As part of efforts to protect Livanjsko Polje, the largest intermittently flooded karst polje in the world and one of biodiversity hotspots in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a workshop titled “From Sensitivity to Resilience: Unveiling the Potential of Livanjsko Polje through Designation of Protected Area” was held yesterday in Livno, attended by over 40 participants, decision-makers, and users of this area (farmers, beekeepers, hunters, etc.).
One of the main conclusions is that at the local government level, while a willingness to continue the process is evident, there is a lack of capacity, so it was agreed that, with expert assistance provided, within the next four months, they will respond to the submitted initiative to the competent cantonal ministry. Additionally, additional efforts will be made by the authorities to reconcile nature conservation with existing concessions granted in this area.
Nataša Crnković, Biodiversity and Protected Areas Program Coordinator at the Center for Environment, emphasized that workshop attendees expressed concerns and challenges related to declaring this area protected, but also a great deal of optimism was expressed:
“The readiness of cantonal authorities to coordinate and expedite the process is encouraging, which is a novelty compared to the previous period.”
The advantages and challenges of protecting this area were outlined, and positive examples from Croatia and the Kanton Sarajevo Public Institution for Protected Natural Areas were heard.
Zineta Mujaković, Head of the Department for Nature Protection, Biological and Landscape Diversity at the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, welcomed these efforts and reiterated that Livanjsko Polje deserves protection.
“Huge efforts have already been made, and the ministry is ready to financially support the procedure for establishing a new protected area,” Mujaković added.
As part of the workshop, a presentation of products and services from Livanjsko Polje was organized, featuring local producers (beekeepers and dairy product manufacturers) from Livno and Bosansko Grahovo.
Sead Hadžijahić, Minister in the Ministry of Construction, Reconstruction, Spatial Planning, and Environmental Protection of Herzegovina-Neretva Kanton/Kanton 10, stated that this process has been ongoing for a long time, and the ministry is ready to unlock the process.
“I think we can be very satisfied with the outcome of this workshop. I am confident that we will find a way to reconcile all sectors with an interest in this area, including nature conservation.”
The workshop was organized by the Center for Environment in collaboration with USAID Tourism and the Center for Energy, Environment, and Resources (CENER 21), the developer of the Expert Justification for the Designation of a Category V Protected Area – Protected Landscape of Livanjsko Polje, and organized as part of the project “Sustainable Future of Livanjsko Karst Polje in Bosnia and Herzegovina” implemented by the Center for Environment in cooperation with Our Birds Ornithological Society and EuroNatur with the support of the DIMFE foundation.
