Crvene stijene, the monument of nature that stretches on the western side of the Romanija mountain, was declared a protected area by the decision of the Government of the Republika Srpska (RS). This area covers an area of about 15 hectares in the municipalities of Pale and Sokolac.
Crvene stijene is the 34rd protected area in RS, and the 46th protected area in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
The hiking association “Glasinac” from Sokoc launched an initiative to protect this part of Romania back in 2017. The RS Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historic, and Natural Heritage of the RS prepared the Protection Study, and the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and Ecology prepared the Decision on Proclamation of Protected Area.
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Vera Mijatović from the company “Glasinac” says that this area has significant natural and tourist potential, as well as many resources: “Both plant and wild animal habitats and different plant species, 10 of which happened to be endemic to the Balkans”.
Within the protected area there is also Via Ferrata Sokolov put, the 350 meters long and 160 meters alpinist trail.
This natural holding will be managed by the forest holdings “Jahorina” from Pale and “Romanija” from Sokolac. Under the current regulations, managers are required to develop a Management Program within half a year, and a Management Plan within two years. These documents shall stipulate measures and objectives for further protection and preservation of the Crvene stijene.
This is the third protected area in the municipality of Sokolac. Caves Pod lipom and Girska are monuments of nature that have been under protection since 2015. In the neighboring municipality of Pale, two monuments of nature, namely “Orlovača Cave” and “Mokranjska Miljacka Cave” have been under protection since 2011 and the last year respectively.
Another 12 areas in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are also under protection. In 2020, CIN wrote about the protected areas which, despite being placed under protection, are threatened by uncontrolled exploitation, private interests, and neglect of competent institutions.
