The USAID Sustainable Tourism Development Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) actively works on environmental protection and sustainability promotion through the establishment of new protected areas, including Mount Zvijezda, Livno Field, and the Mediterranean Botanical Reserve. The “Protected Areas Advocacy Services” project, supported by USAID and implemented by CENER 21, focuses on raising awareness and lobbying for the protection of natural areas such as Bjelašnica, Igman, Treskavica, and Visočica.
These four mountains near Sarajevo attract numerous visitors with their natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and cultural-historical landmarks. In order to preserve these mountains for future generations, the U.S. government, through the USAID Turizam project, advocates for the designation of this area as a nature park to ensure their protection. To this end, a brochure has been prepared that explains the benefits of protecting this area, aimed at safeguarding natural resources, preserving biodiversity, supporting local communities, and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
“By establishing a protected zone, we not only increase the tourist appeal of the region but also focus on developing selective forms of tourism that do not harm the environment,” says Arma Bešlagić, founder and president of the Association for the Development and Promotion of Rural Tourism “Studeni Potok.”
