una np feasibility study-summary - 1

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment

UNA National Park Feasibility Study

UNA NATIONAL PARK

FEASIBILITY STUDY

Summary

November 2005.

Summary



UNA NATIONAL PARK FEASIBILITY STUDY

SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction

2 Basic Natural Characteristics of the Area and Current Status 2.1 Natural and Cultural/Historic Characteristics2.2 Current Status

3 Procedure for Selection of an Optimum Protection Concept

4 Proposed Concept Basics4.1 Project Catchment and Protection Zones4.2 Protection, Conservation and Status Improvement Concept4.3 Area Use and Management Concept

5. Basic Conditions and the Concept Implementation Methods5.1 Management System Organization5.2 System Funding5.3 Cooperation with Other Users in the Area5.4 Priority Actions5.5 International Collaboration

Summary



1 Introduction

Pursuant to the Decision on Determining the Una River Catchment Area as an Area of Particular Interest for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of the F of B&H 32/2004), and the Executive Program for Preparation of the Una National Park Documentation adopted by the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, late in 2004, the Federal Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter: FMPUO or Client) initiated the activities on preparation of The Una National Park Feasibility Study (hereinafter: Feasibility Study or Study). The Feasibility Study shall be used as the background documentation for launching of other procedures related to designating of the Una National Park (hereinafter: Una National Park).

The tendering procedure for preparation of the Feasibility Study was carried out, and the contract was awarded to Elektroprojekt Consulting Engineers Zagreb, Croatia (hereinafter: Contractor). The Contract No. 04-23-7-1810/04-12 (190-GA-1204) (hereinafter: Contract) was executed on 7 February 2005.

According to the Terms of Reference from the Contract, the Feasibility Study is prepared for determining, «from comprehensive analysis of...all positive and negative impacts of the proposed concept of development and/or utilization of natural and man-made resources and amenities within the future Una National Park catchment...» whether «...positive effects of this project should be expected», including, without limitations, determining whether it will be possible to «...ensure for conditions for return of local population and development of complementary activities enabling their survival within the National Park boundaries...», especially determining of «...techniques of zoning within the National Park area in line with principles of sustainable development, protection and land use...».

2 Basic Natural Characteristics of the Area and Current Status

2.1 Natural and Cultural/Historic Characteristics

The upper Una River course and the Unac River valleys belonging to the area proposed for the national park protection category (Fig. 1) pose a unique natural entity in this part of Europe, valuable for conservation of landscape and biological diversity. As regards its cultural and historical heritage, this is an area very rich in archeological sites and historical monuments of different cultures. Its key determinants are specific geographic and geological characteristics, including:

- position at the interface of three climatic regions (continental, mountain and Mediterranean) that mix and result in diverse meteorological phenomena and high humidity in the area,

- karst forms and hydrography which, together with the Korana and Krka River basins, belong among unique European forms,

- relief forms creating one of rare naturally trafficable routes running from the continental Central Europe towards the Adriatic on one hand, and inaccessible well preserved wild areas on the other.

These characteristics render exceptionally rich natural amenities, geomorphological, hydrological and biological alike. These amenities include resources such as clean water, springs (seven with

yield over 100 l/sec, another seven with yield from 10 to 100 l/sec, and 47 springs with yield from 1 to 10 l/sec), diverse and uncontaminated soil, different travertine features in the Una River valley

(three and more thousand years of age), mosaic habitats (particularly rare and threatened aquatic and grassland habitats), high diversity of plant and animal species (particularly vertebrata, and

especially all European species of large predators), and attractive landscape. This is also a refugial area, so there are significant indications of presence of a number of relict and endemic species.

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The Una River is special for the length of its travertine-forming course, with a number of related phenomena (tufa caves, islands, formations and waterfalls), and exquisite forms of valleys (Martin Brod, Kulen Vakuf, Klisa, Lohovo) and gorges of canyon type (upstream and downstream from Martin Brod, downstream from Štrbački Buk).

The Unac River reach within the protected area is characteristic for its karst section running through the canyon area where it sinks and reemerges in several points. It finally springs at the strong Crno Vrelo spring, an exceptional natural phenomenon because of its features and beauty.

