OHR: Forests throughout BiH are exclusively under state jurisdiction

(Patria) - The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has determined that forests and forest land throughout BiH represent public property that falls under state ownership, which is exclusively under the jurisdiction of BiH, it was stated today from the Office of the High Representative in BiH.

"Constitutional Court decisions are final and binding, and therefore must be implemented," the statement emphasizes.

In response to the claim that "forests fall under the jurisdiction of the Federation of BiH and Brčko District" and that "Republika Srpska has the right to dispose of its property," the OHR states that the management of forests and forest land by the entities and Brčko District was not the subject of dispute before the Constitutional Court.

"This issue should therefore be regulated by a law at the state level, which should be adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH," the statement adds.

The Constitutional Court of BiH determined in September this year that certain provisions of the Law on Forests of Republika Srpska are not in accordance with the Constitution of BiH, specifically the part stating that forests are the property of that BiH entity.

The decision provoked a reaction from the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, who called on "all decision-makers in the National Assembly of RS to annul everything that is outside the Constitution and the Dayton Agreement."