LE:NOTRE Extraordinary Landscape Forum 2014

from 25th - 28th May 2014 in Sarajevo

hosted by the Faculty of Forestry University of Sarajevo

Landscapes of Sarajevo Region

Introductory document

(preliminary version)

by

Avdagić Admir, Bećirović Dženan, Hajrudinović Alma, Hukić Emira, Krpo Mirna, Marić Bruno, Mutabdžija Senka, Omanović Mersad, Pintarić-Avdagić Bojana, Salihović Adela

2

Contents

1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNTRY AND THE CITY-REGION .......... 3

2. LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE AND ECOLOGY OF THE CITY REGION ...................... 5

3. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY’S (OPEN SPACE) STRUCTURE .. 9

4. TRADITIONAL CULTURAL LANDSCAPES OF THE CITY AND THE CITY REGION ................................................................................................................................... 18

5. URBAN AND REGIONAL POPULATION, SOCIAL ISSUES AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS .................................................................................................................................. 23

6. PORTRAITS OF THE MAIN REGIONAL AND CITY PARKS/OPEN SPACES ........ 25

7. CURRENT RESEARCH ON CHARACTERISTIC USES AND SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC SPACES ........................................................................................ 37

8. TOURISM DEVELOPMENTS IN SARAJEVO REGION ............................................. 40

REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 45

3

1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNTRY AND THE CITY-REGION

Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is a country in South Eastern Europe, part of what the European Union refers to as the ‘West Balkans’. It has an area of around 51.129 sq km and some 3.791.622 inhabitants (Bosnian Statistics Agency, http://www.bhas.ba/). Bosnia covers the centre and north of the country, with its name probably having derived from 'bosana', an old Indo-European word meaning water, which Bosnia has no shortage. The southern region of ancient Hum, ruled by Herceg Stjepan (Duke Stjepan), was later named Herzegovina after the region was conquered by the invading Ottomans. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country characterised by great diversity, embodying a vast array of landscapes, cultures, traditions and peoples.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Fig. 1) is bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast. The land border of the country amounts to 762 km, borders defined by rivers have a length of 751 km, and the country also has 23.5 km of coastline on to the Adriatic Sea surrounding the city of Neum. Five percent of the country is is made up of level terrain, 24% is hills, 42% mountains and 29% with karst (National Environmental Action Plan /NEAP/ 2003).

Figure 1. Physical map of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

4

A wide diversity of ecosystems, ranging from thermophilous Mediterranean habitats to alpine mountain areas and high interaction between bio- and geodiversity creates a recognisable and vivid image of the landscapes of this country (Redžić et al., 2008).

The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina ended with the signing of the Dayton Agreement in 1995, as a result of which the present country is constituted of two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (10 cantons) and the Republic of Srpska, as well as District of Brčko (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Political map of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The entity (dividing) line between the two territories goes through the capital and the

and the country’s largest city, Sarajevo, which belongs to the Sarajevo Canton (1.276,9 sq km). Its total population is estimated as 438.443 people (Bosnian Statistics Agency, 2013). Sarajevo is located in the Sarajevo Valley, surrounded by mountains and situated around the Miljacka river. The city is famous for its traditional religious diversity, with adherents of Islam, Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Judaism peacefully coexisting there for centuries which is the reason that Sarajevo is sometimes called ‘Jerusalem of Europe’.

5

2. LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE AND ECOLOGY OF THE CITY REGION

Relief

The region belongs to the inner Dinaric area, which is characterized by a hilly and mountainous relief broken up with deep canyons. The relief is very varied, with the highest mountains (Treskavica, Bjelašnica) being more than 2000 m above sea level, while the lowest areas lies at approximately 400 m above sea level.

The city is situated in a valley of the river Miljacka, which is formed from the confluence of two smaller rivers the Paljanska Miljacka and the Mokranjska Miljacka. In it upper reaches, the Miljacka river forms a impressive canyon and on the west of the valley lies the Sarajevsko polje where the most of the city is situated today. In the western part of the city, on the location of Rajlovac Miljacka flows into river Bosna, as do all the other rivers of the city region. On the southern border of the valley of the Sarajevsko polje lies Mt Igman and to the north and north-east lies Mt Trebević. Sarajevsko polje has the average altitude of 510 m above sea level while Mt Trebević has the highest altitude (1629 m), This is followed to the north and northwest by Bukovik (1532 m) and Ozren (1525 m). The valley is formed from the intersection of several rivers coming from the southern and the south-eastern (Željeznica) and from the north-western (Jošanica, Vogošća and Ljubina) sides of the valley.

Some authors have suggest that the city region could be separated into three relief units (e.g. Crnogorac & Jakšić):

1) Sarajevsko polje up to 700 m above sea level 2) Hilly relief to 1000 m 3) Mountainous relief (Trebević, Ozren, Bukovik, Šatorica, Brezica).

Mt Trebević belongs geomorphologicaly to Mt Jahorina. To the north, this mountain is

bounded bythe Miljacka river, to the south by the Kasindolski stream (potok), to the east by Veliki Stupanj and Mali Stupanj and to the west by Sarajevsko polje. From highest point (1629 m) there is a tremendous view of the Zvijezda, Ozren, Romanija, Jahorina, Treskavica, Bjelašnica, Prenj, Bitovnja, Vranica, Zec and Vlašić mountains. In simple terms, the structure of Mt Trebević comprises five cliffs distributed side by side in a northwest-southeasterly direction, and it is this that gives this mountain its extraordinary beauty. These cliffs are made from Triassic limestone which lie on top of “verfenic” shales and sediments which can be found mainly in mountain depressions and valleys. At the junction between these two bedrock materials there are the sources of many springs coming from the slopes of the mountains. These limestones are rich in fossils of Gastropodes, Lamellibranchiata, Cephalopoda, Brachipoda, Diplopora, Corals and Sponges. Bedrocks

Sedimentary rocks are the most abundant type of geological material in this region. This region is characterised by highly diverse types of bedrock from the Mesozoic, Cenozoic and Paleozoic eras. Paleozoic (Permian) sediments, such as sandstones, shales, and conglomerates, are found in the to the north, northeast, and east of the city region on Mt. Jahorina and Trebević. In the west of the region (western parts of Sarajevsko polje)

6

quaternary gravels and sands are found. These are the result of alluvial-diluvial processes. This alluvial-diluvial terrace links the upper areas of the south-eastern parts of valley (Kasindol) to the northern parts (Koševo, Kobilja Glava, Jošanica), which are made of clays, carbonate clays sands and conglomerate sands. From Alipašin Most (bridge) up to Koševo and Koševski potok (stream), the bedrock material belongs to geological series called “Koševska serija”. The hilly parts on north-western side of the city region are made up of “fliš” material from Jurrasic and Cretaceous periods. The hilly north-eastern parts of this region comprise of Triassic formations: massive limestone associated with chevrons rich in fossils, sandy limestones, clays, dolomites, claystones. These bedrocks are also characteristic for the eastern part of the city and southern slopes of Mt Trebević. Shale sandstones, usually referred to as “verfenic sediments” (Triassic sediments), form a belt stretching from the north-east, east and south-east, while higher levels of the mountains are mainly limestones and dolomites, associated with their specific karst morphology. The lower slopes and the bottom of these mountains are composed of similar materials – “verfenic sediments” - but with a red and purple colour. These materials are extremely erodible and they are usually carried by mountain springs and rivers like Miljacka, Željeznica, Lukavički Stream (potok). Because of red colour of the verfenic sediments, these rivers, during rainy periods, are also coloured red.

