Note: This paper has been prepared upon request of the State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment of the Republic of Croatia, and was written and edited by a group of experts from the State Directorate’s Office for the Adriatic, Rijeka, and the Regional Activity Centre of the Priority Actions Programme, Split.

Editors: Andrija Randić and Ivica Trumbić

Photographs: Ivo Pervan

Printed by: JAFRA, Split

ISBN 953-6429-14-4

For bibliographic purposes this document may be cited as: State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment of the Republic of Croatia: Coastal Area Management in Croatia. Zagreb, State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment of the Republic of Croatia. 1998. REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

THE STATE DIRECTORATE FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURE AND ENVIRONMENT

Zagreb, May 1998 Coastal Area Management in Croatia

ii Coastal Area Management in Croatia CONTENTS

I INTRODUCTION: TRADITION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT ...... 1 I.1 PURPOSE OF THE REPORT...... 1

I.2 HISTORY AND TRADITION OF COASTAL AREA PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT IN CROATIA...... 2

II COASTAL AREAS AND ISLANDS: POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES ...... 5 II.1 COASTAL ENVIRONMENT OF CROATIA ...... 5 Natural characteristics...... 5 Protection of nature...... 7 Biological and landscape diversity...... 8 II.2 POPULATION OF THE COASTAL REGION ...... 10 II.3 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ...... 12 Primary sector ...... 13 Secondary sector...... 14 Tertiary sector...... 14 II.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ...... 15 Water resources ...... 15 Waste waters...... 16 Solid waste ...... 16 Sea...... 16 Terrestrial ecology...... 17

III PRACTICE OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN CROATIA...... 19 III.1 STRATEGY AND POLICIES ...... 19 Legal framework, principal documents and attitudes ...... 19 Accents and priorities ...... 21 III.2 REGULATION OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT...... 21 Accents and priorities ...... 23 III.3 COASTAL MANAGEMENT TOOLS...... 23 III.4 ADMINISTRATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE...... 25 General and special institutional frameworks for action ...... 25 Implementation system...... 26 Accents and priorities ...... 26 III.5 ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT...... 27 Access to information on the environment, and public participation...... 27 III.6 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT...... 28 III.7 IMPLEMENTATION OF MANAGEMENT PLANS...... 29 III.8 INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION...... 30 III.9 EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROJECTS...... 32 Cres-Lošinj Archipelago...... 32 Kaštela Bay ...... 33

iii Coastal Area Management in Croatia

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iv I INTRODUCTION: TRADITION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT

I.1 PURPOSE OF THE REPORT long tradition of coastal planning and management, where it has achieved Coastal planning and management has enviable results. become a well established scientific discipline throughout the world. According Owing to the long history of coastal to numerous sources, about 60% of the planning in the Republic of Croatia, a global population currently live in coastal number of valuable coastal environments areas, i.e. in a strip reaching 100 km inland have been preserved in spite of great from the coastline, and the tendency is of pressures of urbanisation, industrialisation further growth. At the same time, 65% of all and tourism over the past decades. Croatian cities with more than 1 million inhabitants, experts and institutions have been very and most of economic activities are active in the international organisations concentrated in those same areas. It is not dealing with planning and protection of the surprising, therefore, that we now witness a sea and coastal areas, both within and global boom of a special interdisciplinary outside the United Nations system. Croatian and multidisciplinary profession dealing experts were actively involved in the exclusively with that specific part of the formulation and implementation of the national territory: coastal area planning and Regional Seas Programme of the United management. The Republic of Croatia is Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as certainly no exception, and, moreover, has a well as the Barcelona Convention and the

1 Coastal Area Management in Croatia Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP). Shortly Croatian coast accounts for 90% of the total after gaining independence, the Republic of length of coast of the eastern shore of the Croatia has joined the Barcelona Adriatic Sea. This illustrates how developed Convention. Finally, Croatia hosts a and rich in islands the Croatian coast is, next respected international institution, centre of only to Greece in the Mediterranean. excellence dealing with coastal planning and The Adriatic Sea, deeply cut into the management, the Regional Activity Centre European continent, has always represented of the Priority Actions Programme (PAP/RAC) an important link between the Middle East which operates within the MAP. and western Europe. Its eastern coast, The objective of this publication is to protected by numerous islands, provided concisely present what has been achieved in suitable maritime ways from the Croatia in the field of planning, protection Mediterranean to the Po Valley and Alpine and management of its coastal areas. The passes. As a result of those circumstances, wish is to achieve it through a brief the eastern Adriatic coast was inhabited presentation of the basic human and very early, through Greek and Roman natural resources, relevant problems, and colonisation, when the first coastal possibilities of future development and use agglomerations were created. of those resources. This publication is The eastern Adriatic coast and its hinterland neither plan nor study aimed at judging, were at the borderline between civilisations praising or suggesting what should be done and political forces: Illyrian and Greek, in the coastal area. The basic intention is to Roman and “barbaric”, western and eastern present, as objectively as possible, the true parts of the Roman Empire, Rome and situation of coastal planning and Byzantium, eastern and western Christianity, management in Croatia and the possibilities and later between Christianity and Islam. of this important scientific discipline, as well Since the 7th century, the eastern Adriatic as the institutional basis for tackling the region has been the field of mutual problems and challenges that the future has influences of Croatian, Roman and mid- in store. The population’s expectations are European cultures. great, coastal resources are considered among the most important for the Under such tumultuous historic conditions, prosperity of the country, and the present 40-odd larger settlements were formed capacities for their permanent management which, in the early Middle Ages, turned into are not negligible. All this leads to the well organised, fortified and economically conclusion that, with certain efforts, the stable urban communities, small in the coastal area can be used yet remain number of inhabitants (2,000-5,000), but preserved, as the generations of Croatians very important for their urban, physical and have been doing for more than a thousand social qualities. These communities based years. This publications will be just a small their administration, safety and organisation contribution showing what we have and of everyday life on town statutes, enacted how we can further improve it. The very early, through which they took a profession of coastal planning and particular care of the urban space, soils, management can provide great help in forests, water resources, landscapes, and achieving that aim. fishery resources. th th I.2 HISTORY AND TRADITION OF From the 10 to the 20 century, those towns, like the entire Croatian part of the COASTAL AREA PLANNING AND Adriatic coast, were under the authority of MANAGEMENT IN CROATIA several different states (Byzantium, The coast of the Republic of Croatia makes Mediaeval Croatian state, Croato-Hungarian 51% of the eastern Adriatic coastline. If we state, the Dubrovnik Republic, Venice, add the coastline of the islands, the Austro-Hungarian Empire). The coastal strip

2 Coastal Area Management in Croatia is separated from the immediate hinterland covered by a series of physical plans prepared by a chain of medium-high karstic over a period of 10 years, which contained a mountains that spreads almost along its number of elements that correspond to what entire length. Traffic connections along the we call today “sustainable development”. coast were very bad, as there was no coastal Those plans included: road, just as there were no good connections • physical plans of the development of the with the hinterland. Thus, only several sites southern Adriatic region, which covered along the coast, where the configuration of the coast between the Albanian border the mountains allowed for communication and Split (1969-1971 – Adriatic I) with the hinterland, provided conditions for the development of larger settlements. It • Co-ordination Physical Plan of the Upper was on those sites that larger coastal towns, Adriatic Region and its Hinterland, which Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Šibenik, Split and covered the coast between Split and the Dubrovnik were formed. These were centres Italian border (1971-1973 – Adriatic II) of their respective regions, market places A large number of national and international and important harbours where goods were experts of various profiles participated in the exchanged between the hinterland and preparation of those plans, supported by islands, and from where ships went to the the United Nations Development Programme opposite coast of the Adriatic, Venice, (UNDP). That enabled for performing Ancona and Apulian towns, as well as to thorough studies of the resources of the other Mediterranean ports. However, all eastern Adriatic region, and for assessing until the second half of the 20th century more precisely development potentials, there were no good roads connecting the which in turn helped with making more coast with the hinterland, or the coastal realistic plans of its economic, social and towns between them. physical development. Although in the During the 1950s and 60s, the economic preparation of plans there was the intention growth was much stronger than in the 19th to protect and enhance the environment, and the first half of the 20th century, and the stress was primarily on the development ever growing numbers of tourists visited the component. coastal resorts (Dubrovnik, Hvar, Lošinj, In 1973, again in co-operation with UNDP, Opatija and others). All that required the project Protection of the Human interventions in the maritime and road Environment in the Adriatic Region was traffic and infrastructure in order to enable launched (Adriatic III), with the basic aim of the development of the region as a whole, harmonising to the maximum the especially with regard to tourism. development and protection needs. That Construction was launched of a road to run project is particularly important because it along the entire coast (the so called was perhaps the first response to the “Adriatic motorway”), modernisation started conclusions of the First World Conference of the road and railroad networks leading to on Environmental Protection held in the hinterland, new ports were built, Stockholm in 1972, and because it covered suitable for the use of motor vehicles which such a large area (entire eastern coast of the had become dominant in the transport of Adriatic with immediate hinterland). The passengers and goods, water supply project dealt with a variety of problems, systems were built, and a number of similar regarding air, water, soils, public health, actions were taken. waste waters, solid waste, noise, sea, With regard to the importance of the ecology, land, vegetation cover, historic coastal region for the whole country, the heritage, and tourism. Assessment was United Nations were asked for assistance in made of growth limits using conceptual and further planning of coastal development. As mathematical models, and of the relations a result, the entire coastal region was between the human activities and the various

3 Coastal Area Management in Croatia components of the environment. That project, in which 40-odd national scientific and professional institutions participated, as well as some 20 leading international experts engaged by UNDP, gave very precise recommendations which greatly contributed to the fact that the eastern Adriatic region, including the land, islands and the sea, is still one of the best preserved coastal areas of the European part of the Mediterranean. All of the above mentioned plans (Adriatic I, II and III) contained concise recommendations for physical and environmental management (especially Adriatic III), but those were not obeyed to the full, since the then current political system did not allow for it. Therefore, the Adriatic region, even if one of the best preserved in the Mediterranean, suffered a certain amount of damage, due to badly planned and/or uncontrolled tourism construction, urban spreading, and inadequate location of roads in some segments of the coast.

