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Home , Carex acuta, Donji Lapac, Korenica, Kulen Vakuf, Lika (river), Lohovo

Plitvice National Park – and National Park – and Feasibility study on establishing transboundary cooperation

Una National Park, © IUCN / Boris Erg

Prepared within the project “Sustaining Rural Communities and their Traditional Through Strengthened Environmental Governance in Transboundary Protected Areas of the Dinaric Arc”. ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Authors: Katharina Lindenmann, Željka Rajković and Ognjen Škunca Photographs: Boris Erg, Željka Rajković and Tomasz Pezold ISBN: 978-2-8317-1368-7 Design and layout: Imre Sebestyen, jr. / UNITgraphics.com Printed by: PrintXPress Available from: IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe Dr Ivana Ribara 91 11070 Belgrade, [email protected] Tel +381 11 2272 411 Fax +381 11 2272 531 www.iucn.org/publications

Acknowledgments: A Special “thank you” goes to: Antonija Dujmović MSc, Conservation Manager, Plitvice Lakes NP Administration; Ivo Pevalek Conservation Research Centre; Ms. Kata Repac, assistant to the Mayor, Municipality of Bihać; Mr. Muhamed Ibrahimpašić, Senior Advisor, Department for Communal Affairs, Municipality of Bihać and Chairperson of the Advisory Committee for the physical plan for the Una area in Federation BiH; Mr. Davor Lonić, , Head of the Department for Development and European Processes; Mr. Milan Tankosić, Vice-president of the NGO Una in and Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Gračac for providing information and materials.

Boris Erg, Veronika Ferdinandova (IUCN SEE), Dr. Deni Porej, (WWF MedPO) for commenting and editing the assessment text.

Zbigniew Niewiadomski, consultant, UNEP Vienna ISCC for providing the study concept. Emira Mesanovic, WWF MedPO for coordinating the assessment process. The designation of geographical entities in this publication, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN, WWF and SNV concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN, WWF and SNV. This publication has been made possible in part by funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Published by: IUCN, Gland, and Belgrade, Serbia in collaboration with WWF MedPO and SNV Copyright: © 2011 International Union for Conservation of and Natural Resources

Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Citation: Lindenmann, K., Rajković, Ž. and Škunca, O. (2011). Plitvice Lakes National Park – Croatia and – BiH: Assessment on the feasibility study of establishing transboundary cooperation. Gland, Switzerland and Belgrade, Serbia: IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe. 48 pp.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia © IUCN / Boris Erg ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Contents

Figures...... 5 List of Acronyms...... 6 Executive summary...... 7

Background of the study ...... 8 Project “Environment for People in the Dinaric Arc”...... 8 Why transboundary cooperation?...... 9 Purpose of the assessment...... 9 Methodology...... 9 Specific remarks for the Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Una National Park - repor...... 9

Regional context for transboundary cooperatio...... 10 Local transboundary historical context...... 10 Recent historical context of the area...... 10 Border context ...... 12 Socioeconomic context...... 12 Land use, urbanization and economic development trends ...... 14 Transport infrastructure...... 16 State of the environment and threats ...... 16 Plitvice Lakes National Park...... 16 Una National Park ...... 19 as the local economy sector depending on natural assets of the region...... 20 Sustainable tourism development in the region - conclusions and points for consideration...... 21

Nature and its protection in the region of the transboundary area...... 23 Legal and administrative framework for designation and management...... 23 Comparison of protected area networks in the two neighbouring countries...... 26 Brief overview of the natural values of the region...... 27 Protected areas in the transboundary area...... 29 Strategic point for consideration - connectivity and continuity of protected area network...... 29

Transboundary cooperation: priorities, challenges and opportunities...... 35 Priorities for conservation in the transboundary area ...... 35 and in benefit of a transboundary protected area...... 35 Stakeholders and existing relevant projects ...... 38 Opportunities and challenges for the transboundary cooperation in the transboundary area ...... 41 Recommendations ...... 45

References ...... 46

4 Figures:

Fig. 1.1. The area (in green) eligible for application within Croatia-BiH IPA CBC...... 10

Fig. 1.2. Satellite image: the lower stream from to (the larger settlements in this area include Kulen Vakuf (approx. population 1000) and Orašac with Ćukovi (population 2,800) (Source: Googlemaps)...... 10

