LOCAL PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES TOWARDS QUALITY OF ENVIRONMENT IN SERBIA – B&H CROSS-BORDER REGION

Abstract

Public participation in environmental decision-making is nowadays accepted as an integral part of the
sustainable development process and an important mean for improving quality, legitimacy and capacity of
environmental assessment and decisions. When communities participate in the management of their resources in
form of consultation or active involvement, there is a greater likelihood of success as people are more willing to
obey their own regulations than those imposed upon them from outside. This paper presents results of a survey in
Serbia-BiH cross border region that explored the attitudes of local people towards natural resources and
environment quality, environmental priorities and efficiency of local government in solving environmental
problems. Results were used as inputs for drafting “Action plan for sustainable use of cross border natural
resource” contributing in this way to better acceptance and easier implementation of the plan at the community
level.