Understanding the role of policy frameworks in developing land degradation in stakeholders perception from a post‐conflict perspective in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a developing country facing extensive land degradation. BiH exists as a decentralized state, where all land (e.g., agricultural and forest soils) and water resources are under exclusive jurisdiction of two entities and one district, rather than state-level legislation. Complex land-related administration occurs between entities that function independently from each other. The lack of coordination among entities frequently leads to political conflicts over land and limited data exchange which may further exacerbate current land degradation. This article investigates (a) stakeholders' perception of land degradation under complex institutional and policy structures; and (b) the current state of land degradation, with a focus on soil erosion as one important indicator of land degradation across the region. As a consequence of the Civil War that took place in BiH between 1992 and 1995, limited data on soil erosion and land status present additional challenges to those seeking to avoid, reduce, and reverse land degradation. Stakeholders reported that the existence of a policy framework as important to addressing land degradation, but not sufficient if implementation is weak. Decision makers reported that the existing policy frameworks are satisfactory, which was in contrast to other stakeholders. Reliable data are crucial for land degradation assessments and development of strategies and policy frameworks, but also better knowledge and awareness of stakeholder perceptions would foster their implementation. In summary, complex institutional structures underpin the weak communication and cooperation among institutions and stakeholders, which presents significant challenges for sustainable land management in post-conflict societies.

The Importance of International Collaboration to Enhance Education for Environmental Citizenship

“…Environmental education in BA receives more attention in the recent decade due to serious threats and ongoing climate changes that affect this region very frequently. Floods, drought, and wildfires are recognized as the main drivers of environmental degradation in BA caused by climate changes [34][35][36][37]. For example, the University of Banja Luka (UBL) implemented the Erasmus project entitled "Soil Erosion and Torrential Flood Prevention: Curriculum Development at the Universities of Western Balkan Countries" focused on improving the existing education system in the forestry study program, aimed to update curricula and answer on torrential floods and soil erosion not only among students but also for practitioners who manage forests and forest land.…”

Flood legislation and land policy framework of EU and non‐EU countries in Southern Europe

“…Generally, floods in Serbia caused material damage estimated at more than EUR 12 billion (Ristić et al, 2015). Floods are the most frequent natural disaster in B&H, since 75% of the country is located in the transboundary Sava River Basin area (Kapović Solomun et al, 2018, 2020). The greatest floods to date in Bosnia occurred in 2014, displacing 90,000 people and affecting in total around 81 out of the 143 municipalities.…”

“…FBiH is sub-divided into 10 cantons. The two entities and BD manage land and flood-related issues through laws, regulations, strategies, and standards (Kapovi c Solomun et al, 2020). In FBiH, cantons also have their own governments and parliaments, which can develop policies and adopt laws pertaining to their competences.…”

Guest editorial—Policies and practices in action to address soil erosion: A special issue from the Global Symposium on Soil Erosion 2019

“…Two studies provide an analysis of existing policies at national scale, in Brazil (Stuchi et al, 2021) and in Bosnia and Herzogovina (Kapović Solomun et al, 2020). First, Stuchi et al (2021) analyze seven existing, federal policies that relate to soil and water conservation in Brazil.…”

“…First, Stuchi et al (2021) analyze seven existing, federal policies that relate to soil and water conservation in Brazil. They discuss the range of sometimes overlapping policies, and the challenges of introducing a new “Brazilian National Plan for Soil and Water Sustainable Management.” Their analysis aims to determine ways “…to turn the strengths and gaps in the existing policies into recommendations and opportunities for a more robust new National Plan.” Second, Kapović Solomun et al (2020) illustrate the difficulties to develop coherent policies to achieve land degradation neutrality at the country level in an environment where conflict has led to a declining population. There are complex institutional structures, with four levels of government, and a weak cooperation between institutions and stakeholders.…”