BIODIVERSITY OF CROATIA

HABITATS
E. FOREST HABITATS
There are more than 60 forest communities and around 4500
forest plant taxa in Croatia. The total area of woodland is about
2,490,000 hectares, covering 44% of Croatian territory. Dense
forests occupy 37% of the territory while the rest belongs to
various forest degradation stages. Only 19% of forests are privately
owned with the majority state-owned.
Old pubescent oak forest of Tramuntana on the Cres Island (photo: SINP)
Distribution of forests in Croatia
The forests in Croatia belong to the first or the second generation
after the natural renewal of vast virgin forests in the
area between the Sava and Drava Rivers, as well as in the karst
region to the south of the Kupa River. According to the composition
of trees, they are natural or very similar to the virgin
forests from which they originated. The conservation status of
Croatian forests is very good compared to the European level.
As high as 95% of forest components show a natural composition,
this is rare and highly valuable in global proportions.
Trees of Croatian forests
Holm oak forests in Glavotok on the island of Krk (photo: SINP)
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