©Igor Kalaba
Journalists from across Bosnia and Herzegovina joined us on a journey organized as part of the project “Sustainable Future for the Freshwater Ecosystem of Livanjsko Polje in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” The purpose was to understand why it is essential to protect Livanjsko Polje, the natural treasures hidden in this region, and what makes this field unique.
Livanjsko Polje is exceptionally complex and valuable, known as the largest karst field in the world with intermittent flooding.
We started by exploring the exceptionally clean river Sturba on a canoe ride. Ornithologist Ante Perković and his wife Marija, who organize “Sturba canoe and birdwatching” tours, guided us. Participants of these trips have the opportunity to experience canoeing while also learning about the birdlife and gaining a fascinating insight into the surrounding environment. At the end of the first day, we also visited Duman, the source of the river Bistrica, known for its beauty, unique rocky canyon, and cold water where only the bravest sometimes dare to take a dip.
©Siniša Pašalić
With the aim to show journalists as many attractions and natural wonders as possible during their three-day stay, we also visited the municipality of Bosansko Grahovo on the second day. We had discussions with the President of the Municipal Assembly, Slađana Čeko, and Professor Drago Marić. They emphasized the need to raise awareness among the local population about the benefits of protecting Livanjsko Polje, a part of which lies in the municipality of Bosansko Grahovo, such as using tourism as an additional source of income.
This municipality is also home to one of the most beautiful caves in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ledenica. It is extremely cold, with several galleries rich in cave formations, but unfortunately, it is also in a state of disrepair. Nevertheless, with the help of a local guide, we managed to explore it and subsequently visited the rural household of Stana Komljenović, located in the village of Nuglašice near Ždralovac, the most valuable part of Livanjsko Polje.
©Dejan Rakita
After a home-cooked lunch, refreshments, and a short tour of the field for filming, we headed to Cincar, where herds of wild horses awaited us. Partners from “Continental adventure,” who have been organizing such tours for a long time, guided us on the tour to Cincar and the Kruzi plateau, where the horses usually gather and roam freely. Our hosts strive to develop tourism and showcase the beauty of the Livno region. The entire area is also planned for protection, alongside the field, which we strongly support.
©Sandra Josović
We concluded the tour by visiting the eco-farm Podhum, which is unique for its breeding of a special breed of cattle and free-range grazing, essential for the sustainability of karst fields. Finally, we visited Lake Buško, where representatives from “Obreen” doo, the holders of fishing rights in the area, informed journalists about the challenges they face and the essential characteristics of the lake.
These activities are part of the mentioned project in cooperation with the Ornithological Society “Naše ptice” and EuroNatur, with the support of the DIMFE Foundation. The Center for Environment supports the procedure to declare Livanjsko Polje as a protected area in the category of protected landscape, which embodies an area where the interaction between nature and humans has created unique characteristics with significant ecological, biological, and cultural values. This media tour is one of the activities that contribute to a better understanding of the necessity to formally protect this field.
Photo gallery: Igor Kalaba, Dejan Rakita, Siniša Pašalić, Sandra Josović, Nataša Crnković
