Did you know that Mount Ozren has become home to a new, previously unknown species of spider, which will bear the name of this magnificent mountain?ย The discovery of this spider and the previously found ๐ด๐๐๐โ๐กโ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ further elevates Ozren on the worldโs natural treasures map. This significant finding is just one of many fascinating research results into this area’s biodiversity, which was presented at the 6th Conference of the Nature Protection Network, organized by UG Fojniฤani Maglaj with the support of Norway and the SMART Balkans.ย
A new, previously unknown spider species has been discovered in the Mokra Megara cave complex and will be scientifically named after Mount Ozren, thus permanently adding this area to the worldโs scientific heritage. The Ozren spider (Porrhomma ozrenensis) was presented at the VI Conference of the Nature Protection Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina, held in Doboj, by Marjan Komnenov, a speleobiologist from North Macedonia, who is credited with this discovery.
Following the discovery of the Maglaj giant, a beetle species that also inhabits the same area, this spectacular finding of another endemic species on Ozren further confirms the exceptional natural value of the region, which is designated in the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Srpska for national park status. Encouragingly, the Ozren cave complex of Mokra Megara in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has already entered the procedure for being declared a protected area.
In addition to the newly discovered Ozren spider, scientists and researchers from the Nature Protection Network shared valuable data on bats, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, plants, fungi, mosses, and algae, emphasizing the importance of preserving this mountain. Special attention was drawn to the participation of Roman Romanov, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who joined the conference via video link and presented his discoveries of specific algae species. His findings on Ozren include species not recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina for over 100 years. These discoveries not only confirm the purity of the watercourses on Mount Ozren but also the preservation of its ecosystem, providing strong evidence for the protection of this unique natural area.
Currently, the only protected part of Mount Ozren is the Gostilj peak, declared a protected habitat for the grass Iva in 2021. The traditional harvesting of this medicinal plant on Ozren, held every September, was included in UNESCOโs Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018, gaining international recognition for its cultural and ecological significance.
Despite its rich natural and cultural values, Ozren faces serious challenges due to planned geological research aimed at exploiting nickel and cobalt. Local residents fear that mining activities could irreparably damage the environment, including the quality of the abundant waters in the region. As a result, two panels at the Doboj conference provided deeper insight into scientific and civic perspectives on managing natural resources, both on Ozren and in the surrounding region.
Prof. Dr. Ivan Dragiฤeviฤ from the Faculty of Mining, Geology, and Petroleum at the University of Zagreb, and Prof. Dr. Dalibor Ballian from the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Sarajevo, delivered strong messages on the need to preserve nature, offering new data on the dangers posed by geological research and mineral exploitation projects. Their presentations highlighted ongoing events in Ozren and the broader region, with additional insights from lawyer ฤorฤe Stefanoviฤ.
The first day of the conference concluded with statements from representatives of the Gostilj-Ozren Association from Doboj, the Guardians of Majevica from Lopare, and the Center for Environment from Banja Luka. They shared alarming testimonies about the growing pressure on activists, recounting stories of dismissals, media lynching, false accusations, bribery attempts, and recent police interrogations, pointing to increasing repression and serious violations of basic civil rights. The growing number of similar cases in the region underscores the urgent need to protect both natural resources and the rights of local communities fighting for their preservation.
โAs civil society organizations, we constantly emphasize that protecting nature is our priority. Given that Bosnia and Herzegovina, across both entities, has only 3% of its territory protectedโwhich is below both European and global standardsโwe, as a country, have now committed to protecting 30% of the territory by 2030. So, our absolute priority is nature conservation, and only after we achieve protection of areas that meet European and global standards will we focus on other issues,โ emphasizes ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฬ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ค๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฬ.
The VI Conference of the Nature Protection Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized by the Fojniฤani Maglaj Citizens’ Association and the Nature Protection Network in BiH, concluded with a visit to the St. Nicholas Monastery on Ozren, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach to preserving both natural and cultural heritage.
