Country Focus

Risovac is a remote village that was named for its abundance of wild cats, locally known as ‘ris.’ It is a hidden place in Bosnia and Herzegovina, its natural beauty preserved at the far northwestern end of Petrovačko Polje in the Grmeč mountains and a ways off the bumpy road from Bosanski Petrovac to Bosanska Krupa. Join MARGISTAR’s Dr Violeta Santrač as she begins her fieldwork and recently launched project to better understand this small, remote, and marginalised village.

Join MARGISTAR’s Dr Bruno Marić in exploring the forests and mountainous regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the valuable insights into geological formations and biodiversity these landscapes offer. From the intricate network of valleys to the country’s diverse forests, read on to find out how Bosnia and Herzegovina's terrains serve as a natural laboratory for scientific exploration.

Follow along as MARGISTAR’s Prof Theo Lynn (Dublin City University) discusses his journey of an individual residency at Faberlull Andorra. From its mountainous terrain to its bustling tourism economy, Andorra offers a captivating study in digitalisation. Armed with insights from local stakeholders and a dataset of over 7,000 websites, Theo takes a closer look at the complexities of the country’s online presence. Amidst challenges like e-commerce dynamics and talent acquisition, Andorra's digital narrative took shape. Read on for Theo’s experience in uncovering Andorra's digital landscape.

Andorra's model, characterised by high levels of tourism, a highly attractive tax regime, and sustainable land and environmental management within a stable political framework, while desirable, would be complex to replicate. Any such strategy would need to consider the specific geographic location and topology of a given region as well as local nuances and context, not least the political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, legal, and environmental factors discussed above. It would require an unprecedented political will and unity to commit to a multi-government project over several decades. What might that roadmap look like?

Albania is known for its diverse landscapes that collectively contribute to the country’s natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. Albania’s mountains in particular present excellent opportunities for sustainable rural tourism and ecological conservation, but also pose challenges to local communities. This blog provides a comprehensive overview of the marginalised mountain ranges of Albania and dives into the diverse set of social, economic, and ecological challenges they face. We also introduce promising emerging solutions ranging from sustainable tourism initiatives that bring about economic opportunities, to infrastructure improvements and agricultural revitalisation initiatives that support niche agricultural products.

MARGISTAR has been out and about this autumn. Shortly after a first in-person meeting with Working Group 2 in Türkiye, Working Group 1 members met in Albania this October. Read on for a short overview of our COST Action meeting, along with a glimpse of the Albanian peaks and valleys we were lucky to visit.