Biodiversity of River Neretva
On 30 June 2021, I participated in the EXCHANGE seminar on the biodiversity of the River Neretva, held at Hotel Mostar in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Organised by the Tourist Board of Herzegovina–Neretva Canton, the seminar brought together 30 participants, including 15 tourism guides, alongside representatives of institutions, civil society, businesses and project partners.
The event aimed to strengthen participants’ knowledge of the natural heritage of Mostar and the Neretva basin, helping them communicate its significance to visitors.
Understanding the river’s biodiversity
The programme explored three connected themes: the biological characteristics of the Neretva basin, its flora and fauna, and fish diversity and its relevance to tourism.
Dr Anita Dedić presented the basin’s biological characteristics, drawing attention to algae, aquatic invertebrates and other organisms that can receive less attention in visitor interpretation than larger, more visible species.
The presentations also examined the distinctive conditions of karst rivers, the diversity of aquatic habitats and the importance of endemic species. These topics provided a scientific foundation for explaining what makes the Neretva basin’s natural heritage distinctive.
Photo: Tourism guides, institutional representatives and EXCHANGE project partners at the River Neretva biodiversity seminar in Mostar.
Connecting knowledge with visitor experiences
A central theme was how biodiversity knowledge could enrich tourism activities. The discussions considered nature interpretation, recreational fishing, scientific tourism and local fish-based gastronomy.
For tourism guides, these connections offer opportunities to explain the relationships between the river, its living organisms and the communities around it. The seminar placed particular emphasis on plants and fish as subjects that could complement existing visitor experiences.
Within EXCHANGE, this learning supported the wider effort to connect aquatic biodiversity with cross-border tourism development.
Identifying further learning needs
Participants exchanged contacts and experiences and discussed potential follow-up activities.
Evaluation feedback highlighted interest in presenting Neretva sites and attractions in English, understanding the role of aquatic life in specialised tourism offers, and exploring the connections between regional nature, culture and ways of life.
The seminar provided a practical meeting point between scientific expertise and tourism experience, supporting more informed interpretation of the River Neretva’s natural heritage.
Cover photo: Radoje Laušević presenting during the EXCHANGE seminar on the biodiversity of the River Neretva, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 30 June 2021.
