ZAGREB, Jan 2021 - Croatia's environmental affairs in 2021 were marked by the declaration of Dinara as the 12th nature park and the awarding of the status of UNESCO designated site to the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve.

On 5 February, the Croatian parliament unanimously adopted a law declaring Mount Dinara the 12th nature park in Croatia. The nature park encompasses Croatia's section of Mount Dinara as well as Mt Troglav and Mt Kamešnica, the upper course of the Cetina River and the Hrvatačko, Paško, and Vrličko karst fields. It extends over two counties - Split-Dalmatia and Šibenik-Knin -- measuring almost 63,000 hectares in area. Dinara is part of the Dinaric Alps, also commonly known as the Dinarides, a mountain range in Southern and Southeastern Europe.

On 15 September, UNESCO's international coordinating council designated the transboundary biosphere reserve which stretches along the Drava, Mura, and Danube Rivers as the first biosphere reserve extending through five countries: Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia. The Mura, Drava, and Danube Rivers form a 700-kilometer-long green belt, also known as the Amazon of Europe, connecting almost a million hectares of unique terrain with significant natural and cultural heritage, becoming the first five-country biosphere reserve in the world.

Legislative activities in environment protection

In July, the Croatian parliament passed a law banning the use of plastic carrier bags that are between 15 and 50 microns thick as of 1 January 2022, while other types of plastic bags will be phased out in the coming period.

A project aimed at better management of plastic waste has begun, and the first comprehensive national statistical survey on food waste was conducted.

The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development said that a strong positive trend of waste separation, collection, and recycling continued.

The waste sorting rate in 2020 was 41%, rising by 15 percentage points since 2016. Of the total municipal waste, 56% was landfilled and 34% recovered, which is an increase of 13 percentage points compared with 2016.

Prelog among best towns in Europe in sustainable waste management, Šibenik builds Bikarac waste management plant

In mid-December, the Zero Waste Europe network published new best sustainable waste management practices in Europe, including those in the northern Croatian town of Prelog and 11 neighboring municipalities.

Prelog, the first Croatian town to adopt a zero-waste strategy, and 11 neighboring municipalities (Belica, Donja Dubrava, Donji Vidovec, Sveta Marija, Goričan, Donji Kraljevec, Kotoriba, Dekanovec, Domašinec, Martijanec, Podturen), improved their result in total waste sorting from 57.25% in 2019 to 65.23% in 2020.

On 21 December, the City of Šibenik's waste management center began a test run of the HRK 245 million Bikarac waste management plant, with Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Tomislav Ćorić praising Šibenik for setting an example to other cities on how to resolve the issue of waste management. Currently, about 73,000 tonnes of waste is delivered to Bikarac with more than 40,000 tonnes of municipal waste. The capacity of the mechanical-biological plant is to process about 70,000 tonnes of waste a year.

In June, Parliament adopted the national low carbon development strategy until 2030 with an outlook until 2050.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

October 22, 2021 - In the heart of the Papuk Nature Park, 475 meters above sea level, is located the jewel of the Slavonia mountains: Jankovac, where its visitors can now enjoy two new educational trails.

By the end of September this year, the Jankovac Forest Park was visited by almost 50,000 visitors, and will soon be richer for two more educational trails, reports HrTurizam. These are two projects co-financed entirely by the European Union from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, approved by the Agency for Payments in Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, and refers to the type of operation 8.5.2. "Establishment and arrangement of educational trails, lookouts and other smaller infrastructure".

In one of the projects, the investment is focused on the establishment of an educational bike path with educational and recreational elements in the area of ​​Slatinski Drenovac. Existing forest trains and six-kilometer-long roads will be used for tracing, so the vast majority of the trail passes right through the forest area. The educational trail will connect the Jankovac Forest Park and the Slatinski Drenovac settlement, in which the Papuk Nature Park Public Institution plans to invest in the future Visitor Reception Center. The youngest ones were also meant because a playground will be built in front of the mentioned center as part of the mentioned project. The total value of the project is HRK 743,480, and work is expected to begin next spring.

The second project carried out by the Municipality of Čačinci, and refers to the continuation of investments in the area of ​​the Municipality and the Park, is a new section of the educational trail with a total length of four kilometers. The trail starts from the Jankovac mountaineering picnic area and continues on a slight slope to the canyon of the Kovačica stream and along with it at the foot of the old Klak fortress. The trail passes completely through the forest area and will interpret the context of the rich history of the Jankovac area and the Klak fortress, which was determined by the richness of the forests and the natural resources of Papuk.

The educational trail will longitudinally connect two existing facilities - the Jankovac picnic area with the nearby cultural and historical site of the Klak fortress, ie with Slatinski Drenovac. The total value of the project is HRK 743,342.75. The start of work on the tracks is expected in the spring of 2022, so the relief of Jankovac in terms of cars is expected as early as next summer.

