Sectors	Environment
EU Acquis Chapters	Environment
EU funds	45 206 €
Implementation period	2010 - 2024
Categories	(Mouse hover to see significance)

Environment is a high ranking issue on the European agenda and increasingly so with regard to its interventions in BiH. The BiH and the European Unions' strategic documents stress the importance of proper implementation of the environmental acquis. While the official responsibility for compliance lies with the BiH authorities, the NGO community has a very important role to complement the work of the administration by signalling infractions, collecting of information, coordinating the pilot project and educating citizens about their rights and obligations. BiH environmental NGOs have developed considerably over the past decade. Further support to their capacity building and know how improvements has been recognised as valuable for their becoming full and complementary partners of the administration in implementation of the environmental acquis. The European Union has recognised those needs, and provided series of development projects to contribute to encouragement of the partnership between governmental and non-governmental sectors with the aim of effective implementation of EU standards in environment in BiH. In that respect, this European Union project aimed at promoting awareness and dialogue about green jobs in B&H, identifying knowledge gaps about green jobs, promoting policies and investment to achieve green workspaces, generating employment and reducing pressures on natural resources. Pressures on natural resources and biodiversity in BiH are extremely high. Many species in B&H have medical and aromatic characteristics, but unsustainable harvesting practices have negative effects on ecosystems. The potentials of the herbal sector in BiH are not fully utilised. Despite the progress made, the economic environment is still in need for further improvements. As “green jobs” have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of economic sector activities, the project focused on exploring those potentials for “green jobs” in main economic sectors in BiH, as well as on linking employment with biodiversity conservation.

With the European Union funding, this project had significant impact on better environmental protection, more sustainable use of natural resources and creation of alternative employment. We increased knowledge and understanding about green jobs and their potential in BiH, including improved public awareness and dialogue about green jobs in BiH. In that respect, the Study on potentials for creating “green jobs” in B&H including inventory list of main players, resources and regions in B&H for creating "green jobs" is produced and made available to public (www.gea.ba ) as well as the Guidebook/Guidelines about Medical and Aromatic Plants (MAP) farming and cultivation techniques that is distributed to new or existing farmers in BiH. In that way, the project also developed the base for promoting policies and investment to achieve green workspaces. We increased local capacities for using sustainable agricultural practices by having 57 farmers in two BiH piloted municipalities (Bosanski Petrovac and Trebinje) trained in MAP cultivation. Also, the project trained farmers in establishing medicinal plant farms in line with organic farming standards and principles. Seeds are also provided and business matchmaking was supported so as to better connect individual producers with processing and MAP product distributing companies. In that way, we encouraged small businesses in cultivation, processing and marketing of medicinal plants. We also increased community participation in conservation, management and income generating programs by ensuring close dialogue with local stakeholders from appropriate levels via round tables and workshops held. By such actions, we contributed to more income generation opportunities, more responsible environment treatment, reduced damage of wild medicinal species and enhanced conservation and to better promotion of the country's environmental protection and natural resources.