Background Before its independence in 1992, management of the water sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) was characterised by an unsustainable use of natural resources, a lack of clear responsibilities in the water administration, a centralised water sector financing system, and obsolete technologies. Diffusion source pollution was not monitored on a regular basis. In the process of accession to the EU, B&H has to meet a number of requirements regarding administration and management in the water sector, particularly by developing water legislation and management in compliance with the EU regulatory framework, policies and standards. Some progress has been achieved, but the current position of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) with respect to diffuse source pollution control is still unsatisfactory. Objectives The overall objectives of the project were to harmonize current FB&H legislation with the EU diffusion source legislation, particularly with regard to nitrogen and phosphorous pollution, and ultimately to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous pollution in FB&H. By achieving these two objectives, the legal and technical capacities of FB&H in the field of nitrogen and phosphorous pollution control will be strengthened. The project’s expected results were: · the improvement of technical know-how of potential nitrate and phosphate pollution; · an increase in awareness on the necessity to control nitrate and phosphate pollution in FB&H; and · draft legislation on the control of nitrate and phosphate pollution. Results The project has achieved all of its objectives. A major success is that it has created attention for the issue of diffuse-source pollution in BiH; before the project started, there was only attention for point source pollution, which is measured every two years in BiH. However, for diffuse source pollution there was no data at all. The project has developed a methodology (model) to estimate such pollution in the specific context of BiH. Other successful project outputs are a number of high quality dissemination materials that have been used in a number of follow-up projects. All the tasks were carried out successfully: A. Mobilisation. The project successfully set up a project office and established contacts with the key authorities. B. Identification and quantitative assessment of nitrogen and phosphorous pollution in FB&H. The beneficiary set up a model for the assessment of diffuse pollution. Based on clearly defined criteria, the beneficiary selected the Lasva river basin as the test site for the model. Over two years, the project carried out extensive measurements of 30 sub-catchments in the pilot area. The concentrations of nutrients were systematically monitored in different seasons and under different hydrological conditions. A model of diffuse pollution was developed using a stochastic model and the data gathered for the pilot area. It was applied on a watershed-by-watershed basis for the 11 main watersheds in FB&H. The exercise resulted in the estimation of the total discharge of nitrogen and phosphorus in FB&H and some conclusions on policy/strategic measures that would be required to address the problem of diffuse pollution. C. Proposal of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in FB&H. The project carried out an extensive literature search on best management practices. These were assessed for applicability and sustainability in the FB&H context, including their technical efficiency and cost. The project produced a handbook entitled “Framework for the Application of Best Agricultural Practices to Control Diffuse Pollution in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina” on best management practices. D. Dissemination of knowledge to potential beneficiaries. The handbook formed the basis of two awareness-raising workshops. The first workshop involved governmental representatives from FB&H and the Republic of Srpska. The second targeted professionals in the field, NGOs and potential polluters. A final project workshop presented the draft legislation produced by the project. A project website was launched and a link was to be made available through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment website. The project has also produced a video which has been widely distributed. E. Proposal of a draft legislation for the monitoring and control of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in FB&H. The project analysed the existing legal framework in the EU and in the FB&H. Based on this analysis, the project produced a preliminary draft of “Regulations on the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources”. This bylaw aims to ensure that the requirements of the Nitrate Directive are taken into account in the FB&H Water Protection Law. The legislation was in the process of enactment at the time of writing this description of the project's results. In addition, the project has produced a working paper on the application of good agricultural practices. The paper is the prerequisite for the preparation a code of good agricultural practices, which is one of the requirements of the Nitrate Directive.” The beneficiary has argued that diffuse pollution with nitrates and phosphates has become a recognised problem in B&H as a result of this project. Through the various workshops and technical support, the project has succeeded in putting diffuse pollution on the Bosnian agenda. In particular, since the end of the project, the Center for Environmentally Sustainable Development (CESD) has organised a series of roundtable discussions on “Measures of the protection of water and soil against agricultural activities”. These roundtables have involved 106 participants, including a large number of potential polluters (e.g. farmers and farmers’ associations), and also allowed the presentation of the LIFE project video and results. In addition, two projects financed by the Regional Environmental Centre (REC) for Eastern Europe which focus on nutrient pollution and diffuse pollution respectively have been launched. These projects build on the technical results of the LIFE project. As an indication of the improved technical know-how of potential polluters, the beneficiary has argued that the discussion at the roundtables was concrete and detailed and this would not have been possible without the awareness-raising and capacity building activities of the project. In particular, the first two workshops enabled the participants to recognise the importance of diffuse pollution and the complexities that are associated with the identification, quantification and control of such pollution.