Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot afford to continue taking its beautiful nature for granted. Its forests, rivers, wetlands, soils, fauna and flora regulate climate, reduce disaster risks and sustain communities, agriculture and tourism. Biodiversity conservation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not only an environmental issue. It is part of the country’s economic security, public health, resilience and long-term development.

As Sir David Attenborough recently reminded the world while marking his 100th birthday, humanity is not separate from nature. We are part of it. Our wellbeing and prosperity are deeply intertwined with the health of the natural world around us. When ecosystems decline, societies become more vulnerable. When nature is protected, communities and economies become more resilient.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of Europe’s richest biodiversity hotspots, but climate change, pollution and unsustainable development are placing growing pressure on its ecosystems. While Europe moves toward more ambitious environmental protection targets, only 4.5 percent of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina is formally protected today, far below the European Union target of 30 percent by 2030.

This year’s International Day for Biological Diversity, marked globally under the theme “Acting Locally for Global Impact,” should be for us in Bosnia and Herzegovina a strong reminder that decisions taken by municipalities and by local businesses and communities directly shape the country’s future.

Too often and for too long, biodiversity protection has been presented in opposition to economic development. In reality, the contrary is true. Economies that undermine their natural foundations ultimately undermine their own future growth. Short-term exploitation of forests, rivers and land may create immediate profit for some, but it weakens resilience, increases disaster risks, damages tourism potential and creates long-term costs for entire communities.

Protected areas across Bosnia and Herzegovina already demonstrate how nature protection, sustainable tourism and local economic development can reinforce one another. Tourism, with good examples of nature-based tourism as Via Dinarica initiative is, already contributes significantly to the country’s economy and employment, yet much of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s nature-based tourism potential remains underdeveloped. Rural areas and biodiversity-rich landscapes could become stronger drivers of local entrepreneurship, green jobs and sustainable growth, but only if development is planned responsibly and ecosystems are preserved rather than degraded.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is also among the first countries in Europe exploring new conservation approaches that recognize the role of local communities, responsible landowners and public institutions in protecting biodiversity outside formally protected areas. These models support traditional practices and practical stewardship of nature while helping expand conservation efforts without creating unnecessary administrative burdens, strengthening cooperation with the private sector, and supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in meeting its international nature conservation commitments.

Encouragingly, important progress has already been made. Recent initiatives have advanced biodiversity financing, climate adaptation, forest fire prevention and increased citizen participation in environmental governance. Young people especially are increasingly becoming active voices in environmental and nature protection.

At the same time, biodiversity protection continues to receive far less political and financial attention than the scale of the challenge requires. This is not only a question of mobilizing new funding. It is also about using existing resources more strategically. Analysis conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Biodiversity finance initiative (BIOFIN), which focuses on measuring, mobilizing and allocating funding to protect nature across the globe, shows that some current incentives still unintentionally contribute to environmental degradation, including unsustainable land conversion and harmful agricultural practices. Redirecting even part of these incentives toward nature-positive investments, alongside stronger environmental standards and better habitat monitoring, could significantly strengthen biodiversity protection without requiring major additional spending. 

The broader lesson is simple: investing in nature does not divert support from supporting our prosperity. It is a prerequisite for sustainable development. Healthy ecosystems reduce disaster risks, protect water resources, strengthen food security, support tourism and improve quality of life. Countries that fail to protect biodiversity ultimately pay a far higher economic and social price.
Bosnia and Herzegovina still has an opportunity that many countries have already lost: the opportunity to preserve large parts of its natural wealth before irreversible damage occurs. But this window will not remain open indefinitely.

Protecting biodiversity cannot remain the responsibility of environmental institutions alone. It requires coordinated action by governments, cities and municipalities, businesses, academia, civil society, local communities and international partners. Most importantly, it requires recognizing that local decisions matter globally, and that global environmental goals can only be achieved through credible local action.

On this International Day for Biological Diversity, we remain committed to and call for stronger partnerships, smarter investments and locally driven solutions to protect the natural foundations of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future. Acting locally is not only a contribution to global biodiversity goals. It is an investment in resilience, wellbeing and long-term prosperity.

Minister of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nasiha Pozder, Minister of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology of Republika Srpska Bojan Vipotnik, and UNDP Resident Representative Renaud Meyer.