YUGOSLAVIA

Environmental Overview
by Country

About CEE Environment

UCEF home

Natural treasures damaged by war, embargoes

Yugoslavia, a country with an unusually diverse terrain and an impressive biodiversity, has seen its environment degraded by years of war and economic stagnation. A concerted effort to rebuild the institutions of the country is vital to preserving Yugoslavia's environment.

The territory of Yugoslavia occupies 102,173 square kilometers, or 2.1 percent of the European continent. This relatively small expanse of land is home to an exceptionally large number of species, many of which can only be found in the Balkans.

Because the country is located on the crossroads of a variety of biogeographical features, it has a diverse mosaic of habitats providing the preconditions for an extensive variety of species. Yugoslavia is home to 80 percent of European bird species, near 70 percent of European mammalian species, and over 50 percent of freshwater fish. Yugoslavia’s vegetation has plant communities that are singular to this region. Nine percent of the total flora are endemic species, of which 2 percent are found only in Yugoslavia. Five percent of the territory of Serbia and 8 percent of Montenegro is regulated for nature protection.

Montenegro has declared itself to be the world’s first “environmental state,” pledging to live more harmoniously with nature. The challenge it has set itself is a large one, with tourist developments along the coast threatening saltwater estuaries.

Historically, Yugoslavia was among the least polluted and best-preserved parts of Europe, but the tragic events of this decade have brought on damages of war while preventing the country from taking part in the transition process that has benefited many other nations of Central and Eastern Europe.

Economic embargoes against Yugoslavia throughout the '90s have forced many industries to reduce activities, or even shut down, so environmental pollution has decreased. But those industries that are still operating, or those that have returned after temporary closure because of the economic situation, are now using cheap resources that are more likely to produce large amounts of pollution.

Economic sanctions also mean that the nation’s air and water are polluted as a result of old, inefficient technologies that were never replaced as the country developed. The level of air pollution from industry is quite high, because of irrational use of energy, poor system management, low efficiency of devices and their short service life.

The quality of water is covered by a systematic testing program, which shows that most rivers are usually one class below the desired level. There are also various natural lakes – some of them under protection because of their attractiveness and abundant flora and fauna.

Yugoslavia is still rich in forests, but they are exposed to many harmful factors which are causing their deterioration: Poor stand conditions, illegal cutting, extreme temperatures, forest fires, insects and polluted air. The total area of land under cultivation is decreasing. The biggest threat to soil is posed by open pit coal and other mines, waste dumps, polluted waste waters, heavy metals, radioactive substances, settlement of all kinds, and chemicals used in excessive quantity.

The war in the territory of former Yugoslavia dominated public concerns and precluded work on environmental issues for several years. Environmental management in Yugoslavia is not satisfactory, legislation is still not harmonised with EU standards, and due to the absence of a complete environmental monitoring system, information on the state of the environment is inadequate.

During 1999, air strikes on a wide range of Yugoslav targets, including fuel refineries, fertilizer plants, petrochemical units, storage tanks and protected natural areas, caused significant environmental damage from pollution of air, soil, surface and ground water, while also influencing the food chain and affecting biodiversity.

Unfortunately, at a time when environmental issues require heightened attention, the institutions that should address these problems are operating at severely reduced capacity. Governmental structures have been incapacitated by war and isolation from the international community. The network of environmental non-governmental organisations, previously burdened by a poor institutional structure and an underdeveloped civil society, face even greater difficulties after the war. There has been a near halting of NGO activities, coupled with a decrease of membership and problems in communicating and cooperation.

To preserve its environment, as well as public health, Yugoslavia urgently needs a monitoring system capable of giving precise, detailed information about environmental damage, as well as technical assistance in cleaning up the damage. There is also a need to restore governmental and non-governmental institutions and to re-establish connections with the support network of the international community.