Natura Histrica daily implements nature protection measures through the monitoring of nature, flora and fauna of protected areas within the County of Istria, in order to preserve biological and landscape diversity and for scientific, cultural, aesthetic, educational, economic and other needs. In procedures for nature protection and prevention of further pollution and devastation of the area, situations of illegal construction, waste disposal and habitat devastation are most often encountered.
Nature protection measures aim to:
- preserve and restore existing biological and landscape diversity in a state of natural balance and harmonious relationships with human activity;
- determine the state of nature and ensure monitoring of the state;
- ensure a system of protection of natural values in order to permanently preserve the properties on the basis of which they are declared protected;
- ensure the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations without significant damage to parts of nature and with as little disruption as possible to the balance of its components;
- contribute to preserving the naturalness of the soil, preserving the quality, quantity and availability of water, maintaining the atmosphere and oxygen production, and maintaining the climate;
- prevent harmful interventions by people and disturbances in nature as a consequence of technological development and performance of activities.
Surveillance in protected areas is carried out in accordance with priorities and needs on the ground, and includes photo-documented monitoring of all changes in natural values and points of interest in the form of creating a database for any type of further research and promotion. Natura Histrica responds promptly to all illegal activities in protected areas thanks to good cooperation with the local population, municipal inspectors and the Nature Protection Inspectorate.
The Spatial Plan of Istria County records a number of new naturally valuable areas that need to be protected. Investigations are carried out according to the agreed priorities and expressed interest of the local self-government units, with the aim of starting the protection procedure as soon as possible.
Research has been completed:
- The confluence of the Mirna river and the Tarska vala – valorization study as a basis for declaring this area a special ornithological reserve
- The significant landscape of Donji Kamenjak and the Medulin archipelago – research and inventory of vascular flora and assessment of the threat of vascular flora;
- The taxonomic position of the endemic species Serapias istriaca and Serapias x pulae, and the taxonomic relationships within the group S. vomeracea, genus Serapias – the results of the research are presented in the printed work of the following authors and titles:
- Vladimir Hršak, Slavko Brana, Ivan Pejić, Zorana Sedlar Molecular (RAPD) analysis of six Serapias L. (Orchidaceae) taxa from Croatia.
Research continues at locations:
- BRIJUNI National Park – research and list of vascular flora, monitoring of endangered and protected species.
- BRIJUNI National Park – monitoring of invasive species of the genus Caulerpa.
- BRIJUNI National Park – monitoring of seabed life communities.
- UČKA Nature Park – list and mapping of vascular flora. Research in progress.
- ĆIĆARIJA – research on mountain plavac (Maculinea alcon).
- Significant landscape of ISTARSKA TOPLICA – preparatory work for declaration of a regional park, list of vascular flora.
- The valley of the Mirna River – research for the creation of an expert basis for the declaration of the Mirna River as a regional park
Through education, through various environmental activities and manifestations, Natura Histrica sensitizes the population and the entire public to the preciousness of natural systems and values and the importance of preserving biological and landscape diversity as a prerequisite for a healthy and safe life. The implementation of educational programs focuses on the younger, preschool, elementary and high school generations by developing ecological awareness and a responsible and caring way of treating nature as a jewel that needs to be preserved and nurtured. In addition to the classic educational approach, Natura Histrica traces and equips educational hiking, cycling and trekking trails with equipment for exercise, play and recreation, information boards, signaling and accompanying content.
Educational lectures were held in primary schools in Pula and Medulin, secondary schools in Pula and Rovinj, and in higher education institutions of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics in Zagreb, the Faculty of Forestry in Zagreb, the Faculty of Agriculture in Poreč and the Faculty of Pedagogy in Pula.
Marking of protected areas and educational trails has been carried out
- Significant landscape of Kamenjak, Premantura;
- Special ornithological reserve Palud, Rovinj;
- Significant landscape Labin – Rabac – Prklog;
- Significant landscape of Pazinski Ponor, Pazin;
- The cave of St. Romualda, Lim Bay;
- Sijana Forest Park, Pula;
- Camp Ladin gaj, Umag.
By promoting the natural values of protected areas and the richness of the natural heritage of the Istrian County, Natura Histrica greatly contributes to general culture, strengthening ecological awareness and responsible behavior of the community and individuals towards nature in general. Natura Histrica provides professional assistance to cities and municipalities in the design, arrangement and presentation of certain significant localities; informs and organizes professional and recreational visits for local residents and guests, keeps abreast of local, national and world events in the field of nature protection and conveys new knowledge and experiences to the public.
List of books, papers, brochures, articles, workshops, seminars, lectures, public performances:
- Brana Slavko, Grgurev Marin, Flora mapping manual, Lovran, Učka Nature Park, 2005;
- Brana Slavko, co-author in the book Nikolić Toni, Topić Jasenka (ed.), Red book of vascular flora of Croatia: categories EX, RE, CR , EN and VU; Zagreb, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, State Institute for Nature Protection of the Republic of Croatia, 2005;
- Brana Slavko, Determination of plant species in Gian Paolo Cavalli’s herbarium from 1719, Pazin, State Archives in Pazin, 2003;
- Vuković Nina, Brana Slavko, Perčić Mladen, Orhideje Rta Kamenjak, 1st Croatian Botanical Symposium, Zagreb, 2004, Knjiga sažetaka 50-51.
- Brana Slavko, Rešetnik Ivana, Ophioglossum vulgatum L. (Ophioglossaceae) in Istria (Croatia). Symposium Flora and Vegetation of Slovenia and neighboring countries, 2005, Martinčič A., Wraber T., Zupančič M. (ed.), Ljubljana, Botanical Society of Slovenia, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, p. 32-33 (summary, scientific paper);
- Brana Slavko, J. H. Zannichelli (1662-1729) and the early floristic explorations of Učka./ J. H. Zannichelli (1662-1729) and the early floristic explorations of Učka mountain, II. scientific meeting with international participation NATURAL RESEARCH OF THE RIJEKA REGION on the occasion of marking the 130th anniversary of the foundation and the 60th anniversary of the public activity of the Natural History Museum Rijeka, Rijeka, June 14-17, 2006, book of abstracts 32;
- PP Učka, April 12, 2005, flora mapping workshop;
- PP Biokovo, flora mapping workshop;
- Pazin, lecture “Pazinčica – stream or canal”;
- Kanfanar, presenting the natural values of Kanfanar to the municipal authorities;
- Pula, 17.01.2007, Society of Tourist Guides, “Natural values in tourism”;
- Kršikla, 28/04/2007, local committee, “Speleological objects: use and protection”;
- PP Učka, lecture “Flora Ćićarije”;
- Lanišće, June 2, 2007, lecture “Medicinal plants: collection, protection, cultivation”;
- Hrvatski radio, 10.06.2007, “Medicinal plants – protection and legal regulation”;
- PP Učka, Učka fair, 09/09/2007, lecture “Medicinal and aromatic plants from the aspect of protection”;
- Ruše, Pohorje Nature Park, Collective model of management of protected areas Kamenjak – Pohorje (KaPo) project, 27 – 30 November 2007, Educational workshop for volunteer nature conservation supervisors:
- Floristic mapping – work standardization
- Red list of ferns and seeds of Pohorje Nature Park
- JU Kamenjak, Medulin, Training for future supervisors of protected areas:
- Floristic mapping – standardization, 10.04.2008
- Endangered and protected flora species at Kamenjak, 14.04.2008
