Bern Convention Complaint: Jadar lithium mine (Serbia)

Summary

On September 30, 2021 – Zoe Lujic (Earth Thrive) serving as a stand-in legal guardian to represent the rights of impacted wild flora and fauna species and endangered habitat in Serbia, submitted a formal Complaint to the Bern Convention on alleged habitat destruction in the area of Novi Sad due to proposed construction of a lithium mine in the Jadar River Valley. The Complaint was submitted on the basis of rights of Nature to exist, representing a small legal precedent, being the first such Complaint to the promulgators knowledge.

The Complaint states that the mine causes the loss of plant and animal species, reduced habitat connectivity, pollution (air, soil, water), major deforestation due to road construction and tailings, bioaccumulation of heavy metals, and leaching within rivers and streams. Furthermore, it alleges that “The mine would also violate the inherent rights of impacted species and their habitats. Due to the shortcomings of Serbia’s laws, enforcing the Rights of Nature is “necessary” to protect species and their habitats in accordance with the purpose of the Bern Convention” (pg. 2).

Since the Complaint was registered, both parties have sent regular reports to the Bureau and/or Standing Committee (as per request). The Standing Committee is the governing body of the Bern Convention, and the Bureau of the Standing Committee takes administrative and organizational decisions in between meetings of the Standing Committee which happen each year in December. On April 28 and May 30, 2025 (respectively), the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Serbia and the Complainants (Earth Thrive et al.) sent in their respective fifth progress reports to the Bureau on the latest status of the Jadar lithium mine project in Serbia. These will be reviewed during the Standing Committee meeting in December 2025.

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