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    • Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation
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    • Office of the State Government of Styria
    • Veneto Region
    • Regional Agency for the Prevention and the Environment of the Emilia-Romagna Region
    • Klagenfurt University, Department of Economics
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    • State Enterprise »Vojvodinašume«
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    • Delta Po River Park
    • Regional Park Mura-Drava
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Workshops in Croatia

Workshops in Croatia

Nature protection and maintenance of biodiversity - a way towards sustainable economic development of the region
Countries in the region as partners of the project NATREG unified efforts to create a joint trans-national management strategies in protected areas


In front of numerous representatives of public authorities and citizen interest groups, in Koprivnica and Osijek have been presented so far achieved results of NATREG project, initiated by the five partner countries (Croatia, Italy, Austria, Serbia and Slovenia) with the aim of promoting the potentials of protected areas as an initiator of sustainable regional development, as well as increasing awareness of the importance of nature conservation. Project NATREG is part of the Transnational Programme for South East Europe (SEE), and is funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of European Union.

The increased interest of state institutions and authorities for protected natural areas means not only conserving natural resources, but also making far-reaching decisions aimed at sustainable economic development of designated areas, according to a program partners NATREG, during the presentation of its results. Since starting the program in March 2009, NATREG ((Managing Natural Assets and Protected Areas as Regional Sustainable Development Opportunities) united many relevant institutions in Croatia, Italy, Austria, Serbia and Slovenia, which have been actively involved in developing a common transnational management strategies in protected areas.

Over the past two and a half years, the project included six protected areas: in Italy (Po River Delta), Austria (Styria, Vellacher Kotscha), Slovenia (Pohorje), Serbia (Delibatska peščara). As a pilot area in Croatia is established the protected area of the Regional Park Mura - Drava in Koprivnica-Križevci County.

Although as the greatest value of protected natural areas often is mentioned the preservation of natural resources and biodiversity, less is known of their potential in sustainable social and economic development at the level of the overall community. Indeed, the issue of protected natural areas is often disapproved by local governments and residents, who consider it not only intrusion into the everyday way of life, but also a threat to economic development.

In order to encourage active involvement of citizens and public authorities in this matter, in all mentioned countries - project partners, including Croatia, during the project were developed a number of studies on the possibilities of sustainable development and management plans for protected areas, which improved cooperation of various interest groups and relevant institutions in the field of nature protection. This is especially important in light of the planned Croatian accession to the European Union and inclusion in NATURA 2000, the largest coordinated network of nature conservation areas in the world.

Also, new trends in management of protected areas aligned Croatia among the countries that recognize the future economic trends, which will undoubtedly move in the direction of sustainable development. Highlighting the potential of protected natural areas in the field of sustainable social and economic development is one of the main merit of the project NATREG.

"Involving the wide range of stakeholders in the protection of nature is of great importance in strengthening participatory planning in the management of protected areas, as well as in strengthening the perception of nature as a valuable resource. Everyday experience tells us that people in Croatia are still without a full idea of the potential of protected natural areas in the field of sustainable economic progress. We are confident that the establishment of better communication between the Croatian public institutions and the widest circle of stakeholders will ultimately result in higher quality of the future planning of protected areas." - said Mirna Bojić from Ministry of Culture of Republic of Croatia.

Although the end of the project NATREG is scheduled for July this year, achieved results opened the way for further cooperation of relevant institutions in the region. Representatives of the countries-partners of the project so announced several new projects, such as cross-border cooperation between Slovenia and Austria on project ALPA (Sustainable management of alpine pastures). The final decision on the development of new projects will be made at the last meeting of NATREG partners next month.

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