Neretva and Trebisnjica River Basin Management Project (BiH/Croatia)

closed

The development and global environmental objective of the Neretva and Trebisnjica River Basin Management Project for Europe and Central Asia is to provide mechanisms for the efficient and equitable water allocation amongst the users of the Neretva and Trebisnjica river basin (NTRB) at the transboundary level, and for enhancing the basin ecosystems and biodiversity through improved water resources management. There are four components to the project. The first component will strengthen the institutional capacity for the comprehensive management of the NTRB's water resources and environment through institution and capacity building; measurement, monitoring and information management and preparation of a river basin management planning. The second component will maintain and conserve water dependent ecosystems and their associated biodiversity in the NTRB, according to requirements of the European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive (WFD) through improved operation of reservoirs, hydropower plants and dams and rehabilitation of small scale water management infrastructure. The third component will reduce water pollution to the NTRB through high priority investments in low cost, appropriate wastewater technology improvements in three municipalities (Bileca, Konjic, Ljubuski, Nevesinje and Trebinje) and two industrial sector investments (Konjic) in BiH through municipal wastewater treatment improvements, industrial pollution control and strengthening of water quality monitoring laboratories. The fourth component will increase civil society participation in the decision making process for water resource management and to establish an incentive mechanism for responsible, local level resource management.