Fig. 1.3. The upper stream area from Donja Suvaja (in RH), i.e. (in BiH) to Kulen Vakuf, via where the drains into the Una River (the only larger settlement in this area is Martin Brod (population 500), excluding Drvar). (Source: Googlemaps)...... 11

Fig.1.4. Satellite image: Plitvice Lakes and Bihać (Source: Googlemaps)...... 11

Fig. 1.5. Population trends within the national park (Source: Central Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Croatia)...... 13

Fig. 1.6. Border crossings (Source: Googlemaps)...... 16

Fig. 1.7. Macro zones within Una National Park (Elektroprojekt, 2005)...... 34

5 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

List of acronyms

BiH Bosnia and Herzegovina B&B Bed and Breakfast CBD COP 9 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity CBD PoWPA Convention on Biological Diversity, Programme of Work on Protected Areas EU IPA CBC European Union, Instrument for Pre- accession Assistance, Cross-Border Cooperation FBiH Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina GEF Global Environmental Fund GIS Geographic Information System RH Croatia ISCC Interim Secretary of the Carpathian Convention IUCN SEE International Union for Conservation of Nature Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe NGO Non-governmental Organisation NP National Park PA Protected area PHARE and Hungary: Assistance for Restructuring their Economies SME Small Market Enterprises SNV Netherlands Development Organisation TBPA Transboundary protected area UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNESCO MAB United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Man and Biosphere Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Program WWF MedPO World Wide Fund for Nature Mediterranean Programme Office

6 Executive Summary

This study explores the possibilities based tourism. Before the war, their and challenges of the existing development was based on forestry, regional collaboration between agriculture, and the food and wood Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia processing industries, all of which and Una National Park in Bosnia and collapsed during the war and post- Herzegovina, one of six pilot sites in war period and still show no signs the project “Environment for People of recovery. Facing such a situation, in the Dinaric Arc”. The objective of these areas are now willing to follow the study is to survey the possibilities the example of their more successful for transboundary conservation, neighbour, Plitvice Lakes National Park, i.e. establishment of transboundary by developing tourism based on the protected areas and associated natural attractions of the Una River cooperation mechanisms. and the surrounding area. Currently, the vision of sustainable development Focusing on the area between Plitvice based on the conservation and Lakes National Park and Una National sustainable use of valuable natural Park, defined in part by the Una River assets through tourism, combined with and in part by the Lička Plješivica preserved traditional agriculture and mountain ridge. These two natural manufacturing practices, is already barriers divide the area into three parts: vivid in the minds and plans of the 1) the area along the Una River in the local population and their government, territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as they can see it happening in their which now mainly forms Una National neighbourhood, at the Plitvice Lakes. Park, and further downstream, the largest settlement in the area, the City Some concrete actions with tangible of Bihać; 2) the area along the Una river results are critically needed to on the Croatian side, where the border make this vision a reality. The major is defined by the course of the Una enabling factors could be cross-border River; and 3) the nearby area of Plitvice cooperation, exchanging know-how Lakes National Park in Croatia, on the and experience, and cooperation other side of Lička Plješivica mountain, between two complementary tourist which delineates the border. destinations - the existing one, Plitvice Lakes National Park, and the All three areas were severely affected developing one, the Una National during the conflicts in the 1990s and Park. Development based on the area’s the hardship of post-war transition conserved and revitalized natural challenges. Today, the socioeconomic and cultural heritage is the best situation differs significantly among possible scenario for its biodiversity the three areas. The most recovered preservation. and fastest developing among the three is the area of Plitvice Lakes Building on the already established National Park, a consequence of the practice of cross-border cooperation, recent and rapid recovery of the pre- there are no doubts that the conditions war tourism industry based on the are in place for joint long-term projects natural attractions and fame of the that would provide opportunities for national park. long-term and tangible impacts. Una River, Bosnia and Herzegovina © IUCN / Boris Erg Although the other two areas are also blessed with attractive natural scenery, they have actually never realized their potential for nature-

