Hutovo Blato

The Derane area lost 5 m3/s of its freshwater flow during the summer, which comprises 50% of the total water flowing into this unique remaining natural wetland in the Neretva delta. This water loss accelerated the process of succession, and as 

a consequence, the bottom of Lake Derane has risen. Within the last 35 years, the area around Boljun Kuk is as much as one meter higher. These drastic changes to the natural water cycle have degraded Hutovo Blato’s wetland habitats. 

Habitat loss has resulted in the loss of biodiversity. The total number of known bird species has decreased by
31%. The endemic fish populations are also decreasing and being replaced by introduced fish species. Endemic plants are in danger of extinction. Unless urgent measures for the restoration of the Derane area are undertaken, the complete disappearance of this area’s wetland ecosystem can be expected within the next 35 years. 

Hutovo Blato is included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. As a party to this Convention, Bosnia and Herzegovina assumed the obligation of protecting the Hutovo Blato area. 

Herzegovina-Neretva County’s Environmental Protection Act further mandates the legal obligation to protect Hutovo Blato: “The operator carrying out an activity dangerous to the environment is responsible for the damage caused by such activity to people, property and the environment.”It is essential that the parties responsible for the degradation of Hutovo Blato’s ecosystem are actively involved in its restoration and subsequent maintenance. 

While it is unrealistic or even unreasonable to expect or plan the decommissioning of hydropower plants to restore the wetland ecosystem, it is also unreasonable
that the responsible hydropower plant operators do not undertake any specific measures to mitigate their negative impacts on Hutovo Blato Nature Park. 

In the Hutovo Blato Nature Park, two isolated areas belonging to the low histosols of the barrier-wetland ecosystems from the group of flat, lowland, peat soils on alluvial sandy loam have been identified.

The area is divided in two sectors: the Deransko Lake and Svitavsko Lake, today used as a compensation reservoir (with dykes) for the Pumped-Storage hydropower plant of Capljina.

The peat substrate in the area of Deransko blato covers an area of 1,488.1 ha, while the second area of the former Svitavsko blato covers an area of 652.8 ha.

In total, it is estimated that approximately 80% of the historical natural area of Hutovo Blato wetlands has been reclaimed and therefore damaged by human activities. The most impacting activities in the sector are related to (1) hydropower and (2) agricultural practices.

In terms of peatland areas, we estimate the loss to be between 30 and 50% of the current area.

Recent research activities for the elaboration of the Hutovo Blato restoration action plan demonstrated that the current area could be expanded from 20% to 30% through the implementation of restoration and conservation activities.