Natural Disasters Risk Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is exposed to many natural hazards. Changes in hydromechanical regime, long-lasting droughts, extreme rainfalls of high intensity and short duration, as well as endogenous processes caused more and more destructive floods, torrents, earthquakes and landslides. However, in analyzing the causes that lead to the negative consequences of natural occurrences, anthropogenic activity plays a major role. In this connection, this chapter will analyze primarily the causes that lead to the negative effects of natural phenomena. When speaking about anthropogenic activity and role of the man in the increasing of the consequences of natural disasters, will be analyzed activities that are not conducted in a sector of strategic documents and spatial plans, as well as specific gaps in individual sectors of the economy. The development of a disaster risk reduction strategy, consisting of assessing the vulnerability and mapping risks from certain natural disasters, is considered important in the prevention of disasters, and will be processed in particular. Their integration into spatial plans, with the use of modern technologies (such as GIS), could greatly contribute to reducing the consequences of natural disasters.