How Bosnia and Herzegovina’s National Parks Are Becoming Beacons of Resilience
July 3, 2025
GUARDIANS OF NATURE
Across the diverse landscapes of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the emerald waters of Una to the ancient forests of Sutjeska, the mountainous terrain of Kozara, and the steep canyons of Drina - a new chapter in conservation and climate resilience is emerging. These national parks, long valued for their natural beauty and biodiversity, are now gaining renewed strategic importance as key actors in climate resilience, sustainable tourism, and nature-based development.
Through updated management plans, climate adaptation strategies, direct investments on the ground and emerging opportunities for coordination and cooperative networks of protected areas managers, protected areas in BiH are transitioning from underfunded nature reserves into proactive, well-governed institutions.
"This process is helping us shift from reactive to proactive management,” says Vesna Gagić Andrić, Senior Expert Associate for Planning, Improvement and Development at Drina National Park.
“With targeted training, upgraded equipment, and clearer operational plans, we are now better prepared to prevent and respond to both climate- and human-induced risks, such as forest fires, while continuing to safeguard the park’s unique biodiversity.”

Vesna Gagić Andrić, Senior Expert Associate for Planning, Improvement and Development at Drina National Park
A Stronger Foundation for Nature Conservation
Embedding long-term resilience and sustainability into the management of national parks is at the core of United Nations Development Programme - UNDP’s efforts to strengthen the Sustainability of protected areas - with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and national institutions. So far, the development and revision of management and action plans have been supported for Kozara, Sutjeska, Drina, and Una - aligning conservation goals with climate-smart planning, financial sustainability, and community engagement.
This includes integrating early warning systems, fire risk management, and ecosystem restoration into park operations. Importantly, the planning process has been inclusive - bringing together park authorities, scientists, local communities, and relevant ministries to ensure ownership, transparency, and long-term relevance.
In Una National Park, known for its waterfalls and karst formations, the new planning approach is helping balance visitor growth with environmental protection, ensuring that natural assets remain intact for future generations.

Sutjeska National Park
On-the-Ground Impact: Tools, Training, and Awareness
In 2025, a significant milestone was achieved when modern firefighting equipment was delivered to Drina, Sutjeska, Kozara, and other protected areas. This investment was directly tied to fire management strategies developed under the initiative and was accompanied by tailored training for rangers and staff.
In parallel, a public awareness campaign was launched to inform communities and visitors about the risks of forest fires and the critical role everyone plays in prevention. For many parks, this marks the first time such systems have been formally introduced and supported.
In Kozara, where tourism infrastructure is expanding, park staff were trained in grant proposal writing and project planning, enabling them to better access national and EU funding streams. Kozara has also been selected as one of the pilot protected areas for the development and testing of innovative financing mechanisms supporting the wider community of protected area managers in strenghtening their financial sustainability,modernizing management practices and gaining recognition as true guardians of invaluable natural capital of BiH.

Modern firefighting equipment delivered to National Parks Drina, Sutjeska, and Kozara to strengthen wildfire prevention and response capacities.
A Partnership That Puts Nature First
Rather than focusing solely on short-term solutions, UNDP’s approach is designed to foster lasting systems of change. This means not only delivering tools and resources, but also strengthening institutional capacities, promoting policy coherence, and ensuring that protected areas are financially and ecologically sustainable over the long term.
One of the key developments has been the formation of new associations of protected area managers in BiH. These associations aim to address longstanding challenges in protected area management, including limited funding, fragmented governance, and the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks. By bringing together representatives from national parks, other protected areas, and local governance bodies, the associations are fostering stronger coordination, knowledge exchange, and more inclusive decision-making.
Importantly, the initiative is also promoting gender-responsive governance by encouraging the active participation of women in leadership, technical, and planning roles within protected area management, ensuring that the voices and expertise of women are equally reflected in shaping the future of these natural assets.

National Park Kozara has also been selected as one of the pilot protected areas for the development and testing of innovative financing mechanisms.
This collective effort enables more effective policy dialogue, joint advocacy, and shared access to resources, while opening the door to broader engagement with international funding opportunities.
With funding from the Global Environment Facility and national co-financing, the initiative has served as a platform for cooperation, aligning environmental priorities with national development objectives and supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s commitments under global biodiversity and climate frameworks.
Through this integrated approach, protected areas are being redefined - not as isolated zones, but as key contributors to the country’s green transition and sustainable development goals.

Haris Hadžihajdarević, Una National Park
Nature as Legacy - and Responsibility
The transformation of national parks in BiH is not only about nature, it is about people. Park employees, municipal officials, scientists, and visitors all play a role in sustaining the country’s natural heritage.
“Nature protects us,” says Haris Hadžihajdarević from Una National Park.
“It cools our cities, sustains our industries, safeguards our rivers, and shields our communities. But nature itself also needs protection, especially today, as we increasingly strain its resources."
This sense of shared responsibility lies at the heart of efforts to strengthen protected areas across the country. As these parks grow stronger and more self-reliant, they are becoming sources of local identity, economic opportunity, and ecological security.
