GeoFroggy

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Background

The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multiethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government composed of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak-Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments are responsible for overseeing most government functions. Additionally, the Dayton Accords established the Office of the High Representative to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. The Peace Implementation Council at its conference in Bonn in 1997 also gave the High Representative the authority to impose legislation and remove officials, the so-called "Bonn Powers." An original NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops assembled in 1995 was succeeded over time by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR). In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. Currently EUFOR deploys around 600 troops in theater in a security assistance and training capacity.

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than West Virginia

Maritime Claims

Climate

Hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast

Natural Hazards

Destructive earthquakes

Environment Current Issues

Air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography Note

Within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro, and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east

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Map Reference

Europe

Irrigated Land 2003

30 sq km

Area 2015

Total

51,197 sq km
Land

51,187 sq km
Water

10 sq km

Coastline

20 km

Geographical Coordinates

44 00 N, 18 00 E

Land use 2015

Agricultural Land
42.2%;
Forest
42.8%
Other
15%

Terrain

Mountains and valleys

Land Boundaries

Total
1,543 km
Croatia km
Montenegro
242 km
Serbia
345 km

Natural Resources

Coal
Iron ore
Bauxite
Copper
Lead
Zinc
Chromite
Cobalt

Manganese
Nickel
Clay
Gypsum
Salt
Sand
Timber
Hydropower

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA