Stecci, medieval tombstones from the 12(th) to 16(th) centuries, are found primarily in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina and its bordering regions of Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, distinguished by intricate carvings and inscriptions. This paper describes ten necropolises- Blidinje, Ravanjska Vrata, Radimlja, Kri & zcaron;evi & cacute;i, Kopo & scaron;i & cacute;i, ste & cacute;ci at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cista Velika, ste & cacute;ci at the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments in Split, Mramorje, and & Zcaron;ugi & cacute;a Bare-along with archaeological work and documentation at these sites. The study examines the impact of climate change on the preservation of ste & cacute;ci. By characterizing thermo-pluviometric parameters and classifying the sites within the K & ouml;ppen climate system, the research highlights regional climate variations affecting stone deterioration. The analysis reveals that most necropolises are located in climate classes C and D, including types Cfa, Cfb, Csa, and Dfb. Over the past 30 years, increased sunshine, higher temperatures, and radiation have been observed, along with significant variations in humidity and precipitation and a decrease in snow cover. GIS-based mapping shows spatial trends in vulnerability, offering insights to guide future conservation strategies. By integrating archaeology, climatology, and geospatial analysis, this study emphasizes the need for adaptive conservation to protect ste & cacute;ci as vital cultural heritage.

The paper offers a detailed etymological analysis of the Sarajevo oikonyms Vrbanja and Vrbanju & scaron;a, contextualised within the extra-linguistic reality in which they emerged. Previous etymological treatments were imprecise and led to incomplete conclusions regarding the possible linguistic origin and age of these oikonyms. The etymological and motivational analysis of the two oikonyms, along with the examination of extra-linguistic factors relevant to their formation, is based on Ottoman registers from 1455-1604, topographic maps and regulatory plans of the Sarajevo area published between 1882 and 1949, as well as other written sources. The analysis proposes that the toponymic base of both oikonyms is the anthroponym Vrban, derived from the Latin personal name Urbanus, from which, after the Slavic adaptation Urbanus > Vrban, the oikonym Vrbanja was formed with the possessive suffix-j. The oikonym Vrbanju & scaron;a was subsequently derived from Vrbanja using the suffix-u & scaron;a. This conclusion is supported by extra-linguistic evidence related to the cultural history of the city.

Engaging stakeholders and the public in the planning, implementing, and monitoring of restoration activities is key to the successful long-term restoration and protection of wetlands as life-supporting systems. In our Horizon Europe project Restore4Life (https://restore4life.eu/citizen-science/), we have developed a set of innovative offline and online wetland education tools to raise awareness for the significance of large-scale holistic restorations of functions and ecosystem services provided by European wetlands.Based on gaps and needs identified in wetland education, we selected ten key topics for further development, such as water retention, habitat assessment, carbon sequestration, water purification, flood control, and recreation. These tools primarily target secondary high school students aged 10-18. The framework follows the "5E" Instructional Model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, Evaluate). This constructivist lesson planning approach encourages active learning by building on students' curiosity. Furthermore, we developed the “Blue-Green Space4All” game as a dynamic Wetland Fresk, available in both online and offline formats. It is designed for children and adults to learn about the value of restored wetlands and can also be used in restoration planning by decision-makers and stakeholders. The offline prototype consists of hexagon-shaped cards that form a dynamic grid, enabling users to explore the interplay between actors, processes, and wetland functionality. Offline and online game versions follow a storyline where players journey along the Danube, encountering physical, chemical, and biological processes shaping wetland dynamics.Finally, two mobile applications for citizens and stakeholders were developed to enhance wetland assessment engagement and efficiency. The “Wetland4Life” app empowers citizens to classify and identify wetlands, collect data, and gain insights into their characteristics and health. The “Solution4Life” app is designed for environmental managers and stakeholders, providing a quick and efficient way to assess the restoration potential of wetlands and determine priorities for interventions. Both apps rely on a robust scoring matrix to classify wetlands, providing clear and actionable insights that guide decision-making and enhance conservation and management efforts. Restore4Life is funded by the European Union.