Soils

Together, the high altitudes and steep slopes of this mountainous relief, the nature of the bedrock material and the high precipitation levels predispose specific soil formation processes and specific pedological situation of this region. In addition, soils are usually shallow and highly erodible. Due to the heterogenic geomorphologic structure, there is also a very diverse pedological situation. Sarajevsko polje and valleys of other rivers in this region are characterised mainly by alluvial and alluvial-diluvial soils. Verfenic sediments and verfenic shale are characterised by acid soils, such as “Sirozems” and Dystric Cambisols. Limestone and dolomites are characterised by a series of soils formed on this type of bedrock such as Leptosol, Colluviums and Cambisols. Acid sands and sandstones are characterised by Sirozems, Distric Cambisols and Podzol in higher altitudes and high precipitations. Rendzina and Eutric cambisol are found on calcerious sands, calcerious clays in the “fliš” serie. Rendzinas and Calcic Cambisols are often found on calcareous moraines on Mt. Igman and Bjelašnica.

The highest parts of the Mt Trebević are attributed to a series of soil types on limestone, on the mountain slopes and depressions Districs and Cambisolss are found on Verfenic shales and sediments. Some parts of the mountain that area exposed to east are characterised by Districs Cambisols, Podzols overlaying sands and sandstones. Climate

Sarajevo valley has mostly a temperate climate, while hilly and mountain areas are characterised by temperate mountain and by alpine climates. The influence of the Adriatic Sea is moderated by high mountains to the south of the city region. The average yearly temperature is 10 °C, with January (−0.5 °C avg.) being the coldest month of the year and

7

July (19.7 °C avg.) the warmest. The highest recorded temperature was 40.7 °C on 19 August 1946, and on 23 August 2008, while the lowest recorded temperature was −26.2 °C on 25 January 1942. On average, Sarajevo has 6 days where the temperature exceeds 32 °C and 4 days where the temperature drops below −15 °C per year. The city typically experiences mildly cloudy skies, with an average yearly cloud cover of 45%.

Vegetation and anthropogenic influence

In relation to land use, the city region is dominantly used as forest, followed by arable land, meadows and cultivated land (Table 1.). Forest can roughly be separated into three major forest vegetation groups which are:

1. Degraded oak forests, hornbeam, ash and hazel (Carpino betuli-Quercetum roboris) which can be found in the valley of Sarajevsko polje and on low hilly relief.

2. Beach forests (Forests of Mountain beach), which are also mainly degraded forest. 3. Mixed beech and fir (with spruce) forests (Abieti-Fagetum).

Table 1. Land use in the City region

Nb. Category Area in ha

1 Settlements and industry 6.989,00

2 Sport and recreation 304,00

3 Meadows 9.794,00

4 Cultivated land 9.589,00

5 Arable land/agricultural production 14.498,00

6 Deciduous forests 46.229,00

7 Coniferous forest 13.997,00

8 Mixed forests 9.707,00

9 Pastures 5.645,00

10 Swamps and degraded land (vrištine) 1.679,00

11 Change over forests and shurb vegetation 6.999,00

12 Deforested areas and karst 180,00

13 Areas sparse in vegetation 1.800,00

14 Rivers and streams 266,00

15 Lakes and marshes 13,00

16 Artificial accumulations 2,00

TOTAL: 127.691,00

8

Mt Trebević on the northern slopes is characterised by coniferous forests, (mainly spruce) and deciduous forests on southern slopes. Also, there are many silver pine forests which are a result of anthropogenic influences. There was also an initiative to establish a botanic garden on Mt Trebević by a group of scientists from National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegeovina (Gligić, 1953). For this reason, on many locations on Mt Trebević there is much allochthonous vegetation like cultures of Picea omorika, Larix decidua, Pinus heldreichi, and many different shrubs and flora brought from all over the country. Southern parts of this mountain have been always inhabited and the land was cultivated for the agricultural and livestock production. Northern parts were mainly used as forest, although many of the northern mountain slopes have become built up over the past 20 years.

9

3. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY’S (OPEN SPACE) STRUCTURE

Although settlement in the region stretches back to prehistoric times, the modern city was founded by Isa-Beg Isaković as an Ottoman stronghold in the 15th century. Sarajevo has attracted international attention several times throughout its history. In 1914 it was the site of the assassination that sparked World War I, while seventy years later, in 1984, it became the host city of the XIV Winter Olympics. More recently, Sarajevo underwent the longest siege in modern military history during the ‘’Bosnian War’’. Today the city is recovering and adjusting to a post-war reality, as a major center of culture and economic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2005, Sarajevo Canton was declared as the "Region of the year in Europe". The Ottoman period

Under Ottoman rule, the city of Sarajevo gradually started to develop. The traditional oriental concept,of the city influenced the layout of the urban area, which consisted of the “Baščaršija” (business center) in the valley and the residential areas, the so-called “Mahala”, settled on the surrounding slopes. The Mahala represent the residential pattern of once Ottoman oriental architecture. The Mahala developed as a large number of small residential units (40-50) only with private courts and gardens. The Houses in the Mahala were developed and placed so that each of them had a clear view, abundant light and plants. Open green and public spaces were not present at that time. Over time, green spaces were created, but during the War (1992 – 1996) all these spaces were transformed into cemeteries and now represent protected areas as Cultural Landscapes (Harbinja 2012). Austro-Hungarian period

The Austro-Hungarian period of Sarajevo's history was characterised by industrialisation, development, westernisation, and social change. It could be argued that the three most prominent alterations made by the Habsburgs to Sarajevo were to the city’s political structure, architecture style, and education system. Architects and engineers wanting to help rebuild Sarajevo as a modern European capital rushed to the city. A fire that burned down a large part of the central city area (Baščaršija) in 19th century left more room for redevelopment. The very first thing that the Austro-Hungarians had done upon arrival in Sarajevo was the preparation of a cadastral map by land types, with the aim of defining tax levels. The job was done within four years (1878 - 1882). Result indicated that Sarajevo covered an area of 1136.6 hectares. Seven land use categories relating to landscape and open space were defined (besides housing): cemetery, decorative gardens, forests, meadows, orchards, pastures and vegetable gardens.

10

Figure 3. Map of Sarajevo in 1882 by land category (note: white areas represent built-up land).

Characteristics of 1882 land use categories:

• Cemetery: regulated according to religious principles, with the presence of monumental plant species.

• Ornamental garden: public property with restricted rights of use, distinct monumental features.

• Forests: natural, high, could be used by Ottoman Land Code. • Meadow: generaly unused land with the absence of woody species. • Orchards and vegetable gardens: trailing house element with a clear purpose for

intensive agriculture. • Pasture: intensively used land, of different origins (rotation of agricultural land,

deforestation, meadows rich in forage crops, etc.).

Sarajevo was industrialised by Austria-Hungary and they used the city as a testing area for new inventions, such as tramways (established in 1885), before installing them in Vienna. At the time, Sarajevo was growing westward through the valley. The area of the city remained more or less constant until after the Second World War. It is interesting that today’s Sarajevo has developed along the axis of the tramline which ends twelve kilometres westward at Ilidža. That is where the Austro-Hungarians planted a 2.8km long avenue of plane trees, running

11

from the ancient roman sanatorium to the spring of the River Bosna. This area is rich in groundwater which is an important source of water for the city. XIV Winter Olympics

The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, took place from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo. Other candidate cities were Sapporo (Japan) and Gothenburg (Sweden). The main argument why Sarajevo was chosen as the host was that the competition area was no further than 24 kilometers from the site where the Olympic medals were awarded at Skenderija (Milinović Vladimir, oral communication).

Figure 4. Sarajevo XIV Winter Olympics map.

The Siege

Siege of Sarajevo (April 1992 - February 1996) lasted 1.425 days. It is the longest siege of a capital city in modern history. 11.541 people were killed, including 643 children. During the siege there were no essential supplies necessary for life - neither food, nor water or electricity. People used public green space to produce food and heat. Underground water could be used for drinking, but only with the help of hand pumps. After the siege there many problems remain: landmines, abandoned land, devastation, illegal constructions etc.

