SIPA investigates the "Bjelašnica" case: Why did Minister Bošnjak sign off on new forest destruction?

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), by order of the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Sarajevo Canton, has been questioning and requesting documentation from the Ministry of Communal Economy of Sarajevo Canton for days, all in connection with the "Bjelašnica" case.

We remind you that this concerns changes to urban plans, forest clearing, environmental strategic assessment, and suspicions of money laundering.

SIPA investigators are taking statements from civil servants employed in the ministry, former ministers, and all those involved in the actions related to the investigation. The Municipality of Trnovo and its mayor, Ibro Berilo, are also involved in the entire case.

Particular interest is focused on the positive opinion on the Strategic Assessment by Minister Bojan Bošnjak (Naša stranka). We remind you that former minister Almir Bečarević refused to sign this strategy or give a positive assessment, but Bošnjak immediately after his appointment signed it and gave a positive assessment.

We remind you that among the negative comments given on this Strategy is one from the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

They could not give a positive opinion on the proposal for Amendments and Additions to the Spatial Plan "SRP Bjelašnica" as the implementation of the plan would lead to irreversible environmental degradation. In Opinion 04-19-773/20 of 05.01.2021, they state that the area in question is identified as part of the Natura 2000 area Bjelašnica-Igman Visočica-Treskavica, within which strictly protected species and their habitats, as well as species from the Red List of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are found. They point out that Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina legislation on nature protection prohibits activities that could endanger wild species and their habitats.

They state that the negative impact on the EMERALD area of the Rakitnica canyon was not considered, and they propose the exclusion of part of the area for protection (e.g., Ravna Vala). The final conclusion is that the main determinant of future development of KS, as a tourist destination, should be based on preserved natural values, not on the devastation of the area. They note that the statement in the Report that no valorization of the area was carried out is incorrect.

Otherwise, the cantonal minister from Naša stranka in the Government of Sarajevo Canton, Bojan Bošnjak, approved, without public debate, new forest destruction on Bjelašnica and the construction of new apartments on Bjelašnica.

Eko akcija closely followed this, emphasizing that the Strategic Assessment of the impact of new construction on Bjelašnica, without which further construction on Bjelašnica was not possible, which was rejected by three previous ministers, was ultimately approved by the minister from Naša stranka.

"New clearing of state-owned forests on Bjelašnica is now well underway, as the temporary measure by the Constitutional Court of BiH, which suspended the federal decree on forest clearing, does not apply to Sarajevo Canton," wrote Eko akcija.

Now SIPA is also dealing with the whole story, by order of the KS Prosecutor's Office. According to Patria's information, the case is in its final stages and a final prosecutorial decision is expected soon.