NERETVA AND TREBIŠNJICA
MANAGEMENT PROJECT (NTMP)
Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Project Implementation Teams
Introduction of the Project
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NTMP is a regional cooperation project - Republic of
Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Transboundary river basin on the territory of:
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Republic of Croatia
• Dubrovnik-Neretva County and
• Split-Dalmatia County
Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H)
• Federation of BiH (FB&H)
• Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (7)/ Western
Herzegovina Canton (8)
• Herzeg-Bosnia Canton (10)
• Republika Srpska (RS)
• Trebinje Region
The Neretva is:
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the longest river of the Adriatic catchment area (215 km
long, with only 22 km in Croatia)
the water –richest tributary of the Adriatic Sea on the
territory of these two countries
complex karst hydrography makes it difficult to define the
exact boundaries of the catchment area (around 10,500
km2)
the water regime of the Neretva River basin has been
significantly modified by the construction of hydropower
facilities in the upper and middle sections of the Neretva
River and on the Trebišnjica River with 7 reservoirs built
from 1954 to 1985.
Project Objectives & Outcomes
• The development and general environmental objective of the project is to provide mechanisms for the
efficient and equitable water allocation among
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the users of the Neretva and Trebišnjica River Basin at the trans-boundary level, and
for enhancing the basin ecosystems and biodiversity through improved water resource management.
Comp. 1 Improved transboundary water resources management
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Institution and capacity building
Measurement, monitoring, and information management
Development of WIS, including GIS
Development of Neretva and Trebišnjica RBMP
Comp. 2 Improved manag. and use of wetlands ecosystems and biodiversity
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Improved management of ecological subsystems – Baćina Lakes
Management plan for protected areas in Croatia
Pilot scheme to mitigate salt water intrusion in the delta
Launching the “Naša Neretva” newsletter
Small-Scale Water Management Infrastructure
Improved Operation of Reservoirs and HPPs
Comp. 3 High priority investment of water pollution control
• Investments in WWT in 3 municipalities in RS and in 2 municipalities in the FBH
• Improvement in industrial wastewater treatment in a metallurgy plant in Konjic (galvanization), repair and replacement of
existing and installation of additional equipment
Comp. 4 Public participation and management of project implementation
• Scientific Community Involvement: financial support to multisectoral workshops; monitoring of project indicators; design
of web site
• Civil Society Participation: support to NGOs; community-based water pollution and conservation projects
• Project management support to agencies responsible for implementation; procurement of office equipment and vehicles;
training for national and local government officials
Results in Stress Reduction
reduction of saltwater intrusion (Pilot Irrigation
Scheme in Neretva Delta).
INDICATOR#3 Irrigation Pilot Project on the
location Glog (284 ha) completed. Established
M&E to monitor sustainability and replicability
improved maintenance of environmental flows
and improve ecosystem health and biodiversity
in the basin
INDICATOR#2 Environmental water flows
maintained
reduction of water pollution from municipal
and industrial sources (organic, nutrients and
priority substances) in selected municipalities in
the basin
INDICATOR#1 Improvements of wastewater
treatment plants (WWTP Bileća RS, WWTP
Konjic FB&H, rec. of WWTP Ljubuški FB&H
and rec. of WWTP in indust.rial zone Konjic)
Results in Environmental Status
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Improved water resource management and
biodiversity conservation have been identified by
both countries as key environmental issues in
their National Environmental Action Plans
(NEAPs approved in 2003 in BH and in Croatia
in 2001). The two National Action Plans
(NAPs) for SAP MED implementation that
were prepared by BiH and Croatia in 2005 are
concentrated on the coastal areas and define the
priority pollution reduction investments,
focusing on nutrients and urban wastewater
throughout the NTRB.
B&H and Croatia have jointly identified
protection of the Neretva Delta and improved
transboundary and river-basin-level management
as priority actions through the Regional
Environmental Reconstruction Program
(REReP) of the Southeast Europe (SEE)
Stability Pact. The project will pilot a scheme to
mitigate saltwater intrusion into the Neretva
Delta and reduce pollutants from agriculture
into the Neretva River.
DELTA
INDICATOR#1 - Improved water quality status
(achievement, maintenance or improvement of existing to at
least good status in compliance with the requirements stated in
Regulation on water quality standard (Official Gazette 89/10)
River Basins Management Plan (draft) for rivers, lakes, transitional
and coastal waters in the Neretva & Trebišnjica Basin.
Projects:
Management plan for the Hutovo blato Nature Park
Flora and Fauna Museum in Trebinje
Vjetrenica Tourist Centre
Launching the “Naša Neretva” newsletter
Improved management of ecological subsystems – Baćina Lakes
Management plan for protected areas in Croatia
Process Results
1996 (ISWC)
Treaty between the two countries Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina established a joint Interstate Water Commission (ISWC) in order to
regulate water management relations.
2009 (CC and TA)
The parties established Coordination Committee (CC) for implementation
(coordination and monitoring) of joint activities under the NTMP (plan
development; guidance for addressing the common issues), regular reporting
on joint activities and implementation progress to ISWC.
CC receives the support from the Technical Advisory Group (TA) - experts
from both parties (water, environment, agriculture and energy sectors and
representative of hydro-power plants, municipalities and non-governmental
organizations).
Indicators
Increased interstate cooperation and capacity for
trans-boundary water resource management, / and
application of IWRM principles
RBMP available (central activity of the project,
crucial for parties as guidance that can be
replicated in other basins; contributes to B&H and
Croatia's accession to EU.
The technical working group formed to follow up
the preparation of the Plan in details (4 members
from B&H and Croatia).
Conclusion
The Neretva and Trebišnjica Management Project is an international project implemented on the territory of the
Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is a successful continuation of long cooperation between the
two countries in the field of water management. It’s an integral project which through a wide range of different
activities comprehensively addresses complex problems of water and environmental management in an
international river basin.
The Project is implemented in the framework of available mechanisms of bilateral cooperation,
improving cooperation on operative/implementing level and promoting coordinated operations of
the established project implementation teams.
The Project promotes the principles of environmental protection and integrated water management
in accordance with the provisions of the Water Framework Directive. The Project thus contributes
to the process of approximation and harmonization of national regulations, standards and practices
to the EU water acquis.
By providing funds for the promotion of active participation of the local public, the Project
supports the idea about the need of protecting the basin’s environmental values and waters, as well
as about developmental possibilities offered by that kind of protection.
With direct investments in the construction and reconstruction of urban and industrial wastewater
treatment plants, investments in the development of irrigation and prevention of salt water
intrusion, and investments in the implementation of measures for improved management of the
protected areas, the Project has a direct impact on the improvement of the overall and ecological
status of waters and protected areas of the Neretva and Trebišnjica river basin.