Aquatic ecosystems in riverine wetlands are important refuges and nurseries for freshwater biota. Given the significant global loss and degradation of wetlands, regular conservation assessments of these habitats, even in not easily accessible regions, are crucial for implementing effective management. Thus, developing cost-effective approaches for rapid ecological and conservation screening of water bodies in floodplains, such as the Danube, is a priority. One potential solution is the use of UAV-based (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) ecological indicators to complement existing monitoring frameworks. This paper aims to explore whether UAV-based macrophyte data can provide a more precise indication of the trophic state and conservation indices (assessed through fish and macroinvertebrate communities) of temperate wetland lentic ecosystems, compared to traditional field surveys. The fieldwork was conducted during the summer months of 2019 at 23 sampling sites within eight lentic water bodies located in three wetland areas along the Middle Danube in Serbia. Data on aquatic vegetation, fish, and macroinvertebrate communities, and samples for water quality analysis were collected simultaneously. UAV images were acquired using an RGB camera. Orthomosaics were processed using supervised object-based image (OBIA) classification to obtain a single vector layer with macrophyte functional groups and taxa. Macrophyte cover metrics obtained during the fieldwork and UAV data processing were correlated against water quality parameters and conservation indices calculated for fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages. The study demonstrated that UAV photogrammetry can provide relatively precise measurements of macrophyte cover characteristics compared to traditional plot-based monitoring methods, making it effective for assessing aquatic ecosystems. The analysis revealed that sites with high values of fish and macroinvertebrate conservation indices, optimal oxygen conditions, and mesotrophic states were associated with UAV orthomosaic polygons showing relatively high macrophyte functional diversity and a presence of floating-rooted species. Conversely, sites experiencing eutrophication and a poor oxygen regime with species-poor fish assemblages correlated positively with a higher cover of amphibian and free-floating vegetation, as well as filamentous algae. In conclusion, UAV photogrammetry offers a cost-effective method to monitor aquatic habitats along large river floodplains, including those that are not easily accessible.

Rad donosi detaljnu etimologijsku analizu sarajevskih ojkonima Vrbanja i Vrbanjuša, s objašnjenjem izvanjezične stvarnosti u kojoj su nastali, jer je prethodna etimološka analiza bila neprecizna i dovela je do nepotpunih zaključaka o mogućem jezičnom podrijetlu ojkonima i njihovoj starosti. Etimološka i motivacijska analiza ojkonima, kao i istraživanje izvanjezične stvarnosti kao elementa u procesu nastanka toponima, temelje se na osmanlijskim defterima iz razdoblja 1455. – 1604. godine, topografskim kartama i regulacijskim planovima sarajevskog područja objavljenim u razdoblju 1882. – 1949. godine te drugim književnim izvorima. Predložena je etimološka analiza prema kojoj je toponimska osnova ovih ojkonima antroponim Vrban izveden iz latinskog antroponima Urbanus, iz kojeg je, nakon slavenske prilagodbe Urbanus > Vrban, posvojnim sufiksom -j izveden toponim Vrbanja. Ojkonim Vrbanjuša je izveden sufiksom -uša iz ojkonima Vrbanja. Ovakav zaključak se temelji i na izvanjezičnoj stvarnosti, koja se odnosi na kulturnu povijest grada.

Climate change, intensified by extreme weather conditions and heightened levels of environmental contaminants, is serving as a significant contributor to the degradation of cultural heritage sites, specifically limestone monuments. This susceptibility is primarily due to the composition of limestone, composed primarily of calcium carbonate, which is notably vulnerable to chemical weathering processes. To safeguard these enduring vestiges of our shared cultural past, it is of paramount importance to devise and implement comprehensive protective measures and policies. Instances of extreme meteorological activities such as heavy precipitation, floods, and landslides, which are on a marked rise due to climatic alterations, pose a significant danger to geoheritage sites, inclusive of stećak tombstones. These climatic aberrations can substantially accelerate the degradation process of such sacral limestone heritages, even leading to a complete loss of their original characteristics or total extinction. Besides, the recent notification by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2018) warns against an impending increase in precipitation extremes and resultant soil saturation due to climate change. Such changes can lead to an upsurge in events like landslides and flooding, which, in turn, can cause erosion or even displacement of these limestone tombstones and other similarly fragile stone structures. This study presents a methodical vulnerability assessment process, aimed at identifying the explicit dangers that varying climatic scenarios pose to a location. This critical risk assessment should holistically integrate threats posed by climate change and other non-climatic perturbations, such as pollution. The process necessitates a comprehensive understanding of each site, taking into consideration multiple factors including geolocation, landscape characteristics, hydrological patterns, exposure to extreme climatic events, susceptibility to erosion or leaching, and pollution impact. Station data, referring to collected meteorological information from weather stations, can provide detailed local insights into climatic patterns such as precipitation, temperature variations, and more, thereby helping evaluate the site-specific climatic threats and their potential impacts. Additionally, the contribution of climate change to biodeterioration is iultifaceted due to its overlap with other forms of decay, complicating the attribution of damage to specific biological or climatic factors. Thus, it is crucial to account for the full extent of damage caused by biodeteriogens, given that such biodeterioration often concurs with and exacerbates other physical and chemical destruction processes. Consequently, the process of monument iodeterioration can be categorized broadly into three principal classes of decay: biophysical, biochemical, and aesthetic deterioration. The paper includes case studies of the sites Kopošići, Križevići, Blidinje Dugo polje, Ravanjska vrata, Radimlja, Mramorje Bajina Bašta, Žugića bare Žabljak, and Velika Cista, all of which exhibit unique patterns of decay due to specific climatic and environmental conditions.

