sarajevo
Zenica-Doboj
Mostar
Tuzla
Bosnian Podrinje
Posavina
State border
Entity line
Municipal boundaries
0 30 60 120
Bosna-S Co.
Administrative Map
Legend
Non-forest
Broadleaf forest
Coniferous forest
Scrub forest
State border
Entity line
0 30 60 120
Forest Cover Map
124
NEAP
Legend
Sedimentary rocks
Fresh-water sediments
Marine sediments
Metamorphic rocks
(schist, mable, phillite, etc.)
Mafic and ultramafic
igneous rocks
Felsic and intermediate

igneous rocks
Important faults and

fault covers
State border
Entity line
0 30 60 120
A. Abdurahmanović
Geologic Map
Legend
Soil units
(FAO classification)
Leptosols
Luvisols
Cambisols
Fluvisols
Podzoluvisols
Acrisols
Vertisols
Gleysols
Lakes
State border
Entity line
0 30 60 120
Institute for Agropedology
Pedologic Map
125
NEAP
Legend
1000 mm and lower

1000 - 1250 mm
1250 - 1500 mm
1500 - 1750 mm
1750 - 2000 mm
2000 mm and higher
State border
Entity line
Bosna-S Co. 0 30 60 120
Average Annual Precipitation
Legend
11 oC and lower
12 oC
13 oC
14 oC
15 oC
16 oC
16 oC and higher
State border
Entity line
Bosna-S Co. 0 30 60 120
Average Annual Air Temperature
126
NEAP
VII Photographs
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Typical highland shepherd's cottage in BiH

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127
NEAP
Neretva river
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128
NEAP
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Rakitnica river canyon

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129
NEAP
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NEAP

National Environmental Action Plan

Federal Ministry of Physical Planning and Ramiz Mehmedagić, Minister

Ministry of Town Planning, Housing- Neđo Đurić, Minister

NEAP Directorate MSc. Denis Zvizdić, Co-director,

NEAP Steering Committee – FBiH Ramiz Mehemedagić, Minister-president of SC,

Environmental Steering Committee Prof. Dr. Borislav Jakšić

Consultant for Synthesizing, Drafting and BOSNA-S OIL SERVICES CO.

Technical Support and Translation to INSTITUTE FOR URBANISM OF RS

Technical Assistance, Organization and REC BiH

Members of Thematic Work Groups

Workgroup I: Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Knežević, Group Coordinator

Workgroup II: Prof. Dr. Hajrudin Simičić, Group Coordinator

Workgroup III: Prof. Dr. Hamid Čustović, Group Coordinator

Workgroup IV: Prof. Dr. Refik Numić, Group Coordinator

Workgroup V: Prof. Dr. Velida V. – Velagić, Group Coordinator

Workgroup VI: Prof. Dr. Vlasta Žuljić, Group Coordinator

Workgroup VII: Prof. Dr. Murat Prašo, Group Coordinator

Workgroup VIII: Prof. Dr. Sulejman Redžić, Group Coordinator

Workgroup IX: Prof. Dr. Lejla Saračević, Group Coordinator

Workgroup X: Mehmedalija Huremović, Group Coordinator

Sarajevo, March 2003 Banja Luka, March 2003

Ramiz Mehmedagić Mensur Šehagić

 Four national level workshops in which all interested parties participated;

As the above considerations illustrate, NEAP needed to be developed as a dynamic program

 Base environmental protection upon principles of sustainable use of natural resources

 Encourage the establishment of sustainable development funds for financing projects,

2 Bosnia and Herzegovina - Background

2.1 General Information

2.2 Socio-economic Features

Table 1 Structure of Workforce in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Population available for work in BiH 2,468,745 (100.0%)

Economically active population 1,233,357 (50.0%)

 Refugees and displaced persons;

2.3 Economy and the Environment

 Inadequate usage of inorganic compounds, pesticides and herbicides in agriculture, which

 Inadequate nutrients are given to fish bred in fish farms;

There is considerable scope for improving tourism development, especially eco-tourism.

3 Environmental Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Responsibilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in regards to environmental protection stipulated by

Legislation. The existing environmental legislation is very heterogeneous, as there is certain

 Law on environmental protection;

 Passive approach to practical protection and use of natural resources;

 Continuous lack of finances for environmental protection programs.

Environmental monitoring and information systems. Bosnia and Herzegovina as a cosignatory

In order to establish an efficient and well-linked information system, it is necessary to define

Implementation (inspection control). Adoption of the set of new laws on environmental

According to the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, environmental inspection is at the

NEAP requires systematic preparation and implementation of projects, trained project

 Fees for wastewaters and emissions;

International obligations and cooperation. Former Yugoslavia was a cosignatory and a

The key issues in environmental education are:

 Lack of an institutional system that would follow up the implementation of environmental

 Preparation of an environmental strategy in accordance with UNCED39 guidelines;

4 NEAP and Sustainable Development

 Air quality management;

 Integration of environmental policy into the sectoral policies;

An effective environmental protection policy based on the sustainable development principles

 Impact of environmental pollution on human health;

 Water resources / wastewater;

 Sustainable development of rural areas;

 Socio-economic and environmental benefits of the project;

5 Status of the Environment

5.1 Air Quality Management

Four national level workshops in which all interested parties participated;

Base environmental protection upon principles of sustainable use of natural resources

Encourage the establishment of sustainable development funds for financing projects,

Refugees and displaced persons;

Inadequate usage of inorganic compounds, pesticides and herbicides in agriculture, which

Inadequate nutrients are given to fish bred in fish farms;

Law on environmental protection;

Passive approach to practical protection and use of natural resources;

Continuous lack of finances for environmental protection programs.

Fees for wastewaters and emissions;

Lack of an institutional system that would follow up the implementation of environmental

Preparation of an environmental strategy in accordance with UNCED39 guidelines;

Air quality management;

Integration of environmental policy into the sectoral policies;

Impact of environmental pollution on human health;

Water resources / wastewater;

Sustainable development of rural areas;

Socio-economic and environmental benefits of the project;

Combustion of fuels used in BiH;

Improvement of information systems and adequate incorporation of BiH in existing systems

Inadequate water supply to the population and industry;

Lack of an integrated water management system;

Lack of trained staff, equipment and institutions;

Lack of systematic soil monitoring;

Preparation of a state strategy (policy) for the protection of soil;

Sustainable forest management and protection of biodiversity;