**4. Approach to sustainable development of the Sava river basin**

Given the broad scope of the *FASRB*, the achievement of its principal objectives requires an integrated and sustainable approach, balancing the needs for development of economic activities such as navigation or tourism, against the needs of other water sub-sectors (i.e. other kinds of water use, protection against detrimental effects of water, and protection of water and aquatic ecosystem). The main features of the approach, as applied by the ISRBC, are illustrated in the following text, by reviewing the achievements and results, and presenting a vision of the future implementation of the *FASRB*.

Integrated Water Resources Management as a

**3.5 – 9.6 million tonnes**

process of final harmonization by the Parties.

*Sustainable Waterway Planning*, 2010).

river waterway after 150 years.

Basis for Sustainable Development – The Case of the Sava River Basin 33

**Sisak Bosanski Brod Brcko Belgrade**

3 - 8 million

Fig. 12. Estimated margins of traffic volume on the Sava river for year 2027 (ISRBC, 2008a)

The **administrative and legal framework** has been strengthened by development of a set of rules and other documents related to technical issues and safety of navigation, harmonized with the corresponding EU and UNECE regulations (ISRBC, 2009b, 2009c). The *Protocol on Prevention of Water Pollution caused by Navigation to the FASRB* (ISRBC, 2009a) has been developed and signed, and is currently undergoing ratification. The *Protocol on Sediment Management to the FASRB*, aiming to regulate, *inter alia*, the sand and gravel exploitation in accordance with the *Sava River Basin Management Plan* (*Sava RBM Plan*), has entered the

In order to ensure **environmental sustainability**, the issue of navigation development is considered as an integral part of the *Sava RBM Plan*, which is being developed in accordance with the *EU WFD*. A considerable attention has been paid, as well, to the improvement of technical standards and safety of navigation, through implementation of concrete projects (restoration of the waterway marking system, development of the Sava RIS) and strengthening of the administrative and legal framework, including the protocols to the *FASRB*, fully in line with the corresponding EU and UNECE regulations. Finally, the waterway planning has been based on a clear intention to minimize negative environmental impacts of the rehabilitation works, and accompanied with an active involvement of the ISRBC in the relevant processes on Danube and European levels (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River [ICPDR] et al., 2008; *Manual on Good Practices in* 

Partly as a consequence of the above mentioned achievements, there are already several indicators of development in traffic and opening of new cargo flows on the Sava river, such as opening of transport of oil products from (Bosanski) Brod, new developments in Serbian ports (Sremska Mitrovica, Šabac), as well as the first passenger cruise along the whole Sava

**5.8 – 15.5 million tonnes 7.8 – 20.8 million tonnes**
