Ecodevelopement in Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina

The Black Vulture Conservation Foundation (BVCF) carries out divers projects related to the conservation of the cultures, rural development and socioeconomic enforcement in the Balkan countries as part of the ¨Balkan Vulture Action Plan (BVAP)¨ since 2002. The development of sustainable ecotourism in the protected areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Bulgaria has demonstrated to be a fundament pillar of these projects. Fomenting the diversification of the economic resources of the rural population positively influences the risk for abandoning of the rural regions and is closely connected to the conservation of nature landscape and environment.

Thanks to the collaboration with the Frankfurt Zoological Society, the German National Agency for Environment (DBU) and the Spanish Agency for international Cooperation and Development (AECID), the activities of rural development started of in 2002 after the preparation of specific proposal on support for ecotourism and pastoralism. Among others, some activities in relation with ecotourism are mentioned below:

- Preparation of the ¨Strategy for Development of Ecotourism in the gorge of Uvac and Mileseva, Serbia¨

- Improvement of touristic infrastructure in the Natural reserve of Uva, Serbia 

- Campaign for promotion of ecotourism in the South-West of Serbia

- Construction of ethnographic information centre (Ethno House) in Guvnista, Sebia

- Initiating the Ecological centre in collaboration with the local NGO New Wave Youth Club in Blagaj, Bosnia-Herzegovina

- Professionalization of touristic infrastructures in the spring area of the Buna River in Blagaj, Bosnia-Herzegovina