4 II COASTAL AREAS AND ISLANDS: POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES

soils on limestone and dolomite bases). II.1 COASTAL ENVIRONMENT OF Deeper soils (red) can be found only locally. CROATIA Climate and vegetation Natural characteristics The most important climate zones of the Relief and soils region are: By its position, the Republic of Croatia • The zone of moderate tropical climate belongs to the central European, Adriatic- (Mediterranean or sub-tropical) which Mediterranean and Panonian-Danubian covers the coastal and island areas of group of countries. It covers an area of Dalmatia, as well as the southern parts of 87,677 km², of which 56,610 km² are land, the Rab and Lošinj islands. and 31,067 km² coastal sea, while the • The zone of moderately cold climate surface area of the Adriatic watershed is which covers the entire coast facing the 22,134 km². Velebit mountain, the Kvarner region and The coastal region of Croatia is an Adriatic the peninsula of Istria, including the area showing all phenomena typical of a adjoining islands. large part of the Mediterranean, especially Generally, the climate is characterised by dry of its European shores. Developed relief with and hot summers, and mild and rainy mountain chains in the immediate vicinity of winters, and a high number of sunny and the coastline, sometimes at just 10-odd clear days. Such climatic conditions are metres, and numerous islands (1,185), favourable for vegetation (cooler and rainier interchanges with flat stretches. areas in the northern Adriatic, and the Geographically, the islands are classified in warmer areas in the south, variety of micro- 718 proper islands, 389 rocks (top above climates, etc.). the water), and 78 ridges (top below the water). There are two large peninsulas, Istria and Pelješac. Generally, the coast is rocky with frequent pebble drifts, while sand beaches are rather less common. The total length of the coastline is 5,835 km, of which 1,777 km belong to the coast of the mainland, and 4,058 km to the island coasts, which makes the Croatian coast the most indented in the Mediterranean. The principal natural feature is the hilly karstic base. The mountainous coastal belt often keeps the dominant influence of the sea within just several kilometres inland. The karstic base lacks any significant earth layers, and the vegetation cover is relatively scarce, except in some river valleys and karstic fields. The soils are shallow and skeletal (rendzinas, black and eroded brown

5 Coastal Area Management in Croatia

Table 1: Largest rivers of the Adriatic basin

RIVER LENGTH (km) SURFACE AREA OF RIVER BASIN (km²) EMPTIES total in Croatia total in Croatia INTO ADRIATIC Neretva 225 20 11,798 430 Adriatic BASIN Cetina 101 101 1,468 1,468 Adriatic Krka 73 73 2,088 2,088 Adriatic Zrmanja 69 69 907 907 Adriatic Mirna 53 53 458 458 Adriatic

The forest cover of the Adriatic region waters. Almost all rivers flowing into the belongs to the Mediterranean type, except Adriatic Sea, as well as other surface (lakes) for the border zones of the mountainous and ground waters are of such quality that hinterland, which belong to the Euro- they can be used for water supply, i.e. Siberian - North-American forest type. Over represent potential sources of drinking the centuries, the vegetation cover has water. Surface waters are also used for degraded, so that today, about 2/3 of the hydro-energy purposes. Apart from Neretva, area are occupied by degraded maqis, all rivers are fast and short, with great garrigues and rocky plains. Along with variation of flow. Great quantities of rainfall individual sites covered in autochthonous reach deep layers. A part of those waters Black pine there are relatively large areas of reappears on the surface in the form of Aleppo pine forests within the zone of the springs in karstic fields only to disappear Holm oak, mostly in the southern Adriatic. again under ground through karstic sink Forests of Holm oak have been preserved holes (the longest of those water courses only at few locations (on some islands). are the rivers Lika and Gacka). However, most of the ground waters flow under Hydrography of inland waters ground directly into the sea, sometimes All inland waters of the Adriatic watershed under the sea surface creating submarine reflect the hydrographic features of karst, sources. Local ground waters accumulate in with poor surface and rich underground a number of islands, but during the dry hydrography, which results in a capricious period, sea water intrusion often occurs due nature of the natural distribution of fresh to over-exploitation.

Table 2: Largest lakes

SURFACE AREA HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL MAXIMUM DEPTH (km²) (m) (m) NATURAL LAKES Vransko (Biograd) 30.7 0.1 4 Prokljansko 11.1 0.5 25 Vransko (Cres) 5.8 16 74 Mljetska lakes 2.01 0 46 Baćinska lakes 1.9 5 32 ARTIFICIAL LAKES Peruča (on Cetina) 1.3 360 64 Krušćičko 3.9 554 - Butoniga 2.5 41 17 Lokvarsko 2.1 770 40 Bajersko 0.5 730 7

6 Coastal Area Management in Croatia Permanent lakes are not particularly along the eastern coast towards north-west. numerous. There are 10 natural and artificial Since the coast is very developed, with lakes which cover a total surface of 73.51 numerous bays, islands, sea passages and km². These lakes are of tectonic, karstic, canals, there are numerous and considerable glacier or riverine origins. For the purpose of deviations, as well as local diversions from using the water courses for the production this general direction. The exchange of of electricity 5 artificial lakes have been waters of the Adriatic Sea is slow. built, as well as a number of smaller There are great differences in the primary retentions for water supply or irrigation production of the organic matter: while the purposes. The largest artificial lake, Vransko, southern part is a practically unproductive near Biograd, which is also a significant sea, the northern part of the Adriatic (the ornithological reserve, covers a surface of bay of Istria-Triest-Venice) has one of the 30.7 km, but its maximum depth is of 4 m, most intensive primary productions of the so it does not contain large quantity of whole Mediterranean. This results in great water. Another lake, of the same name but differences in the occurrence of pelagic fish. situated in the island of Cres, 74 m deep, is The Croatian part of the Adriatic is poor in the richest fresh water lake and the largest fish as compared to other seas, and even cryptodepression of Croatia. It is a natural with some other parts of the Mediterranean. phenomenon with a highly sensitive balance of water courses which prevent sea water Protection of nature intrusion into the lake. The Blue and the Red Lakes near Imotski are unique hydrographic Parts of the coast and the sea are protected phenomena in karst, and have been by the Law on the Protection of Nature. declared natural monuments. Karst makes a specific geomorphologic structure of the coastal strip and its Sea hinterland. The Dinaric karst, registered as a part of the world’s natural heritage (locus Along most of the Croatian coast, the tipicus), is a particularly sensitive system coastal sea is separated from the open requiring special attention with regard to waters by a series of islands. The Adriatic is preservation of drinking water resources. In a relatively shallow sea, with average depth the coastal region, there are 107 protected of 239 m, it is warm and has a high salinity. objects (83 areas, and 24 individual trees, Even on the places where it is somewhat smaller groups of trees, or very small sites), deeper near the shore it is separated from of which 33 objects of nature have been the open sea by a submarine barrier which selected and classified in 8 protection does not affect the passage of even the categories. The largest part of the protected largest ships, but influences the water surface regard the national parks and parks circulation. Depending on the season, sea of nature the structure of which illustrates currents, winds and vicinity of the shore, the well the wealth and great diversity of the sea temperature varies throughout the year nature in Croatia. in both horizontal and vertical directions (in winter, in the north-western part near the National parks (Brijuni, Paklenica, Kornati, coast the sea temperature is 8°C, and in the Krka, Mljet) are large areas of particular south-eastern 16°C), the average salinity is natural, cultural, scientific, educational, 38.3‰, slightly growing towards the south. aesthetic, tourist and recreational values, Near shore the salinity is lower due to fresh encompassing one or more preserved or water inflow from the land. The highest insignificantly modified eco-systems. In the degree of transparency is found in the national parks, no activities are allowed that South-Adriatic Pit (56m), while along the could threaten the original flora and fauna, coast the average value is of 20 m, or the hydrographic, geomorphologic, decreasing towards the north. The sea geological and scenic values. The only works currents arrive from the Ionian Sea and run allowed are those aimed at maintaining or

7 Coastal Area Management in Croatia establishing the natural balance. Three Monument of nature is an individual national parks are on islands (Kornati, unchanged part or group of parts of the Brijuni, and Mljet) including the surrounding living or non-living nature, of scientific, sea, one illustrates the interesting features aesthetic or cultural-historic value. A of karstic hydrogrpahy and morphology monument of nature can be geological, (Krka), and one is a typical mountain area geomorphologic, hydrographic, etc., it can with interesting vegetation and relief be a rare specimen of tree or group of trees, (Paklenica). In the immediate hinterland or a small botanical or zoological site. On there are two more national parks, Plitvice the monument and its surroundings no and Risnjak. activities are allowed that could threaten its features and value. The small islands of Natural parks (Velebit, Telašćica, Biokovo) Brusnik and Jabuka, as well as the Zlatni rat are natural or partly cultivated areas with cape have been protected as monument of pronounced ecological, aesthetic, tourist and nature. recreational values, in which only activities that do not threaten their significant Monument of park architecture is an characteristics are allowed. Among these artificially formed zone (garden, botanical parks, two are mountains (Velebit and garden, arboretum, town park, tree alley, a Biokovo), and one is on an island (Telašćica). group of trees or an individual tree, or any other form of garden or park formation) with Strict reservations (Rožanski and Hajdučki high aesthetic, stylistic, artistic, cultural- kukovi on the Velebit mountain) are areas historic or scientific value. The Trsteno with unchanged or insignificantly changed arboretum is one of larger objects protected nature, and are intended exclusively for by this category. scientific research which does not change bio-diversity or the original state of the Apart from the above mentioned objects of nature, and which does not threaten the nature, the Velebit mountain has been free course of natural processes. declared biosphere reserve within the project Man and Biosphere, launched by Special reservations are areas in which one UNESCO in 1978. or more unchanged components of the nature are particularly pronounced (plant or According to the law, all spontaneously animal species, relief, waters, etc.), and grown plants and wild animals found in a which are of special scientific significance or national park, strict reservation, and special purpose. Thirteen land and marine objects reservation, as well as animals living in caves have been covered by this form of enjoy protection, even if they do not belong protection. to protected plant and animal species. Park-forests are natural or planted forests The protected objects of nature in the of great scenic value, intended for relaxation coastal region cover a total area of 2,863 and recreation, in which only maintenance km², or 65% of the area covered by all the works are allowed. Two forest complexes on protected objects in the Republic of Croatia, the coast have been protected under this which illustrates the great value, as well as category (Šijana, Marjan). sensitivity of the coastal and island areas. Protected landscapes are natural or Biological and landscape diversity cultivated zones of high aesthetic or cultural-historic value, or which are typical One of the most important features of the of a certain area. The canyon of the Cetina coastal and island region is the biological river, Pakleni and Badija islands, Vidova and landscape diversity, reflected in Gora hill, and Saplunara cove have been numerous plant and animal species, their covered by this form of protection, and no communities and habitats, as well as in a activities are allowed there that could high percentage of endemic species that is damage their appearance and beauty. due to the geographic position, mild