Remote sensing plays a vital role in analyzing urban changes. In this regard, various datasets collected from satellites today serve as a foundation for decision-makers and urban planners. This study compares the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) as indicators for the creation of surface heat islands. Using Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS C2 L2 images, spatial correlations between land surface temperature (LST) were examined for August 2013, 2019 and 2023. Urban heat islands (UHI) are a contemporary phenomenon and increasingly common in large urban areas compared to surrounding, less populated areas. With the advancement in remote sensing, it is possible to adequately determine the spatial differentiation and prevalence of urban heat islands (UHI). The study is based on Landsat 8 satellite image sets for the Sarajevo basin in August 2013, 2019 and 2023, which were used to analyze LST, NDVI, and NDBI indices. This work indicates a relationship between LST and NDVI but varies depending on the analyzed year. Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) serves as a suitable indicator for surface UHI effects and can be used as an indicator to assess its spatial distribution within a larger urban environment.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country that for centuries has been in an area where the influences of large cultural and civilizational spheres are intertwined. This type of influence has left a significant mark on local geographical names. Since the Slavic population has played a dominant cultural role in this area after the Great Migration Period, it is not surprising that most of the local toponyms have Slavic origins. However, the influence of other cultures or languages, such as Illyrian, Latin, Italian, Hungarian, German, and especially Turkish (in combination with Persian and Arabic), is also evident. The Ottoman Empire ruled this area from the 15th to the nineteenth century, which is formation period for most of today's towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, so many toponyms emerged during that period. Sarajevo as capital city is a well known example. The confessional differences that arose then among the domestic population have persisted to this day, and certain implications of these differences are partly visible through toponymy. This became especially emphasized in some cases in the contemporary context when toponyms gained their ethnopolitical and nationalistic dimension.

The article analyzes heat waves in Sarajevo in the period 1901—2018. We presented the trends in the number of heat waves, their length, the highest air temperatures during heat waves and the cumulative highest temperatures during heat waves. We also discussed the trends of the universal thermal climate index for Sarajevo in the period 1961—2018, which show the burdensome thermal effect on humans in a more integral way. In Sarajevo we observe an increase in the number of heat waves, the number of days in heat waves and the cumulative maximum temperatures in heat waves. After 1961, the burdensome thermal effect in the summer months also increases, which also indicates a positive trend in the value of the universal thermal climate index.

