PREPARATION OF NATURA 2000 IN CROATIA

1. PREPARATION OFNATURA 2000 IN CROATIA Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development SUNCE, Split Gabrijela Medunić-Orlić

2. LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR PROTECTION BIODIVERSITY AND LANDSCAPE IN REPUBLIC CROATIA • State Constitution -regulations for use and protection of space (Articles 2, 3, 52, 69) • An overview of the State of Biological and Landscape Diversity of Croatia - Withthe Protection Strategy and Action Planbasic document for nature protection in Croatia at the moment under revision • Nature Protection Act (NN 70/05) – base for regulation of problems related with landscape and biological diversity. - It is in accordance with the regulations in the Birds and Habitats Directives

3. Where we are?According to European Commission • Part of environmental legislation which have to be harmonized, comprises of more then 200 legal acts covering themes from waste and water to GMO and forestry • According to the EC’s “Opinionon Croatia's Application for Membership of the European Union”“…Croatia will have to make considerable and sustained efforts to align its legislation with the acquis and to effectively implement and enforce it in the field of environment in the medium term.” • EC “Croatia 2005 Progress Report”“Most of the problems highlighted in the Commission Opinion on Croatia’s application for EU membership remain present and continue to pose a threat to successful implementation of the acquis.

4. Where we are?According to European Commission • EC Opinion states “with 43% of the territory of Croatia being forested and given the high level of biodiversity, the definition of the network of Natura 2000 sites will represent a major challenge.” • The Report concludes “In regard to nature conservation, limited progress has been made.”

5. State Institute for Nature Protection (SINP) • Established in 2003on the base of previous Nature Protection Act • Responsible for implementation of Directives and Natura 2000 Network in Croatia • Project National Ecological Network (NEN) as a part of the Pan-European Ecological Network and the NATURA 2000 Network (CRO-NEN) • From 2002 to 2005 • Coofinaced from LIFE III fund

6. The main objectives of the project were: • To develop of Proposal for National Ecological Network as part of PEEN and as the base for Natura 2000 Network • To learn responsible in nature protection about obligations related with EU accession process • To develop network of partners for biodiversity data collection as a base for National system for biodiversity monitoring

7. CRO NEN PROPOSAL -43,6 % of land -69,8 % of sea

8. Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Department of Ornithology  analysis of bird important areas for all NATURA 2000 bird species and proposal of SPAs Presence of 269 species and 70 habitat types is determined. For each of NATURA 2000 species and habitat types distribution map with marked known localities is made based on data from Red List of Threatened Plants and Animals of Croatia, Red Data Book of Birds of Croatia, maps of habitats prepared by OIKON - Institute for Applied Ecology. Process of data gathering is still ongoing. Final list with proposed sites should be available during 2006 and sent for comments. Analysis of presence and distribution of NATURA 2000 species and habitats

9. Report State of the Nature (2000-2006)SINP • July, 2006 • Priorities for the next 5 years -harmonizing the legislation -development of implementation mechanisms -establishment of Natura 2000 • At the moment 6,07 % of territory under the legal protection

10. What NGOs see as the problems? • Data base for the CRO NEN is still not available as well as proposal for Natura 2000 sites • Quality of used data - there is a lot of old data • Lack of experts and expert volunteers needed for data gathering  this leaves some doubt that all data needed for proposal of Natura 2000 will be gathered in time. • Lack of interest among experts/scientists working with relevant faculties or other scientific institutions to get involved in the process of data gathering for species under the Natura 2000. Possible reasons: -inability to publish the results (data) in scientific papers -scientific institutions are not adequately aware of the importance of establishing Natura 2000. • At the moment there is no plan/project to determine shadow lists. • Communication process with the local stakeholders didnt start yet

11. How NGOs contribute? • Project “National Platform of NGOs for Monitoring the EU Accession in the Field of Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection”; NGO SUNCE  The Project enable Green Forum to present its goals and interest to relevant national institutions in charge of the EU accesssion process.  Directly strenghten position of the civil society in the EU accession and create fruitful partnerships. -Representatives of NGOs participate in 3 working groups for revision of the document An overview of the State of Biological and Landscape Diversity of Croatia - Withthe Protection Strategy and Action Plan • Distributions of data about Natura 2000 financing possibilities • Lobbing activities • Research activities • Education and communication

12. Contribution of NGO SUNCE • Established in 1998 • 2001 partnership with WWF-start of our work on nature conservation • Mid and South Dalmatia Coast-one of the key marine and costal areas for biodiversity in the Mediterranean • Start of the projectAnalysis of biodiversity, socio-economic opportunities and threats for the future development of Dalmatia

13. Priority conservation areas-Dalmatia Blue Corridor Islands Vis, Lastovo and Mljet -biodiversity rich, traditional life style, unique culture, interesting historic and social background

14. SUNCE-Active contribution in setting up MPA Short history • Lastovo-idea of opening stone quarry clashed with proposal for protected area • Intense local lobbying against nature protection • Creation of local NGO “Spasimo Lastovo” to campaign against it - Support of the media, scientists - Managed to change local government • Under the new Nature Protection Act-temporary protected status for the two years

15. Contribution to declaration process • Explaining the implications of protected areas, its benefits and restrictions and how local people could participate in its future management • Providing the biodiversity and socio-economic data • Participation in the workshops on the islands to explain MPA functioning, showing examples from other Mediterranean countries, organized meetings with local governments to obtain political support • Media work

16. NGO Sunce-Other activities • Sea biodiversity data collection • Collection of data about otter (Lutra Lutra) distribution • Cooperation with the SINP in development of manual for sea habitats • Education • Communication- Project proposal Communicating Natura 2000 in Croatia

17. Challenges for Croatia • Legislationa are harmonized with the Directives but we need mechanisms for implementation (we have only two Regulations from predicted 17) • Transparency of public institutions • Cooperation of relevant institutions • International and national fund rising  increasing the State budget for the Nature • Position of nature under the Ministry of Culture • Number of nature protection staff (only 11 inspectors for the whole Croatia) • Small capacity at the local levels • Communication process with the local stakeholders • Future development projects -tourism development -infrastructure, highway -ilegal and legal building -tourism in protected areas

18. Doubt • In our circumstences; “Is it protected areas really means protection?”

19. Thank you for your attention