THE RESEARCH ON THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE KRIVAJA RIVER BEGINS

The Nature Protection Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina begins the research on the biodiversity of the Krivaja River in the areas of Zavidovići and Olovo.

As part of a scientific research camp, which will be based at the Rescue Service base in Zavidovići, located in the settlement of Dištica, from September 17 to 21, 2025, dozens of experts from across Bosnia and Herzegovina will participate in studying this unique river ecosystem.

The purpose of the research is to provide relevant and reliable information about the biodiversity of the Krivaja River, which will serve as a foundation for its permanent protection and sustainable management. This valuable natural area is planned for protection at the level of a national park according to the current spatial plan.

In addition to the scientific research aspect, the realization of the camp on the Krivaja River strongly supports the sustainable development and promotion of Zavidovići and Olovo as towns with a deep commitment to preserving natural values. It is worth noting that Krivaja is one of the rare remaining free-flowing rivers, without any dams built along its course.

The significance of the research is further emphasized by the potential threat to the river posed by the planned opening of a chromium mine along its tributaries, Tribija and Duboštica. A geological research project in Duboštica has currently been halted following intervention by cantonal and federal inspectors, who determined that work on constructing access roads was being carried out on state-owned forest land. Such activities directly violate the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the interim measures imposed by the High Representative, which prohibit the disposal of state property.

The Nature Protection Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina believes that the ecological value of the Krivaja River far exceeds the value of the planned mining project in its watershed. For the people living in its valley, Krivaja is not just a natural resource, but an inseparable part of their identity and pride, deeply rooted in the life and heritage of the local community. Protecting it means preserving the health, lives, and dignity of the people who live alongside it, and at the same time, it represents a matter of public interest that requires an urgent and responsible response from the relevant institutions.