UAV technologies provide a time-and cost-efficient framework for a variety of environmental monitoring domains. It also increases data resolution and provides new insights into observed objects and phenomena, especially within the difficult-to-access and complex for monitoring aquatic habitats. The objective of this study was to develop UAV-based acquisition and GIS-based image processing guidelines for aquatic macrophyte detection and monitoring in large temperate rivers. According to the European standard CEN EN-14184:2014, the assessment of aquatic macrophytes should be performed using the transect approach. Large rivers, such as the Danube, represent an exception and should be evaluated using 1km transects. Therefore, seven transects of the Middle Danube in Serbia were simultaneously surveyed using traditional field methods and novel UAV technology. UAV images were acquired using RGB and multispectral cameras carried by a fixed-wing drone. The images were processed and orthomosaics were classified using Object Based Image Analysis (OBIA), to create digital GIS maps of the river transects. During the traditional monitoring approach, the relative abundance of 22 macrophyte species was recorded along the transects. Using the UAV technology and OBIA approach eight macrophyte classes were distinguished based on dominant macrophyte taxa or plant life form traits. Aquatic macrophytes were 'almost perfectly' distinguished from the orthomosaics, achieving a high classification accuracy of 96 % / 88 % / 0.84 for RGB and 94 % / 97 % / 0.95 Producers /Users accuracy/Kappa index for the multispectral approach. Individual macrophyte classes accuracy varied between 0.5 and 1 Kappa and were generally higher for the multispectral imagery approach. Although the resolution of the taxonomic data is lower, UAV monitoring provided the necessary spatial context of macrophytes distribution and absolute area occupied by macrophytes. It also provided information on the diversity and distribution of habitats along the river. Therefore, the UAV-assisted monitoring approach described in this study can be effectively integrated into macrophyte monitoring during large river expeditions such as the JDS.

Revitalizing border areas, which in the scientific discourse are most often considered peripheral, deprived, and less developed, is the focus of contemporary geographical research. Borders, acting as demarcation lines or points of convergence, possess a dual role, offering both positive and negative contexts. This duality adds complexity to the observation, diagnosis, and action required to stimulate economic activities. Tourism emerges as an alternative solution predominantly acknowledged by local communities, which would make it easier to achieve the inclusion of geographically isolated areas in regional development policies, ultimately achieving harmonization of economic growth at the national level. The paper deals with the analysis of the state and possibilities of the development of crossborder tourism in the Bosnian-Herzegovinian-Montenegro border sector, namely in the area of the municipalities of Foča, home to Bosnia and Herzegovina's oldest national park, and Plužine, housing the Piva Nature Park. Based on a qualitative methodology (questionnaires conducted among different tourism stakeholders), the research aims to determine whether tourism as the basis of crossborder cooperation can be considered an alternative for overcoming the marginalization of the observed areas, taking into account that these are demographically and economically weakened municipalities in the context of contemporary circumstances belonging countries and what are its future perspectives. The respondents are representatives of local stakeholders who possess valuable insights and knowledge about the unique social, cultural, economic, and ecological factors in their area. The research results can serve as a significant insight into the plans and priorities of tourism development.

V članku so analizirani vročinski valovi v Sarajevu v obdobju 1901—2018. Predstavili smo trende števila vročinskih valov, njihove dolžine, najvišjih temperatur zraka v vročinskih valovih in kumulative najvišjih temperatur v vročinskih valovih. Obravnavali smo tudi trende univerzalnega termičnega podnebnega indeksa za Sarajevo v obdobju 1961—2018, ki na bolj integralen način prikazujejo obremenilni toplotni učinek na človeka. V Sarajevu opažamo dvig števila vročinskih valov, števila dni v vročinskih valovih in kumulative maksimalnih temperatur v vročinskih valovih. Po letu 1961 narašča tudi obremenilni toplotni učinek v poletnih mesecih, kar nakazuje tudi pozitivni trend vrednosti univerzalnega termičnega podnebnega indeksa.

We explored the long-term influence of land use in the riparian zone on the water quality of the Tisza River, as a model of a non-wadeable lowland river located in a temperate, predominantly agricultural landscape. The analysis was based on a comparison of water quality variables between three river sites having contrasting, but constant land use patterns (in 500 m upstream radius) during the study period (2006-2019). While the first river site was characterized primarily by forests, the second and the third were dominated by urban and agricultural areas respectively. The variables which showed a significant difference between the pairs of sampling sites were oxygen saturation, nitrite nitrogen, total nitrogen, and orthophosphates. In contrast to urban and agricultural land, riparian forests showed a positive long-term influence on the river water quality. Natural and seminatural forests and shrubs had a favorable long-term influence on nutrient concentrations and oxygen regime of the Tisza River. However, the retention effects of orthophosphates and nitrite/nitrate content here were relatively low, demonstrating the limited performance of riparian buffers as a main or only management option in the Pannonian landscape, as the agricultural hotspot of Central and Eastern Europe. In conclusion, the riparian buffer assessment design applied in this study may be successfully used in pre-restoration monitoring, prior to the construction of buffer strips.