The Plitvice Lakes National Park has been welcoming nature lovers from around the world for 75 years now, establishing itself as a favourite natural oasis.
The Society for the Arrangement and Beautification of Plitvice Lakes was established in Zagreb in 1893 with the aim of creating opportunities for visitors and preserving this wonderful environment. This organisation contributed significantly to the promotion of the Plitvice Lakes both in
The lake system of the Plitvice Lakes is made up of 16 lakes identified by name and many smaller ones, lined up in cascades, which create a true wonder of nature. Because of the combination of the geological substrate and the distinct hydrogeological conditions, the lake system is divided into the Upper and the Lower Lakes.
45th anniversary of Plitvice Lakes on the UNESCO World Heritage List
This year, alongside celebrating 75 years of national park status, the Plitvice Lakes National Park will be celebrating 45 years since it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The continuing process of tufa formation, which creates tufa barriers and lakes, is a unique universal value, which is why the Plitvice Lakes National Park received international recognition by being included in the UNESCO World Heritage List on 26 October 1979. This area is among the first in the world and the only one in Croatia to be added to the List for its natural values.
For areas to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, they must represent unique universal values, which is proven by meeting at least one out of a total of 10 criteria. Each criterion is described in detail and, even though meeting one criterion is enough to be added to the list, areas often meet more than one. The criteria which the Plitvice Lakes National Park has met to be added to the List are criteria no. (vii), (viii) i (ix).
The vision for the oldest and largest national park in Croatia definitely includes a future in which the Park is still a part of UNESCO world heritage, which involves preserving its unique universal values and the criteria which describe them. It is extremely important to recognise the Plitvice Lakes as natural heritage of immense importance both for Croatia and the whole world.
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is one of the most important EU initiatives for environmental conservation, a network of protected areas and habitats which are key to the survival of rare and endangered species all across Europe. This impressive network was created based on Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and the Directive on the conservation of wild birds for the purpose of preserving or restoring over a thousand rare and endangered species and around 230 natural and semi-natural habitats.
The Natura day is celebrated on 21 May each year to highlight the importance of this network and raise awareness of its necessary protection. The Natura 2000 network includes over 26,000 areas covering around 1,200,000 square kilometres, making it the largest network of its kind in the world. One of the significant areas included in the Natura 2000 network is the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a home to 21 bird species, 28 animal and plant species, and as many as 20 target habitat types. Thanks to the management efforts and activities of the Park staff, these habitats and species are guaranteed long-term survival.
Monitoring
Monitoring at the Plitvice Lakes National Park plays a crucial role in the preservation of biodiversity and the natural environment. Different kinds of monitoring, such as the monitoring of saproxylic beetles, swallows and house martins, woodpeckers, owls and bats, allow the Park staff to gather vital information about the state of these animals and about their behaviour.
Another very important monitoring activity is the monitoring of water quality indicators, eutrophication indicators and tufa formation indicators, which is carried out once a month in accordance with scientific research recommendations at multiple stations. Employees of the Department of Protection, Maintenance, Safeguarding, Promotion and Utilisation of the Plitvice Lakes National Park actively partake in these activities to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem and to protect the natural resources of the Park. Based on systematic monitoring, the Plitvice Lakes National Park can make well-informed decisions on management and protection, thus contributing to the long-term sustainability of this precious natural area.
EUROPARC Federation
The EUROPARC Federation is an organisation of almost 400 members from 38 countries who mostly represent protected areas in Europe. The activities of the Federation are funded through membership fees and project, and these activities are overseen by a 10-member Council and a President. All projects and programmes, as well as the day-to-day management of the organisation, are managed by the Directorate in Regensburg (
Since it was established in 1973, EUROPARC has been promoting
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