Animals and Plants

What is growing in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Half of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina is covered with forests. In flat areas these are deciduous and mixed forests, in the mountain regions coniferous forests.

There is also a national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina called Sutjeska, where the Perućica jungle is still located. The trees here are pretty big and grow up to 60 meters high, such as the black pine.

Which animals live in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Because many areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina are uninhabited and undeveloped, many wild animals still live in parts of the country. They feel most comfortable away from settlements and are neither hunted nor driven away there. For example, wolves, brown bears, wild cats and ibex live in the natural regions of the country. Wild boars, foxes, roe deer and deer can be found more frequently and in close proximity to people.

National parks and where is the oldest primeval forest in Europe?

Bosnia and Herzegovina has three national parks. There you can find caves, mountains, rivers, forests. In addition to this wonderful nature, there are also some historical monuments to partisans who died in the world wars. In Una National Park is also the remains of the medieval royal city Ostrovica can be found. The Perućica, the oldest primeval forest in Europe, is located in the Sutjeska National Park.

Environmental protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the issue of environmental protection is still not attracting much attention. Many people simply dump their rubbish on the roadside or throw it into rivers. Since Bosnia and Herzegovina has been shaped by conflicts and wars in the past decades, no environmental protection measures have yet been taken. Nevertheless, the country has low carbon dioxide emissions, but this is primarily due to the country’s underdeveloped economy.

Economy

The economic situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

After the Yugoslav Wars, the Bosnian economy first had to recover. However, that happened very quickly in the following years. The country’s economy is closely linked to that of Europe, which has helped the country grow economically. But these successes are far from enough, because Bosnia and Herzegovina is still a poor country. Unemployment affects around 28 out of 100 people, which is a very high figure.

“Brain Churn” – what is that supposed to be?

As in many other Balkan states and poorer countries as a whole, there are many young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina who are leaving the country to find work and receive training elsewhere. Because unemployment is particularly high among young people. In some areas, around 60 out of 100 young people are unemployed. People abroad hope for better prospects. This process is called brain drain in English, which can roughly be translated as “brain drain”. However, Bosnia-Herzegovina can hardly improve the economic situation without well-trained people. So it’s kind of a vicious circle.

Which economic sectors are there?

Bosnia and Herzegovina holds great potential for the energy industry. Numerous jobs have also developed here in recent years. There was and is a lot to do in this area, as more than half of the electricity grid in Bosnia and Herzegovina was destroyed during the Yugoslav Wars.

Smaller companies that produce various goods and then sell them abroad are also very important in the country. Most people find work here. There is also the agricultural sector, but this is still expandable and hardly competitive. There is a lack of advanced technology and infrastructure as well as sufficient industry.

Tourism

Historic cities like Sarajevo, but also the beautiful nature of the country, attract more and more visitors. Winter sports are also very popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Visitors from neighboring countries that are more developed in terms of tourism, such as Croatia, regularly come for day trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, a problem in terms of tourism are some of the mines left over from the war, which are particularly dangerous in rural areas.

Eating in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Typical food in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Bosnian national dish is called Bosanski Lonac. Translated it simply means “Bosnian stew”. This dish has a long tradition in Bosnia and Herzegovina in all walks of life. The stew is mainly cooked from meat and vegetables. If you have more money, you tend to use expensive ingredients and just poor what you have available. To this day, the dish tastes a little different everywhere.

Another popular meal in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also in other Balkan countries are the Ćevapčići sausages made from minced meat or the flatbread pita, which is modeled on the Turkish pide.

Influences on the cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The history of the country is reflected in the classic cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to thereligionfaqs, the long rule of the Ottomans brought oriental dishes into the country, which are still on the agenda today. These include spices and desserts among various pastries. The Bosnian cuisine is therefore very similar to the cuisine of Turkey.

Later, the Habsburgs brought vegetables such as potatoes into the country, as well as grains such as flour and rye. Of course, the Balkan region also has its own dishes, which can also be found in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Above all, this includes a lot of meat.

Bosnian sweets

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, people like to round off a delicious menu with a cup of coffee, which is accompanied by various desserts. Most of it comes from the time of the Ottoman Empire. Often there are pastries made from puff pastry, which are really sweetened again in a thick syrup. Bosnian cakes are by no means lacking in a sweet aftertaste. Rahat Lokum is also typical. These are small square blocks made of jelly that have been rolled in almonds or powdered sugar and taste very sweet.

Grown by myself

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, vegetables from their own region are used a lot. This is often grown and bred in your own garden. If something is missing in your own garden and you go shopping at the market, foods such as sausage or cheese often also come from the immediate vicinity.