12

Figure 5. Sarajevo siege map.

Nowadays

In administrative terms, the city of Sarajevo consists of 9 municipalities. It is densely populated, with a current trend for extensive building construction. The development of the city is the separate responsibility of the mayors of each individual municipality, and these do not act together as one body. There are many disturbing factors involved in urban ecosystem degradation: legislation, degradation of the environment by building construction, loss of underground water, abandonment of land etc. Thanks to the forests around Sarajevo, the city agglomeration has maintained its character as a sustainable environment.

13

Figure 6. Canton Sarajevo administrative border

There are three vegetated land types coexisting in Sarajevo: agricultural land, public

green space and forests. Agricultural land is mainly located on the border between urban and rural areas and it is gradually being lost due to intensive construction pressure. In general, agricultural land loss accounts for some 3000 ha of land annualy in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole (Resulović and Čustović, 2002). Sarajevo’s public green space is located mainly along the east-west axis of the built-up urban area. It is managed by the individual municipality in which it is located. Characteristics of 2014 land use categories:

• Agricultural land: numerous plots, highly fragmented, different ownership structure, method and intensity of use.

• Public green space: remains of building plots, highly fragmented, legally unprotected. • State-owned forests: scarce, degraded, managed by public enterprise for forest

management. Cemeteries treated as non-productive forest area. • Privately-owned forests: numerous plots, highly fragmented, small, subject to

abandonment due to adverse regulatory legislation. Cemeteries treated as non-productive forest area.

14

Figure 7. Map of Sarajevo in 2014 by land category (note: white areas represent built-up land).

Peri-urban sprawl

Sarajevo can be characterized as having ‘‘frantic-growth’’ with very high land conversion rates and population densities. Schneider and Woodcock (2008) said that this category is generally characteristic of developing countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the city of Sarajevo developed along the River Miljacka, the lack of space meant that the town started to spread along the periphery and up the surrounding slopes. The Mahala expanded further up the hills thereby causing further urbanization in the form of the so-called new upper hill settlements. As the Government is taking responsibility for new architectural approaches within the Mahala, a greater concern is for the new upper hill urbanization. These settlements are located and developed without any architectural regulations whatsoever, and most importantly threatened by the risk of landslides. The expansion of these settlements increased rapidly after the War (1992 -1995) and since then has continued to spread further up to the hills. Beside the challenges posed by the environmental conditions, the settlements are faced with the lack of the necessary infrastructure and facilities, especially educational and health facilities. As a result, inhabitants are forced to make use of the nearest facilities, located within the Mahala or in the old town – Baščaršija. Although these settlements have some similarity with the Mahala, in terms of their position, they are not related to these types of cultural landscapes (Harbinja, 2012). The main similarity is that there is a total absence of public space, but the houses in the upper hill urban area are not located so that each of them has basic parameters of Mahala: a clear view, abundant light and vegetation.

15

Figure 8. Sarajevo comparison of vegetated areas 1882-2014 (note: white areas represent built-up land)

Ornamental trees

It could be said that Sarajevo’s parks, gardens, avenues of trees and other green areas have accumulated very diverse and interesting woody species over a time. In recognition of the importance of knowledge about this, Prof. Vito Stefanović and Prof. Nikola Janjić listed 947 species, cultivars and varieties of ornamental trees in Sarajevo. Their results show a continuous growth in the number of species over the period 1955 to 1998. However, there are valid concerns about the introduction of non-native species due to their expansion into habitats of native species. While this certainly raises the biodiversity it also violates the criteria of "naturalness’’ and ‘’typicality’’ (Omanović et al., 2012). Today, there are no formal criteria or plan for the use of the plant material, so since 1998 there has been a constant introduction of ‘unknown’ ornamental plant species. As a consequence, Sarajevo is now full of immature trees susceptible to wind and/or snow damage, especially Platanus × acerifolia, Fraxinus, Tilia and Thuja species. Also it is easy to find Armadillidium vulgare which is indicator of physiological weaknesses.

Figure 9. Quantification of Sarajevo’s ornamental trees species, cultivars and varieties.

16

Protected areas

The establishment of protected aresa came with 21th century. There are two objects of special protection value near Sarajevo. The first is the natural monument centred on the ‘Spring of Bosna river’' with a total area of 644 ha, and located in the Municipality of Ilidža. The second is the natural monument ''Waterfall Skakavac’' with total area of 1430,7 ha, which is located in the municipality Stari Grad. It is interesting to note that even 861 privately owned forests, in whole or in part, are located within the protected area with total area of 463,9 ha (Omanović et al., 2010).

Figure 10. Protected areas of Sarajevo and other categories of land.

Evaluation of urban green spaces

A pan-European research project (Baycan et al., 2004) encompassing 23 European cities’ has considered the quantity and method of urban green space management (Table 2). According to this, Sarajevo, together with Ljubljana and Krakow, was classified in the fourth, the lowest, qualification group, which is characterised by (i) less than 5% of green areas and (ii) a downward trend in the total area of urban green space (Fig. 11). The conclusion is that these cities have a small amount of green space, and that if the negative trend continues there will result an undesirable situation from the perspective of spatial planning. Considerable political influence also tends to be exerted within the spatial planning process, something which frequently results in specialist expertise not being properly taken into account.

17

Table 2. Multicriteria evaluation of urban green spaces of Sarajevo.

Figure 11. Ranking of European cities by ‘’green performance’’ (Baycan et al. 2004).

18

4. TRADITIONAL CULTURAL LANDSCAPES OF THE CITY AND THE CITY REGION

"... the Earth has many cities named Saraj. But the bosnian stone šeher Sarajevo of all of them is advanced, prettier and livelier. " Evlija Čelebija, 1659.

Sarajevo was built in the valley of the river Miljacka, surrounded by hills that result in the city being isolated and enclosed from the world. "Čaršija" (Fig. 12), the old business centre of the city was built in the flat terrain at the bottom of the valley, and the city districts called "Mahale" are located on the lower slopes of the hills that surround the valley. The construction of "Čaršija" took place in parallel with the construction of the residential zones "Mahale". While the "Čaršija" was developing at the flat terrain, the "Mahale" were developing on local hills. These hills, as described by Kulenović, make the valley of the Miljacka into an outstanding natural amphitheatre, which is open to the west.

Figure 12. Čaršija in Sarajevo, 1882.

One could say that the city centre is actually double-fenced from the world by both the hills that surround the city and by the "Mahale". The urban plan, the terrain and the position of the "Mahale" in relation to the centre, all function at the same time as "armour" that protects the city from external impact. The fact that city became completely introverted, very soon after its establishment can be seen as a metaphor for the world, as a place where its different faces are gathered together at one point.

19

The interplay of open and closed, external and internal, which oppose and reflect each other, can be perfectly seen in the organization of the city.

Bosnian writer Karahasan explains it best when he defines "Čaršija" as technically closed but semantically open. "Čaršija" is the universality and "Mahala" is particularity and concreteness. "Čaršija" is enclosed from all and therefore potentially contains all in itself, while the "Mahala" is open to all. A complicated game of mutual opposition and reflection of the exterior and interior spaces provided the basis for the existence and functioning of Sarajevo as a whole, and which is evident in the in relationshiü between the Mahala and Čaršija, and could be seen in every aspect of urban existence and life. That was the case even inside the houses, as within their walls the houses were divided into open and closed parts and male and female areas.

Gardens and courtyards represented a very important green space element in the old Sarajevo. Thanks to this, as geo-topography, microclimate, as well as other natural conditions of the Sarajevo valley, with lots of vegetation and water, meant that old Sarajevo developed into a true garden city: "Wood and water, garden and mountain, houses in gardens," as stated by Grabrijan.

