The workshop “Green Talks: Mapping Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina” was held in Sarajevo. It was the first of three final events within the NaturBosniaHerzegovina project, funded by AICS and implemented by the Italian CSO CISP (International Committee for the Development of Peoples). The event brought together key stakeholders in the sector, including BiH institutional authorities, international partners (including the European Union Delegation), and representatives of civil society. During the event, CISP and its project partners and collaborators—including the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park and Agenda 21—had the opportunity to present key findings, share best practices, and outline innovative paths for socioeconomic development that promotes environmental protection through tourism.
During his inaugural address, Italian Ambassador Marco Di Ruzza emphasized how the “NaturBosniaHerzegovina” initiative embodies a joint commitment, based on a fruitful team spirit, to foster the raising of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s environmental standards in line with European ones and to promote sustainable tourism in the country, highlighting its splendid natural beauty and biodiversity. “Our Embassy,” Di Ruzza stated, “is proud to be a catalyst for this initiative, which involves a vast network of stakeholders from the ‘Sistema Italia’ (Italian System), including the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), civil society organizations, and Italian excellences such as our prestigious national parks, universities, and research institutions. The success of this initiative and other parallel projects we are developing in this sector in partnership with UNDP, such as Via Dinarica, Bridge, and Green Network, demonstrates that Italy is at the forefront of green diplomacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina with incisive, consistent, and widespread action.”
Dr. Letizia Fischioni, Deputy Head of AICS Tirana, the regional office responsible for the Western Balkans, highlighted how “NaturBosniaHerzegovina” represents not only an important environmental protection initiative and an example of ownership, but also a key component of the regional approach of Italian cooperation in the Western Balkans, along with similar initiatives in other countries in the region. “This project makes a concrete contribution to regional integration within the Western Balkans and towards the European Union, in line with the Berlin Process and the Sustainable Development Goals.”
For her part, Dr. Deborah Rezzoagli, CISP’s Eastern Area Director, noted that since 2016, CIPS has strengthened its commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a particular focus on the inclusion and involvement of key local stakeholders and acting as a bridge between Italian excellence and local society. “Thanks to AICS and the Italian Embassy in BiH,” said Dr. Rezzoagli, “concrete and lasting results have been achieved within the framework of NaturBosniaHerzegovina, even exceeding what was planned.”