PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
During the war of 1992-1995, environmental damage occurred in the Hutovo Blato wetlands, an estuarine area of 20,000 hectares belonging to Bosnia and Herzegovina (one third) and Croatia. In addition, the absence of protection at government level between 1993 and 1995 resulted in unsustainable hunting and fishing.
OBJECTIVES
The project’s overall objectives were to: (1) recreate and maintain the original conditions of the wetlands; (2) establish active management of migratory fish and bird species; (3) develop a management policy integrating the previous two points with the requirements of international conventions; and (4) simulate alternative scenarios of sustainable development. The project’s specific objectives included: · Description of the wetlands’ flora and fauna with reference to pre-war conditions;· Development of methods to eliminate non-native fish species and protect endemic ones; · Establishment of an inter-state (BiH and Croatia) management framework on fish migratory species; · Development of bird hunting and fishing quota plans which respect international conventions; · Preparation of projects to increase the existing stock of birds for hunting purposes to protect wild stocks; · Protection of threatened species of flora and fauna, through the definition of protected sites for spawning and nesting of protected endemic fish and migratory birds; and · Creation of the Cantonal legal framework on protected areas, and a new management policy based upon said legislative concepts.
RESULTS
The beneficiary conducted surveys on fish, birds, flora, water quality, and aquaculture, which consist of a detailed assessment of the situation and the formulation of specific recommendations for the protection of fish, birds, flora, or the water management and development of aquaculture. The fish survey presents several methods for the control and elimination of non-native invasive fish species, such as the use of eel traps and electro-fishing in the reed-weed zones of lakes to eliminate pumpkinseed. Based on the bird survey, the Ministry of Civil Engineering, Physical Planning and Environmental Protection banned hunting in the nature park of Hutovo Blato. The surveys were of good quality, but the beneficiary has not been able to use this diagnostic to develop a detailed management policy for the Hutovo Blato wetlands. Indeed, although the beneficiary drafted a law that prohibits bird hunting in the Hutovo Blato (essentially a transposition of the Birds Directive), the law has not been passed yet . The beneficiary noted that dentex trout could be used in future aquaculture projects but did not provide a description of methods to do so. The beneficiary listed the steps that have to be taken for the inter-state management of migratory fish species, however, they did not provide any detailed recommendations . The beneficiary also drafted a law to protect the Hutovo Blato wetlands. Although this law can be used as a model to protect BiH’s other wetlands and prohibits many activities in the nature park, it does not provide any mechanism to finance the protection of the Park.The beneficiary conducted surveys on fish, birds, flora, water quality, and aquaculture, which consist of a detailed assessment of the situation and the formulation of specific recommendations for the protection of fish, birds, flora, or the water management and development of aquaculture. The fish survey presents several methods for the control and elimination of non-native invasive fish species, such as the use of eel traps and electro-fishing in the reed-weed zones of lakes to eliminate pumpkinseed. Based on the bird survey, the Ministry of Civil Engineering, Physical Planning and Environmental Protection banned hunting in the nature park of Hutovo Blato. The surveys were of good quality, but the beneficiary has not been able to use this diagnostic to develop a detailed management policy for the Hutovo Blato wetlands. Indeed, although the beneficiary drafted a law that prohibits bird hunting in the Hutovo Blato (essentially a transposition of the Birds Directive), the law has not been passed yet . The beneficiary noted that dentex trout could be used in future aquaculture projects but did not provide a description of methods to do so. The beneficiary listed the steps that have to be taken for the inter-state management of migratory fish species, however, they did not provide any detailed recommendations . The beneficiary also drafted a law to protect the Hutovo Blato wetlands. Although this law can be used as a model to protect BiH’s other wetlands and prohibits many activities in the nature park, it does not provide any mechanism to finance the protection of the Park.