Enhancing Nature-Based Solutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina: The role of ecosystems in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation

As the Western Balkans is a region at high risk of the impacts of climate change, in particular in relation to increasingly severe disasters, it will be a priority in the coming years for Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) to build resilience into its economic, social and environmental strategies. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer an integrated solution to both climate change and disaster risk reduction challenges; however, to fully deliver on this potential, an understanding of the baseline and identification of opportunities for mainstreaming this innovative approach are required.

Considering the administrative, institutional and political structure of B&H, one of the critical obstacles for better planning and understanding the risks posed by climate change and disaster is the lack of analyses that would enable the assessment of impacts and improve long-term planning and adaptation. This scoping study, based on the current context in B&H, mapped relevant stakeholders and policies to identify barriers, opportunities and suggest recommendations to secure a just transition to a sustainable future. The following main challenges and related opportunities were identified to be used as a framework for further consultation with relevant stakeholders.