Ecological network

An ecological network is a system of interconnected or spatially close ecologically significant areas that, with a balanced biogeographical distribution, significantly contribute to the preservation of natural balance and biological diversity.

Significant areas are:

• areas that are biologically extremely diverse or well-preserved, and which are internationally significant according to the criteria of international treaties to which the Republic of Croatia is a party;
• areas that significantly contribute to the preservation of biological and landscape diversity in the Republic of Croatia;
• areas of habitat types that are threatened at the world, European or national level;
• habitats of wild species that are threatened at the world, European or national level;
• habitats of endemic taxa for the Republic of Croatia;
• areas that significantly contribute to the genetic connectivity of populations of biological species (ecological corridors);
• migration routes of animals;
• preserved forest units.

Within the ecological network, its parts are connected by natural or artificial ecological corridors. An ecological corridor is an ecological component or a series of such components that enable the movement of populations of living organisms from one locality to another. An ecological network with a system of ecologically significant areas and ecological corridors is promulgated by the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the proposal of the Ministry of Culture.

Actions that may lead to destruction or some other significant or permanent damage to an ecologically significant area are not permitted. The Institute for the Protection of the Environment and Nature manages the cadastre of ecological systems and monitors the state and threat of habitats.

What does the National Ecological Network include?

The national ecological network includes areas in Croatia that, by applying expert criteria and based on available data not older than 50 years, have been determined as areas important for the preservation or establishment of a favorable state of endangered and rare habitat types and/or wild taxa at the European and national level. Habitat types and wild taxa threatened in Europe are prescribed by two EU directives (Birds Directive and Habitats Directive) and the Berne Convention.

Nationally endangered wild taxa are those that are determined by competent experts based on internationally accepted IUCN criteria and become an integral part of the so-called Red list of endangered wild taxa maintained by the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection. All biospeleologically important objects and sea caves that are not currently in the records of the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection are considered integral parts of the ecological network, as extremely important and endangered ecologically significant areas. In addition to the area of ​​the ecological network, two ecological corridors have been established: the migration corridor for birds Palagruža – Lastovo – Pelješac and the corridor for sea turtles, a coastal strip up to 50 meters deep.

Conservation goals and protection measures are established for each area of ​​the ecological network. The conservation goals of the ecological network area are determined in relation to the ecological requirements of European and/or nationally endangered wild taxa and habitat types that qualify for that area, based on professional and scientific criteria. Protection measures for ecological network areas are established on the basis of conservation objectives. In areas of the ecological network where the goal of conservation is an endangered or rare habitat type prescribed by the Ordinance on types of habitat types, habitat map, endangered and rare habitat types, and on measures for the preservation of habitat types, measures are applied in accordance with the aforementioned Ordinance. Where the goal of conservation is an endangered wild species for which protection measures are prescribed based on the Nature Protection Act (e.g. management plan or action plan), these measures are applied. The National Ecological Network also contains areas for which conservation objectives refer to habitat types listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive and/or wild taxa listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive and Annex II. Directives on habitats.

Protection and management of ecological network areas

We can group the areas into two units:

1. 1. Areas protected in one of the categories of the Nature Protection Act
      These areas are managed in accordance with all regulations governing the management and protection of protected areas, with an emphasis on the implementation of conservation goals and protection measures for qualifying endangered wild taxa and/or habitat types in terms of the ecological network. Protected areas included in the ecological network mainly refer to the following categories: national park, nature park, strict and special reserve.

1. Areas outside the system of protected areas
   The most important protection mechanism for these localities is the procedure for assessing the acceptability of planned interventions for nature, which is mandatory for all planned interventions that may have a significant impact on areas of the ecological network. It is mandatory to look at the possible impacts of such planned interventions on the conservation goals of a certain area of ​​the ecological network, and to consider alternative possibilities and determine mitigation measures. In the event that the intervention is not acceptable to nature, it can be exceptionally approved by the Government of the Republic of Croatia if, after a public inspection, it determines that there is an overriding public interest. In doing so, compensatory measures are determined that must ensure that the function of that area is preserved in the context of the overall ecological network (providing a replacement area, etc.).

For planned operations for which an environmental impact assessment is mandatory by special regulation, the assessment of acceptability for nature is carried out as part of the environmental impact assessment. In addition to the prescribed protection measures for each individual area, more detailed management plans can be adopted. Prescribed protection measures are mandatory for all natural and legal persons who perform activities of management and use of natural assets in these areas or carry out interventions in nature in the sense of the Nature Protection Act. In the process of creating spatial planning documents and natural resource management plans, it is necessary to determine the presence of ecological network areas and to include measures for their protection in the documents.

The protection of the area of ​​the ecological network is ensured not only by the implementation of prescribed protection measures but also by the implementation of nature protection conditions issued in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Nature Protection. All natural resource management plans and spatial planning documents contain nature protection measures and conditions. If the goal of preserving the area of ​​the ecological network refers to natural values ​​that are managed based on the plan for the management of natural resources or if the prescribed protection measures refer to the management of natural resources, it is suggested that these areas be managed by a natural or legal person who implements the plan, if that plan contains conditions nature protection. It is not allowed to introduce genetically modified organisms into the environment in areas of the ecological network and in areas that represent protective zones of influence. The areas of the ecological network are managed by public institutions established for the management of protected natural values.

For areas of the ecological network, it is necessary to prescribe condition monitoring as prescribed in the European Union for NATURA 2000 areas.

Monitoring refers to those indicators that enable:

• monitoring of the condition of wild taxa and habitat types and
• determining the effectiveness of protection measures with regard to the realization of established conservation goals.

Monitoring should be carried out as a priority for wild taxa and habitat types that have been established as conservation goals for the relevant area of ​​the ecological network, whereby special attention should be directed to species whose condition most obviously reflects changes in the habitats of other species, i.e. in habitat types.

Natura 2000

NATURA 2000 is an ecological network of the European Union that includes areas important for the conservation of endangered species and habitat types. Each EU member state contributes to the creation of the network by determining Special Protection Areas for birds and Special Areas of Conservation for other wild taxa and habitat types. Areas must be selected in such a way as to ensure the survival of certain wild taxa and habitat types listed in the Annexes of the Directives. In NATURA 2000 areas, it is necessary to define and implement management measures that will ensure the so-called good condition of the species and habitat types for which it is protected.

NATURA 2000 is the largest coordinated network of nature conservation areas in the world. By joining the European Union, Croatia included its rich biological and landscape diversity in that network and became a key piece in the European puzzle. More on Natura2000