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Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Croatia is located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea and can be divided into 16 distinct landscape units, such as the Panonnian highlands and the plateau of Kordun. Some of the features of these landscapes are karst fields and rivers, mountain chains and limestone plateaus. Forests cover 44% of the land area of Croatia, the majority of which is owned by the state. The karst area, which covers 54% of Croatia, is unique because it runs along the entire Adriatic coast and also extends into the continental region. The scree vegetation of the karst areas is home to Croatia’s rarest and most threatened plant, the endemic Velebit degenia, and the numerous caves are home to the subterranean freshwater sponge, Eunapius subterraneus. Threats to karst areas include pollution, the construction of hydroelectric power plants and intensive agriculture. Wetlands are also important ecosystems as they have the highest biological and landscape diversity, although they are also the most threatened of Croatia’s ecosystems.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The six basic principles of the national strategy and action plan are: the recognition of the fundamental value of biological diversity and its role as a resource for future development; a commitment to conserving and improving existing biological and landscape diversity; the development of measures to identify, conserve and improve this diversity; incorporation of conservation measures in all economic activities; the systematic extension of efforts for protection at the national, regional and local levels; and the harmonization of efforts with international activities. The general strategic objectives are to complete integrated inventories of biodiversity, map distributions, assess the state of endangerment, prepare and implement action plans for threatened biodiversity, monitor changes, and develop implementation mechanisms. Action plans are divided into 15 groups such as plans for threat assessment, plans for species protection and plans for research and monitoring. There are several plans included into each of these groups and a priority level is often associated with a given plan.
 

• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan Part 1 (English)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan Part 2 (English)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan Part 3 (English)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (English)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (English)