[Kakanj Municipality]

Kakanj Municipality is located north of Visoko and southeast of Zenica, in the centre of SarajevoZenica basin, economically most significant and most densely populated region of BiH. It is situated in the southern part of Zenica-Doboj Canton. Kakanj Municipality has a favourable trading position, well-developed network of trunk, regional, local and uncategorised roads. The route of the Corridor Vc and the trunk road M 17 pass through its territory, providing good potential for developing road communications. Natural resources available in Kakanj Municipality area:
• mineral raw materials (coal, marl, limestone and thermal mineral water),
• forests,
• water resources,
• renewable energy sources and
• agricultural land.

Kakanj Municipality has rich cultural and historical heritage (medieval fortress, protected buildings, stećak sites, monuments, museums). The economy of Zenica-Doboj Canton is largely low-growth and based on natural resources. As a rule, such economies highly affect the environment, particularly in terms of space and resources.

The strengths of Kakanj Municipality are the factors that indicate positive situations in the Municipality, such as favourable geostrategic position, rich cultural and historical heritage, natural resources (ores, minerals, water, soil, forests), energy potentials and favourable conditions for the use of renewable energy sources, diversity of agricultural production, enterprise support programs, institutional capacities of public administration, industry and craft tradition, available workforce,
good education infrastructure.

Interesting sites in Kakanj Municipality area:
1. Ponijeri – Ponijeri is an ideal and attractive spot for leisure and relaxation of both domestic and foreign tourists. Its altitude is 1200 m and its distance from the town centre is 20 km. It is a great site for leisure during winter, with its 1000 m long ski slope and a ski lift. Ski school and ski rental are also available.

2. Tajan- Tajan was declared a natural monument in 2008. It is situated between the municipalities of Kakanj, Zavidovići and Vareš and its highest point is 1297 meters above sea level. A small part of the Tajan Natural Monument is located in the area of Kakanj Municipality. Its highest peak at the altitude of 1297 m can be accessed from Ponijeri, via a hiking trail that can also be used for mountain biking.

3. Bočica – Hiking site Bočica is situated 10 km from Kakanj and its altitude is 920 m. There is a mountain hut at Bočica, surrounded by coniferous and deciduous forest and it is an excellent spot for hikers, hunters, scouts, athletes and others who want to stay there for several days and enjoy various activities. There are 46 beds in the hut. There are also sports fields (for football, handball, volleyball, and basketball) and a playground.

4. Močvara Bistrik (Bistrik Swamp) – Swamp Bistrik is an important ornithological reserve. It is situated in the Trstionica River valley in Kakanj Municipality area. The Swamp is a habitat of rare threatened species such as: Eurasian spoonbill, ferruginous duck (on the red list of globally threatened species), white stork, black stork, lesser kestrel (on the red list), corn crake (on the red list), etc. There is a procedure in place to declare Bistrik Swamp a protected area in the category of protected
landscapes. The protected area will encompass 145 hectares, with three zones. The first, strictlyprotected zone, will encompass the area of 32 ha.2

5. Prašuma Gornja Trstionica – Bukovica (Primary forest Gornja Trstionica – Bukovica). Primary forest Gornja Trstionica-Bukovica as part of the natural heritage of Kakanj Municipality and the cultural and historical heritage in the same area (encompassing a part of Bobovac Old Town, Sultan Mehmed el-Fatih’s Mosque and Franciscan Monastery in Kraljeva Sutjeska) represents a unique and outstanding form of biological, geomorphological and hydrological, ecological and cultural and historical diversity.

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