Due to such natural properties, and its position on the transit direction towards the sea, this area accommodated different cultures leaving their traces (causing no or minimum changes in the area itself), from the prehistoric age, through the Roman period and middle ages, to Turkish and Austro-Hungarian rules and the recent history. Hence mixing of civilizations and wealth of cultural and historical sites: archeological sites, remnants of medieval fortifications and old sacral buildings of different religions and cultures (currently, 33 recorded within the future National Park boundaries and about 50 in the greater area).

So far, some particularly valuable natural and cultural/historical amenities have been protected, including:

- within the subject area: cave near Martin Brod, the Ostrovica River spring near Kulen Vakuf, the large Una waterfall near Martin Brod, Štrbački Buk waterfall on the Una River, the Unac Crno Vrelo spring - in the natural monuments category; within the greater area: the Una River spring, the Bastašica River spring near Drvar and the Klokot spring near Bihać; rain forest on Mt. Plješivica - in the nature reserves category,

- within the subject area: fortresses along the Una valley, architectural heritage of Kulen Vakuf and Martin Brod - in the category of national, regional and local cultural and historical amenities; within the greater area: archeological sites from prehistoric, ancient and medieval ages in the vicinity of Bihać (Bihać, Ripač, Privilica) and Drvar (Drvar, Bastasi).

However, the entire area under consideration has remained rather unexplored, so most of its natural and cultural/historic amenities are still unrecorded and consequently unprotected.

2.2 Current Status

As a consequence of war, dissolution of the former state and transitional processes, the area within the National Park catchment is currently isolated regarding communications and business activities, so it has somehow remained protected from the human impact. However, the war has left deep marks in the area, being it a large number of still uncleared mine fields, or massive depopulation. Both these consequences of war may affect future protection and conservation of the entire area, causing difficulties with establishing attractive tourist and educational amenities necessary for sustainable development, and loss of «natural guards» and allays to the future Una National Park in its development.

Presently, less than 1,000 persons live in the central part of the area planned for the Una National park, in three larger settlements with urban tradition: Martin Brod, Kulen Vakuf and Klisa, and in a number of smaller settlements with several households each. This population suffered from war-related destruction, the age and educational structure are very unfavorable, and younger population that left these settlements during the war has not returned.

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Local Infrastructure is poorly developed. Apart from roads and the Una railway, which need to be reconstructed and upgraded, only electrical and telephone networks, and the water supply network, can satisfy needs of the local population to a certain degree. There is no drainage system or water treatment plant for the local wastewater, waste collecting and management is only partially resolved, and the minefields are the major cause of contamination in the area.

Economically, the area is neglected and inadequately exploited. The forestland is mainly under forest of poor quality and low economic value, revival of hunting as an organized activity in the southern part of the National Park is slow, and agriculture is generally low-input and mostly practiced for «bare survival». The only promising activities are those related to waters, such as angling and fishpond in Martin Brod. Most revenue is earned in aquatic sports (rafting, canoeing and kayaking).

Other business activities in the area are those related to mining (gypsum mine near Kulen Vakuf, exploratory field for a dolomite quarry near Palež) and water (water bottling plant in Kulen Vakuf and the fishpond in Martin Brod). They do not have the environmental impact but do disturb the landscape.

3 Procedure for Selection of an Optimum Protection Concept

The entire area under consideration has been divided into eight smaller units (Fig. 2) typical for their special natural characteristics, as well as for current land use and development plans. Based on the information on natural characteristics and the land use in these spatial units, possible protection categories were determined according to the laws and regulations of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international standards. Than, the following was determined for each unit and its possible protection level:

- costs of protection and conservation of natural resources, costs of improvement of the current state, and costs of management and determining allowable methods of use of these units,

- benefits from determining new methods of use of these units, from possible preservation of some existing businesses, or from introduction of new activities (in case such unit will not remain within the National Park boundaries).

Combination of protection levels for different units, provided integrity of protected and managed area is maintained, has rendered alternative options for resolving of the national park catchment and protection zones within its boundaries. The cost-benefit analysis has given the best solution for achieving of the highest Net Present Value, i.e. the highest social benefit, as described below. The same analysis has confirmed that such a solution is sustainable on a long-term basis, namely that with different discount rates (from 2 to 9%) and different consideration periods (from 20 to 30 years) all envisaged national park protection and management costs will be covered from the national park revenues from new business activities (tourist and catering industry, sports and recreation, education, scientific research and switching to organic agriculture). Further, significant benefits from protection of the subject area were confirmed for the local community and state administration, since new income is sufficient for launching of reconstruction projects and building of infrastructure within the subject area (roads, water supply, drainage, electrical and communication networks, waste management systems, and remediation of pollution/contamination in the greater catchment).