Many travel writers who stayed in Sarajevo in the 16th and 17th century confirmed that Sarajevo was "garden city".

Pavle from Rovinj stayed in Sarajevo in 1640 on the occasion of which he wrote: "Varoš extends partly by flat part of valley, partly on the hill. Parts of the hills cannot be seen because of the trees".

Quiclet, a French traveller who visited Sarajevo in 1658, wrote: "the city is full of gardens, and there are only few houses without a special garden, and all gardens are full of orchards, especially apples."

Evlija Čelebija, the famous Turkish traveller of 17th century, who stayed in Sarajevo, wrote in his famous travelogue "Sajjahatnami": "here are 26.000 of gardens similar to gardens from heaven and through each garden plenty of water is flowing. These gardens are beautiful as a paradise on Earth. They are decorated with a variety of pools and arbours."

Moving between the streets, courtyards, houses and gardens depended on the differentiation of space. An important role in the spatial definition of roads was played by gates, which allowd for physical and visual closure of the spaces. The side walls flanking the gates are therefore quite deep, and usually consist of the walls of auxiliary rooms. Alternatively, the gate was placed beneath the outbuilding, which provided the entrance to the courtyard. Often the gates are placed at both ends of the space by which the courtyard is separated from the street. Such a space between two gates was commonly used as a commercial yard. The gates represent a very significant functional and decorative element of residential buildings.

Gardens form an integral part of the culture of residence, and represent a form of artistic expression. The gardens were, in part, created under the influence of the religion of Islam and were considered as the earthly reflection of paradise. The similarity between gardens throughout the Islamic world bears witness to the universality of Islamic art, while the cult of gardens in turn strongly influenced all the decorative arts. Wherever possible water was introduced into the design of the garden.

20

Residential houses were adapted to the environment through the use of natural, local materials for construction, and were integrated into the terrain. Nature thus became part of the architectural composition.

The whole complex of Svrzina house was constructed during the 18th century. Beside the ground of the house in the women's courtyard, which was completed in 1832 the house comprises a complex consisting of three buildings and two courtyards divided into "selamluk" - male part (Fig. 13), the public part of the house, and haremluk - female, or the family part of the house (Fig. 14). The entrance from the street leads through a large gate into the men's courtyard. The gate, which is located over the entrance, once led in large garden - or "bostan", which belonged to the house, but the old owners kept it as a part of the new house.

Figure 13. Entrance in Svrzina house, male courtyard – ‘selamluk’

Islamic architecture has developed very meaningful, very specific and easily identifiable characteristics. These are expressed particulalry clearly in residential architecture where they are characterised by specific forms and architectural elements. All the arguments by Isanović relating to traditional Islamic belief have outer and inner meanings and are filled with rich symbolism, and make the specificity of artistic and architectural expression of Islam. In Islamic architecture, more than in the architecture of other cultures, water forms an integral part of almost every traditional architectural and urban space.

21

Figure 14. Female courtyard – ‘haremluk’.

The pattern of life in Islamic society revolved around the family house, as a residential complex. While this was separated from the outside world, from the street and uninvited curiosity of passersby, the house and its organisation, by contrast, were open, often even vanish towards nature, towards the sky and water.

With the arrival of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, which received a mandate to occupy and govern Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878 the country underwent a very dramatic transition. It was removed from the Ottoman Empire and became part of the European civilization.

Figure 15. Garden connecting the male and female courtyard.

With the new civilisation came a new understanding of lifestyle and new ways of building and forms of housing, which were completely different from the inherited tradition.

22

In valley area of Sarajevo, gardens and courtyards gradually began to disappear. The new situation was also reflected in the planning and construction of public parks and spa facilities. However, this took place without any detailed observation and understanding of the value of the existing landscape, and resulted in the introduction of objects which were exotic but with given a decorative veneer in the ‘Moorish’ style.

During the Austro-Hungarian Period, Mt Trebević acquired the characteristics of a forest park through the building of some access roads (Appel's road), fortifications and restaurants. In this period the uncontrolled introduction of exotic plant species took place such that today it looks like an improvised arboretum.

23

5. URBAN AND REGIONAL POPULATION, SOCIAL ISSUES AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS

In 1995 Bosnia and Herzegovina was divided into two administrative entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) and Republika Srpska (RS), and the separate district of Brčko

B&H Entity's structure: FB&H is administratively divided on 10 cantons, which are in turn divided into municipalities. There are 79 municipalities in FB&H. Republika Srpska is administratively divided into 62 municipalities. The city of Brčko forms a separate administrative district.

The area of Bosnia and Herzegovina covers a total of 51,209.2 km², Of this, 51,197 km² is land and 12,2 km² sea

Climate: The majority of the country has a continental climate with an area of mediterranean climate in the south.

Population: The number of inhabitants grew from 1879 up to year 1991 (Table 3) and the population was made up of Bosniacs, Croats, Serbs and peoples of others nations.

Table 3. Population of B&H according to censuses from 1979-1991.

The Preliminary results of the census conducted in 2013 revealed the that 2.371.603 people live in Federation of B&H, 1.326.991 in Republic of Srpska and 93.028 in Brčko District, which makes a total population of 3.791.622. The Sarajevo region (which fits mostly into the administrative unit of the Canton of Sarajevo) is the second the most highly populated area with 438.443 inhabitants. This region comprises 9 municipalities, the most populous of which are Novi Grad, Ilidža, Novo Sarajevo and Center (Table 4).

The average net salary in B&H is 838 KM (period XII-2013). The rate of unemployment is, according to the ILO definition, (ARS) 27.5% (PERIOD: 2013) and the rate of employment is 31.6%.

24

Table 4. Number of people living in Sarajevo city region according to preliminary census results.

Municipality Number of people CENTAR SARAJEVO 59.238 HADŽIĆI 24.979 ILIDŽA 71.892 ILIJAŠ 20.504 NOVI GRAD SARAJEVO 124.471 NOVO SARAJEVO 68.802 STARI GRAD SARAJEVO 38.911 TRNOVO – FB&H 1.830 VOGOŠĆA 27.816

* http://fzs.ba/PopisNaseljenaM.pdf

25

6. PORTRAITS OF THE MAIN REGIONAL AND CITY PARKS/OPEN SPACES

Veliki Park (meaning big park) and Mali Park (meaning small park) were constructed on the sites of abandoned Muslim graveyards in the year 1885 (Fig. 16, 17). The area of these two parks totals almost 4 ha and they are located in the centre of town, across from the President’s residence. In the park is located relatively recent monument dedicate to all the Sarajevo children who died during the war (1992-1995).

Figure 16. Location of Veliki Park and Mali Park. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sarajevo/

Figure 17. Veliki Park and Muslim graves. http://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/veliki-park-cvijecem-ispisano

26

At Mejdan Park was constructed on the location of a horse market dating from Ottoman period (Fig. 18). It was established in 1905 and was first known as Franz Joseph Park. The music pavilion was built in 1913 and destroyed on 6th April 1941, during the World War II. The pavilion was rebuilt in 2005 (Fig. 19). This park represents the first park in the European style in this region.

Figure 18. Location of At Mejdan park.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sarajevo/

Figure 19. Music pavilion in At-Mejdan park.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/22151885

27

Ambassador Avenue and Bentbaša

Ambassadors Avenue is a project that was launched in 2002, when the promenade along the river Miljacka was built with a wall of 700 meters in length, along which was planted an avenue of lime trees (Tilia spp.) (Fig. 20). “Ambassadors Avenue” is project which pursues the specific goal of offering citizens a clean and unpolluted natural environment along the river Miljacka, as a comfortable space for relaxation and recreation. This is a project in which the ambassadors accredited in B&H, as well as senior officials of international organizations, were given the chance to plant their own tree in the “Ambassador Avenue”. The avenue was located on Bentbaša, one of the oldest parts of town, built during the Ottoman period. Bentbaša is also known for the old bridge called Kozija Ćuprija (Fig. 21). During the Austrian-Hungarian Period (in 1884) a public baths were built on Bentbaša which were to become very well known to the people of Sarajevo.