8 Coastal Area Management in Croatia Mediterranean climate, and expressly karstic coast, steep and rocky, and gently sloping relief, on predominantly calcareous base. with pebble, and rarely sand beaches. The region hosts some 3,500 plant species, Significantly different from the rest of the 12 species of amphibia, 34 species of coast is only the Neretva river delta, very reptiles, about 200 species of nesting birds, large and developed, created by the action 79 species of mammals, 64 species of fresh of the river and occasional flooding. To water fish, while the sea is home to 407 certain extent, the same applies also to the species and sub-species of fish, 660 benthic Cetina river. algae, 4 species of marine meadows, and The rocky karstic base and sometimes several species of marine mammals. dramatic topography resulted in highly In order to protect that wealth of plant and developed coastline of the islands, with animal species, a list was made of rare and numerous bays, coves, rocks and reefs. endangered species (The Red Book). The Unlike the islands, the coastal segments are coastal and island flora and fauna are rather strait with little space between the especially rich in endemic species of great sea and the mountains behind. Exceptions interest for natural sciences: Tertiary to that are only several deep bays in the endemic relicts (Degenia velebitica), glacial Istrian peninsula, the Kaštela Bay, the area relicts and neo-endemic species (Dianthus, of Cavtat, and the river mouths of Zrmanja, Leucanthemum, Campanula, Cantaurea, ...). Krka and Ombla. Of the two large A part of the endemic fauna inhabits peninsulas, the smaller one, Pelješac, underground karst habitats (caves and topographically and climatically belongs to caverns) and distant Adriatic islands. It was islands, while the larger one, Istria, makes a in those habitats that numerous endemic separate unit, characterised by a gentle hilly species were identified of Invertebrata and slope, gradually descending from the steep Vertebrata, the Proteus anguineus being the eastern shores to the shallow and gently most interesting. inclined western coast. The ichthyofauna of the rivers of the Strong coastal barriers are made of Učka, Adriatic basin is generally considered among Velebit, Kozjak, Mosor and Biokovo, the most significant in Europe. There are 64 mountain chains rising steeply from the fish species, of which 40 are Mediterranean coast. Velebit, in the northern Adriatic, rises endemics, and 11 can only be found in practically from the sea, leaving minimum Croatia. conditions for life on the coast. Mosor and Kozjak, in the central Adriatic, border the Among the rivers, the Neretva river delta wide Split-Kaštela plain, rich in water and stands out because of its size, as well as fertile soils where intensive life dates back to because of a great diversity of vegetation, pre-historic times. Biokovo, also in the and a wealth of endemic fauna (Invertebrata central Adriatic, with its slopes suitable for and fresh water fish), great numbers of growing fruit and olive, with frequent small insects, especially butterflies, mammals, and springs, and beaches formed by erosion, particularly numerous birds. Three hundred offers ideal conditions for intensive and ten bird species have been noted there development of tourism. (of which 115 nesting birds, and 35 aquatic The western Istria, Ravni kotari (plains birds). Therefore, the ornithofauna of between the rivers Zrmanja and Krka), the Neretva has been included in the List of Split-Kaštela plain and the Neretva river Wetlands of International Importance delta are the areas most suitable for (Ramsar Convention, 1971). agriculture. Here we can also add small The landscapes of the Croatian part of the segments of coast and the immediate eastern Adriatic can be grouped in two hinterland where the soil brought by storm general types, coastal and insular. Within waters or produced by erosion gathered in those two types we distinguish two types of terraces made by forest felling and

9 Coastal Area Management in Croatia supported by walls. Those terraces are very almost entirely situated on a peninsula suitable for vineyards, which produce high (County of Istria), most of them have vast quality wines. hinterland, while the County of Lika-Senj has a markedly continental character with little Unlike the mainland, the islands are mostly developed coast, but is a highly important karstic and hilly, and only rarely do the hills link between the northern and southern reach higher than 500 m above the sea parts of Croatia. level. Karstic fields in small valleys and in the bottoms of bays, as well as the terraces In 1991, the coastal counties had 1,580,213 created by centuries of hard work, are inhabitants (little more than 33% of the suitable for vineyards, and make the total population of Croatia), living in 58 principal characteristic of the man-made towns, 153 municipalities and 2,483 landscape of the islands. By the natural settlements, with the overall population features, the islands can be divided in bare density of 64 inhabitants per km², which is and forested. Generally speaking, the south below the Croatian average of 85 Adriatic islands are characterised by thick inhabitants per km². Among the coastal evergreen maquis with sporadic thickets of counties the most densely populated are the barberry. However, these areas, as well as counties of Split-Dalmatia (105 inhabitants abandoned terraces, are increasingly invaded per km²) and of Primorje-Gorski kotar (90 by the Aleppo pine, which has recently inhabitants per km²), while the least densely settled in the islands. The central Adriatic populated is the county of Lika-Senj with 16 islands, dominated by the Kornati group, inhabitants per km², which makes it also the are predominantly bare and rocky, and only least densely populated county of Croatia. in the zones sheltered from strong winds, Modest natural prerequisites have limited rare grass sprouting from broken rocks the economic development of the islands. In enables breeding of sheep and goats, or the time of greatest prosperity of shipping, shallow soils enable growing of olive, while fishing and vine growing (late 19th and early the highly developed marine landscape 20th centuries) the 66 inhabited islands of abounds in fish. The Kvarner islands, Lošinj, the Croatian part of the Adriatic had a total Cres, Krk and Rab, unlike all other islands in population of 160,000 inhabitants. In the the region, have more water, but due to third quarter of the 20th century that exposition to northern winds, have forests number dropped to 94,000, which means only in protected zones, which contain that the island population was almost some typically continental species, and halved in less than a century. In the vineyards can also be found in places. continental part of the coast, the situation II.2 POPULATION OF THE COASTAL was completely different. In the same period, the towns of Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, REGION Šibenik and Split have grown into harbours The total number of inhabitants in Croatia, and industrial centres which have attracted according to the 1991 census, is 4,784,265. the population of the immediate hinterland The administrative and territorial constitution and the islands, so that their population has of Croatia is based on counties, municipalities more than triplicated. Dubrovnik, Makarska, and towns (21 counties, 122 towns and 416 and especially the Istrian coastal towns have municipalities). grown into important tourism centres, while the general trend of population migration Seven coastal counties, i.e. those that from the hinterland to the coast initiated include segments of coast, account for little the growth of other coastal settlements as less than 44% of the total surface area of permanent or temporary homes of that new the country (24,696 km²). Heterogeneous by population. spatial reach and relief, some counties, like the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva, have a The basic demographic trend, observed over markedly coastal-insular character, one is the last several decades, is reflected in a

10 Coastal Area Management in Croatia reduced population growth rate, with of secondary homes along the coast. That depopulation of islands and hinterland, and trend slowed down in the period 1991- population growth of the settlements in the 1997, but its revival can now be expected. narrow coastal strip. The gravitation force of Accordingly, we can expect problems the macro-regional centres, Split and Rijeka, relevant to the protection of the stimulates migrations towards the counties environment, especially of its natural and of Split-Dalmatia and of Primorje-Gorski man-made values, as well as problems kotar from the surrounding counties. relevant to urban expansion, and urban and Another result of this trend is the growth of other infrastructure. urban and decrease of rural population. The greatest migration pressure, caused by Table 3: Ten largest towns of the Republic the outbreak of hostilities in Croatia, was of Croatia* absorbed by the large and medium-size towns. It is estimated that, the number of Town No. of inhabitants according inhabitants of Split has grown in the seven to 1991 census years after 1991 by almost 30,000, of Rijeka Zagreb 867.717 by more than 18,000, of Zadar by more Split* 200.459 than 24,000, of Pula by little under 15,000, Rijeka* 167.964 and of Dubrovnik by almost 10,000. The Osijek 129.792 negative aspects of war migrations are the Zadar* 80.355 increased depopulation of hinterlands, Karlovac 70.950 additional pressure of the coastal urban Pula* 62.690 infrastructure, and changes in the cultural Sisak 60.884 identity of towns. The positive aspect is that Slavonski Brod 58.531 the towns gained younger population and Šibenik* 55.842 different reproduction norms which could * Coastal towns in the table are marked by asterix secure higher growth rates in the future.

The population growth rate index for the coastal counties in the period 1971-1991 (112.77) is above the Croatian average (108.09). The fastest growth was recorded in the counties of Split-Dalmatia and of Primorje-Gorski kotar. Of the total population of the coastal counties, urban population accounts for 61.41%, while for the whole country that index is 54.74%. The population of the coastal towns grows considerably faster than the total coastal population. The distribution of towns by size shows the existence of two strong regional centres, Split and Rijeka, and relatively few medium- size towns. Although the Croatian coast of the Adriatic has a long and rich urban tradition, its urbanisation was somewhat belated, due to various historic and political reasons. The recent decades brought a strong litoralisation trend, stimulated especially by the construction of tourist complexes and entire settlements composed

11 Coastal Area Management in Croatia According to the Blue Plan Mediterranean capita was around US$ 4,500. It is estimated scenarios for the period 2000-2005, further that the private sector creates more than urbanisation in the region can be expected 50% of the GDP. In the beginning of 1998, (with the growth in proportion of urban the number of persons in paid employment population in the total population to 70- was 1,250,000, while the number of 80%), as well as a slower growth of active pension beneficiaries was 925,000. The population, which will get gradually older. unemployment rate varies between 18% The possible lack of younger population in and 19% of the active population. labour force should be partly compensated In the 1990s, the transformation of the by feminisation of the active population. Croatian economy was accelerated by the transition from central-planning to market II.3 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES economy, through privatisation and Over the last 50 years, the economy of restructuring of the economic sector. A very Croatia has gone through transformation strong negative impact on the economy was from agricultural to industrial, and then produced by the aggression on Croatia in from industrial to tertiary economy. Today, 1991. In the period 1989-1992, the GDP the structure of the gross domestic product was almost halved, and in the second half of Croatia is similar to that of market of 1993 the monthly inflation rate reached economies: approximately 25% industry, 30%. However, owing to the stabilisation and 10% agriculture, and 65% tertiary sector. privatisation programmes of the Croatian Traditional industrial activities played the Government, the GDP and industrial role of accelerator to the economic growth, production started showing growth in the and are now giving way to capital-intensive second half of 1995. A considerable part of activities. The nominal GDP for 1996 was economy was privatised, and after 1993, the about 19 billion US$, and the GDP per inflation rate has not exceeded 5% per year.