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4 Proposed Concept Basics

4.1 Project Catchment and Protection Zones

According to the proposed concept, the Una National Park area includes the canyon section of the Una River upper course (Bosnia and Herzegovina territory), upstream from Lohovo to the spring area of its tributary Krka, than the canyon section of the Unac River lower course from its mouth into the Una River upstream to the Drvarsko Polje, and the space between the Una and the Unac that corresponds with the spring of the Krka River (Fig. 3). The entire National Park area belongs to the Unsko-Sanski Canton, i.e. to the Bihać Municipality. Its total area is 19,800 ha, out of which 13,500 ha will be under strict or guided protection regime, and about 6,300 ha under the guided development/growth regime.

The area of strict and guided protection is divided into five zones (Fig. 3), including:

- (a) interspace between the Una and Unac, surface area about 4,600 ha, with the wilderness area protection as the strictest protection mode (Ib category according to international standards),

- (b) the Krka spring area, (c) the Una canyon area downstream to Martin Brod and (d) the Unac canyon area, total surface area about 3,100 ha, under the guided protection (category II according to international standards),

- (e) Štrbački Buk-Lohovo zone, surface area about 5,800 ha, also under guided protection (category II according to international standards).

Narrow subzones could be determined within the area of strict and guided protection in which specific traditional economic activities would be allowed under special conditions.

The guided growth area encompasses a single zone located between the National Park boundaries, from Martin Brod downstream to Štrbački Buk. In this zone, which belongs to the protected landscape category (category V according to international standards) development of traditional and some of existing economic activities and tourism would be allowed, provided they are in harmony with the specific regional characteristics and local amenities.

Orašac (about 1,400 ha) and Ripač (about 3,100 ha) zones will remain outside the Una National Park area since it has been assessed that total value of the area under consideration will be higher if they are were subject to the strict nature conservation requirements. These zones are rather assigned a role of the so-called «buffer» zones for protection the National Park itself. However, this does not rule out the possibility that the Una River sections between Lohovo and Bihać be placed under the natural monuments protection category, in order to preserve and protect the most valuable Una reach (Ripač section).

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4.2 Protection, Conservation and Status Improvement Concept

The core activity and task of the Una National Park as a national institution, will be protection and conservation of natural and cultural/historical amenities of areas within the designated protected area boundaries.

The concept relies on protection and conservation measures implemented not only within the National park boundaries but also in the greater area which does or might affect the conditions in the protected area. The activities and measures taken for protection and conservation of the future Una National park include:

- research in an area under protection and its greater affected area,

- monitoring of natural and other phenomena important for protection, conservation and management of the area,

- guarding (rangers), control and management of the area,

- improvement of state of the area under protection and its greater affected area.

Research

The entire area of the future Una National Park and its greater area are relatively poorly investigated, so it could be said with certainty that most natural amenities have not been recorded. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out investigation and collect information on all natural amenities and resources in the Una National Park, in order to document them and place them under protection, and to determine the conditions and methods of their monitoring and further measures to be taken. The research studies need to be carried out in the following disciplines:

- geography (field prospecting), - geology (field prospecting),- hydrogeology and hydrology (potholing, underground streams dye tracing), - soil science (soil inventory and recording soil condition - degradation),- biology (habitat prospecting and mapping, research of species),

as well as in:

- archeology, and - land and water contamination research in the greater area under consideration (particularly

in the Drvar Municipality).

In planning these studies, it is necessary to determine priorities having in mind that the basic research (prospecting, recording and preliminary analyses) must be carried out as soon as possible if the protected area protection and management are to be conceived adequately, while a more complex long-term research could be performed in the future system development stages (which was one of the reasons for planning the research center within the future National Park).

