Center for Environment has opened a call for all individuals, organizations and initiatives from Duvanjsko polje who want to work on the protection of nature and sustainable development practices. The call is open until September 30th, 2022 and represents support to the local population for the initiation and implementation of positive practices that contribute to the preservation of the environment.
The engagement and proactivity of the local population has been identified as one of the key factors for the preservation of a certain habitat and the establishment of a system where the work of the local community does not harm the nature that surrounds them. Through work on the protection of Livanjsko polje and the recognition of karst fields as a natural phenomenon of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Center for Environment began to investigate other karst fields in the country (more than 50 karst poljes exist in the country).
“We discovered many incredible places and people who deserve attention and recognition. An initiative for the protection of Livanjsko polje was been launched, one part of Popovo polje is protected (Vjetrenica cave), a couple of karst fields in the south are being explored, but most of the fields are unexplored and neglected. For this reason, we wish to raise awareness of their riches and to motivate the people in those fields in the direction of sustainable development. We can do this thanks to the project “Sustainable Future for the freshwater ecosystem Livanjsko polje in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, which we are realizing in cooperation with the Ornithological Society „Naše ptice“ and the EuroNatur organization with the support of the DIMFE foundation,” said Milica Končar from Center for Environment.
The plan is to support initiatives in three karst fields: Duvanjsko polje, Glamočko and Kupreško polje, which together with Livanjsko polje form a hydrological network of freshwater ecosystems, a network of habitats and an unique cultural/natural integrity. The call for Duvanjsko polje will be followed by the call for Kupreško and then Glamočko polje (which will be realized in 2023 and 2024). The initiatives eligible to apply to the call may vary, but they must be sustainable-positive practices (work on nature protection, promotion of traditional practices, etc.), and the selected initiatives will be supported with an amount of up to EUR 2,500.00, with an additional promotion of their work. The official call for the application of initiatives in Duvanjsko polje can be found at this URL.