NEA Initiative: Tell us about your role in the national ecosystem assessment process in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). What are your areas of responsibility?

Ms. Barudanovic: I had the exceptional opportunity to be the coordinator of the national assessment process in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). After several years of participation in the work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), especially in the work of the Europe and Central Asia assessment-Bureau task force, I gained insight into the preparation process of various IPBES assessments.  The assessment process was launched in 2019 and scientists from across BiH were invited to join the multidisciplinary team of authors through several public calls.

Over the past few years, I have directed the team in an effort to jointly assess the current and missing knowledge about various aspects of nature in BiH by using the globally recognized IBPES methodology. Building and maintaining the team through the years of joint work was challenging, but that has resulted in material that should leave a mark in the way of decision-making and changing attitudes towards nature in our society. 

NEA Initiative: How has your journey been as part of the national ecosystem assessment process in your country? Please share your significant contributions and achievements.  

Ms. Barudanovic: Looking back, I can say that conducting the national ecosystem assessment in BiH was a pleasure for me.  From the first days until the end of the process, I was aware of the importance of this assessment for our country. One of the biggest achievements of the assessment is the collaboration of scientific staff from both entities (Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska) in BiH.  The united scientific forces of all public universities in BiH have proven not only the need but also the success of joint work and results. In addition, a very important achievement of our assessment is the filling of missing data in post-war BiH through the synthesis of scientific knowledge. Today, BiH has for the first time, produced a comprehensive, easily understandable ecosystem assessment and mapped the state of nature’s contribution to people, which should be used in the processes of environmental planning and sustainable use of natural resources. The identified missing knowledge should also encourage new directions of research and new models of education in our country. 

NEA Initiative: What inspires you to work in nature conservation and biodiversity, and particularly being part of the national ecosystem assessment team?  

Ms. Barudanovic: The more facts I know about the local and global state of nature, the more I am aware that we are at a turning point.  Personally, I am motivated to continue working in the field of conservation of nature and sustainable use of natural resources more by worrying about the future of the youngest members of my family, than by events from the past.  Children's games in yards and pleasant surroundings that my generation enjoyed are incomparable to today's conditions in which children live their childhood.  I sincerely wish that nature remains capable of providing us with its benefits. 

NEA Initiative: Tell us about your mission to help people and nature.  

Ms. Barudanovic: I believe that everyone in today's society has a task to fix the mistakes made by unsustainable decisions in the past. This task can differ in terms of profession, level of education, etc.; however - the goal remains the same.  The global goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are good guidelines for everyone.  One's own contribution is a matter of commitment and personal qualities. 

NEA Initiative: What is your message for women and young girls around the world to be a driving force for the conservation of nature and well-being of people? 

Ms. Barudanovic: Keep going!