EU Environmental approximation in the WB

and Turkey- ETNAR Conference

Bosnia and Herzegovina Nataša Crnković

Center for Environment

, Palic September

24th 26to th 2013

Legal framework

• Most of the Laws are partly harmonized with EU legislation, missing linkages with specific nature conservation directives

• New Law on nature protection is in preparation

• Difficulties with national/entity/cantonal levels

Biodiversity, Forests and

Protectedareas• Highly diverse ecosystems (BiH is one of the

five European countries most rich in species)• 30% of the total endemic flora in the Balkans

(1,800 species) is contained within flora of BiH• Forest (53% of the area of BiH)• Only 1.8% of the territory of BiH is under

protection • PA do not have management plans (for

national parks in process)

Agriculture

• Percentage of agricultural land- 47% in FBiH- 51% in RS• Law on GMOs prohibits the use of genetically

modified organisms and products of genetically modified organisms

• There is no sufficient control over GMOs• There are no networks of organic producers or

subsidies for them

Sea andFreshwaters

• Laws on water are in correlation with WFD• There are no IRBM plans• BiH imported 31 752 tones of bottled

water in first 8 months of 2013 (15 million KM)

• Wetlands are especially threatened (Bardaca, Hutovo blato, Livanjsko polje)

• Around 20 km of the sea coast near Neum

Case studies

Small hydro power plants in National Park Sutjeska

• in accordance with BiH legislation• not in line with EU and int. legislation (Bern D, CBD, Habitat and Birds D)• Threatening biodiversity hot spots of NP• For EIA submitted lawsuit• Public participation poorly conducted