In order to contribute to the improvement of nature protection in the cross-border area
between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to strengthen the capacity of
nature protection institutions and organizations in these two countries in efforts to reduce
threats to biodiversity, a Study of the status of legal, strategic and institutional structure was
prepared – Brief Review of the national legislation and relevant documents related to species
management and monitoring of biodiversity in B&H and MNE.
The study was prepared within the cross-border project “BEAR in Mind: Bringing environmental
actions for the biodiversity protection across the borders ”, funded by the European Union
under the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2014-
2020, as well as the Ministry of Public Administration through the program of co-financing
projects and NGO programs supported by EU funds for 2020. The project is being implemented
by the Center for Protection and Research of Birds, in cooperation with partner organizations
from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ornithological Society “Naše ptice” and the Association for
Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development “Naša baština”.
The Study identifies relevant plans / programs, strategies and legal framework when it comes to
nature protection, and offers an overview of policy implementation in both countries
(international multilateral agreements, national legal framework, legal status of protected
areas, status of the establishment of the Emerald network of protected areas, the degree of
compliance with EU Directives, management plans for four protected areas – NP Durmitor and
Nature Park Piva in Montenegro, and NP Sutjeska and Nature Park Blidinje in B&H). In addition,
legal issues, governance settings, policy integration and priorities in governance and
conservation, and the ways in which they affect the implementation of nature conservation
policies have been identified.
The general conclusion derived from the analysis of the strategic and legislative framework in
the process of preparation of the Study is that the management plans of the previously
mentioned four protected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are in line with the
legal framework of the two countries, but that research and monitoring activities need to be
improved, communication within and outside the relevant institutions must be strengthened,
which entails more intensive involvement of local communities and all other stakeholders in the
management of protected areas, while achieving long-term financial sustainability as one of the
most important factors.
As an additional problem in considering the status of protected areas and improving their
management the Study identifie the fact that Montenegro prepares state information on the
environment, and Bosnia and Herzegovina does not. This should be resolved in the coming
period, especially if the two countries want to establish a new cross-border protected area.