Figure 20. Ambassadors Alley. http://www.spottedbylocals.com/sarajevo/aleja-ambasadora/

Figure 21. Kozija Ćuprija bridge. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2599008

28

Wilson Promenade

The Wilson Promenade (Fig. 22) is named after the twenty-eighth U.S. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28th, 1856 – February 3rd, 1924).

The promenade was constructed during the Austrian-Hungarian Period. It was first called “Kalaj promenade” after the diplomat Benjamin Kalaj. From 1941 to 1945 its name was changes to "Mussolini Promenade", and after the II World War it was given its current name, the Wilson promenade.

The Main species planted along the Wilson promenade is the lime, of which there are some 280 specimens. For many people of Sarajevo the Wilson Promenade has sentimental significance. Many love stories started in this avenue of lime trees. Beneath the crowns of the linden trees many generations have experienced their first love, first kiss but also disappointments.

Figure 22. Wilson promenade by Miljacka river. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/504403226986729888/

Spomen-Park Vraca

The Spomen-Park Vraca (Vraca Memorial Park) is a park dedicated to the World War II victims of Sarajevo (Fig. 23, 24). It covers 78.000 square meters and honours the names of the over 11.000 men, women, and children killed during World War II.

The idea was to rehabilitate an old Austro-Hungarian fortress as a joint project between Vladimir Dobrović as designer, Alija Kučukalić as sculptor, and Aleksandar Maltarić as landscape architect. Construction began in April 1980 and was finished in November of the same year. It was opened and dedicated on November 25, 1981, the "Day of Statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina". In 1996, the park was systematically destroyed by withdrawing Serbian forces after the signing of the Dayton Agreement. In 2005, the park was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

29

Figure 23. Location of Vraca Memorial Park. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sarajevo/

Figure 24. Vraca Memorial Park. http://www.klix.ba/forum/spasimo-i-obnovimo-spomen-park-vraca-u-sarajevu-t54609s50.html

Park-šuma Mojmilo

Park-šuma Mojmilo is the one of the newest parks in Sarajevo (Fig. 25, 26). It has an area of almost 40 ha. The main idea was to animate the local community, schools and NGOs to build a park. Features of the park include: an arboretum, areas for walking and specific horticultural elements, an eco-house (where you can drink free coffee and enjoy the view),

30

two children's playgrounds, jogging trails, an amphitheatre as an outdoor classroom, rock gardens, paths and trails. was More than 1.000 seedlings of more than a one hundred species of carefully selected, indigenous plants and other specific species have been planted in the park.

Figure 25. Eco-house in the Park-šuma Mojmilo.

http://www.alterural.ba/domaci-proizvodi/eko-kuca-mojmilo/#ad-image-0

Figure 26. Appearance of the Park at an early stage of construction

http://www.sac.net/index.php/events/itemlist/tag/mojmilo.html

Park Prijateljstva

Park Prijateljstva (meaning Park of Friendship) is a new modern park with equipment the first of its kind in our city (Fig. 27). It was founded through a donation of Azerbaijan and represents friendship between Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

31

Figure 27. Running path in “Park prijateljstva”

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/

One of of the symbols of this park takes the form of a statue of two women, one

Azerbaijani and one Bosnian. The statue is monument to victims of the war in Bosnia (1992-1995) and tragedy in Azerbaijan, “Hodžala”, in February in 1992. Around 70 trees were planted in the park and the new green areas also incorporate decorative flowers and ca. 200 ornamental shrub seedlings.

For sports lovers there is a running path of almost a mile long and a climbing wall, while for the safety of visitors there is a protective fence along the banks of the river Dobrinja.

Ali-pašin Park

Ali-Pašin Park was founded after World War II by landscape architect Smiljan Klaić (1912 -1989) and it is one of the most beautiful parks in Sarajevo. The park surrounds the Ali-Pasha's Mosque, which was constructed in Sarajevo in the years 1560 to 1561 (Fig. 28).

Figure 28. Ali-pašin Park. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alipasina_dzamija.jpg

32

Park Svjetlosti and Betanija Park

Also significant from the point of view of their size are Park Svijetlosti (meaning Park of Light) (Fig. 29, 30) and Betanija Park (Fig. 31). They were both destroyed during the war (1992-1995) but have been rebuilt since. Betanija Park is very near Zoo Park Pionirska dolina and it contains playgrounds, jogging, cycling and trim trails with an overall length of 1200 m. The area of Betanija Park is around 7 ha.

The area of Park Svjetlosti is around 2,8 ha. The specific characteristic of this park is the fact that the citizens of Sarajevo cut down all trees during the war in order to survive during the siege of the city. They use the green areas to plant vegetables. After the war the park was rebuilt and all the trees were re-planted.

Figure 29. Park Svijetlosti during the war.

http://www.klix.ba/

Figure 30. Park Svijetlosti today.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/

33

Figure 31. Betanija Park. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/37742270

Protected areas Vrelo Bosne

Vrelo Bosne (the spring of the Bosna River) is the source of the River Bosna and is located in the central region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the southwest of Sarajevo (Fig. 32, 33). It is one of the country's top natural landmarks and is one of the most famous areas of natural beauty in the region. The park is usually entered on foot or, for a reasonable price, by horse-carriage via the main avenue leading into it. The avenue itself contains traditional buildings from the Austro-Hungarian-era offering a glimpse into the luxuries of the past.

Figure 32. Park around Vrelo Bosne. http://gulftravelbosnia.com/sarajevo/vrelo-bosne/

The paths and roads inside the park are ideal for walks and give the visitors the opportunity to take a closer look at the bubbling streams and waterfalls. Outdoor cafés are

34

available offering drinks and snacks but opening times vary from season to season. Typical fauna includes ducks and swans.

During the Bosnian War the park was not maintained and trees were chopped down and used for heating by the local citizens. In 2000 the park was restored to its former appearance by local youths led by an international ecological organization.

Figure 33. The lime avenue in Vrelo Bosne. http://www.seebiz.net/

Skakavac

Skakavac is a waterfall with a height of about 98 m, which is located 12 km from Sarajevo (Fig. 34, 35). The Skakavac waterfall is one of the highest and most attractive waterfalls in B&H and it forms a real tourist attraction, with its location within a landscape of exceptional beauty.

Figure 34. Waterfall Skakavac.

http://www.visitsarajevo.biz

35

The surroundings are one of the most heterogenous areas in that region, being dominated by spruce and fir and beech and fir forests with spruce on the more pronounced slopes. On shallow carbon grounds in the vicinity of the waterfall, there are thermophilous forests with an understorey of eastern hornbeam and autumn locust as well as eastern hornbeam and manna ash. The rocks surrounding the waterfall have very interesting vegetation dominated by endemic and relic types. The waterfall at Skakavac, meaning grasshopper in Bosnian, is for more than one reason, one of the most attractive tourist sites in the vicinity of Sarajevo.

Figure 35. Path leading to waterfall Skakavac. http://www.nahla.ba/tekstovi12.aspx?tid=167

Bijambare

The Bijambare area, which is famous for its caves, is located on the far north-eastern slopes of Sarajevo District and the Ilijaš, a small town near Sarajevo. It is accessible via the main Sarajevo-Tuzla road, from which an asphalt road branches off leading towards a mountain home and the well-known Bijambare caves, large parts of which are open to visitors (Fig. 36, 37). An optimum height above sea level (950 m on average), dense conifer woods, meadows, two water courses with lakes and chasms, five caves, rocky massif and high quality air provide ideal conditions for alpinism, speleology, skiing, mushroom picking, harvesting medicinal herbs, or simply for nature excursions and visits.

