UDK: 574:502(497.6) With the geographical position and climate conditions it has, Bosnia and Herzegovinais a countryof unique life forms and biodiversity. The flora, fauna and fungi of Bosnia and Herzegovina are among the most diverse in Europe, and the high level of endemism and relict species provide for the country’s significance at the global biodiversity level (UNCBD, 2019). Since 2002, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), has been following global trends of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Followingthe Convention, among others, six national reports were developed, as well as the Strategy and Action Plan for Protection of Biological Diversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina (NBSAP) by 2020. These documents seek to ensure that protection and sustainable use of biodiversity become inevitable principles when relevant sectoral policies, strategies and legislation at all governmental levels of Bosnia and Herzegovina are being developed. In 2013, the Bosnian-Herzegovina Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) portal for sharing information on biodiversity was established within the global network CBD CHM. As a member country of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Bosnia and Herzegovina actively represents and advocates for the interests of Eastern Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina has made significant contribution to the preparation of a Regional and Sub-Regional Assessment for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Europe and Central Asia, which was adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of IPBES (Medellin, Colombia, March 2018). In the context of regional and global cooperation, Bosnia and Herzegovina significantly contributes  to the organization of the workshop and the preparation of an Eastern European Action Document on Pollinators, Food Security and Rural Development, within BES-Net Trialogue. Bosnia and Herzegovina reaffirmed its commitment to the status of pollinators by accessing to the global Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators at the 6th IPBES Plenary Session.

The world agriculture uses about 70% of the world water resources in irrigation. The concern over the sustainability of water use as demand for agricultural, industrial, and domestic uses continues to increase. Conflicts between particular sectors result in tensions, which sometimes lead to “water wars” in different parts of the world. It is the reason why many national and international organizations are putting the water quantity and quality questions on the top of the world’s open questions/problems. The main aim of this paper is to present soil water balance of the Mediterranean region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, prepared for a long-term time series for two locations (Trebinje and Mostar) annually and during the vegetation period. The mean long-term data has been used as a base for future predicted calculation. The predicted PET was based on an increase in air temperature by 2°C and predicted decrease in precipitation by 25%. With so predicted calculated data of monthly PET and monthly precipitation the predicted soil water balance was done.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) there are no available data on permanent losses of agricultural land and it is evident that all the research and professional and scientific literature still uses the information of annual land loss in the amount of 3,000 ha which, according to the available references, has been in use since 1977 (Resulović, 1977-2010). The subject of this scientific research is to investigate changes in the use of agricultural land in BiH, sectoral policies and factors affecting these changes as well as the quality of official data on land and land use change. Analyzed as part of this research were three sets of data: statistical data (1961-1991), cadastral records (1973-1991) and CORINE data on land cover changes (2000-2018). Researches have shown that trends in changes in total agricultural land by all categories of use were not linear and were considerably affected by the socioeconomic development and sectoral policies. This study has shown that total agricultural land, according to statistical records from 1961-1991, was reduced by 101,222 ha (3,374 ha/yr). Within the category of arable land, the biggest permanent losses were recorded in cropland and gardens, amounting to 207,823 ha or 6,927 ha/yr, while in some other categories within the arable land an increase was recorded. According to cadastral records for the period 1973-1991, the total decrease of agricultural land amounts to 58,186 ha (3,232 ha/yr). According to CORINE data, the reduction of agricultural land in the period 20002018 is 14,152 ha or 786 ha/yr.

Book – 18th Alps-Adria Scientific Workshop 36 Baseline indicators to achive Land Degradation Neutrality at the country level Melisa LJUŠA – Hamid ČUSTOVIĆ University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, BiH, E-mail: melisa.ljusa@gmail.com

The amount of the ash and cinder that is generated from thermoelectric energy production in Bosnia and Herzegovina exceeded 2.784 Mg for 2015 according to annual report of “Elektroprivreda BiH”. Electricity production is the greatest environmental ballast for the city of Tuzla. Excavation of coal and deposition of coal combustion products influence drastic and many times terminate degradation of natural landscapes and soil habitat. There are five coal ash disposal sites in the city covering an area of approximately 170 hectares. It is known that this artificial substrate is the main cause of soil contamination; water/groundwater contamination due to leaching toxins (effluents and process waters); dust dispersion; and toxins entering the food chain. The objective of our research study was to explore the adequate practices of stand remediation through compiling the data on properties of ash from five disposal sites in Tuzla area. Long term study determined that the major characteristics of coal ash and effluents at the disposals sites are high alkaline reaction (pH >10) and presence of metals with high potential for toxicity (Ni, Cr, As and B), which concentrations exceeded permitted limits. Based on study results, how model of site rehabilitation would work and how it can be incorporated by applying green infrastructure approach in spatial planning is discussed.

UDK 631.4:551.583(497.6) The value of the landscape in the karst region of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is the foundation of its existence and the key role in its appearance and formation is played by geomorphology and the soil. Through history the man has created a „cultural landscape” which is completely adapted to the natural conditions. He further enriches the space and makes it more appealing. Soils in B&H karst are extremely heterogeneous and form a real pedological mosaic. Found on the Mesozoic sediments of limestone and dolomite of the Middle and Upper Jurassic and Early and Late Cretaceous are Bare rocks (barren land), Rocky grounds (Lithosol), Limestone-dolomite Black soil (Calcomelanosol) and Brown soil on limestone and dolomite (Calcocambisol). A specificity of these rocks are the screes that are transported down the hillside. A series may occur on them in which, if shale materials are contained, Rendzina appears as a calcareous soil. In addition to the above mentioned limestone and dolomite, there are marly limestones of Jurassic and Cretaceous age and Quaternary sediments on which Alluvial soils (Fluvisol) developed as well as the soils of karst fields which are sometimes very porous and skeletal and sometimes heavy and clayey on impermeable substrate (hydromorphic soils). The paper will provide an overview of characteristic soil types in the Sub-Mediterranean upper and lower karst region of B&H taking into account a range of properties that make them sensitive and vulnerable within the ecosystem. These should include a lack of water on the surface and large fluctuations in the amount of water during the rainy and dry seasons and whimsicality of climate in general, which has a huge impact on the state of biodiversity and human lives in this region.

UDK 631.4:551.435.8(497.6) Natural characteristics of karst areas (lack of water on the surface, scarce soil and vegetation) are rather specific and because of them they are often viewed as unsuitable for human habitation. They are often described as inhospitable and passive areas, and Aley (1992) states that karst areas in America are correlated with areas of rural poverty. A large part of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of karst areas (karst land extending northwest-southeast) which on average are quite sparsely populated. The scarcity of nature, and especially of soil functions in terms of agriculture, as well as the previous period of industrial development caused depopulation which became particularly apparent after the recent war. This contributed to the fact that in some karst areas population has been drastically reduced, in some places by more than 60%, which affects the condition of land cover and land use as well as change in functions of soil in the ecosystem. Given the fact that the soil formation process on karst terrain is very slow (these are mainly shallow and skeletal soils) and in view of the importance of soil and its multi- functionality, this paper is aimed at analyzing the extent and nature of changes which occurred in land cover and in land use in this part of BiH, namely at analyzing the causes and effects. In order to be able to make such analysis, we used land cover databases, aerial photographs as well as orthophoto maps of the terrain.