Actual Situation
War by itself is destructive for the environment. In Bosnia and Herzegovina it has caused great problems in the area of the protection of natural ecosystems, its content and diversity. Damages of the devastation of natural values, viewed globally, are of greatest extent. In today's, postwar Bosnia this area is, according to the Dayton Accords, placed under the jurisdiction of entities, not under the jurisdiction of state. Even at first glance to this problem, one can conclude that in order to preserve and adequately manage natural potentials of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is of crucial importance to establish form of interentity partnership, stronger corporation between entity experts, and to the public in general. Last but not of least importance to this regard, is to establish information connections on state and international levels.
Present period is characterized by preliminary phases of tasks realisation of which has either started or that are sitll ahead of us as planned activities or activities of urgent importance. Though still in war, at the time, Federal ministry of physical planning and environment along with the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina have organised numerous presentations in four biggest cities of Bosnia in 1995. The main purpose of these presentations was promotion of theConvention on Biodiversity, education and animation of public for these problems. At the beginning of 1998, Federal ministry of physical planning and environment in cooperation with local NGO "Fond Eco" has organised round table on topic of "Protected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina today and of tomorrow". This Ministry, according to its possibilities respects and supports activities and programs of NGO's related to this field.
In general, we are very interested in involvement in international programs in this area, also in the implementation of regulations of international legislature in this regard. In this moment, however, we need support and assistance of international associations. As materially and profesionally rather poor and devastated country we also need the support in educating and training of domestic professionals, of domestic institutions for tasks that are ahead of us.
One of the consequences of war was total destruction of precious documentation, phisibility studies, and data base that consisted of the results of previous long term research and observational work on the condition of natural heritage. So, we are faced with enormous task of rehabilitation and analysis of present condition of eco-system. Few programs have been already initiated, phisibility studies on endangered natural values - eco-system are now being developed, the list of plant species (Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta) for socalled Red Book of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been prepared, including some preparatory work on some animal species, etc.
However, implementation of these serious activities is unpredictable and uncertain, first of all, due to the following limiting circumstances at this moment: low social standard, advantage of projects of existential, economical and social significance, bad status of organisation, low professional level, long term communicational isolation, etc.