The central part of Bijambare is a karst enclave with all its commonly observed characteristics: caves, lost rivers, intriguing funnel-shaped depressions and rocky massifs. There are five caves located at three levels, in a relatively small area. One of these caves, the Bijambare cave is especially popular, and it has been a popular tourist spot and a speleological site for a long time. The cave is 420 m long (basic direction without individual branches), with four chambers with rich ornaments in all the known forms: lateral blocks, stalactites, casts, stalagmites and curtains. The fourth chamber is the biggest (around 60 m in diameter and 15–30 m in height). It is also called the "music chamber" because of its acoustic effects.

36

Figure 36. Bijambare cave. http://www.discoverdinarides.com/en/bih/bijamb

Figure 37. Path through the forest near Bijamber cave. http://www.travelobosnia.com/sightseeing/bijambare-caves/#.UydNEmJ1TCs

Finally, it is impossible to avoid mentioning the surrounding Olympic mountains

without which the portrait of this city would be incomplete. There are four Olympic Mountains around Sarajevo, at just one hour’s driving time from city or less. They are very popular with visitors, and tourists as well as with local people.

37

7. CURRENT RESEARCH ON CHARACTERISTIC USES AND SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC SPACES

In transitional societies such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, a combination of urbanisation together with modern way of living is very often the reason for citizens to become completely or partially isolated from nature. Urban green spaces should, therefore, provide specific “buffer zones” for urban people in order for them to maintain both a relationship with nature and a healthy way of living. Therefore, such an intention demands the fulfilment of citizens' preferences during planning and maintenance of urban green spaces.

Figure 38. Specific symbiosis of greenery and urban elements of Sarajevo

Source: http://goo.gl/GPUAgl

The specific location and the configuration of the terrain in the valley in which Sarajevo has developed over the centuries (Fig. 38), means that there is a natural “Green ring” formed out of mountains, meadows, forests, streams, mountain villages etc. literally within half-an-hour walking distance from the city. This has resulted in a specific and very close relationship between Sarajevo’s citizens and their natural surroundings. According to the 1965 urban development plan for the city (Anđelić, 1981) it was planned to increase area of public green space in Sarajavo from 5.38 m2 to 20.8 m2 per person. However, in practice the opposite happened and the area of public green space actually decreased. In 1980, Sarajevo had only 4 m2 of urban green space per citizen, and the war, with the siege of Sarajevo (1992-1995), led to the almost complete destruction of public green space of the city - grasslands were used for agriculture production while park trees were felled for heating.

Today, Sarajevo is facing numerous problems related to its urban green space. The reasons are manifold, while the drivers of the unfavourable situation relating to urban green space range from intensified migration from rural to urban areas to various irregularities related to the civil engineering and also include the weak institutional and legislative framework. One thing is certain – the negative impacts of this situation have both a direct and

38

an indirect influence on the entire population of the city (Fig. 39). The increasing density and growth of Sarajevo, which is taking place without consideration of the land-use capacity of the city and citizens' needs for healthy environment and recreation, have contributed to a drastic loss of trees and forest cover within and around city.

Figure 39. Various consequences of uncontrolled urbanization of Sarajevo.

Sources: http://goo.gl/ZvjUxC & http://goo.gl/yMRVUe

Overcoming these problems requires recognition of the importance of public green spaces and urban forests for urban development. Urban forests represent two contrasting yet complementary concepts for analysing interactions between people and environment that refer to both place and space. While place refers to home, familiarity and safety, space stands for the unknown, the wild, the adventurous (Konijnendijk, 2008). Bearing in mind the above mentioned socio-historical context of both Sarajevo and Bosnia-Herzegovina (post-war country with an economy in transition that has influenced Sarajevo as its capital), during the last couple of years particular attention have been given to understanding and analysing the perception of and relationship between people in Sarajevo’s and nature and forests (Avdibegović, 2006; Fazlić, 2010), urban forests (Brajić, 2011) and public green spaces (Hadžidervišagić, 2010).

When it comes to the perception of the forest ecosystems of the Sarajevo, results revealed that the most frequent association connected with the word ‘forests’ are ‘nature’, ‘fresh air’, ‘trees’, ‘relaxation’, ‘leisure time’ and ‘beauty’ (Fazlić, 2010). Similar results were obtained interviewing visitors to Vrelo Bosne, one of the most important urban forests of Sarajevo Canton. They associated Vrelo Bosne with nature and immense natural beauties, the source of the Bosna River, with relaxation and recreation (Brajić, 2011). Reasons why citizens of Sarajevo visit forests include relaxation, fresh air, sporting activities and health reasons (Fazlić, 2010), while the reasons which citizens give for visiting Vrelo Bosne include making an outing, sport and recreation, relaxation in nature, spending time with friends and relatives and because of a need for a change of surroundings (Brajić, 2011).

As one can see, the reasons why citizens decide to visit urban or peri-urban forests are very similar: they reflect the need for contact with a natural environment due to its positive influences on human health., It should, therefore, not come as a surprise that most of the respondents in the case of both research projects thought that the ecological functions of

39

forest ecosystems/urban forests (Fazlić, 2010; Brajić, 2011) represented the most important functions of forests. These are followed by sociological functions, while economic functions are rated as the least important function of forest ecosystems in Sarajevo.

Nevertheless, the majority of the respondents thought that the condition of the forest ecosystems of Sarajevo were unsatisfactory (Fazlić, 2010). According to the citizens, the main reason is poor forest management practice on the part of the authorities responsible for the territory of Sarajevo. On the other hand, most of the respondents thought that the overall condition of Vrelo Bosne was satisfactory (Brajić, 2011). However, they recommended the authorities responsible for the management of Vrelo Bosne urban forest to pay special attention to diversifying the facilities on offer, to the organisation of appropriate events, to making infrastructure improvements and increasing the quality of communication and cooperation with the citizens as final users (Brajić, 2011). Similar results were obtained from research on public green areas within City of Sarajevo. Respondents were dissatisfied with the amount of public green space in City, its quality, the infrastructure as well as organisation of events (Hadžidervišagić, 2010). Closeness and availability were the most important reasons why respondents decide to spend spare time in public green areas (Hadžidervišagić, 2010). On the other hand, important characteristics of public green areas such as their condition, layout and role as a refuge from traffic and urban hustle were rated as not very well developed (Hadžidervišagić, 2010).

Surprisingly, results of research relating to expectations regarding the Vrelo Bosne urban forest and research on public green spaces within City of Sarajevo showed that most visitors visit these places once or twice in a week (Brajić, 2011; Hadžidervišagić, 2010). Reasons for spending time in Vrelo Bosne were mainly to have an outing, for sport and recreation, to relax in natural surroundings, or to spend time with friends and relatives (Brajić, 2011). On the other hand, visitors to public green spaces go there for relaxation, to socialise, to spend spare time with children or simply because it is the closest green space to the place where they live (Hadžidervišagić, 2010). Interestingly, respondents did not mention recreation and sport activities as main motive for visiting public green spaces. Such a trend was already noticed and often debated in local newspapers, which have sought to explain how the mentality of the citizens of Bosnia Hercegovina is the main reasons why fitness facilities installed at public green spaces are not used as expected. Therefore, the local association for architecture, sport, recreation and ecology planned to organise education workshops to emphasise the positive health benefits of recreation in open spaces.

