Landscape fire management in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) is supported by a complex legal framework that spans disaster risk reduction, forestry, environmental protection, nature conservation, and land use. These laws define the roles and responsibilities of different levels of government and institutions in preventing and responding to fires. However, the absence of a Law on Forests at the entity level poses a major gap in the legal structure, limiting the effectiveness of fire prevention efforts.
The main laws and regulations relevant to landscape fire management include:
- Law on Protection and Rescue of People and Material Goods from Natural or Other Disasters
(Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 39/03, 22/06, 43/10)
Establishes emergency preparedness and disaster response systems, defining institutional responsibilities, coordination mechanisms, and resource mobilisation during disasters. - Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting
(Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 64/09)
Regulates fire protection services, firefighting interventions, the training of personnel, financing, and operational planning in fire emergencies. - Law on Forests (2002 – annulled in 2009) and the Regulation on Forests (2009–2011)
Following its annulment, there has been no active forest law at the entity level. This legal vacuum weakens the implementation of preventive forest fire measures and coordinated forestry governance. - Regulation on the Content of Fire Protection Plans for Forests (Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 21/04 – repealed)
Outlined technical and preventive measures to be implemented by forest management companies for fire risk reduction and early response. - Law on Seed and Plant Material of Forest and Horticultural Tree and Shrub Species
(Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 71/05, 8/10)
Covers the management of forest reproductive material, ensuring quality standards for seed production and nursery activities. - Law on Nature Protection
(Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 66/13)
Aims to safeguard biodiversity and landscape integrity through conservation planning, restoration, and sustainable land use. - Law on Environmental Protection
(Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 15/21)
Provides a broad environmental framework addressing pollution prevention, natural resource management, and environmental impact assessments. - Law on Agricultural Land
(Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 52/09)
Regulates land use, protection, and planning measures for agricultural zones, relevant to fire risk in rural landscapes.
In addition, several cantonal laws on forests and fire protection govern specific territories within the FBiH, often with varying standards and responsibilities. These include:
- Cantonal Laws on Forests:
-Law on Forests of the Una-Sana Canton (“Official Gazette of the Una-Sana Canton”, no. 22/12, 16/16, 12/17 and 25/17)
– Law on Forests of the Tuzla Canton (“Official Gazette of the Tuzla Canton”, no. 7/17)
– Law on Forests of the Posavina Canton (“Official Gazette of the Posavina Canton”, no. 9/13)
– Law on Forests of the Bosnia Podrinje Canton (“Official Gazette of the Bosnia Podrinje Canton, no. 04/13, 5/13, 13/19, 14/19)
– Law on Forests of the Sarajevo Canton (“Official Gazette of the Sarajevo Canton” no. 05/13)
– Law on Forests of the West Herzegovina Canton (“Official Gazette of the West Herzegovina Canton no. 8/13 and 11/17)
– Law on Forests of the Central Bosnia Canton (“Official Gazette of the Central Bosnia Canton” no. 5/14, 12/15, 8/16, 7/18 and 14/20)
– Law on Forest of the Zenica Doboj Canton (“Official Gazette of the Zenica Doboj Canton” no. 8/13, 01/15)
– Law on Forests of the Canton 10 (“Official Gazette of the Canton 10” no. 04/14)
- Cantonal Laws on Fire Protection and Firefighting:
– Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting of the Una-Sana Canton (“Official Gazette of the Una-Sana Canton” no.04/13)
– The Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting of the Posavina Canton (“Official Gazette of the Posavina Canton”, no. 12/19)
– Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting of the Zenica-Doboj Canton (“Official Gazette of the Zenica-Doboj Canton” no. 05/11 and 24/19)
– Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting in the Central Bosnia Canton (“Official Gazette of the Central Bosnia Canton” no. 15/12)
– Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting in the Tuzla Canton (“Official Gazette of the Tuzla Canton” no. 01/12 and 03/16)
– Law on the Competencies of the Authorities of the Sarajevo Canton in the Field of Fire Protection and Firefighting (“Official Gazette of the Sarajevo Canton” no. 23/11)
– The Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (“Official Gazette of HNK”, no. 3/23
– The Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting in the Bosansko-Podrinje Canton Goražde (“Official Gazette of the Bosansko-Podrinje Canton Goražde”, no. 12/21)
– The Law on Fire Protection (“Official Gazette of the HBŽ”, no. 7/02 and 5/10), which is not harmonised with the federal Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting, while the area of firefighting has not yet been legally regulated in the canton
While these laws provide a foundation for action, the legal framework remains fragmented, particularly due to the lack of a harmonized forestry law at the federal level. Strengthening legal coordination between federal and cantonal levels and introducing targeted legislation for forest management will be crucial to improve fire resilience, protect biodiversity, and reduce the risks posed by landscape fires in the FBiH.