Prenj one step closer to national park status

(Patria) - A public hearing was held in Konjic as part of the procedure for declaring Mount Prenj a national park, with the participation of representatives of institutions, the expert community, local stakeholders and the interested public.

On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the presentation was given by the head of the nature protection department, Zineta Mujaković.

She presented the key elements of the process aimed at declaring Prenj a national park, including the expert basis, the proposed zoning, the economic and financial aspects of management, and the preliminary draft law on the declaration of the National Park.

The implementation of activities is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in cooperation with the City of Konjic, through a project implemented with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and based on a financial agreement with the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

Declaring Prenj a protected area represents an important step towards preserving the exceptional biodiversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, protecting natural resources and fulfilling international obligations in the field of nature protection, including the goal of significantly increasing the area under protection.

A key role in initiating activities for declaring Prenj a national park was played by the Federal Minister of Environment and Tourism, Nasiha Pozder, who actively participates in the development and implementation of solutions aimed at expanding the network of protected areas in the Federation of BiH.

The process for this generational undertaking began when Minister Pozder and the Mayor of Konjic, Osman Ćatić, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the new protected area of Prenj on 22 June 2024, so that two years later we are one step closer to this initiative becoming a reality.

During the presentation, it was emphasised that the preliminary draft law is in the phase of review and improvement through consultations and expert opinions.

It was stressed that this process is not viewed solely as a formal declaration of a protected area, but as a matter of establishing a functional management model that will preserve the natural values of Prenj in the long term, while simultaneously enabling sustainable living, preserving the identity of the area and developing activities compatible with nature protection.

It was also emphasised that the protection of Prenj should not be understood as an obstacle to development, but as an opportunity for planned, responsible and long-term sustainable development.

During the discussion, issues related to zoning and spatial planning were raised. Representatives of the City of Konjic highlighted the request that the protection zones and the method of spatial management be defined in detail through the development of the Spatial Plan for the Area of Special Characteristics.

From the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, it was emphasised that the process of declaring a national park should not be conditioned on the completion of the spatial plan, and it was proposed that the legal solution define how the final boundaries and detailed zoning will be determined through the Spatial Plan for the Area of Special Characteristics.

Such an approach was accepted as a basis for further work and harmonisation of views, with a joint conclusion on the importance of continuing coordination of all relevant levels of government and the local community.

At the request of the City of Konjic, an additional meeting will be held in Konjic in the coming period with the aim of harmonising views and defining the next steps in the process of declaring Prenj a National Park.