Development of the framework for managing the Natura 2000 ecological network

In September 2017, the implementation of the project "Development of the Natura 2000 Management Framework" (K.K.06.5.2.03.0001) began. The project was approved for EU co-financing within the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020, Specific Objective 6iii2 – "Setting up the framework for sustainable management of biodiversity (primarily Natura 2000)". The total value of the project is HRK 186,497,150.36, of which HRK 158,503,452.80 of grant funds has been secured through EU co-financing. As part of the project, management plans will be prepared for at least 40% of the area of the ecological network. In order to effectively manage forest ecosystems, the project will create forest protection programmes. The project also includes monitoring the effectiveness of measures to preserve freshwater ecosystems (a pilot activity). Management capacities are key to management efficiency, so the project foresees a series of educational activities. The existing information and communication technologies will also be improved, e.g. Bioportal, a tool within the Nature Protection Information System (ISZP), and the equipment necessary for the creation of management plans and the management itself will be acquired. For a certain number of areas of the ecological network, data on some lesser-known or rare habitat types and species are insufficient. Accordingly, the project also includes field data collection for the purpose of determining the condition of target species and habitat types, which will help to define conservation goals and proposed measures – activities for their preservation and/or improvement of their condition. In order to ensure the financial sustainability of the ecological network management, the project includes the creation of the so-called "Priority Activities Framework” (PAF). The beneficiary of the project is the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Environmental Protection Directorate (MINGOR-UZP). The project partner is the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection (ZZOP), and the collaborators are public institutions for the management of national parks or nature parks, and public institutions for the management of other protected areas and/or other protected parts of nature in Croatia, as well as Hrvatske vode (the Croatian water management company).