Posavina is drying, Sarajevo is running out of water, and Prozor/Rama is in great danger

(Patria) - Prof. Dr. Dalibor Balian from the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Sarajevo told N1 that the situation in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina is very difficult and has been for the past 15-20 years.

There is little rain, temperatures are higher, and there is no snow. Floods or large amounts of precipitation are local. The soil is dry, the forests are suffering.

"The soil is dry, the forests are suffering"

"I fear that in the coming days, although they have announced a slight cooling and rain, it will not improve the situation we have because the problem is that winter precipitation amounts were very low, a lot of southern winds, very little water has gone into the soil which is now dry. This has been happening for 15-20 years. We have floods, but those are excesses that happen in one place, while other places are experiencing drought," said Prof. Dr. Balian.

He also spoke about the situation in Posavina, which was once known for its cultivated fields with successful harvests.

"The harvest in Posavina was very poor. A poor corn harvest is also expected because we do not have enough rainfall. Just as it affects agriculture, it also affects forests. Our forests are suffering. And we do not treat our forests as we should, we cut them down and clear them, we do not plant new ones, we have fires. The fire in Rama was intentionally caused, according to the information I received," he said.

He points out that Prozor/Rama could now find itself in a situation similar to Donja Jablanica.

"The forest that is burning is above the settlement itself, several villages in the Rama region. And if heavy rain occurs, we will have floods that will wash away that thin layer of soil and rock, and we can expect significant material damage and, God forbid, human casualties. To prevent this, we must act preventively. We don't need a Canadair, we need prevention and immediate action in the first moments of the fire. This fire will certainly leave a mark on the springs that fill the Rama Lake, there will be less water in the springs and the lake, and consequently less electricity," warned Prof. Dr. Balian.

He reminds that Sarajevo is also in trouble, especially with water.

"We rely on the springs and Bačevo, and it is getting weaker and weaker. Sarajevo and its water supply have become hostages of Bjelašnica and wild urbanization in Babin Do, the loss of forests. Look at how much the forest is drying out from the very source of the Bosna River. That area is not yet fully demined to be able to be rehabilitated because with every dried tree, we have less water in the springs that supply the city with water," he said.

He emphasizes that "we don't have much time".

"We are struggling with the federal law on forests. We need funds that will be used for interventions in such situations. Education. We say this every year, but very little is realized. We must start with education from kindergarten. Local politicians who allow wild urbanization where it is not needed have great responsibility - a category 1 water protection zone in Ilidža, and construction is taking place; a gas station in a category 3 water protection zone, etc.," he warned.