When preparing preliminary natural science research studies, special attention must be paid to very poorly researched canyon of the Unac River, the Krka River spring area, interspace between the Una and Unac canyons, and the borders of the future National Park. The focus must be on biological and hydrogeologic research because (among other reasons) of the procedure for preparation for nomination for the UNESCO’s list of natural heritage, and on soil research needed for further preparation for development of agricultural production in the National Park area. Due to importance these activities have for future management of the National Park area, it will be

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necessary to invest about KM 1,000,000 into the research activities during its first two years, and additional KM 550,000 in the next four years.

Monitoring

Same as research, monitoring of particular natural phenomena and amenities is necessary for protection and management of the protected area. Specially selected monitoring elements are used to obtain the so-called «indicators» for monitoring of changes in the protected area, as necessary for timely response and taking of adequate steps in case negative occurrences are detected. Generally, properly selected monitoring elements and regular implementation of the monitoring program enable the new human impact to be determined, provided the monitoring programs relied on a comprehensive information about the area under consideration and the greater area. The priority is to set up and monitor of the following:

- meteorological parameters at two stations in the National Park (Martin Brod and Kulen Vakuf),

- hydrological condition of major streams - Una, Krka and Unac at the existing and three new stations,

- water quality in six selected sections of the Una and Unac in the National Park,

- soil quality in five selected locations,

- geomorphologic changes (from visual monitoring to interpretation of satellite and photogrametric aerial photographs),

- changes in highly sensitive habitats (from visual monitoring to interpretation of satellite and photogrametric aerial photographs),

- changes in selected indicator species (acc. to special programs and within forest monitoring),

- changes in riverbeds and banks of the major rivers (from visual monitoring, to land surveying and interpretation of satellite and photogrametric aerial photographs),

and record all the changes caused by human activities in the area under consideration.

The monitoring must be planned so that during the initial period after the Una National Park establishment the data relevant for defining of the so-called referenced state of natural phenomena is collected. In case certain phenomena are monitored (meteorological, hydrological, water quality), further monitoring activities need to be in harmony with the previously used monitoring system, and all the existing monitoring locations and equipment must be used in order to obtain comparable data. Most of monitoring activities are carried out regularly, so the basic actual costs are about KM 170,000; however, when periodic activities are performed the costs may even exceed KM 300,000 (every five years). During the first six years, the costs will be more than KM 200,000 a year (much as KM 420,000 in year four or about 250,000 KM/year on average) due to additional costs of equipment installation and carrying out of detailed (referenced) surveys of the state.

Guarding, control and management of the area

Protection and conservation of the future Una National Park demands that a significant system of guarding, control and management of the are be set up. These works and activities are implemented by the National Park management, and the primary task is to monitor the state and respond to any negative changes, and to supervise the users of the protected area, but also to

Summary



implement preventive measures, and maintain the emergency response system. All the above said asks that an «infrastructure» be available to the National Park management for performing of its activities. The works and measures for guarding, control and management of the National Park area include: - organization of the National Park management and its infrastructure (organization of

management and supporting services, construction/reconstruction of the management facilities, equipment, management system development and maintenance, preparation of supporting management documents),

- setting up and maintenance of the guarding/control infrastructure (organization of rangers’ service, procurement of vehicles and equipment, posting of signs, mounting of ramps and check points),

- maintaining the emergency response system applied in the event of fires, floods, plant and animal diseases (setting up an information system linked to the monitoring system, setting up a research center with specialized laboratories, setting up a communication system, and an emergency response system).

These are priority activities, and their performance precedes all other works related to the Una National Park. Setting up of a guarding/control infrastructure is a process planned to last for four years, and the necessary funds are about KM 1,300,000, the research center establishment will also last for four years and the necessary funds are about KM 2,000,000, and annual expenses of management and rangers services will gradually increase between the year two and five from KM 650.000 to KM 970,000 a year, respectively.

Since the National Park management will also encompass visitors’ reception and education, it is necessary to include the following in the National Park management functions:

- organizing visitors’ and education facilities (visitors’ and education programs, marketing, reception desks, information centers, information boards and signs, visitors’ and education trails, supporting activities, access roads and parking lots, equipment and special vehicles),

- maintenance of systems related to visitors’ and educational activities (visitors’ and education programs, maintenance of the National Park infrastructure, National Park waste and wastewater management).

