Bosnia and Herzegovina has developed a comprehensive, nationally consistent understanding of its land resources over several decades, led by the Federal Agropedological Institute, which oversees systematic land bonitation and soil mapping. In partnership with the FAO and the Prenj Forestry Institute, the country organized Terra BiH 2025 on 12 December 2025, marking the first national conference dedicated exclusively to land and soil conservation with a focus on evidence-based restoration. The forum aimed to transform existing scientific data into fundable and implementable land restoration projects for municipalities.
Held in Konjic, the event brought together foresters, researchers, municipal officers, laboratory technicians, and farmers from across the country. Participants worked in multidisciplinary teams, using soil maps, laboratory results, and field observations to design pilot projects that were practical, costed, and aligned with municipal procurement procedures. The forum emphasized translating diagnostics into interventions that could be realistically implemented while remaining verifiable for resource partners and donors.
The methodology required interventions to be grounded in scientific evidence, including mapped erosion risks and measurable soil indicators, ensuring both accountability and practical feasibility. Remote sensing technology, demonstrated through drones, illustrated how verification could be strengthened and made repeatable for municipalities. Discussions balanced scientific rigor with on-the-ground realities, taking into account the perspectives of municipal officers, researchers, and farmers.
The forum also prioritized data interoperability and harmonization, assigning responsibilities and deadlines to facilitate better integration of datasets across institutions, reduce duplication, and enhance evidence-based decision-making. Private sector input helped ensure cost estimates reflected market realities, and institutional commitments supported standardized datasets and shared templates.
Three pilot projects were selected during the forum, each with municipal leadership, technical partners, and short deadlines to produce donor-ready concept notes. These pilots were intentionally small, well-costed, and designed for replication, allowing successful approaches to be scaled nationwide. Lessons from previous projects, such as FAO’s land degradation neutrality initiative, informed the methodology, particularly in integrating soil data, monitoring protocols, and restoration measures.
Dženan Vukotić, Director of the Federal Agropedological Institute, highlighted that Bosnia and Herzegovina already possesses the data, institutions, and expertise to restore degraded land. Terra BiH 2025 established a clear pathway from evidence to funded, measurable action, prioritizing implementation, verification, and scalability to support long-term land restoration and resilience across the country.
