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Technical assistance for the implementation of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Forestry Programme

Forest resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina are amongst the richest in Europe in terms of the extent and variety of stock compared to the size of the country. The conflict that raged in the country resulted in heavy damage at all levels. Subsequently to the Dayton agreement, the international community and the local partners started a reconstruction programme. The overall reconstruction programme demands big quantities of wood products. Consequently, the rehabilitation of the wood supply for the processing sector has been a priority in order to exploit the readily available resources and satisfy the demand.

forestry text landscape

It is in this framework that the World Bank and the EC Phare prepared jointly a programme to support the forestry sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 20 millions US$ were earmarked for its implementation. The objectives of the Programme were to resume sustainable management and protection of the forest resources, in order to: (i) ensure the sustainability of the rapid recovery of the wood harvesting and wood processing sectors; and (ii) control the potential environmental impact of the latter. This Forestry Programme is a coherent and comprehensive approach to all major and urgent problems that the sector faces. It is subdivided in four components:

  • Support to Forest Management
  • Protection and Rehabilitation of Forests
  • Rehabilitation of State Forest Enterprises Operational Capacity
  • Project Management and Monitoring


Prospect was awarded the contract to implement the technical assistance project supporting the implementation of the Forestry Programme. The project was implemented over a period of 27 months from July 1999 until September 2001.

Project objectives:

The specific objectives of the project were to:

  • Contribute to the implementation of the National Forestry Programme within the time and budget;
  • Ensure that tendering and procurement are in accordance with EU-Phare guidelines and procedures as appropriate; the PIUs will also be responsible for the procurement under IDA rules, Norwegian and Italian financing, according to World Bank procurement guidelines.
  • Ensure that the harmonisation of the projects funded by the EU, the World Bank and other donors is realized;
  • Create opportunities for mutual collaboration between the two entities in relation to programme implementation, and,
  • Facilitate skill transfer and institutional capacity building.

Project achievements:

Two Programme Implementation Units (PIUs) responsible for the implementation of the programme were established. Tthe project team supported the work of the PIUS with inputs amounting to 166 working-months and involving more than 25 long and short-term specialists. Progress made during the implementation of the programme were reviewed by i) the Steering Committees and ii) the Supervision missions of the World Bank.
The implementation of Component I of the programme “Support to Forest Management” contributed to (i) support the policy reforms based on recommendations of studies on the institutional aspect and the fiscal and marketing aspects of the forestry sector; (ii) resuming the preparation of Forest Management Plan by the re-establishment of forest inventory and management planning units and (iii) restoring Forest Inspection Services.

Component II, “Protection and Rehabilitation of Forests” supported (i) a comprehensive programme to control insect attacks on Bosnian forests, mostly bark beetles on coniferous species; (ii) reforestation in areas heavily damaged during the war and (iii) the development of protected areas, including the restoration of existing areas and the development of new areas.

Under Component III, “Rehabilitation of SFEs Operational Capacity” contributed to restore the operational capacity of selected SFEs by restoring pre-war accessibility to the forests and providing SFEs and their staff with the equipment necessary to resume normal surveillance and protection of forests, carry out forest regeneration and other silvicultural works, and organise and control sustainable forest harvesting.

The last Component “Project Management and Monitoring” supported the programme’s implementation.

For more information please contact Pascal Lardinois.

 

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