Western Balkans Soil Partnership

The Western Balkans Soil Partnership (WBSP) was established in December 2022 and is governed by the WBSP Steering Committee (WBSP SC). The WBSP SC has a mandate to develop and decide on the organisational structure and statutes of the WBSP, the work programme thereof, as well as to harmonise WBSP activities with the activities of the European Soil Partnership, and of other similar organisations. WBSP will also have an Advisory Board with five members with a function to advise WBSP SC on issues related to governance and other strategic activities. The partnership is created to preserve, protect, and restore the soils in the Western Balkan region.

List of countries

The following countries are part of the Western Balkans Soil Partnership: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia. See the list of GSP national focal points.

If you would like to be informed about the WBSP activities, please contact the WBSP Secretariat.

Governance

Secretary General Head Office/Secretariat: Mr. Boban Ilic

Steering Committee

The WBSP Steering Committee (WBSP SC) comprises representatives from each of the country/territory (member of the Regional Expert Advisory Working Group on soil) which are based on proposals by the ministerial partners.

Objectives

The partnership is created to preserve, protect, and restore the soils in the Western Balkan region. This partnership aims to mobilize and involve thus unite all stakeholders and institutions in the region,

to identify and restore degraded soils to improve productivity and the provision of ecosystem services; in particular, the role of soils to secure healthy and sufficient food, to contribute to social stability, water resources, protection of biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change
to improve national/regional technical capacity, in particular, soil monitoring and advisory
to enhance public awareness about the importance of soil while ensuring broad stakeholder involvement, to successfully implement soil-related actions related to the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans