Ecological Violence in Post-Conflict Landscapes: Examples from Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Neretva River Basin

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Abstract

Ecological violence is defined as the severe degradation of ecosystems driven by human activities that prioritize economic gain over environmental sustainability, endangering both human and non-human communities. In BiH, ecological violence manifests in two primary forms: pollution and plunder. Pollution is reflected in the degradation of air, land, and water quality, contributing to rising rates of illness and premature death. Plunder is evident in the exploitation of natural resources, including forests, minerals, and hydrological assets, often diverted to unproductive hydropower projects for private gain, to the detriment of ecosystems. This paper illustrates these forms of ecological violence through specific examples from a single river basin in BiH: the Neretva Basin. In Mostar, hazardous chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contaminate water supplies due to inadequate waste management. In Jablanica, unchecked deforestation and unregulated quarrying led to severe flooding and landslides in October 2024, claiming 19 lives. Finally, the controversial Ulog megadam under construction in Kalinovik, located in a seismically active zone, has polluted the Neretva River and threatens downstream communities with catastrophic flooding, posing significant security risks. The paper examines these ecological violations as interconnected facets of BiH’s ongoing resource exploitation, using the Neretva Basin as an illustrative example of the pervasive and multi-dimensional ecological violence affecting contemporary BiH. It concludes by examining ecological justice, focusing on local knowledge and grassroots activism as key forces resisting environmental harm. Environmental activism in BiH has emerged as a grassroots, interethnic movement resisting the transgressions of the ruling class. Eco-activists advocate for sustainable practices, push for policy reforms, challenge the political and economic structures driving ecological degradation, and subvert the entrenched ethnonational divisions that often hinder collective action. By highlighting the intersection of ecological violence and local activism, this paper demonstrates how community-led actions and autochthonous knowledge can advance ecological justice, offering valuable lessons for post-conflict landscapes globally.

Author

• Azra Tanovic, The New School