The visitors’ infrastructure includes construction of main facilities for visitor’s reception in two locations, at Martin Brod and Štrbački Buk (access, two parking lots, two visitors’ centers), and a number of auxiliary facilities (five entry/exit reception desks, four reception desks in reconstructed railway stations: at the Krka River mouth, in Martin Brod, in Kulen Vakuf and near Štrbački Buk), building of a promenade (through Martin Brod, 2,500 m long; from Martin Brod to Crno Vrelo, 3,000 m long; along Štrbački Buk, 1,000 m long; through the Krka canyon, 7,000 m long), educational trails and gazebos, and tourist and cycling roads/trails (total length 20 km), information boards, five jetties on the Una (two upstream from Martin Brod, one downstream, and two near Štrbački Buk), and procurement of vehicles (two buses, panoramic train and boats) and other equipment. It is anticipated that phased construction and equipping will last for about 11 years, and the total cost is estimated at about KM 26,000,000. Estimated annual expenses for maintenance of visitors’ facilities, guarding, control and emergency response, and educational programs will be about KM 60,000 a year beyond the year five.

Therefore, the National Park management infrastructure includes construction and/or reconstruction of necessary facilities, procurement of vehicles and equipment, current costs (salaries, overheads, operating costs, system maintenance, insurance, marketing) and maintenance of the management system.

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Preservation and improvement of the state of the area

In addition to research, monitoring, guarding, and control of the state, protection and conservation of the area under consideration asks for some activities and measures to be implemented in order to improve the state of the area and increase its value, as well as to avoid any damage and risks threatening its natural features. Generally, these are activities (natural ecosystem preservation, remediation of the existing contamination in the National Park, development of municipal services in settlements within the National Park, preventive measures, local administration capacity-building programs) that demand participation of other stakeholders, or even participation of the National Park management alone, in launching of these activities. Since the greater Una National Park area can also impact the value of the protected area and help in avoiding possible damages, it is in the interest of the future National Park management that these activities cross the boundaries of the protected area.

According to the research studies to be carried out at the Una National Park area, the following actions and measures need to be taken for infrastructure improvement:

- repair of banks and training works in the Una riverbed and its tributaries, particularly in the area of Kulen Vakuf, for protection of this area against floods, and at the Unac entry into the canyon for increase in discharge section,

- remediation of illegal dumpsites and other soil contamination (particularly near settlements of Orašac, Ćukovi, Klisa, Kulen Vakuf and Martin Brod),

- mine clearance of the areas around the visitors’ destinations in the National Park and clear marking of the remaining suspicious areas,

- development of utility services in settlements within the National Park boundaries, particularly urban wastewater (Orašac, Ćukovi, Klisa, Kulen Vakuf and Martin Brod have priority in construction of sewerage systems and wastewater treatment plants and setting up of a system for organized discharge of septic tanks),

- since water supply project for Kulen Vakuf and Klisa is in progress, water supply of Martin Brod remains to be resolved, along with reconstruction and upgrading of roads (M5 and M14-2 highways, R408 R408b regional roads, and the Una railway), and power generation and telecommunication facilities (especially in Martin Brod and Veliki Cvjetnić),

- setting up of organized waste collection and removal systems for all larger settlements within the National Park boundaries, including placing of curbside recyclables bins,

- starting the local population education and alert awareness program for fire prevention, outbreak of plant and animal diseases, and other incidents,

- improvement in public transportation in the settlements within the National Park boundaries,

including also the measures and actions taken to preserve and improve state of the existing ecosystems and to support the population in their adjustment to the new economic conditions:

- maintaining the existing natural systems (forest ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems by implementing measures stipulated in forestry, hunting and fisheries master plans),

- launching sustainable and organic agriculture (sustainable agriculture on approximately 90% of available surfaces, and organic agriculture on about 10% or 300 ha of arable land, through education programs, research, certification, product branding, incentives, and ensuring of necessary facilities: cold storages, storages, equipment),

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- development of rural tourism (development strategy preparation, education programs, certification, marketing, loans),

and finally off the Una National Park boundaries, starting the following work and activities with participation of other stakeholders:

- education of local population in protective measures and ways of their participation in protection and conservation of the area,

- starting restoration and protection of cultural and historical monuments within the National Park boundaries and in greater area (participation in programs, support to opening of museums and collections),

- launching programs for remediation of existing water and soil contamination, and erosion processes in the catchment area (particularly in the Drvar area),

- launching of or participation in complementary tourist programs and cultural events,

- starting preventive programs for protection of water and soil (sustainable agricultural production, utility services for wastewater and waste, particularly in the Drvar area).