Bearing in mind the results of research studies into the perception/attitudes of citizens towards forests, urban forests and public green spaces, the general conclusion is that citizens express a significant need for a natural environment as well as an awareness of the positive influences of natural environment. However, respondents are generally dissatisfied with the overall condition of forests, urban forests and public green spaces. Such a situation calls for the implementation of various participatory techniques for involving citizens in the planning and managing forests/urban forests and public green spaces as they are the ‘end users’ whose needs ought to be fulfilled. On the other hand, citizens express a rather passive relationship with public green spaces. Therefore, there is a need to organise appropriate educational campaigns in order to improve their attitude and overall connectedness with public green spaces of City of Sarajevo.

40

8. TOURISM DEVELOPMENTS IN SARAJEVO REGION

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a melting pot of many different cultures, a bridge between East and West. It offers the traveller an experience like nowhere else with influences from Roman times to the reign of the Bosnian Kings; from the Ottoman Period to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and from the Yugoslav era with Marshal Tito as its leader. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also a paradise for nature lovers. With its soaring mountains, untouched forests and wild rivers, it invites visitors to come for rafting, canoeing or hiking. The Olympic ski pistes offer the opportunity of enjoying the snow at affordable prices. Perhaps the greatest asset is the wonderful hospitality of Bosnian people, along with the traditional Bosnian coffee and cakes, the irresistible “ćevapi” (grilled minced-meat fingers), wines of long tradition, our lively urban promenades and small cosy places (Foreign Investment Promotion Agency 2013).

Bosnia and Herzegovina has experienced a rapid development of tourism in recent years. Its loction in the southeast of Europe at the crossroads between Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina has all the necessary pre-conditions to further develop its tourism including geographical features, natural beauty, suitable climate and a rich cultural and historical heritage. Many tourism business facilities were established in the period up to the war in 1992, which were supported by a strong transportation infrastructure, and in 1984, Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully hosted the 14th Winter Olympic Games.

Like all sectors in the country, tourism was heavily affected by the war from 1992 to 1995. After the war, tourism has begun to seen as a strategic development area for the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many facilities survived the war, along with country’s untouched nature and historical treasures, and as a result important development potential is seen in a number of different areas, including winter tourism, eco-tourism, spa tourism, cultural and religious tourism and coastal tourism. Research into the tourism business undertaken by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has shown that an annual growth rate of 10,5 % can be expected over the period to 2020, During this time, Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the country with the third highest growth rate in tourism.(Development Bank of Turkey 2010).

Table 5. Estimated foreign tourist arrivals in 2011.

Tourist Category Estimated Arrivals Foreign Tourists in commercial accommodation 600.000,00 Day Trips 490.000,00 Diaspora 498.000,00 Total 1.588.000,00

Source: David T. King and Omer Čar , Estimating Foreign Tourism Arrivals in B&H, USAID Cluster Competitiveness Activity

The total added value produced by the tourism sector grew by 1.8% annually in 2011 against a year earlier. The tourism sector’s share in total employment amounted to 4.1% in

41

2011. Arrivals and overnight stays from Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia have also been showing an encouraging growth in (Fig. 40).

Figure 40. Arrivals by Country, 2011 (Source: Bosnian Statistics Agency)

Table 6. Tourists arrivals and nights by type of accommodation facility Arrivals Nights

2009 2010 2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012 TOTAL 610.817 610.817 686.148 747.827 1.268.173 1.416.691 1.504.205 1.645.521 Hotels 499.695 499.695 559.397 610.115 1.034.420 1.103.637 1.167.735 1.282.622 Motels 54.795 54.795 58.734 59.495 98.942 96.413 94.535 100.150 Boarding - houses and hostels 30.921 30.921 24.191 22.410 51.547 50.627 53.397 41.644

Housekeeping facilities (private rooms) 4.879 4.879 3.776 5.061 9.332 5.348 5.296 7.527

Working resting - places and other 20.527 20.527 40.050 50.746 73.932 160.666 183.242 213.578

Domestic tourists 289.306 289.306 294.203 309.242 597.045 643.937 668.200 714.440 Hotels 220.547 220.547 206.471 219.760 448.911 430.352 426.179 456.655 Motels 32.783 32.783 40.607 39.252 56.539 55.097 57.786 60.827 Boarding - houses and hostels 21.456 21.456 14.905 14.794 33.126 22.126 24.855 22.570

Housekeeping facilities (private rooms) 2.762 2.762 2.893 3.473 3.105 2.611 3.430 4.246

Working resting - places and other 11.758 11.758 29.327 31.963 55.364 133.751 155.950 170.142

Foreign tourists 321.511 321.511 391.945 438.585 671.128 772.754 836.005 931.081 Hotels 279.148 279.148 352.926 390.355 585.509 673.285 741.556 825.967 Motels 22.012 22.012 18.127 20.243 42.403 41.316 36.749 39.323 Boarding - houses and hostels 9.465 9.465 9.286 7.616 18.421 28.501 28.542 19.074

Housekeeping facilities (private rooms) 2.117 2.117 883 1.588 6.227 2.737 1.866 3.281

Working resting - places and other 8.769 8.769 10.723 18.783 18.568 26.915 27.292 43.436

Source: Bosnian Statistics Agency.

2,6% 2,9% 3,3%

5,0%

6,2%

7,7%

8,8%

9,0% 14,1%

18,5%

21,8%

Montenegro

USA

France

Austria

Germany

Poland

Turkey

Italy

Slovenia

Serbia

Croatia

42

An analysis of accommodation facilities shows that more than 75% of all accommodation facilities in B&H is categorized as hotels and motels, although there is considerable number of other facilities in the grey economy that in practice change the real structure of the available facilities. Almost 90% of all registered arrivals and 83% of all overnight stays are spent in hotels and motels. There is constant trend of new facilities opening in all key destinations throughout Bosnia and Hercegovina, regardless of the lack of access to finance from the banks and public investments. Based on official statistics, the total yearly accommodation capacity of the country is some 9.5 million tourist beds (26,100 beds x 365 days). Thus, with official sum of 1.5 million overnight stays in 2011, the official level of occupancy of tourist accommodation in Bosnia Hercegovina is only 16 % over the year as a whole. This is an unrealistically low level at which even the basic operational costs would be hard to cover. During the high tourist season, late spring through summer, the level of occupancy would be higher. For example, with 190,549 registered nights in 2011, July was most visited month in 2011 (as it has been in the last ten years) meaning an average of 6,100 overnight stays per day, or a 23% official occupancy rate – which is still an unrealistically low number (Table 6.).

As noted above, the direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP in 2011 was BAM 530 million (2.1% of GDP). This primarily reflects the economic activity generated by sectors such as hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services (excluding computer services). But it also includes, for example, the activities of the restaurant and leisure industries directly supported by tourists. WTTC expected travel and tourism’s direct contribution to GDP in 2012 to rise by 1.8% to BAM 543 million, and projects long-term growth of 5.9% annually, to BAM 964 million by 2022 (or 2.2% of GDP) (FIRMA 2013).

According to the Tourism Development Strategy for Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation needs to be recognized as a distinctive tourist destination that will differentiate itself within the market by offering tradition, variety and richness of diversity, through the experience of mountains, forests, rivers and the sea, untouched nature and all within easy reach.

The Sarajevo region has long been the cultural and political capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Fig. 41). It is a region that offers everything, from the excitement of the oriental capital city Sarajevo to one of the last virgin forests in Europe, which is to be found in Sutjeska National Park to the east. The cultural, natural, and historic heritage is certainly amongst the most fascinating in all of the Balkans – for it is here that the great eastern and western powers met and left their influences in this largely unknown corner jf the world. This region is tucked into one of the most mountainous parts of the country, leading on the one hand to its isolation, yet creating a certain warm and welcoming feeling in the small communities in and around the capital Sarajevo.