"Jankovac Forest Park attracts more and more visitors every year, and judging by the number of visitors during this year's winter months, Papuk has become the most visited winter destination. Therefore, the Municipality of Čačinci and the Papuk Nature Park did not want to miss the opportunity to invest in the tourist infrastructure of Papuk. I am especially happy to announce an investment worth almost one and a half million kuna, which will make the Jankovac Forest Park even more attractive to cyclists and pedestrians. With their length and characteristics, the trails are suitable for all ages, so they will be ideal for family walks ", said Alen Jurenac, director of the Papuk Nature Park and mayor of Čačinci.

Check our full guide on all Croatian National and Nature Parks HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 16, 2021 - Great news for wildlife in Croatia, as the Velebit Nature Park welcomed a new lynx Emil. The wild cat came from Slovakia and thus joins nearly 40 other lynxes that inhabit the park. 

As turistickeprice.hr reports, Velebit Nature Park has become richer for one beautiful cat: Emil! The new lynx arrived from Slovakia and immediately rushed out of the transport box into the Velebit area. It's a lynx, the largest European cat, but the survival of this species in the Dinaric mountains is endangered due to inbreeding. After extinction at the beginning of the 20th century, the Dinaric lynx population was re-established in 1973 by the settlement of six animals from the Slovak Carpathians in Slovenia.

The adult male lynx was caught in the Slovak Carpathians and spent two months in quarantine to make sure he arrived in Croatia healthy and with the necessary antibodies to the rabies virus. It's out of the shipping box released on Apatišan, near Krasno. In accordance with the epidemiological measures, he was accompanied by a small number of spectators, among whom a special place was taken by students from the Elementary School Krasno.

‘‘Emil is the third lynx we are releasing in the Velebit area. Last year, in the Paklenica National Park, we released Alojzije, who established the terrain in the area of ​​the municipality of Sveti Rok, and the lynx Pina, whose fate we, unfortunately, do not know. Based on the data from the photo traps, we estimate that there are about 40 adult lynxes on Velebit, so we hope that Emil will not have any problems finding a partner’’, said the director of Velebit Nature Park, Ana Brkljačić.

All lynxes present today in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are descendants of these six lynxes. Nearly 50 years of breeding close relatives without contact with lynx from other populations, resulted in genetic disorders and the only solution for survival was the re-import of lynx from the Carpathians. This is exactly what the international team of experts gathered in the LIFE Lynx project, co-financed by the European Commission, is doing. In the last three years, he has been to Slovenia and Croatia, both inhabited by a total of 13 lynxes from Slovakia and Romania, and the first descendants of inhabited males and local females have already been recorded, thus stopping inbreeding.

The new lynx found a new home in the Velebit Nature Park, which is just one of the 12 natural parks in Croatia, and you can learn more about them in Total Croatia's Guide to National and Natural Parks in Croatia, HERE. Now you can find Total Croatia articles in your language!

For more news, follow TCN's dedicated page.  

ZAGREB, 10 May 2021 -  All Croatian counties on Monday formally opened walking trails and parks within the project "Live Healthily" of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), the head of the project, Sanja Musić Milanović said.

Walking trails and similar amenities are provided to citizens to encourage them to be more physically active, according to Milanović Musić who underscored that the trails were formally opened on International Day of Walking.

Today, each county is opening a walking trail and a park with amenities for children.

Milanović Musić also noted that obesity and overweight were factors that increase the risk of developing five major chronic diseases which cause 90% of deaths in Croatia, she added.

She also noted that obesity could also be conducive to developing a serious form of COVID-19.

The preparations of the trails and parks cost HRK 2.5 million and were covered by the European Social Fund.

For more about National and Nature Parks in Croatia, visit Total Croatia's 2021 guide HERE. Now available in your language!

As Morski writes on the 9th of May, 2020, as part of the gradual easing of restrictions related to COVID-19, by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, eight Croatian national parks and eleven Croatian nature parks will start operating on May the 11th, 2020.

Kopački rit Nature Park

Kopački rit Nature Park will reopen its doors to visitors on the 11th of May. Visits to the park will take place in compliance with all of the prescribed measures for social distancing and hygiene standards, and fishermen will be able to go out onto the water again after having purchased daily and annual permits at the park's reception centre in Kopačevo. Visitors are to be warned that access to construction sites at the Sakadaš Lake pier and in the Tikveš castle complex is in no way allowed for their own safety. More information can be accessed here.

Papuk Nature Park

Papuk Nature Park opens its doors on May the 11th. Tickets at a symbolic price of 10 kuna can be purchased every day from 07:00 to 19:00, and work in the park will be carried out in accordance with the instructions of the competent services. The park will subsequently inform all visitors about the operation of the Duboka Adrenaline Park, the Duboka Camp and the Pannonian Sea House. Read more information here.

