BIODIVERSITY OF CROATIA

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AREAS PROTECTED AREAS According to the Croatian Nature Protection Act, protected areas are classified in 9 categories. Currently, there are 444 protected nature areas designated in various categories, covering a total area of 5124.80 km 2 (9.05% of total territory). The largest portion of the territory is protected in the nature park or national park categories. There are 2 strict reserves, 8 national parks and 10 nature parks already protected and an 11 th nature park, the Lastovo Archipelago, is in the process of designation. Several areas are in the process of designation in other categories. NATIONAL PARKS AREA/ha PLITVICE LAKES 29,482 PAKLENICA 9,600 RISNJAK 6,400 MLJET 5,375 KORNATI 21,700 BRIJUNI 3,395 KRKA 10,900 NORTHERN VELEBIT 10,900 NATURE PARKS AREA/ha KOPA^KI RIT 23,894 MEDVEDNICA 22,826 VELEBIT 200,000 BIOKOVO 19,550 TELA[]ICA 7,050 LONJSKO POLJE 50,600 PAPUK 33,600 U^KA 16,000 VRANSKO LAKE 5,700 @UMBERAK-SAMOBORSKO GORJE 33,300 Three of the eight national parks (Kornati, Brijuni and Mljet) are insular and characterised by rich marine life. Vransko Lake Nature Park, on the coast near Zadar, is the largest natural lake in Croatia and is important for breeding and wintering birds. The Northern Velebit, Risnjak and Paklenica National Parks are mountainous areas characterised by particular relief features with numerous limestone rocks and screes, high-mountain meadows and vast forest complexes. Habitat diversity in addition to geographical isolation has led to the development of specific vegetation and numerous endemics. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia’s oldest national park, and Krka National Park are characterised by unique karst morphology and hydrology, travertine barriers, lakes and cascades. Six of ten Croatian nature parks cover mountain areas (Medvednica, @umberak-Samoborsko gorje, U~ka, Biokovo, Velebit and Papuk). The Kopa~ki rit and Lonjsko polje Nature Parks are large flooded areas of the Pannonian lowland, and each includes a special ornithological reserve. Rivers surrounding and flooding these areas are the cause of high habitat and wildlife diversity, in particular of ornithofauna. Vransko Lake Nature Park on the Croatian coast near Zadar (photo: NP Vransko Lake) 37
National Park Northern Velebit (photo: SINP) Some Croatian protected areas enjoy international designation as exceptionally valuable biological and landscape diversity areas. Plitvice Lakes National Park is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while Velebit Mountain, which encompasses Velebit Nature Park and the Paklenica and Northern Velebit National Parks, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Kopa~ki rit and Lonjsko polje Nature Parks, together with the Crna Mlaka Special Ornithological Reserve and Neretva Delta area, are listed as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Site name International designation Area Plitvice Lakes National Park UNESCO - World Natural Heritage List 29,482 ha Velebit Mountain Nature Park UNESCO MAB site 200,000 ha Lonjsko polje Nature Park Ramsar site 50,560 ha Kopa~ki rit Nature Park Ramsar site 23,400 ha Neretva Delta (proposed nature park) Ramsar site 11,500 ha Crna Mlaka fishponds ornithological reserve Ramsar site 625 ha TOTAL 309,867 ha 38 CATEGORY NO. <strong>OF</strong> AREAS TOTAL AREA/ha PURPOSE LEVEL <strong>OF</strong> PROTECTION strict reserve 2 2395.35 protection of overall biological diversity, scientific research national park 8 93,181.48 protection of biological diversity, scientific research, tourism, recreation, education special reserve 79 28,796.5 protection of biological diversity focusing on a specific component (forests, plant communities, fauna, hydrology, etc.) nature park 10 305,864.38 protection of biological and landscape diversity, sustainable development, tourism and recreation regional park 0 0 protection of biological and landscape diversity, sustainable development, tourism and recreation natural monument 103 761.79 protection of a representative element of nature or small site, scientific research important landscape 69 71,467.08 protection of landscape diversity, sustainable development, tourism and recreation park forest 38 9051.95 tourism and recreation, protection of landscape diversity horticultural monument 135 961.82 protection of cultural heritage and landscape diversity, tourism and recreation, education TOTAL 444 512,480.35 Protected areas in Croatia protected by the Government, managed by county state protected by the Government, managed by county state county county county county county
Page 1 and 2: STATE INSTITUTE FOR NATURE PROTECTI
Page 3 and 4: Biodiversity of Croatia Published b
Page 5 and 6: WILD & DOMESTICATED TAXA 4
Page 7 and 8: Total no. of known taxa No. of ende
Page 9 and 10: No. of endemic taxa in main groups
Page 11 and 12: ANIMALS MAMMALS With 101 mammal spe
Page 13 and 14: Unfortunately, almost half of the b
Page 15 and 16: FRESHWATER FISH With 151 freshwater
Page 17 and 18: INVERTEBRATES To date, 15,474 taxa
Page 19 and 20: INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES Like other E
Page 21 and 22: are more resistant to disease and o
Page 23 and 24: HABITATS
Page 25 and 26: National habitat classification of
Page 27 and 28: Wetland complexes Large wetland are
Page 29 and 30: BOG C. GRASSLANDS, BOGS, FENS AND T
Page 31 and 32: SCRUB HABITATS D. SCRUB HABITATS Th
Page 33 and 34: Almost all Croatian forest habitat
Page 35 and 36: HABITATS G. MARINE HABITATS These a
Page 37: IMPORTANT SITES
Page 41 and 42: • all special reserves, existing
Page 43 and 44: NATURA 2000 habitat types represent

BIODIVERSITY OF CROATIA

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