Sarajevo is a city in which even strangers can feel at home. Neither geographically expansive nor characterised by large buildings, the city retains a particular, arresting charm with its abundance of busy café's and abiding tradition of hospitality.

This city epitomizes a partial centuries-old struggle against outside influences combined with the absorption of these influences into one of the most diverse cultures in Europe. Indeed, few places on earth feature an Orthodox and a Catholic church, a mosque and

43

a synagogue within easy walking distance of each other (Fig. 42). If there were any city in Europe that effortlessly straddles east and west, it is Sarajevo. Here the Byzantine and Ottoman empires of the east and the Roman, Venetian and Austro-Hungarian empires of the west left an indelible mark through culture, traditions and religions. A walk through Sarajevo is a walk through its past. From the oriental Ottoman quarters lined with sweet shops, cafés and handicraft workshops, to the administrative and cultural centre of Austro-Hungarian times, Sarajevo encompasses the very best of both worlds.

Figure 41. Sarajevo, the Capital of B&H.

Source: http://www.nkp.ba/sarajevo-medu-10-evropskih-gradova-koje-odmah-treba-posjetiti

Figure 42. Religious objects in Sarajevo.

Source: http://www.nkp.ba/sarajevo-je-civilizacijski-uzor-za-evropu

44

Sarajevo today is a place close to the heart, a city that makes you feel at home.....a community that welcomes guests as if you were one of their own.

Table 7. Tourists' arrivals and nights in Canton Sarajevo for the period 2009. to 2012.

Arrivals Overnight stays

2009 2010 2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012

170.469 205.392 225.644 268.673 324.677 384.977 427.208 512.434

Source: Federal Office for Statistics 2013

From the Table 7 one can conclude that the present growing trend both in arrivals and overnight stays in Sarajevo Canton is a positive indicator for the growth of tourism. During the 2012 Canton Sarajevo recorded 268.673 tourist arrivals. In the same year, the number of overnight stays was 512.434, suggesting significant potential for growth. Although the Sarajevo is capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the basis of the above numbers it can also be described as the country’s capital of tourism.

It is also worthwhile to mention the protected areas in Sarajevo Canton as a further attraction for great number of tourists (Fig. 43.). These include: Vrelo Bosne Nature Monument, the Skakavac Nature Monument and the Bijambare Protected Landscape, all of which are managed by the Cantonal Public Institution for Protected Nature Areas.

Figure 43. Protected areas in Canton Sarajevo: Waterfall Skakavac, Vrelo Bosne and Bijambare cave.

Sources: http://www.ecofutura.ba/slike/galerija/1309814727.jpg http://www.ekoakcija.com/content/bijambare http://www.6yka.com/novost/42678/oko-16.500-posjetilaca-na-vrelu-bosne-od-kako-se-naplacuje-ulaz

45

REFERENCES

Anđelić, N. 1981. Čovjek i zelenilo u našem gradu, Zelenilo Sarajeva, Prvo savjetovanje o zelenilu urbanih područja, Skupština opštine Centar Sarajevo.

Avdibegović, M. 2006. Reinženjering poslovnih sistema šumarstva u funkciji zadovoljavanja socioloških aspekata gospodarenja šumskim resursima u Bosni i Hercegovini, doktorska disertacija, Šumarski fakultet Univerziteta u Sarajevu.

Baycan-Levent, T., Vreeker, R., Nijkamp, P. 2004. Evaluation of urban green spaces. Accounting for nonmarket values in planning evaluation: Alternative methodologies and international practices, D. Miller and D. Patassini, eds., Ashgate, Aldershot, U.K., 63–87.

Bosnian Statistics Agency, http://www.bhas.ba/ (accessed on March 15th 2014) Brajić, A. 2011. Utvrđivanje zahtjeva posjetilaca prema javnom gradskom zelenilu – studij

slučaja ‘Vrelo Bosne’, završni rad, Šumarski fakultet Univerziteta u Sarajevu. Development Bank of Turkey 2010: Bosnia and Herzegovina Sector reports, Tourism sector,

Ankara, Turkey Fazlić, S. 2010. Utvrđivanje zahtjeva stanovništva prema šumi kao osnova za kreiranje

smjernica šumarske politike u Kantonu Sarajevo, magistarski rad, Šumarski fakultet Univerziteta u Sarajevu.

Federal Office for Statistics 2013: Canton Sarajevo in numbers FIRMA 2013. BiH Industry outlook 2013 Tourism Sector Foreign Investment Promotion Agency 2013: Bosnia and Herzegovina Tourism Sector Gligić, V. 1953. Planinska botanička bašta na Trebeviću. Uspomeni Karla Malija.

Poljoprivredno-šumarski fakultet Univerziteta u Sarajevu, Sarajevo, 2: 2-3. Hadžidervišagić, D. 2010. Valorizacija i tipizacija zelenih površina Sarajeva prema funkciji,

značaju i položaju unutar fizičke strukture grada. Master rad, Beograd Harbinja, N. 2012. ''The Integration of new urban development in cultural landscapes of

historical value – The Mahala'', 1st International Conference on Architecture & Urban Design Proceedings 19-21 April 2012, EPOKA University Department of Architecture

KEAP 2006. Kantonalni akcioni plan za zaštitu okoliša; Ministarstvo prostornog uređenja i zaštite okoliša KS.

Konijnendijk C.C. 2008. The Forest and the City, The Cultural Landscape of Urban Woodland, Denmark.

Official web page of Cantonal Public Institution for Protected Nature Areas in Canton Sarajevo, page accessed 13.03.2014., http://zppks.ba/en

Official web page of Tourism Association of FBiH, web page accessed 13.03.2014. http://www.bhtourism.ba/eng/region1.wbsp

Omanović, M., Muslić, M., Hubanić, M. 2012. ''Okolišna karakterizacija nesamonikle dendroflore na primjeru „Velikog parka“ u Sarajevu'', Academy of sciences and arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Special editions, Volume 963, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Proceedings: 2nd International Colloqium, Biodiversity – theoretical and practical aspects proceedings, 360:159-166, Sarajevo, 2012.

Omanović, M., Hubanić, M., Muslić, M. 2010. ''GIS interpretation of some urban greenery category on example of Sarajevo city'', International symposium, Geoecology – XXI

46

century, Theoretical and applicative tasks, Proceedings, Faculty of Philosophy Nikšić, 21-24 September 2010.

Redžić S., Barudanović S., Radević M. 2008. Bosna i Hercegovina – zemlja raznolikosti. Federalno ministarstvo okoliša i turizma, Sarajevo.

Resulović H., Čustović H. 2002. Pedologija. Univerzitet u Sarajevu, Sarajevo, 318 str., ISBN: 9958-9643-5-x

Schneider, A., Woodcock, C. 2008. ''Compact, dispersed, fragmented, extensive? A comparation of urban expansion in twenty five global cities using remote sensed, data patern metrics and census information'', Urban Stud 45:59-92

Statistički godišnjak 1945 – 1953: Narodna Republika Bosna i Hercegovina, Zavod za statistiku i evidenciju

Tourism Development Strategy Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2008-2018.

Other Internet Sources:

http://portal24h.ba/bentbasa-jedan-od-najupecatljivijih-dijelova-sarajeva/ http://astrid.blogger.ba/arhiva/2009/03/22/2106884 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vraca_Memorial_Park http://www.rekreacija.ba/index.php/portal/prodavnica/park-suma-mojmilo http://tvsa.ba/ba/vijesti/park_prijateljstva_na_dobrinji_v_predat__opcini_novi_grad http://vlada.ks.gov.ba/node/4351 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrelo_Bosne http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skakavac,_Sarajevo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bijambare http://goo.gl/GPUAgl http://goo.gl/ZvjUxC http://goo.gl/yMRVUe