KARAOTOK – In Hutovo Blato Nature Park, the largest wetland area in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has been listed since 2000 on UNESCO’s Ramsar List of 150 internationally important wetlands, MERLIN Day was celebrated today. WWF and the Park’s administration, together with their partners, presented the results of restoration efforts at Hutovo Blato, which is under severe pressure from nearby hydroelectric power plants and faces the risk of losing its water supply.

“Hutovo Blato is an extremely important protected area, home to 163 registered bird species, 630 plant species, and a rich fish population across five lakes with many endemic species. We are very proud to be part of the MERLIN project, through which we carried out activities to restore the wetland habitats of Hutovo Blato and conducted numerous studies of the hydrology of the Neretva and Trebišnjica river systems, their tributaries, and underground watercourses,” said the director of the Hutovo Blato Nature Park, Irena Rozić, addressing stakeholders and partners who also toured the restored sites by boat. She emphasized that the park’s survival depends on institutional support.

“The Hutovo Blato Nature Park has lost over 50% of its water sources due to the development of hydroelectric networks nearby. By restoring Hutovo Blato, we are contributing to the fight against climate change, preserving Bosnia and Herzegovina’s unique biodiversity, and protecting the most vital human resource – water,” explained Matea Jarak, WWF Adria project associate. In addition to its biological value, Hutovo Blato also plays a critical role in storing carbon within its peat layers.

“According to our latest research, Hutovo Blato has a greater carbon storage capacity than all the forests in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which cover more than half of the country’s territory. Over four years of joint efforts in Hutovo Blato, more than 1,488 hectares of the park have been restored. Nearly two kilometers of channels that bring water to every corner of the wetland have been rehabilitated and their water retention capacity renewed. By dredging six hectares of Deransko Lake, we secured vast amounts of water crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the safety of local communities. The improved water flow and higher water volume directly help combat climate change by preserving the peat belt that stores atmospheric CO₂. Research has also confirmed seven distinct underground routes through which the wetland receives water from surrounding sources, such as karst fields that host endemic fish species in urgent need of protection. We also cleared and restored 2.5 hectares in the Karaotok area from invasive species so visitors can enjoy pristine nature again,” Jarak added.

Despite the joint efforts of WWF and Hutovo Blato Nature Park, the threat remains due to ongoing and planned hydrological interventions on surrounding watercourses for hydroelectric projects. In addition to water loss, the park faces risks of drying out, overgrowth, and fires—all of which could lead to the massive release of stored carbon into the atmosphere, significantly worsening the quality of life for people living around Hutovo Blato. WWF consultant Edin Lugić presented the Regional Plan for Expanding Best Practices in Freshwater Ecosystem Restoration, which aims to share the lessons learned from restoring Hutovo Blato. Meanwhile, Professor Nusret Drešković, Dean of the Faculty of Science in Sarajevo, described the park’s condition after restoration.

Wetlands make up only three percent of Earth’s surface, yet this small fraction absorbs as much carbon dioxide as all the world’s forests combined. Over the past 45 years, we have lost one-third of wetlands—such as marshes, peatlands, and floodplain forests—at a much faster rate than forests. At the same time, about 40% of all plant and animal species depend directly on these habitats. Their populations have also drastically declined: since 1970, freshwater species populations have dropped by as much as 85%, according to WWF’s latest Living Planet Report.

The MERLIN Project (Mainstreaming Ecological Restoration of Freshwater-related Ecosystems in a Landscape Context: Innovation, Upscaling and Transformation) is Europe’s largest initiative focused on restoring and transforming the management of freshwater ecosystems. Valued at over €22 million and involving 46 partner organizations from across Europe, the project is funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 program. It promotes transformative ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions to drive systemic societal change through 17 sites across Europe, where rivers, streams, and wetlands are being revitalized.