BIODIVERSITY OF CROATIA

Almost all Croatian forest habitat types belong to one of the
classes of NATURA 2000 habitats protected under the Habitats
Directive. Some cover large areas like beech forests, durmast
oak forests and common oak forests. The others have
restricted distribution like relic forests of lime and yew, relic
forests of black pine and chestnut woods.
Dinaric beech and fir forests (Omphalodo-Fagetum) are distributed in
mountain parts of Croatia (photo: SINP)
The largest forest complexes can be found in the western Dinaric
Alps (Gorski Kotar, Velebit Mountain) where the beech
and fir forests predominate, as well as in the Sava River region
with the alluvial basins of Spa~va and Lonjsko Polje. In the Mediterranean
region, most forest vegetation is in macchia form,
though there are also areas with nicely preserved holm oak as
well as black pine forests.
Relic forests of the black pine (Pinus nigra) on the Biokovo mountain
(photo: A. Alegro)
The main causes of threats to forests in Croatia include: pollution
of air, soil and water (fir is the most affected species),
change in water regimes due to water management activities
in lowland forests (common oak forests are threatened) as well
as construction of roads through large forest complexes.
Mediterranean beech forest (photo: A. Alegro)
Willow and poplar forests are distributed mostly along the Mura,
Drava and Danube rivers (photo: SINP)
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