Where in Bosnia?

Where in Bosnia and Herzegovina? – the three locations which are equally suitable

• The surroundings of Drina valley with Sutjeska National Park near Foca. The rate of unemployment in the wider surrounding of the National Park is 69%.
• The upper Neretva valley southeast Konjic. The unemployment rate in the wider area is as high as 77%.

• The Unac valley southeast Martin Brod in Kanton Una Sana at Bihac. The rate ofunemployment in the wider area is over 60%.

As an indispensable precondition all three locations are situated in existing or proposed protected areas (…the resort will be situated in a placid zone of the future national park … After its establishment the large-scale protected area will cover an area of at least 400 km˛ of natural landscape – essential for the upkeep of the wild animal population with its wide spaces for movement… wolves, bears and lynx):

• Sutjeska National Park (existing & considered wider area)
• Bjelasnica-Igman-Treskavica-Visocica National Park (proposed)

• Una National Park & Lom Protected Area (existing & considered wider area)

  On the other hand the river valleys of all three resort-locations, which are equally suitable and belong to existing or proposed protected areas, are or at least were threatened by new hydropower plants. It is obvious, that the construction of a hydropower plant would be an exclusion criterion (… the resort will be situated in a placid zone of the future protected area. A clean river runs through it and there is no through traffic).

  Bosnia and Herzegovina is blessed with so many wonders of nature. Some of the largest caves in Europe can be found here, also one of the largest virgin beech forests. Scenic attractions like impressive waterfalls and marvellous gorges make this country a wonderful tourist destination. It is rather disturbing that just 0,52% of Bosnia and Herzegovina is protected (EUROPARC Federation 2001). The European average for protected lands is 11.93%. According to this the protection of more than 6.000 km˛ land is overdue. Bosnia and Herzegovina has the great challenge of preserving its rich natural heritage or risking the loss of much of its pristine wilderness and forests to uncontrolled development, clear-cutting, and exploitation of its abundant fresh water supply with several potable major waterways. Plans for the construction of many new hydro-electric dams (instead of investment in and modernisation of the existing and outdated infrastructure) could severely damage the country´s great future in ecotourism. Many of the large dams function at only a quarter of their full potential. Beside this unregulated logging is a threat. Forests cover 35% of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it has already lost an estimated 35% of its forests to unregulated clear-cutting since the end of the war. The poorly regulated logging industry is supported by its EU neighbours who are able to purchase cheap, high-quality wood.