12 Coastal Area Management in Croatia The level of economic development varies 8.56% for the Republic of Croatia, and for greatly from one coastal county to another. the seven coastal counties it was 3.42% Of the four Croatian counties with above- (approximately 54,000 persons in agricultural average domestic product per capita in the households). period 1971-1991, three were on the coast: In 1996, the agricultural land covered the county of Istria and the county of approximately 55% of the total surface area Dubrovnik-Neretva, markedly oriented to of the 7 coastal counties, with several areas tourism, with complementary industrial and with high potential agricultural productivity agricultural production, and the county of (Ravni Kotari, Neretva river delta). Mild Primorje-Gorski kotar in which the tertiary Mediterranean climate is particularly suitable activities account for more than 2/3 of the for growing grapes, olives, fruit and domestic product. Less developed counties, vegetables, flowers and typical Mediterranean which have lost a considerable number of plants. A diminishing trend has been noted working-age and active population, retained in the cultivation of traditional Mediterranean activities of lower profitability and efficiency species (grapes, olives) which give way to adequate for the structure of the remaining other species which are less labour intensive labour force. Among the counties with less or more profitable. developed economies there are primarily those including a large hinterland: the The trend reflected in a decrease of county of Lika-Senj, one of economically agricultural population and of the surface of least developed in Croatia, the county of cultivated land in the coastal region is Zadar, and the county of Šibenik-Knin. The further stimulated by the re-orientation of county of Split-Dalmatia, although a region the land owners to tourism. The use of the with strong industrial and tourism sectors, agricultural land in the vicinity of urban has been lagging behind the average centres has to a large extent been changed growth rate of the Croatian economy over for the needs of secondary or tertiary the last decades. activities, or turned into secondary home settlements. In the 1990s, the economy of the coastal counties shared with the rest of Croatian Livestock production economy the transitional processes and Livestock production is more pronounced in activity under war conditions. Traffic and the hinterlands of the coastal counties, energy supply isolation of a majority of owing to its hilly-mountainous orientation coastal counties additionally aggravated the (sheep, goats). In 1993, the number of economic situation. As a consequence, the sheep in the coastal counties made more economic image of the coastal counties has than ¾ of the total number of sheep in been changed: the number of persons in Croatia, while the corresponding ratio of paid employment dropped from 513,176 in cattle was less than 12%, and for pigs less 1990 to 386,602 in 1992, with further decrease of employment over the following than 3%. Individual sector dominates the years. The share of industry in the domestic livestock production. product dropped, and the share of trade Fisheries grew. In the war years, there was no revenue from tourism, threatening the areas Fishing is a traditional branch of agriculture, oriented exclusively to tourism. which now shows a pronounced trend of decrease in the catches of sea fish, Mollusca Primary sector and Crustacea (from 48,822 t in 1987 to 17,347 t in 1996). The largest part of the Agriculture catches regards the pelagic fish, where the Agriculture is characterised by a constant largest share is of pilchard. Alongside decrease of the share of the rural in the fishing, the marine fishery is made of rearing total population: in 1991, that share was marine organisms (fish and shellfish). In

13 Coastal Area Management in Croatia 1995, 25 farms were registered, of which 17 Dalmatia, Primorje-Gorski kotar and Istria. in the islands and 8 on the mainland. These Marine transport is also a traditional produced 1,600 t of marine fish, 600 t of economic activity of the coastal counties, mussels, and 50,000 oysters. with markedly fluctuating income during the 1990s. In 1996, six large shipping Secondary sector companies with more than 1,000 employees Industry and mining realised and income of more than US$ 500,000,000, with the fleet capacity of nd After the 2 World War, Croatia had a strong more than 3.5 million DWT. and rather constant industrial growth. However, that growth was often Tertiary sector accompanied by wrong decisions regarding The growing re-orientation of economy the siting of factories, which had towards the tertiary sector has been one of particularly harmful effects in the coastal the principal processes in the coastal region counties. A large number of factories were over the past two decades, and it is highly sited in the narrow coastal strip, probable that this trend will be continued in disregarding their effects on other economic the future. Trade, hotels and restaurants, activities, natural resources and landscape. tourism, transports and other tertiary The process of de-industrialisation of the activities account for an above-average Croatian economy can be noted since 1987; share of the economy of the coastal the overall industrial production volume counties, both in the structure of persons in index was constantly dropping between paid employment, and in its contribution to 1987 and 1995, to show a certain recovery the domestic product of the Croatian in 1996. The growth of industrial production economy. The counties of Dubrovnik- in 1997 was 6.8%. At the same time, the Neretva and of Primorje-Gorski kotar are number of persons employed in industry good examples of tertiarisation of economy: shows an even faster decrease, so that the in 1991, of the total number of persons in chain index of productivity constantly grew paid employment, the tertiary sector in the period 1991-1996. The positive aspect employed 72.6% and 66.3%, respectively. At of de-industrialisation is the closing down of the same time, the tertiary sector of those dirty industries in the coastal region, and two counties made 71.9% and 65.7% of the creation of potentials for new economic total domestic product, respectively. activities to be harmonised with the requirements of environmental protection. Tourism In 1992, the industry and mining of the In the second half of the 1980s, tourism coastal counties participated with some secured between 3.5 and 5.3 billion DEM of 29% in the total value of sale of industrial tourist consumption, of which 65-70% products in Croatia. From the point of view originated from foreign tourists' consumption. of industry, the most important coastal Tourism participated in the total domestic county is the county of Primorje-Gorski product of Croatia with 10-12%, and kotar, followed by the counties of Split- provided employment for 180,000 persons, Dalmatia and Istria. In the industry as well, directly and indirectly. we can note regional concentration; the The total accommodation capacity of largest industrial capacities are located Croatia in 1990 amounted to 862,653 beds, around the largest urban centres, Rijeka and of which 830,981 belonged to the coastal Split. counties. Of the total number of tourist Shipbuilding is a traditional branch of beds in the coastal counties, 287,502 were industry in which Croatia plays an important in camping sites, 129,673 in hotels, 68,785 part at the global level. Shipbuilding is in company vacation facilities, 57,537 in evenly distributed in the counties of Split- tourist settlements, 262,626 in private

14 Coastal Area Management in Croatia accommodation facilities, and 24,858 in Transport and communications other forms of accommodation facilities. In The total length of roads in the coastal 1992, the total number of tourist beds in counties amounted, in the year 1992, to the coastal counties dropped to 537,418, 10,879 km, of which 9,258 with asphalt i.e. to approximately 2/3 of the capacity paving. The density of the road network, recorded in 1990. The most notable drop especially of modern motorways, is still was noted in the company vacation insufficient. Croatia is planning to build facilities, where the number recorded in 1,600 km of four-lane motorways, mostly in 1992 amounted to just 11.5% of the the next decade, which should overcome number in 1990, and in the private the bad connections between the northern accommodation sector (20%). and southern Croatia. The number of tourist overnight stays in the Of 9 airports in Croatia, 7 are in the coastal coastal counties dropped from about 49 region (Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Pula, Rijeka, million in 1990 to little more than 9 million Brač and Mali Lošinj). Sea ports, both in 1992. All the coastal counties recorded in passenger and cargo, are located in a 1992 1-3% of the number of overnight stays continuous succession along the entire in 1990, except the Primorje-Gorski kotar Adriatic coast. The most important cargo and the Istria counties, where that ports are those of Rijeka and Ploče. The percentage amounted to 22% and 36% traffic in Croatian ports dropped from respectively. Since the year 1993, the 29,042,000 tons in 1987 to 13,875,000 tons number of tourist overnight stays has been in 1996. The traffic of 10 million passengers showing a gradual and stable growth. was recorded in 1996, and shows tendency The tourism sector of Croatia has a for growing. comparatively large tourism superstructure, The telecommunication network of Croatia but considerable capital investment will be is one of the best among the countries in required for its modernisation. Along with transition (29 telephone lines per 100 the transformation of ownership structure, inhabitants). it is necessary to create a new identity for the tourism sector. The generous, ecologically valuable environment is the one strategic II.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT resource of Croatia that should contribute The coastal-insular region is among the to a long-term growth of tourism. most important potentials of Croatia. Apart from the traditional fishing, agriculture and navigation, tourism and industry are also well developed in the region, using its comparative advantages, but sometimes with negative environmental effects. In the summer months, the population of the coastal region multiplies several times, which can not remain without impact on that particularly sensitive ecological system.

Water resources The rivers flowing into the Adriatic Sea, as well as other surface waters (lakes) are of such quality that they can be used for water supply. All these waters are limpid, and can only occasionally get turbid. The water courses are very clean in their upper parts, while

15 Coastal Area Management in Croatia moderate to high pollution appears in their background or documentation, and is mostly lower parts, i.e. where they flow into the sea. in abandoned mining sites (quarries, bauxite mines, etc.), in karstic holes near forests and Groundwaters in some urban areas are inhabited areas, as well as on the rocks by polluted by households and industries, the sea. Very often, the wastes are burned while elsewhere there is slight pollution by without sufficient control, sometimes causing agriculture. The dominant source of pollution forest fires, and the discarded waste threatens, are the solid and liquid wastes, from economic both directly and indirectly, the environment activities or any other source, such as (air, waters, sea, soil), human health, and washing of dirty surfaces and road network, living conditions of plants and animals. In erosion and washing away of the soil, use of the recent times, measures have been taken pesticides and fertilisers in agriculture, ill to establish regional dumping sites. organised dump yards for urban waste, sludge, etc., as well as accidental pollution Sea due to lack of attention or care. The quality of the largest part of the Adriatic Waste waters Sea (over 95%) is exceptionally well preserved. A continuous monitoring of the The main recipient of waste waters is the sea water quality on more than 800 beaches sea. However, before discharging, the waste shows more than satisfactory results and waters are treated in a number of smaller meet the strictest standards. Only the communal treatment plants which usually aquatoriums of the principal harbours and a apply preliminary treatment, and only rarely part of large urban agglomerations with a complete mechanical treatment with long inadequate sewerage outfalls are threatened. submarine outfalls. Tourist facilities (hotels, villages, camping sites) have their own Several sites in the Adriatic have been plants for biological treatment of their exposed to strong pollution due to illogical waste waters. For industrial plants there are disposition of dirty industries (parts of the only individual treatment plants. The largest Rijeka and Kaštela bays, and the Šibenik quantities of waste waters in the Adriatic bay), as well as due to spilling at oil basin originate from the areas of Split, terminals, discharges of oily waters from Zadar, Pula, Rijeka and Šibenik. Disposal of ships, discharges of waste waters from the household waste waters into inappropriate operative surfaces in large harbours (Rijeka, septic tanks, or into porous karstic Split-Solin, Ploče), and disposal of used oils underground creates great problems for and fuels from smaller vessels. settlements without a sewerage network. A threatened part of the Adriatic Sea of Over the several few years, great efforts international importance is the northern have been made to resolve the problem of Adriatic area, i.e. the shallow bay of Istria- waste water disposal, and we can already Triest-Venice. Due to a relatively small note considerable results. volume of sea water and great inflow of highly polluted north-Italian rivers, as well Solid waste as to a high concentration of economic In the entire coastal region there is not one activities on the coast, the natural cycle of acceptable dumping site that would enable some biogenic elements has been greatly controlled disposal or modern treatment of disturbed. Aware of the importance of its solid waste. Accumulation of solid waste is most valuable resource, the sea, the not related only to urban areas and tourist Republic of Croatia makes great efforts, facilities. It appears on excursion sites, both organisational and financial, aimed at organised and wild camping sites and bays. preserving its quality. Within the State The age of the dumping sites is between 20 Directorate for the Protection of Nature and and 40 years, and, in general, their location Environment there is a separate Office for was selected without any professional the Adriatic which co-ordinates the activities

