The Resource Environmental Center (REC) BiH held the introductory kick-off conference today at the National Theatre Sarajevo to present the new project “FUTURE – The path to developing a greener society and sustainable environmental CSOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
The overarching goal of the FUTURE project is to improve environmental governance by building the capacities and empowering environmental civil society organizations (CSOs) and networks to effectively participate in the national and regional environmental agenda. These organizations, as drivers of change, will engage in advocacy and influence the development and implementation of environmental protection policies for better management of natural resources.
This project not only aims to support environmental CSOs through grants and the acquisition of necessary skills for participating in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reform processes on its path toward EU integration but also to improve dialogue and cooperation through networking with ministries, the judiciary, inspection bodies, and international networks. The goal is to strengthen environmental justice and combat environmental crime, while creating conditions for better and more efficient management of protected areas.
At this initial conference, key project stakeholders and beneficiaries – including representatives of competent ministries at the state and entity levels, NGOs, protected area authorities, judiciary representatives, and others – received information about the project’s key aspects. These included its goals, activities, timeline, budget, and how it will contribute to strengthening the environmental sector and civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The kick-off conference also served as a platform for enhancing dialogue and cooperation by networking all project stakeholders in the field of environmental protection.
The civil society organizations (CSOs) participating in the project will strengthen their capacities to actively engage in development, legislative, and reform issues in the field of environmental protection, supporting the EU accession process. Through the grant program and allocated financial support, estimated at 1.2 million BAM, they will implement projects aimed at local community development and key issues under Chapter 27.
Through financial support totaling 0.9 million BAM, the project will also enhance the management of existing protected areas and create conditions for the designation of at least two new protected areas, expanding the network of protected territories and increasing the percentage of protected land in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The project will further facilitate cooperation among law enforcement institutions and agencies (environmental inspection bodies, the Ministry of Interior, the anti-corruption office, etc.) and the judiciary (judges and prosecutors) from BiH with international agencies and organizations working on environmental crime. This will involve experience sharing and best practices to strengthen capacities for prosecuting complex environmental crimes and gaining knowledge of EU environmental legislation related to criminal offenses.
We owe special thanks to Sweden and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) for their financial support for this project. Their support enables concrete steps toward strengthening nature protection and sustainable development in BiH.
Big changes are ahead, and we at the Resource Environmental Center (REC) BiH are excited to be part of this process for the next four years!
