Riverine Biodiversity: Threats and Challenges of Conservation on the Example of the Una River

The Una National Park is one of the most important centers of biodiversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to its preserved landscape and the wild river Una it has become an attractive destination for tourists and a major driver of tourism for the region of Una Sana Canton. However, this trend has brought numerous threats, especially to water and coastal habitats. The aim of this work was to answer questions about the trends in biodiversity protection in the national park and downstream, identifying threats and future challenges. Special attention was given to researching pressures stemming from increasing tourist activities. It was determined that, beyond general economic threats, the water ecosystem is threatened by the tourism intensity, seasonality, and accommodation density on the riverbanks. The main challenges are spatial planning in the Una river’s coastal zone and beyond, restricting construction until the carrying capacity of that area is defined, wherein water quality and biodiversity must limit activities on and around the water.