16 Coastal Area Management in Croatia on the protection of the Adriatic. Croatia soil fertility (decrease in organic matter was one of the first Mediterranean countries content, interruption of the biological cycle to enforce a national contingency plan in of elements, etc.), and increase its cases of accidental sea pollution. Two erodibility. The share of wood cut because operations centres have been established of the action of insects and diseases in the (Rijeka and Split) and equipped not only for total mass of the cut wood is much smaller cases of emergency, but also for everyday that the share of human activity. However, care for the coastal sea. an important project to rehabilitate coastal forests is being implemented now with the Terrestrial ecology support of the World Bank. Forest cover is the most important element Landscape of stability of the land eco-systems, crucial for the dynamics of the global climate and The exceptionally valuable and significant for the bio-geochemical cycle. Loss of bio- natural landscape of the Adriatic region is diversity in some forest eco-systems threatened by quarries, bauxite mine holes, diminishes their resistibility, and is caused etc. which represent considerable landscape by disappearance, fragmentation and degradation. The same applies for numerous degradation of all forest types. The size of industrial plants, infrastructure objects, forest habitats diminishes as a consequence permanent and tourist settlements built in of human activities: urbanisation, construction urban and suburban zones. New parts of of roads, electric lines, and, especially in the towns with all accompanying infrastructure last years, frequent forest fires in the (in the immediate coastal strip) well summer months, caused by irresponsible harmonised with the macro-landscape are a behaviour. That phenomenon almost true rarity. surpasses the positive effects of natural and Regardless of protection, some parts of the artificial reforestation. The fires reduce the nature are exposed to negative influences,

17 Coastal Area Management in Croatia such as illegal housing and expansion of construction areas, wastewaters from households, industries and agriculture, felling and burning of the existing vegetation, hunting and uncontrolled mountain climbing, problems relative to the preservation of submarine habitats, conflicts between economic activities, and a general negative impact of human activities. Biological and landscape diversity In the recent times, some anthropochores and new animal species have been introduced to the region, deliberately or involuntarily, such as Caulerpa taxifolia alga found in the aquatories of the islands of Hvar, Krk and Rab, the Californian trout, mongoose, elk, mouflon, etc. However, those can not replace the extinct autochthonous species, and the adjustment of some species to new habitats is uncertain. The experience teaches about their hostility aimed at conquering new life space leading to gradual impoverishment of the autochthonous flora and fauna. Due to the economic activities of men, some biotopes, vegetal and animal communities have disappeared from this region, some parts of which now belong to alarmingly threatened habitats, such as some grazing fields, meadows, aquatic and wetland habitats, and habitats bordering the sea (coastal rocks, reefs, sand and pebble beaches). Of the 407 species and sub-species of fish living in the Adriatic Sea (18 protected), 64 are threatened by fishing and disappearance of habitats. As a consequence of sea pollution, accelerated eutrophication sometimes occurs, especially in the eastern part of the Kaštela bay and in the northern Adriatic, which is accompanied by changes in the contents of the plankton community, blooming of some phytoplankton organisms, hypoxia and anoxia, and mortality of marine organisms. At the same time, the number of species is diminished, as well as the number of the members of individual species, and the contents of benthic communities changes.

18 III PRACTICE OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN CROATIA

objectives with the principles of and III.1STRATEGY AND POLICIES guidelines for the protection of coastal resources, including the borders of the Legal framework, principal documents protected coastline belt. However, the plans and attitudes are accompanied by general regulations The recognition of the global and specific with insufficient obligations and without importance of the coastal region has a sufficiently strong instruments of continuity in the Croatian politics at all management and implementation. levels: state, sectoral and local. In spite of After the Republic of Croatia gained that, there are no special legal forms independence, the Parliament of Croatia regarding the management of the coastal adopted several strategic documents which region as a whole. Some basic provisions on contain regulations relevant to the coastal protection and restrictions are contained in areas. Those are: the Law on the Protection of the Environment, Law on the Protection of the 1. Declaration on the Protection of the Nature, and the Law on the Protection of Environment of the Republic of Croatia Cultural Monuments, and some specific (1992). This was the first synthesis provisions are provided by sectoral laws, document adopted in Croatia as such as the Maritime Code. The totality of independent state, prepared on the basis the natural and man-made physical structure of the National Report on Environment has been defined most comprehensively by and Development, which advocates the Law on Land-Use Management which preparation of special programmes and regulates physical planning and defines the taking immediate measures aimed at the obligation of making regulations on the protection of the Adriatic coastal and protection and management of the coastal marine areas, and preservation of the region as an area of special interest for the values and attractiveness of the Adriatic State (this regulation, however, has not yet landscapes. been made). 2. Tourism Development Strategy (1993). Physical plans comprise the development of The Ministry of Tourism aimed its priorities settlements and infrastructure, conditions to a better exploitation of the available for land use, and environmental protection potentials with improved quality of measures. The coastal region of the Croatian services and richer tourist offer in the Adriatic is covered by physical plans based coastal and hinterland areas. It advocates on a rich experience in regional planning a thorough transformation of the sector. and a strong professional and scientific 1 3. National Programme of the basis . Those plans contain development Development of Islands (1997). The principal reasons behind and purpose of this programme are to maintain life on

1 Large regional plans of the Adriatic areas from the administrative constitution of Croatia and the Law 1960s, the Physical Plan of Croatia, physical plans of on Territorial Constitution. Those are: Strategy and the national parks, physical plans of the Programme of the Territorial Constitution of the municipalities that were 30 in the coastal region, State, physical plans of the counties (of which 7 are and urban plans. Those plans are replaced by new coastal), physical plans of municipalities and towns documents defined by the new territorial and (113 coastal), and urban plans of urban centres.

19 Coastal Area Management in Croatia the islands, to stimulate demographic the Environment in the Republic of recovery and economic development, and Croatia (1998) gives an accurate and well to preserve the harmony of natural values organised review of the state and processes through small-scale, but well organised with relevant directives. and long-term investments. The Government of the Republic of Croatia 4. Land-Use Strategy of the Republic of has launched the preparation of the Strategy Croatia (1997). This is the fundamental of Future Development of the Republic of document for land-use planning, which Croatia. Also in course is the preparation of unifies sectoral strategies and programmes, the Strategy of Environmental Protection. synthesises them, and thus represents the At the local/county level, activities have been only document that tackles all aspects of intensified on the preparation of the land use. It defines the Croatian Adriatic physical plans of the counties and other region as a physically large unit of documents dealing with coastal areas preserved biosphere and special values. (Development Strategies have been Among the large number of directives it completed for the counties of Primorje- gives, the following are important for the Gorski kotar, and of Split-Dalmatia). coastal region: • the obligation to use the land A comprehensive approach to the coastal rationally, to stop the urban spreading structure and the Croatian marine to the most valuable coastal stretches, orientation has been greatly aided by to carefully select locations for various professional/scientific studies and marinas, to assess the carrying the published results of a number of capacity of the environment, professional/scientific symposiums dealing with the valuation of the Croatian part of • the need to transform the economy in the Mediterranean region, especially the order to harmonise it with the specific national parks and the islands. features of the coastal environment, to preserve the value of the agricultural A great contribution to the promotion of land, and to rehabilitate traditional the idea of the integrated coastal area activities, management, and to the establishment of its theoretic and practical frameworks was • the increase of the areas of protected provided by the Priority Actions Programme, nature from 7.5% to 15% of the total Regional Activity Centre, through its various surface area of the country, where a activities and publications. A training course large portion belongs to the coastal organised in February 1998 re-confirmed region. the importance of physical planning in The document orders further research and coastal areas, but also pointed at the under- envisages the preparation of an integrated developed management institutions and plan for the management of the coastal mechanisms. region as a whole (respecting the already Of particular importance is the adopted programme for the islands). methodological approach to the valuation Apart from the above mentioned, other of coastal resources applied in the projects documents have been prepared that, among (some implemented in international co- others, deal with the development and operation) for the Kvarner and Kaštela bays, protection of coastal areas: Development the Cres-Lošinj islands, and the Strategy of Croatian Agriculture, Traffic rehabilitation programme for the Bakar bay Strategy, National Programme of (after the closing down of the coke plant), Protection of the Cultural Heritage, as well as in the preparation of the Programme of Development and documents “Protection of the marine and Organisation of the Croatian Energy coastal strip of the County of Primorje- Sector. The latest Report on the State of Gorski kotar” and “Management of the