Brijuni National Park

Brijuni National Park will also be open to individual visitors as of Monday, May the 11th. The method of work in the park will be carried out in accordance with the instructions of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy and the National Civil Protection Headquarters. Organised trips to Veliki Brijun will start again with expert guides, at promotional ticket prices of 95 kuna for adults and 50 kuna for children aged between four and gourteen. Visitors will also be able to tour Veliki Brijun on their own, without an expert guide, using the new mobile application for visitors called the Brijuni Pocket Guide. Read more information by clicking here.

Northern Velebit National Park

Northern Velebit National Park and the Velebit House Visitor Centre are open to visitors from the 11th of May. The working hours of the Babić Siča entrance are Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 16:00, and the Velebit House Visitor Centre will be open from Tuesday to Sunday from 08:00 to 16:00. In accordance with the measures of maintaining social distance, for now, visits to the Park and the Velebit House is possible only for individual visitors, while group visits and workshops are currently not possible. In the Velebit House Visitor Centre, it is necessary to ensure a physical distance between visitors and also between visitors and employees. More information can be accessed by clicking here.

Velebit Nature Park

Velebit Nature Park also opens to visitors on May the 11th. As measures prohibiting groups of more than five people still remain in force, individual visitors are allowed to visit the park, and organised groups will be allowed in accordance with the instructions of the National Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Institute of Public Health. Zavratnica Bay will be open every day from 11:00 to 19:00, and when visiting the Park, it will be necessary to adhere to the measures of maintaining physical distance and all of the prescribed hygiene standards. Read more information here.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park opens its doors to its visitors on May 11, 2020. The working hours of the Park are from 08:00 to 19:00, while the purchase of tickets is possible until 17:00. There is only a short boat line (P1-P2) operating from 08:30 to 19:00, while the panoramic train won't be up and running. In accordance with the measures for maintaining physical distance, temporary programmes for touring the Park have been created, and the catering/hospitality facilities Kozjačka draga, Kupalište, Labudovac and Vučnica have been opened. Read more information on that here.

Vrana Lake (Vransko jezero) Nature Park

The Vrana Lake Nature Park is open to visitors from Monday, too. In accordance with the current instructions of the National Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Institute of Public Health, visits to the Park are allowed only to individual visitors. Visits of organised groups will be allowed in accordance with any new decisions and instructions of the National Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia and the CNIPH. Read more information on Vransko jezero's operations under the current measures here.

Telašćica Nature Park

As part of the gradual easing up of the restrictions related to stopping the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Telašćica Nature Park will be reopened to visitors as of Monday, the 11th of May 2020. As measures prohibiting groups of more than five people are still in force, visits to the Park are allowed to individual visitors and for organised groups will be allowed to enter in accordance with the instructions of the National Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Institute of Public Health. Visits to the park will take place in compliance with all of the measures governing the need to maintain physical distance and proper hygiene standards. Read more information here.

Krka National Park

The much loved Krka National Park will be reopen to visitors from the 11th of May onwards with promotional ticket prices of 50 kuna for adults and 25 kuna for children and young people aged from 7 to 18. Children up to 7 years old can enter for free. Read more information on Krka National Park's current operations here.

Biokovo Nature Park

From May the 11th onwards, the Biokovo Nature Park will reopen its doors to visitors. As measures prohibiting groups of more than five people are still in force - individual visitors are allowed to visit the Park and organised groups will be allowed to enter in accordance with the instructions of the National Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Institute of Public Health as things unfold. Visits to the park will take place in compliance with all of the measures for maintaining physical distance and the proper hygiene standards. Read more information here.

Mljet National Park

NP Mljet in southern Dalmatia will also open its doors to visitors on May the 11th, 2020. With promotional ticket prices until June the 18th, 2020, visitors will have the opportunity to visit Croatia's oldest protected marine area. In order to make the Park more accessible primarily to Croatian visitors, ticket prices during the aforementioned promotional period is 50 kuna for adults and 30 kuna for students. Admission for children under 7 is still free. The ticket also includes a ride on an electric boat and a visit to the island of Sv. Marija. Read more here.

Kornati National Park

''At the time of the implementation of the measures to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, it was actually impossible to completely close our Park, because the Kornati islands are private property and there are a lot of people who came to isolate themselves on their own property. We couldn't control or ban that. The Kornati islands are part of the waterway, so it wasn't possible to close the park from that side either, but while quarantine was declared on Murter, there were restrictions on navigation. Of course, the National Park was closed off to tourists and now we're preparing to open again. As such, preparations are underway to open two official entrances from the 11th of May onwards. The park has been being cleaned of any rubbish and plastic that arrived during the winter months and everything is now ready for the sales of boat tickets etc, but official instructions from the National Civil Protection Headquarters on how everything should look are still awaited,'' explained Šime Ježina, the director of Kornati National Park.

Lastovo Islands Nature Park

As part of the gradual easing of the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Lastovo Islands Nature Park will be reopened to visitors from Monday, the 11th of May. Visits to the park will take place in compliance with all measures regarding maintaining physical distance and hygiene standards. Read more information here.

For more on Croatian national parks and nature parks, follow our travel page.

Now you really have no excuse to miss seeing the parks of Croatia...