THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE PRIMEVAL FOREST PERUĆICA AS THE BASIS OF NATURE-BASED TOURISM
Edin Hadžimustafić
Dževad Mešanović
DOI: 10.35666/25662880.2024.10.56
UDC: 338.483.11GIS(497.6 Perućica)
Abstract: The subject of research in this paper is the identification of natural resources in the primeval forest Perućica, and their valorization in nature-based tourism. The natural resources of this region attract a significant number of tourists from the country and abroad and provide the basis for the development of nature-based tourism, such as: walking tourism, cycling tourism, adventure tourism, fishing, bird and wildlife watching, ecotourism, SAVE tourism. The geomorphological, climatic, hydrogeographical, biogeographical potentials, as well as the natural landscapes of the area, were analyzed. Mountaineering and cycling trails, viewpoints, caves, waterfalls, water sources, streams, endemic plant and animal species, etc. are singled out. The research area is the primeval forest Perućica, which is located in the southeast of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the border with Montenegro. This protected nature reserve is located on the western slopes of Mount Maglić and is part of the Sutjeska National Park. The goal of the research is to comprehensively analyze and evaluate natural tourist resources in order to recognize and distinguish existing and potential tourist resources in the protected area of the Perućica primeval forest. Different research methods have been applied, from field research of the area, to the use of data obtained by remote sensing that are processed and analyzed in geographic information systems. A tourist map of the geographical distribution of natural resources of the Perućica primeval forest was made. The obtained research results will bring this unusual attractive area closer to nature lovers, which will have a positive effect on the additional strengthening and development of tourism in the primeval forest Perućica, as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Key words: natural resources, nature-based tourism, primeval forest Perućica, Geographic information systems, Bosnia and Herzegovina