20 Coastal Area Management in Croatia Public Marine Property of the County of The general policy of improvement of Split-Dalmatia”. The main purpose of those environmental quality is implemented also activities is the recognition of the natural through activities of the Tourism Association and man-made structure, and the of Croatia, and by joining a European classification and evaluation of the coastal project of protection of the environment areas according to various criteria. and the sea promoted by the Foundation for Environmental Education Europe (FEEE), and All the documents and activities point out the Blue Flag programme which monitors the well preserved, multifarious and high- the quality of the sea for bathing, and the quality natural environment of the Croatian level of equipment of beaches and marinas. coast of the Adriatic which enables it to meet various recreational, scientific, research, Increased interest in making good use of the and similar interests. At the same time, it is comparative advantages of the coastal an area of ever growing concentration of region brings about several issues: population and economic activities (especially • regulation of the sea use for aquaculture tourism). Therefore, the development and construction of marinas; concepts and policies are oriented towards • consolidation of the spatial development of prevention of urban spreading along the the coastal region. Best suited for that coastline, directing the new construction purpose is a poli-centric development model to the existing urban zones, and and a balanced distribution of development infrastructure equipment of the region; capacities on the coast and in the • protection of the immediate coastal strip hinterland. At that, it is necessary to protect from building and securing public access; the valuable agricultural land, natural • achieving optimum size of plots as coastal forests (threatened by fires), and opposed to the trend of making the lots secure coastal space for recreational with the motivation of a higher components of tourism and activities exploitation of the coastal zones; functionally related to the sea. • prevention of environmental pollution; Accents and priorities • blocking all degradation processes in the The state intervention aimed at qualitative landscape, and changes in the economy, and at • prevention of illegal housing and rehabilitation of devastated parts of the mitigation of the effects of the one that coastal region brought considerable results, already occurred. such as: improved traffic connections of the coast and the islands with other parts of III.2REGULATION OF URBAN Croatia and the rest of Europe, as well as DEVELOPMENT improved water-supply and sewerage infrastructure; closing down of harmful Processes and features of coastal urban industries in the Bakar bay and Šibenik; structure improved management of the national The litoralisation process of the Croatian parks and preparations for physical plans of coastal region has not burdened the coast the natural parks; reconstruction of excessively, and the population concentrations settlements and removal of other are below the Mediterranean average. The consequences of war destruction suffered majority of coastal population lives on the during the year 1991, which particularly mainland part of the coast, while the islands regards the towns and cultural heritage of are far less populated. the southern part of the Croatian coast (the most outstanding example is Dubrovnik The largest part of the engaged coast with surroundings, where apart from war belongs to the strong urban agglomerations damages, earthquake also struck). of the Kvarner bay and central Dalmatia

21 Coastal Area Management in Croatia where the effects are best visible of areas. The density varies between 20 and 50 population immigration and concentration inhabitants per ha, with the value growing of economic activities, primarily shipbuilding with the size of the town. The historic cores and harbour capacities. The Kaštela and are mostly well preserved, as well as the Bakar bays, and the town of Šibenik are coastal stretches in their vicinity. New parts drastic examples of industrialisation by of towns, with primarily housing and polluting industries. Outside those areas, business purposes, are directed away from there is an almost continuous succession of the sea, and the large tourist (hotel) and settlements and smaller towns, interrupted recreational complexes are isolated from the only by stretches of steep coast (such as the typical Mediterranean urban context. coasts under the mountains of Velebit and Individual building, motivated by the family Biokovo), with a tendency of further tourism aspirations, follows the coastline, spreading along the coast. and when all the space is used up it spreads The urban structure and planning indicators to the coastal hinterland. The business of the coastal towns were analysed in each zones and harbours in larger towns share generation of urban plans, and it has been the coast with the town centres, while done systematically for a majority of industry found itself surrounded by the Croatian towns, including the coastal ones. urban body, often at the very coastline, only to be relocated to the outskirts at later The statements and conclusions are stages. particularly relevant for smaller and medium- size towns. The structure is dominated by Development visions from the earlier urban housing and isolated tourist zones which plans have been realised only in fragments participate in the total urban area with up and in a spatial discontinuity. That caused to 50%, and, as a rule, contribute to the great difficulties in equipping the areas with high percentage of green and recreation urban infrastructure and services. But it

22 Coastal Area Management in Croatia produced some positive affects as well. A lot with the hinterland, and a continuous of free space remained, while a relatively improvement of historic cores, where the loose urban structure was formed, largest part regards the rehabilitation of the unburdened and adapted to the morphology, cultural monuments. Fortunately, the with considerable portion of green areas. Croatian coastal towns, especially the small Owing to the state ownership over the land ones, have preserved sufficient traditional in the previous system, the urban space was elements to provide guarantees that their not burdened by urban rent interests and was environmental identity will be maintained thus mostly saved from over-exploitation and improved. through new building. Private initiative was primarily oriented to the zones where it was III.3COASTAL MANAGEMENT TOOLS possible to buy land. Large areas of former Traditionally, physical plans were the most state-owned agricultural land, particularly powerful tool of coastal area management numerous in Istria, hindered settlement in Croatia. Although their implementation spreading. However, the attractiveness of did not always succeed in achieving the the small towns situated in the immediate planning goals, and sometimes those goals hinterland has not yet been exploited and were not in the function of optimal represents a barely recognised potential. protection and development of coastal In spite of all the negative impacts of fast areas, the physical plans have the greatest urbanisation and growing irregular building merit for the fact that large parts of the activities it can be said that the towns of the coastal region have remained well Croatian coast have preserved their typical preserved. environmental features. Today, that is both On the other hand, absence of a advantage and challenge. comprehensive set of implementation tools, which, apart from physical plans, includes Accents and priorities other possibilities of regulating construction The time of tourism stagnation due to the on the coast, resulted in the occurrence of 1991 war was used in the towns for re- illegal construction. That phenomenon is construction of infrastructure, especially the particularly pronounced in large urban sewerage systems, which resulted in agglomerations along the coast, where it considerable improvement of the sea water regards primarily the houses of urban quality in harbours and at the beaches, as immigrants, and at less populated stretches well as in a general improvement of outside the urban agglomerations where environmental quality. The results are even settlements of leisure houses prevail. The more impressive when we consider the greatest problem is represented by the overall economic difficulties and lack of absence of integration of implementation funds. With regard to the conservation of instruments of planned construction. Thus, historic areas, the dominant activity has for example, a house built without a been the systematic work on the valuation, building permit can, as a rule, get documentation, restoration and recovery of connections to the electricity, water-supply, the built heritage of the towns damaged sewerage and telephone networks. during the war (Šibenik, Zadar, and Inspection services do not always show high especially Dubrovnik). efficiency in solving these problems. A result is that some of the most valuable areas The coastal towns are now living the along the coast are now highly threatened, processes of re-urbanisation, closing of non- and their value for some future purposes efficient and highly polluting industries, considerably reduced. property transformation of the principal tourist capacities, making up for the Land-use reports for the coastal counties are deficient urban infrastructure, improvement prepared at regular intervals, always of traffic connection, both via the sea and pointing at the problem of illegal housing

23 Coastal Area Management in Croatia and suggesting measures for its solution. The use of economic instruments in the However, those measures are not always development of coastal areas has been applied, and when so, not consequently. rather limited. Mostly, the traditional One of the reasons for such situation lies in instruments are used, such as fees and the fact that a radical solution would cause charges for certain resources. There is also serious social problems, especially in urban the possibility of giving fines for agglomerations. On the other hand, the environmental pollution, but these are not coastal administration does not always always accompanied by adequate inspection apply efficient rehabilitation measures that service. The use of sophisticated instruments would enable the inclusion of the illegal is still in its beginnings. Certain efforts are housing into the physical plans, giving the made in order to define appropriate levels possibility of legalising the houses. of urban rent, but everything is still at the theoretical level. The application of the The protection of the coastal belt is polluter-pays principle is also in its regulated by instruments at several levels. beginnings. First, there is the protection of the public marine property (a 6 m wide strip) where Spreading information on the state, quality strict limitations are applied and which is and value of the environment has started entirely treated as state property. Building is only recently. At that, an important role is allowed only exceptionally. Public marine played by NGOs. Unfortunately, their activity property can only be used on the basis of a has a campaign character, and the general concession granted for a limited period of public notes it only in conflicting situations. time. Although the implementation of the An important role in public awareness regulations on the public marine property raising is played by the State Directorate for started only recently, it has already the Protection of Nature and Environment, provoked controversy. The earlier law on the which implements a large number of land-use planning included the obligation of activities. defining a protected coastal strip 500 m At the planning level, a certain lagging is wide. That instrument was used in the noted in the development of the planning preparation of detailed plans which were profession and introduction of modern tools compulsory for each construction within that strip. Since many plans have remained in force, the provision on the protected coastal belt has remained in force in many areas. Integration of the environmental component into sectoral policies is still not widespread. Thus, for example, even if Croatia is a tourist country, its tourism strategy still doesn't include the definition of areas for more or less intensive tourism building. Accordingly, there is no policy of economic stimulation of tourism building in some zones aimed at improving tourism activities in hitherto undeveloped areas. The situation is similar in other economic sectors. The only exception is the stimulation of building in the areas that have to be reconstructed after war destruction, but there are very few such areas in the coastal region.

24 Coastal Area Management in Croatia and techniques of coastal planning. That planning are separated institutionally2. It situation can be attributed to the transition can, therefore, be said that the regulation processes in the society that encompassed authority, development planning and planning as well. Most of the large planning environmental protection authority are institutions which had important roles in the dispersed to several places and a large coastal planning between the 1960s and number of institutions, which creates 80s, have disappeared. Most of the planners problems of co-ordination, and overlapping are employed today in small companies that of activities, and calls for simplification of see their primary interest in surviving and the procedures. remaining on the market, while small With regard to activity in the coastal region, possibilities are left for the development of the following ministries and State planning and management tools and organisations are important: techniques. The situation is slowly stabilising now, and significant improvements are • Ministry of Physical Planning, Building expected in the immediate future. and Housing for the tasks of monitoring Somewhat better results can be observed in the processes going on in the the use of GIS for the needs of coastal environment, physical planning and planning and management. Most of the implementation of plans, as well as municipalities, and the state enterprises urban-planning and building inspections. managing the infrastructure, have digitised • State Directorate for the Protection of their databases. There is, however, the Nature and Environment acts in the problem of Integration of those databases. domain of protection of various segments The application of EIA in assessing the of the environment, including inspection environmental effects of individual projects and co-ordination of monitoring. The is obligatory. There is a large number of Directorate has a detached department companies and consultants specialised in situated in Rijeka, the Office for the applying this tool, using the latest methods. Adriatic. The use of EIA has been regulated by the • Ministry of Development and law on land-use planning and a special set Reconstruction prepares and manages of regulations. However, these make no the State development programmes and difference between the projects in the restoration processes. It is constituted of coastal region and the others, which would various directorates, among which there require special consideration. The application are the Directorate for Regional of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Development, and the Centre for the in the coastal area management has not yet Islands. been taken into consideration. • Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications performs, among III.4ADMINISTRATIVE AND others, the tasks relevant to the INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE management of the marine property. General and special institutional • Ministry of Culture – Directorate for frameworks for action the Protection of Cultural Heritage acts in the domains of research, categorisation In the Republic of Croatia there are no and protection measures. It has departments special organisational or legal forms of integrated management of coastal areas. 2 Specific tasks of coastal resources protection Physical planning as an integrated approach to and development orientation are performed development and environmental protection has been legally regulated in Croatia since 1973, immediately within the State organisations and sectoral after the Stockholm Conference. Since 1994, the and other institutions. Protection of the environmental protection has been separated into a nature and the environment, and land-use special domain with the relevant law.