Due to their nature, organization conditions and high costs, these activities and measures will generally be implemented on a long-term basis (the most intensive investment during the first 10 years – from KM 600,000 to as much as KM 1,300,000 a year, i.e. about KM 850,000 a year on average). An important role in their implementation should be assumed by local administration units which will also have the highest benefits from these activities and measures (increase in amenity value of the area under protection due to both better conservation and protection and improved attractiveness, which should render considerable additional revenue for the local community).

Particularly high are the items regarding compensations to the local population for acquisition of individual buildings and land plots necessary for the National Park infrastructure, and support to the local population in turning their gardens and other structures into tourist destinations. About KM 2,000,000 is planned to be allocated for this purpose between the years three and five, after the National Park has been established, and than another KM 200,000 every five years.

4.3 Area Use and Management Concept

The existing, planned and possible business activities at the Una National Park are determined, which will need to adapt to the new protection conditions or to develop after the Una National Park has been proclaimed.

The business activities that need to be tailored to the new conditions include traditional activities of the local population: low-input agriculture and forestry, hunting and fisheries. These activities are desirable in the area under consideration, provided they are organized and controlled in order to prevent disturbing of natural balance there where these activities are pursued. In agriculture, use of artificial fertilizers is controlled to prevent water and soil contamination and import of detrimental matter into the food chain of natural species. In forestry, new practices are introduced for conservation and protection of forests in order to increase their ecological and commercial value, and to control and prevent damages caused by diseases, pests and fires. In hunting and fisheries, measures are to be determined for conservation and protection of indigenous species and for control of new habitats and their health status. All these activities are therefore supported and encouraged by the National Park, through the Una National Park participation, as elaborated in subsection on concept of protection, conservation and improvement of the state of the protected area.

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The activities that need to be developed for full utilization of new possibilities opened for the local community by the National Park establishment include tourism and catering, sports and recreation, various forms of educational and research study activities, and new forms of agricultural production. The new options for use of the area under consideration could, under specific conditions and limitations, become beneficial for preservation and growth of the local community as well as for the National Park. This particularly regards scientific research studies and new forms of agricultural production (switching from traditional to organic agricultural production), and educational activities.

The following benefits are expected which will, on a long germ, cover the initial investment and earn the money necessary for future functioning of the Una National Park:

- benefits brought by the National Park visitors, divided into benefits from tickets, parking, souvenirs, and benefits from rendering services related to sports and recreation, mostly connected with the Una water and other natural attractions in the area (rafting, kayak, canoe, angling, cycling, horseback riding, extreme sports, photo safari),

- benefits from other services (selling local agricultural products with the National Park label, organization of rural tourism, services rendered by the scientific research center).

These benefits will increase with time, to exceed KM 1,000,000 a year beyond the year five, and KM 7,000,000 beyond the year ten, when these earnings will start to cover the annual National Park management costs. From the year eleven on, the revenues will stabilize at an average annual amount of about KM 11,000,000.

The business activities currently performed and tolerated within the protected area boundaries (or rather within the boundaries of the guided growth area only), which however need to be adapted to the requirements for activities performed within the protected area, are those carried out at the fishpond in Martin Brod and bottling plant in Kulen Vakuf. It is good that the environmental impact of the existing activities is comparatively low, so they may be integrated into the future protection concept (by taking the measures for their visual integration with the environment and, in case of the fishpond, by construction of an adequate wastewater treatment plant upstream from the point of discharge into the Unac River). Increase of the bottling plant capacity might be considered.

Other existing business activities, primarily the dolomite quarry exploratory field and the gypsum mine near Kulen Vakuf, must be phased out, and their sites remediated, primarily considering their visual impact.

The Orašac, Ćukovo, and Ripač areas, which are off the Una National Park boundaries, will be indirectly included in this concept, as the protection zones, as follows:

- the Orašac and Ćukovo areas will be included in the programs for infrastructure upgrading (roads, utility services – sewerage and wastewater treatment plant as priorities), in order to prevent negative impact of future urbanization of the area, particularly possible impact of expected opening of the new gypsum mine and manufacturing of gypsum boards,

- the Ripač area includes the programs for the Una riverbed development (designating parts of the river natural monuments) and improved attractiveness of the neighboring areas for development of businesses complementary with the National Park (catering, tourism, conservation of cultural and historical heritage and landscape).

