ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RS ECOLOGICAL NETWORK PLANNED

The Government of Republika Srpska has approved, at its 66th session in Banja Luka, the Draft Law on Nature Protection, which is aligned with strategic documents and the Spatial Plan of Republika Srpska.

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The proposal of this law is designed to ensure continuous protection of natural resources, and considering the significant increase in protected areas, one of the priority goals of this draft law is to improve the management of protected areas and establish new ones.

Currently, in Republika Srpska, legal protection is granted to 34 nature areas, covering a total area of ​​73,038.43 hectares, which represents a percentage share of 2.96% of the territory of Republika Srpska.

The proposal of the Law on Nature Protection provides a clearer systematization of the law norms prescribing the general objectives and tasks of nature protection, basic principles of nature protection, entities ensuring nature protection, and professional tasks of competent authorities in the field of nature protection.

In terms of basic principles in the field of nature protection, the draft law introduces a new principle - the precautionary principle for the successful implementation of the objectives and tasks of nature protection.

The draft law defines the establishment of the Ecological Network of Republika Srpska, which will identify ecologically significant areas as proposed areas for the European ecological network Natura 2000.

Furthermore, the draft law improves the preservation of wild species in nature, more precisely defines the procedure for declaring protected natural assets, and enhances the management of protected areas. In this regard, it is stipulated that guardians of protected areas must pass a professional exam for the guardian of the protected area.

The draft law is partially aligned with the Council Directive of the European Union on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora and aligned with the Directive of the European Parliament on the conservation of wild birds.

With this draft law, new provisions have also been introduced, enabling the declaration of species of national importance.

To promote nature protection, the new draft law introduces the marking of Nature Protection Day and the awarding of recognition for achievements in the field of nature protection.

Source: eKapija