25 Coastal Area Management in Croatia in Rijeka, Zadar and Šibenik, and is also in the basis of land-use planning documents charge of the town conservation and the opinion of the Directorate for the institutions in Dubrovnik and Split. Protection of Nature and Environment, which bases its approval on environmental Within their mandates, other ministries also impact assessment, resulting from appropriate act in the coastal region: Ministry of studies, which are usually prepared after the Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of location has been selected. Economy (comprises two important sectors: energy production and ship building), Ministry Interventions and concessions in the public of Tourism, State Hydro-meteorological marine property (made of at least 6 m wide Institute, State Hydrographic Institute in coastal strip) are regulated by the Maritime Split, and various public enterprises Code. When taking decisions, it is necessary operating within the sectors of waters, to secure harmonisation with physical plans forests, roads, etc. and regulations on environmental protection. The State Assembly of Croatia (the The possibility of acquisition of property by Parliament), as the highest representative eminent domain is regulated by the Law on body in the country, has boards for land-use Eminent Domain, and applies only to the planning and environmental protection, building of objects of interest for the State. tourism, economy, and navigation, traffic Lack of similar instruments at the local level and communications. is a hindrance to achieving public interest on the coast. The documents relative to land-use planning and to environmental protection at the Accents and priorities State level are evaluated by the State The ever growing investment dynamics in the Council for Land-Use Planning and the coastal region can hardly be followed by the Council for the Environment. planning, management and implementation The land-use planning system comprises systems, while the rather complex procedure County Institutes for Land-Use Planning of providing the necessary documents is not which are in charge of the preparation of easily understood by investors and the units land-use plans at the county level, and of local self-government. Offices for Land-Use Planning which The tasks of regional planning and local implement the plans. Within the units of management tasks relative to land-use local self-government there are departments 3 planning are performed in 7 counties. Those in charge of land-use planning . offices offer professional help to towns and Environmental Protection and other sectors municipalities, but face great difficulties at have similar constitution. that, due to lack of qualified staff. Of Implementation system course, the situation is much better in larger towns where, apart from strong county Planning permission is a key act in the institutes there are also other institutions implementation of plans, and is issued on (universities, institutes, and offices). In Croatia, the awareness is maturing of the

3 fact that efficient management of coastal Within the right guaranteed by the Constitution on resources requires the introduction of a the local self-government and government, and the Law on Local Self-government and Government globally promoted method of a strategic and (“Narodne novine” official gazette of the Republic not partial approach to the environment. of Croatia, No. 90/92), the citizens decide, among The optimism is fed by a highly developed others, on land-use planning, urban planning, scientific-professional basis, the ever arrangement of settlements, communal services, improving forms of formal co-ordination and on the protection and enhancement of the environment. Units of local self-government are the and informal co-operation among the towns and municipalities, while the local self- relevant experts and institutions (within governments and governments are the counties. Croatia and at international level).

26 Coastal Area Management in Croatia III.5ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL of the environment was present in the ORGANISATIONS IN COASTAL Adriatic region immediately after the AREA MANAGEMENT Stockholm Conference, on the basis of which, the Project on Environmental First initiatives by non-governmental Protection in the Adriatic Region (Project organisations aimed at environmental Adriatic III) was launched in 1972, in co- protection in Croatia appeared towards the operation with the United Nations end of the last and in the beginning of this Development Programme (UNDP). century, in the form of activities on the Four Conferences on the Protection of the protection of Croatian natural and cultural Adriatic played an important role in the heritage. The first such association was evolution of the public awareness on the founded in 1898 in Dubrovnik, called “Dub” need for the protection of the Adriatic with the objective to promote the environment. The Conferences also stimulated development of Dubrovnik and its launching of various appropriate activities, surroundings. A little later, the Association such as construction of sewerage systems for the Protection of Historic Heritage was and waste water treatment plants in the founded, followed by a number of similar coastal region. The basic recommendation associations in various coastal towns. The of the Conferences is that it should be most tangible result of the activity of those abstained from building plants and associations was the proclamation of the introducing technologies that could seriously first national parks in Croatia, the Plitvice threaten the Adriatic region, so, upon Lakes in 1914, and in 1928 Paklenica and actions taken by local authorities, investors some other areas, but only by a law of renounced to the construction of several limited duration. Since 1969 particularly such plants (thermo-nuclear power plant, active has been the Croatian Ecological factory of magnesite sinter, thermo-electric Association, both in the scientific field and power plant). For the chemical industry at in raising environmental awareness. Omišalj in the island of Krk, protection In the late 1980s, there were 60-odd “green measures were applied, and environmental groups”. Some of them even had political impact monitoring has been performed ambitions. Later, new NGOs were founded, continuously for 12 years. and today the most important is the nature Access to information on the friends movement “Our Beautiful Homeland” environment, and public participation (“Lijepa naša”), which is the NGO with the greatest number of members and with the The Law on the Protection of the strongest professional component, operating Environment of the Republic of Croatia in the whole of Croatia. In co-operation with (“Narodne novine” No. 82/94) defines that the Ministry of Education and Sports of the the basic aims of environmental protection Republic of Croatia, the Movement is trying are achieved, among others, by informing to revive and modernise the century-long the general public on the state of the tradition of environmental protection in environment, and by its participation in the Croatia. environmental protection. The Law also orders that the general public has to be At present, there are about 180 NGOs in informed in good time, and periodically, on Croatia, dealing with environmental any case when the prescribed limits of protection. These have been mostly founded environmental pollution have been exceeded. in urban centres, but ever more often such organisations appear outside the towns, Efficient access to information on the especially in the islands. The awareness and environment requires the establishment of a interest of the general public has been clear system of regulations, which should constantly growing since the late 1980s, provide procedural and institutional although the awareness of the importance guarantees and appropriate application

27 Coastal Area Management in Croatia programmes. Therefore, the Republic of protection policy has been implemented in Croatia has actively participated in the the Republic of Croatia for a relatively long preparation of the Convention on Access time now. Already in the period between to Information, Public Participation in 1966 and 1978, projects of land-use Decision Making and Access to Justice in management and environmental protection Environmental Matters which particularly of the Adriatic region were implemented in stresses the importance of a free access of co-operation with the United Nations the general public to the information on the Development Programme. Those projects environment, with appropriate inclusion of introduced EIA already in mid-70s, when the NGOs. construction started of large industrial plants on the coast, and the preparation of III.6 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EIA was not regulated legally. ASSESSMENT The name EIA appears in the Law on Physical In the Republic of Croatia, environmental Planning and Land-Use Management which impact assessment (EIA) is an integral part obliged the investors into projects that, by of pre-investment activities for the projects their existence, construction or operation that could cause considerable environmental could damage the value of the environment, damage, and the Law on Physical Planning to prepare environmental impact and Land-Use Management of 1980, assessments. The contents of EIA were introduced the obligation of performing defined in the appropriate Regulations, that procedure. The new Act on adopted in 1984. Environmental Impact Assessment was Since it become legal obligation, some 200 prepared on the basis of the Law on the EIAs have been prepared in Croatia, Environmental Protection. regarding large-scale infrastructure works Land-use management and environmental (roads of higher order, electricity supply

28 Coastal Area Management in Croatia systems, gas lines), hydro-electric and such plans, including a well organised thermo-electric power plants, industrial internal management system. Problems regard plants, and marinas. the satisfaction of the needs of the population The initial opposition of the investors, due of the local settlements, and the tendency to the increased investment costs and towards larger tourist accommodation longer preparatory activities, grew into capacities within the borders of the parks. acceptance of the legal obligation, since the Land-use plans of settlements (general and results of EIA application showed that a detailed) were mostly based upon a timely and well planned investment into comprehensive approach to planning of environmental protection measures was urban systems (although often too more rational and financially justifiable than ambitiously), but showed considerable recovery of devastated environment. divergence in the implementation. III.7IMPLEMENTATION OF The Physical Plan of Croatia defines the MANAGEMENT PLANS minimum width of immediate coastal strip In this phase, Croatia is making inventories of 21 m. The local-level plans contained of state and re-considers the earlier more detailed regulations, but due to a lack concepts in all fields of activity. Owing to its of common criteria, those were quite great value and increasing interest it different from one area to another. Those attracts, the Adriatic coastal region is in the measures failed to produce any significant centre of attention. results, since the fact that the building was moved away from the coastline did not Achievement of relevant goals and automatically secure public access to the evaluation of coastal area management coast, nor was the coast arranged for results can partly be interpreted through the recreational or other purposes. implementation of physical plans. So, for example, the Physical Plan of Croatia has All documents in force contain regulations been implemented rather consequently with on the protection of the natural coast and regard to large infrastructure and protected on the rational land use, directing areas. Directives for the use and protection development activities to the hinterland. of other areas (including the protection and This tendency is often challenged at the local use of the sea) were implemented with level where individual interests motivated by variable effects on the local plans, especially quick profit collide with long-term interests with regard to the land use. and principles of sustainable development. In the physical plans of the (former) Preliminary results for counties show that municipalities, for example, islands were building areas take approximately 30% of considered as planning and management the coastline. The assessment for the entire entities, as their territories equalled those of coast are in the region of 1,000 km (20%). the corresponding municipalities. Now, the The insular part of the region participates islands are divided in several smaller with most of the total length of the municipalities and towns, and each of them coastline, but the percentage of the building should, in theory, have its own plan. This zones on the islands is much lower than on may cause difficulties in the management of the mainland. Thus, the islands represent their environment. Therefore, recommendation the best preserved environment with the was made to treat an island as a planning largest share of free, mostly natural coast. It entity, or at least that common criteria be is estimated that since the 1960s, when the defined for environmental planning and intensive building started, the land management. occupation on the coast has increased 5 The physical plans of the national parks are times. In some coastal municipalities and the most consequently implemented of all towns on the mainland the building zones

