A new project to be launched between UNEP and the Global Environment Fund (GEF) is set to investigate ways of improving the management of protected areas in order to boost biodiversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The project, titled ‘Achieving Biodiversity Conservation through Creation, Effective Management and Spatial Designation of Protected Areas and Capacity Building’ is set to span over three years and will enjoy $1.4 million in funding from GEF, with additional funding still being sought.

The ‘PPG’ or preparation phase of the project was kicked off during Sarajevo Film Festival’s EnviroDay by the UNEP team which will work on the project.

A network of nationally-protected areas is expected to be expanded by adding least three new freshwater key biodiversity areas (KBAs) and two existing PAs re-classified to better suit their conservation needs.

The project team will also look into ways of improving Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capacity for managing protected areas and the country’s national biodiversity monitoring system.

According to the national reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Balkan country is among top three countries in Europe in terms of biological diversity, yet only between 2 and 3% of the country’s territory is protected –the lowest rate in Europe.

UNEP is working with the national governments to change this situation as well as to improve understanding of the benefits of nature conservation for human wellbeing and livelihoods.

For more details please contact: amina.omnicevic@unep.org