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5. Basic Conditions and the Concept Implementation Methods

5.1 Management System Organization

Exceptional natural beauty of the area, support of the local population and the results of this Study are an imperative but still not sufficient condition for implementation of the proposed concept for protection of the subject area of the upper course of the Una River and its tributaries. According to legal procedure applicable in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first step is to proclaim setting up of the national park and organize its management. The Una National Park management would act as a national institution in charge of conservation and protection of the National Park area, ensuring that its use is in compliance with stipulated conditions. Therefore, the Una National Park management would be superior to all other users of the protected area.

In order to ensure that the Una National Park management is independent and competent, its funding must be ensured through the federal administrative bodies. It should employ specialized staff to do the following jobs: nature conservation, supervision, finances and accounting, and marketing (Figure 4). The National Park may contract out private sector for the services such as reception and info centers, catering, souvenirs sale, parking lot and vehicles management, or it may opt for seasonal workers. However, the management remains in charge of managing the complete visitors’ reception system (maintenance of infrastructure, utility services, supervision and harmonization of activities, growth planning), and organization of educational activities (specialized institutions and persons may be contracted out).

According to the proposed concept, the Una National Park management must assume responsibility for transformation and introduction of new organization into the existing area use practices in order to protect it (forestry, hunting, fisheries, agriculture and food production, tourism and catering, sports and recreation), and all forms of cooperation, particularly education of the local population aimed at their adjustment to the new conditions. The Una National Park management has the same obligation towards the local authorities and the population in the greater area. The present area users will continue to carry out all activities currently practiced within the boundaries of the protected area, with exception of the sports and recreation on the Una River, its tributaries and in its environment. These activities will be contracted with new users under new conditions for their implementation and new compensations to the National Park management.

The National Park management will first provide premises needed for its offices and for rangers, and furnish and equip them. The next step is marking of the National Park borders and setting up of check points, procurement of vehicles for rangers and management, procurement of communication and other equipment. The next step is preparation of facilities for the visitors, and construction/reconstruction and equipping of the scientific research center. Organizationally and with regard to its core business, this center is connected with the National Park management (some activities are related to monitoring of natural features in the area, preventive measures for the area protection, collecting and inventory of data, building up separate databases), but its independent work is also envisaged on various scientific research projects of wider significance.

5.2 System Funding

The initial costs of the Una National Park area management will be very high, since investment is required not only for the system organization and management, but also for necessary infrastructure, while revenues will be very low in that period.

The estimate shows that the very launching of the National Park management work operation, its future work, and implementation of the priority programs (facilities for management and rangers, visitors’ facilities, facilities for the scientific research, education programs, scientific research programs and monitoring programs, prevention, alert and emergency response system, state of

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the area improvement, etc.) will demand from KM 4.5 to almost 8.5 million a year (or KM 5.5 million on average) during the first 10 years.

However, the revenue will grow gradually, but it will not reach KM 1.0 million a year before the year five, and will not exceed the expenses before the year ten.

Since delay of investment into any of the required elements of the management system would delay the revenue growth, resources must be find for the management system setting up in the initial stage when the National Park is established. Some resources may be allocated by the national and cantonal administration (funds from the budgets of the Unsko-Sanski Canton and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina), they may partly be collected from grants, and a part must be ensured through bank loans. Therefore, the Una National Park founder must enable either by issuing a memorandum of incorporation that the National Park management may appear as a borrower in the monetary market (with state guarantees), or find another way to institutionally ensure necessary funds (e.g. by establishing a separate investment agency – Fig. 5).

Fig. 5: Una National Park – management and funding model

5.3 Cooperation with Other Users in the Area

In addition to the Una National Park management, most users currently active in the area under protection will continue to work, including local population in urban centers, farms, forest management, sports and in fishing, hunting and other societies, and some other businesses. The management will have to establish and build sound partnership with the local population and the area users, by involving them in resolving of the environmental protection and area conservation issues on one hand, and supporting them through educational programs, resolving of organizational problems, marketing and improvement of utility services availability on the other. Therefore, no problems or conflicts are expected at the Una National Park area, with exception of possible individual cases related to resolving of property rights and land acquisition, or because of an effect some limitations in the National Park might have on routines of local population and their business activities.

