IUCN

This study focuses on the area which stretches along sections of the border region between southwest Serbia and eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina in the central part of the Drina River Valley. The study examines the possibilities for establishing a transboundary protected area, in this case a biosphere reserve, and analyses the transboundary cooperation in this region to date.

The Neretva Delta region is a predominantly rural area of approximately 20,000 hectares, shared by Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The region supports the livelihoods of approximately 60,000 people living in nine municipalities - seven on the Croatian side and two in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This study represents the preliminary assessment analysis of one of the six project sites of the project “Environment for People in the Dinaric Arc”.

This study explores the possibilities and challenges of the existing regional collaboration between Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia and Una National Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of six pilot sites in the project “Environment for People in the Dinaric Arc”. The objective of the study is to survey the possibilities for transboundary conservation, i.e. establishment of transboundary protected areas and associated cooperation mechanisms.

This document is divided into three sections. The first examines learning on various aspects of natural resources governance. This is followed by a section focusing more specifically on project implementation, planning and management lessons. Finally, we conclude with some suggestions on possible future niches for IUCN in the natural resources (NR) governance arena.