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 thesustainable development process and an important mean for improving quality, legitimacy and capacity ofenvironmental assessment and decisions. When communities participate in the management of their resources inform of consultation or active involvement, there is a greater likelihood of success as people are more willing toobey their own regulations than those imposed upon them from outside. This paper presents results of a survey inSerbia-BiH cross border region that explored the attitudes of local people towards natural resources andenvironment quality, environmental priorities and efficiency of local government in solving environmentalproblems. Results were used as inputs for drafting “Action plan for sustainable use of cross border naturalresource” contributing in this way to better acceptance and easier implementation of the plan at the communitylevel.