Some potentials important for the economic and overall development of the Republic of Srpska were already mentioned when we discussed the natural and geographic characteristics. Natural potentials are definitely one of the key factors in the present and future development of the Republic of Srpska and its economic and geographic shaping. In that respect, the most important natural potentials are:
-farmland,
-forest complexes,
-hydro-climatic conditions, and
-ores and minerals.
Farmland as one of the strategic potentials represents an extremely valuable resource occupying the top place among the natural resources significant for the development of the Republic of Srpska. The ratio of farmland to non-agricultural land and its utilization by category rather varies, which results from the fact that certain farmland areas belong to different morphological wholes.
The total area under farms in the Republic of Srpska is 1,250,000 ha which, considering the population count, equals approximately one hectare per one citizen, which is above the world average. So, there is enough farmland in the Republic of Srpska and there are realistic possibilities of its expansion. By category of utilization the largest areas comprise arable land and gardens, pastures, meadows, orchards, while the least areas are under fish ponds. Rational exploitation of this strategically important potential, the application of modern farming methods, and the internal restructuring of production create necessary conditions not only for satisfying the state's needs but for surplus production.
The forest complex has always been national wealth. It is one of the main potentials of the present and future economic development of the Republic of Srpska. By absolute forest growth (100,000 ha or 44% of the total area) and the total reserves expressed as net increment of wood volume, the Republic of Srpska has an important place in Europe. So, the territory of the Republic is rich in forests, but they are not of the best quality. Besides, the social (state's) negligence is rather pronounced, as well as the irrational approach to the exploitation of this important resource. In the past, large forest areas were devastated and turned into scrub forests and barren ground. That is why it is necessary to change the manner of exploitation and management in the forestry sector. Forest areas are also extremely
valuable because of their ecosystems, which is an additional reason why the state's treatment of the forest resource should be changed as soon as possible.
Hydro climatic conditions have a significant and multiple role in the evaluation of the economic and overall development of the Republic of Srpska. Climate characteristics are the result of various geographical factors intertwining in the geoarea of the Republic of Srpska, so there are different types and variants of climate such as: moderate continental, continental, mountain, zhupa, and modified Meditteranean. Such diversity of climatic conditions favours diversity in farm produce (cereals, fruit, vegetables, industrial crops, etc.). Generally speaking, the climate is rather favourable, while certain unfavourable climatic phenomena can be overcome by human effort.
Elements of the climate have a significant impact upon the hydrological conditions in the Republic of Srpska and great importance from the aspects of water power, agriculture and tourism. Rivers offer ample opportunity for electric power generation, irrigation of arable land, development of tourism and water borne traffic, all of which have not been sufficiently exploited up to now. The key water power factors are the rivers of Drina, Trebisnjica and Vrbas, and the hydro-electric power plants on them. The five existing hydroelectric power plants (Bocac, Visegrad, Trebinje 1 and 2, and Bileca) have the total installed power of 650 MW, which is insufficient to satisfy the needs of the industry and the population of the Republic of Srpska.
Thermal and thermo mineral waters are a particularly valuable hydrological potential. Numerous investigations point-ed to abundance, mostly in the Savski rov zone in the northern part of the Republic of Srpska. The water table usually lies at the depths of 1,000 to 3,000 meters and has the temperature ranging between 80°C and 150°C. Several spa and recreation centres have already developed at these springs: Vrucica Spa, Mljecanica Spa, Laktasi Spa, Slatina Spa, Srpske Toplice Spa, Guber Spa, and Vilina Vlas Spa. Proper evaluation of this form of the hydrological potential is yet to be undertaken..
Ores and minerals are conditioned by the geological structure of the ground. With regard to type and distribution they could be classified into the following groups:
- energy generating materials (brown coal, lignite) - Ugljevik, Gacko, Stanari, Miljevina;
- metal ores, (iron, bauxite, lead, and zinc) - Ljubija, Omarska, Milici, the vicinity of Mrkonjic Grad, Ljubinje and Srebrenica;
- non-metal minerals (asbestos, magnesite, gypsum, marble, kaoline, refractory and ceramic clays, quartz sand, and limestone);
Deposits and exploitation sites are spread over a large area.
