Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country of a great plant biodiversity. Numerous endemic and steno-endemic plant species can be found in Sarajevo region alone. Unfortunately no systemic investigations regarding endemic plants are undertaken in past 20 years. The current Red list of endemic and endangered plants is written according to the literature data and government has no planed financial support for endemic plant conservation. The proposed project is a continuation of our two previous Rufford founded projects concerning plant conservation and biodiversity. Through the first Rufford Small Grant we successfully established the Seed bank at Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Second Rufford Small Grant gave us an opportunity to conduct field survey of distribution and population assessment of Knautia genus in Sarajevo region. Through our field investigations as well as through the interaction with students during these two project it came to our attention that students are a great tool for biodiversity promotion and development of conservation strategies.

The Rufford Booster Grant project is focused on field excursions with students for the purpose of verification of literature data from The Red List of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and population status assessment for identified endemic plants. Project site includes mountains surrounding Sarajevo region ranging from 918 m altitude up to 2 067 m. Selected mountains include different geological substrates, microclimates, springs, virgin forests, deforested areas, areas under minefields, and areas under snow deposits. The proposed project will be conducted in Sarajevo region on 6 Mountains: Trebević, Visočica, Jahorina, Ozren, Igman and Bjelašnica. Mt. Trebević (1 627 m altitude) is located east from the Sarajevo city and bordering with Jahorina Mountain. Mt. Jahorina (1 916 m altitude) is part of the Dinaric Alps in Republica Srpsca part of Sarajevo region. Mt. Bjelašnica (2 067 m altitude) is found southwest of Sarajevo bordering Mt. Igman (1 510 m altitude). Mt. Visočica is a mountain range and part of the Dinaric Alps. Ozren Mountain (918 m altitude) is mountain with abundant water springs and a waterfall, also part of this mountain is a protected area.