The National Park management must collaborate with the local population, local administration, cultural, scientific and educational institutions and businesses outside the protected area, primarily in order to prevent incidents and protect the narrow park area, but also in order to improve the state of the National Park area (e.g. through cooperation with local administration on utility services construction and upgrading) or in its greater neighborhood (e.g. by supporting implementation of various complementary programs, education, marketing, and the like). Cooperation with the non-governmental organizations will have a special role.

Some problems might be expected in communication with businesses in the greater area, immediately by the National Park boundary (e.g. new gypsum mines and gypsum board industry in Orašac), and with local population living by the boundaries of the protected area (considering restricted entry and use of natural resources in the National Park boundaries, and particularly with regard to the landscape impact in case the uncontrolled urban development continues in the areas of Orašac and Ripač, namely in areas which are the protected National Park zones).

5.4 Priority Actions

In addition to organization of the National Park management and necessary facilities and equipment (offices, vehicles, marking of the National Park area, setting up of check points), the following activities and actions are considered as priority:

Summary



- nomination of a management board and other bodies of the National Park management, passing of the Articles of Association and necessary rules and other regulations necessary to start with the work, advertise vacancies in National Park management and ranger service, issue tenders for procurement of equipment and vehicles, and regulation of property rights and relations with other users in the area,

- launching development of a land-use plan for the National Park area, preparation of the National Park Management Plan, ground prospecting within the protected area aimed at determining, detailed mapping and indicating universal characteristics of the entire area, and initiating the procedure for nomination of the area for entry on the list of world heritage,

- starting program of cooperation with the local population, local administration, NGOs, local scientific and educational institutions, and private business in tourism, catering, trade, food production and transportation sector,

- starting priority projects and studies (construction of Orašac-Štrbački Buk tourist road, construction of drainage and wastewater treatment system for the settlements in the National Park area, protection of the Unac River water and remediation of contamination at the Drvar Municipality territory), and initiation of work on reconstruction and upgrading of traffic infrastructure in the National Park,

- construction of essential facilities for reception of visitors in to most attractive locations

(Martin Brod and Štrbački Buk),

- starting organized marketing for promotion of the National Park, organization of visits and reception of visitors, ensuring additional revenue for the National Park from promotional, educational, sport and recreation, cultural and tourist events, services and activities.

Implementation of these priority tasks asks for considerable support from national, cantonal and municipal institutions through nomination of relevant representatives in the management board of the National Park, and through organizational, financial and political support.

5.5 International Collaboration

The entire Una National Park borders with the Republic of Croatia, and the Una is a border river with its basin in both states. This means that the future National Park management is bound to establish international collaboration with regard to both scientific research of the border area and to joint management of the upper Una course basin area.

However, interest in international collaboration does not stop here. Since Croatia is also applying and planning new forms of protection for the greater area of the upper Una course on its territory (the Una spring and parts of Mt. Plješivica have already been placed under protection, the entire Croatian side of Mt. Plješivica is planned to be designated nature park, and the lowland reach of the Una on the Croatian side is also planned for protection based on a future international treaty), collaboration must also be fostered on harmonization of land use planning documentation (particularly in the fields of nature conservation and water management), and in building and implementation of joint infrastructure and tourist programs.

As regards interests of the future Una National Park, protection of natural and landscape amenities in the Una valley on the Croatian side, and reconstruction and upgrading of traffic infrastructure (including reconstruction of the existing and opening of new border crossings) are the priorities in collaboration with the Republic of Croatia.

It should be underscored that, in addition to its natural beauty and cultural and historical heritage, and geographic position, comparative advantages of the area include vicinity of two similar and

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very attractive and well visited national parks in Croatia: the Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Krka National Park, because its numerous visitors may be encouraged to visit the Una National Park, which asks for reconstruction and upgrading of the existing traffic infrastructure (particularly the road and the Una railway). However, the Una National Park must elaborate such a strategy for development of tourism which will not be competitive with the neighboring national parks in Croatia by offering the same services, but should be based on development of different attractions (sports and recreation) complementary with the offer of other national parks. Such approach should ultimately result in longer stay of the tourists in the greater region and their return to the area.

Summary

una np feasibility study-summary - 1

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