ABSTRACT
In the south-eastern Dinarides, with the highest precipitation in Europe, people still suffer from water shortages. The Dinaric Karst Aquifer System (DIKTAS) belongs to one of the largest karst areas extending along the coast of the Adriatic Sea from Slovenia to Albania. The large water potential of the DIKTAS area is mostly concentrated on the catchment areas of the Cetina, Neretva, Trebišnjica, Zeta and Bojana rivers. This potential underpins an advanced economic development programme for the region was recognized long ago. However, the karst phenomena always presented a significant barrier for groundwater use. The karst presents a variety of hazards and risks associated with human activities, particularly the construction of dams, reservoirs, tunnels and canals. Successful solutions require serious and complex approaches and close co-operation with a wide spectrum of scientists and engineers to define causes and consequences between human activities and impact. The area of south-eastern Dinarides, particularly Eastern Herzegovina, represents the optimal strategy for water resources management in karst areas which is a key requirement for regional socioeconomic development.