29 Coastal Area Management in Croatia cover almost the total length of the phenomenon. Today, it is necessary to coastline, and are almost fully developed. introduce a strict control of building through a reduction of building areas, Tourist complexes outside the settlements, especially if infrastructure and other services planned, built, and acting as separate have not been provided. A large degree of management entities, have secured necessary illegal building in the areas where building is distance from the shoreline, appropriate possible confirms the slow reaction of the infrastructure, and controlled bathing and management system. recreation areas, much better than zones for individual building. However, with respect The ideas expressed in the new fundamental to the plans, about 50% of the areas have documents are already being implemented, remained unrealised. which particularly refers to the Strategy of Land-Use Planning. It is expected that the Although marinas in general represent high application will soon start of the results of quality solutions, they have unfortunately, new studies performed for the purposes of rather often and without particular reasons, coastal area management following the occupied the most valuable parts of bays. methods promoted within international Spatial and functional dispersion of the activities and conventions on the large traffic systems such as the Harbours Mediterranean4. The central issue of the new System of Rijeka (composed of 4 spatially generation of development documents is separated units) suits the types of Croatian objective valuation of the resources and the coast, especially where there are high establishment of measurable value concentrations of economic activities and categories. It is estimated that the physical limited space. plans of the counties, as a new (regional) Small towns in the immediate hinterland planning form, will play an important role in have been almost completely ignored by the setting criteria for the use of coastal investors although the plans included them resources, and in the creation of a basis for in the overall development scheme. Recent the management of ecological and initiatives in Istria and islands for the functional entities which surpass the local rehabilitation of small urban centres, level. It is already certain that it will not be vineyards, and traditional activities, with a enough unless appropriate instruments are strong stress on ecological orientation developed, such as rents and taxes relative sound promising. to the attractivity of sites and the status of land, and unless active forms of action are Accents and priorities adopted, such as programmes, stimulation, A stronger impetus of the coastal economy directives, subsidies, etc. is yet to come. At present, a general reduction of harbour traffic together with the general III.8INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION reduction of economic activities have The international co-operation aimed at beneficial effects on the environment. environmental protection and land-use However, that diminishes the financial planning of the Adriatic region started in potentials of the community which also mid-1960s through the environmental reduces the potentials for effective resource protection projects for the Southern and management. Upper Adriatic, implemented with the help In the coastal region, building of small of the United Nations Development family units for tourism became the Programme (UNDP). dominant form, which is, in principle, an acceptable and generally supported model. 4 The analytical part of the State Strategy of Land-Use However, the management system is not Planning, the National Report on the Implementation sufficiently prepared to cope with such of the Agenda 21 (1997), and the latest Report on the initiatives when they turned into a mass State of the Environment in the Republic of Croatia.

30 Coastal Area Management in Croatia The principal activities in the Adriatic aimed Croatia hosts the Regional Activity Centre at environmental protection with international for the Priority Actions Programme, which co-operation are implemented within the ahs been acting for almost 20 years within Mediterranean Action Plan of the United the Mediterranean Action Plan-UNEP. The Nations Environment Programme (MAP- principal activity of the Centre is integrated UNEP), and its centres, all within the planning and management of coastal areas. Barcelona Convention for the Protection of The Centre has developed intensive and the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution fruitful co-operation with all of the (1976, 1996) and the related Protocols: The Mediterranean countries and their Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of governmental and non-governmental the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from institutions, through organisation of Ships and Aircrafts; The Protocol Concerning seminars, workshops, conferences and training Co-operation in Combating Pollution of the courses, as well as through exchange of Mediterranean Sea by Oil and Other Harmful experts. Special stress has been placed at Substances in Cases of Emergency; The Protocol the implementation of the MAP Coastal for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Area Management Programme. Particularly against Land-based Sources; The Protocol good co-operation has been established with Concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Areas; The Protocol for the Protection of the Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea against Pollution (REMPEC), situated in Malta. Resulting from Exploration of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Croatia actively participates in the work of Subsoil; and The Protocol on the Prevention of other UNEP-MAP bodies, such as the Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea Resulting Commission for Sustainable development, from the Transboundary Movement of and is also signatory of the Agenda 21 for Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. the Mediterranean.

31 Coastal Area Management in Croatia The Mediterranean Technical Assistance We should also point out the participation Programme (METAP), which is implemented in the work of the Committee for the by the World Bank, European Investment Environmental Protection Policy of the Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and United Nations Economic Commission for Development and UNDP, financed several Europe (UN/ECE), and in the process studies aimed at resolving important “Environment for Europe” within the problems of environmental protection preparations for the Conference of (waste waters, solid waste, environmental European Ministers of Environmental management). Protection (Luzern - 1992, Sofia - 1995, Aarhus - 1998), as well as the co-operation The Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, with the European Environmental Agency Transport and Communications, and the on the preparation of the Report on the harbour authorities co-operate with IMO in State of Environment in Europe (Dobris the implementation of a number of Assessment). international conventions: International Convention on Prevention of Pollution from Of particular importance are the activities Ships (1973), with the relevant Protocol of on the implementation of the UN 1978, called MARPOL (1973, 1978); conventions: the Framework Convention on Convention on the Prevention of Pollution of Climate Change, the Convention on Long- the Sea by Dumping, the London Range Transboundary Air Pollution and the “Dumping” convention of 1972; Convention related protocols, the Convention on on the Responsibility for Transport of Harmful Environmental Impact Assessment in a Substances by Sea (1990); International Transboundary Context, and the Convention Convention on the Preparedness, Action and on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Co-operation in Cases of Pollution by Oil Watercourses and International lakes, as (1990), the 1992 Protocol on amendments well as in the preparation of the Convention to the International Convention on the on the Access to Information, Public Establishment of an International Fund for Participation in Decision-making processes, Compensation for Damages Caused by Oil and Achieving Legal Protection in Spill (1971). Environmental Issues. In the year 1974, co-operation on the Co-operation has also been established with protection of the Adriatic was established in the Foundation for Environmental Education the form of a joint Croatian-Italian- Europe (FEEE), and the Blue Flag programme Slovenian Commission for the Protection of for beaches and marinas. the Adriatic. The Commission acts through various working groups: co-operation and III.9EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL joint activities in cases of accidental COASTAL MANAGEMENT pollution of the Adriatic Sea; separate PROJECTS navigation system, i.e. establishment of navigation routes; Master Plan of the Cres-Lošinj Archipelago Adriatic; monitoring of the state of the The purpose of the proposed management Adriatic and its protection. plan for the Cres-Lošinj archipelago is to Croatia participates in the activities of the design an operational instrument for the European Association for sustainable protection of the natural, cultural and Development of Islands “INSULA”, in the historic resources. The objective of this draft project “GILDA”, an initiative for economic management plan is to provide guidelines and ecological co-operation of Croatia, Italy, to decision-makers at the state and Slovenia, Albania, Greece and Austria municipality levels for the conservation of (countries of the Adriatic basin) with regard the vitally important and irreplaceable eco- to the passenger and goods traffic in the systems, and the cultural resources, while Adriatic Sea. contributing to the realisation of an

32 Coastal Area Management in Croatia ecologically and economically sustainable urbanisation and immigration into the town development for the benefit of the local of Split. Uncontrolled discharging of population. untreated waste waters, both industrial and urban, into the bay caused intensive The plan studies technical, institutional, degrading of the bay's eco-systems. protection, social and economic aspects of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago protection. It In mid 1980s, an initiative was launched to principal aims are: rehabilitate the state of the bay. Partners in a) Protection and management of the eco- that activity were the local communities, the systems and habitats of the area, as well University of split, a large number of as its flora and fauna; scientific institutions and experts. A national programme of bay rehabilitation was b) Protection and management of the natural initiated, supported by UNEP, MAP and PAP, resources (water, soil, biological) and and very soon support was offered by the cultural heritage in the context of METAP programme implemented by the sustainable multiple goals. This World bank. The common action and joint understands a synthesis of the bio- financing by all the partners resulted in a diversity protection with the needs of the large number of basic studies, and the growing population and the related fundamental programme of the protection tourism, urban and agricultural and rehabilitation of the bay. That development; and programme served for the preparation of c) Evaluation of similar development plans the "Integrated Programme of the from the point of view of environmental Construction of the Kaštela Bay Sewerage protection and sustainable development. System", which was supported by the World This includes a critical assessment of their Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction economic viability, effects on the society and Development. Activities on the and on the environment. implementation of the plan were slowed The plan provides the implementation down in early 1990s by the war in Croatia, framework, and launches a process that all but regained impetus after the war ended. the interested parties will be able to join. It The banks have granted the loans, and the also proposes to the authorities a practical beginning of works on the construction of strategy, a technical methodology and a the sewerage network is expected soon. flexible approach to the existing institutional A special agency has been established for arrangements, in order to secure sustainable the implementation of the project which development and the protection of the gives it special importance. The agency natural and cultural heritage of the area and enjoys support and guarantees of the four its surroundings. The management plan interested municipalities, and of the outlines measures for the protection of Government of the Republic of Croatia. It those areas, as well as appropriate has to be pointed out that the project was management measures. The plan is currently conceived on a commercial basis, and that in implementation. the feasibility study showed that the loans Kaštela Bay can be paid back without any state subventions, but only from the profit gained The area of the Kaštela bay, in the vicinity of from the water prices. The project also Split, was one of the largest "hot spots" in nd enjoys support from the majority of the Croatia. In the period after the 2 World local population which offers additional War, as a consequence of the then current guarantee for success. policy of intensive industrialisation, a number of large industries developed around the Even on the Mediterranean scale this project beautiful, semi-enclosed bay. Such industrial can be considered as one of the most development brought about intensive successfully examples of projects where the

33 Coastal Area Management in Croatia initial action of the local and international partners was followed by project implementation through considerable engagement of both international and local sources of financing.

34 The State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment is a governmental body in charge of environment of the Republic of Croatia, considered to be its principal development resource. As an independent body, it is responsible for the implementation of laws, formulation of regulations for their application, surveillance, and other administrative and professional tasks relative to the general environmental protection policy aimed at creating favourable conditions for achieving sustainable development; protection of the air, soils, waters, sea, flora and fauna, bearing in mind the totality of their interactions; proposing, promoting and monitoring measures aimed at improving environmental protection. Within the State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment there is a special office for the sea, which has the main task to protect the sea, and the coastal and insular areas of the Republic of Croatia.