7 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Background of the study

This study presents the analysis of region. It also includes a list of specific a preliminary assessment of one national and regional priorities of six project sites of the project for each country. These priorities “Environment for People in the Dinaric include the establishment of 13 new Arc”. protected areas and the evaluation of the contribution the protected Project “Environment for areas could make to the local and People in the Dinaric Arc” national economies. They also include strengthening regional collaboration The project “Environment for People by creating a series of transboundary in the Dinaric Arc” began in 2009 natural resource management areas and is funded by the Ministry for (i.e. transboundary protected areas), Foreign Affairs of Finland. The project which shows a general awareness that is expected to last three years. It protecting this natural and cultural represents a joint development wealth can only be achieved through initiative by IUCN (International the close cooperation of the Dinaric Union for Conservation of Nature) Arc countries. implemented by IUCN Regional Office for Pan-Europe and IUCN The EU perspective is currently Programme Office for South- the main political driver, since EU Eastern Europe, in partnership accession is the principal objective with World Wide Fund for Nature for the countries of the region. Strong - Mediterranean Programme Office economic growth and progressing and SNV – Netherlands Development integration into the EU are set to bring Organisation. the stability, security, and prosperity that the peoples of the region are The project was developed to hoping for. In this context, establishing support the political commitments transboundary collaboration on of the Dinaric Arc countries environmental and development issues towards enhancing cooperation on is of interest to all the western Balkan protected area establishment and countries. management within the framework of implementing CBD PoWPA. In this The “Environment for People in the context, the most important step Dinaric Arc” project aims to transform was the “Big Win” commitment for this political commitment into a the Dinaric Arc, jointly signed by concrete action for the Dinaric Arc , Bosnia and Herzegovina, region. In short, the goal of the Croatia, , Serbia, and project is to improve the sustainable in May 2008 during the development of rural communities 9th Conference of the Parties to the on the basis of conservation of Convention on Biological Diversity biological diversity and traditional (CBD COP 9) in Bonn. The commitment landscapes in transboundary regions includes the general statement of by enhancing regional cooperation all signatories to build an effective and strengthening environmental network of protected areas, based governance, including participation on the recognition of the natural and and empowerment of civil society and cultural wealth of the Dinaric Arc local communities (IUCN 2008).

8 Why transboundary Methodology cooperation? This analysis is based on a The need for establishing questionnaire completed by two transboundary collaboration is based local consultants, one for each side on the idea that natural systems of the border at each project site. straddling political boundaries The questionnaire was developed can be most effectively managed by Mr. Zbigniew Niewiadomski, as functional units at the scale the UNEP Regional Consultant on of the regional and Trans-boundary Protected Areas. The would, therefore, benefit from UNEP kindly made the questionnaire appropriate mechanisms for long- available to this project and allowed its term transboundary co-operation. author, Mr. Niewiadomski, to assist us. While the establishment of TBPAs The initial questionnaire was slightly for integrated conservation modified to focus on the specific needs and development can enhance of this project and the specifics of the environmental protection, it can pilot sites. also reinforce political security and provide multiple benefits to local The questionnaire consists of 168 communities. questions and regional consultants were given a three-month period to The existence of TBPAs and their provide answers with the assistance buffer zones can help rebuild of other regional experts, local divided communities, promote administrations, Internet research, freedom of movement and create scientific articles and personal new opportunities for sustainable discussions. development, including low-impact tourism. Such areas can also make an Although the questionnaire provided Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia important contribution to regional sound insight into the traditional © Željka Rajković biodiversity conservation programmes, landscape, more thorough overview of especially in areas where they form the local law enforcement and social a coherent ecological network. background is recommended for Neighbouring states, which often have future assessments. different levels of technical expertise, knowledge, capacity, and financial resources, can benefit by combining Specific remarks for the their respective strengths through Plitvice Lakes National Park trans-boundary cooperation (IUCN, and the Una National Park - 2008). report

Plitvice Lakes National Park was Purpose of the assessment proclaimed a national park in 1949 and a great deal of information The purpose of the assessment is and scientific data on the park are to feed the project with necessary available. Considering that Una information and provide directions for National Park was established increasing the level of trans-boundary only recently (in 2009) much less collaboration by taking advantage of information is available. Therefore, the the opportunities and overcoming the descriptions of the Una region are less difficulties identified in this report. detailed.

9 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Regional Context for transboundary cooperation

Local transboundary historical sectors: 1) the area along the Una River context on the BiH side, now mainly forming the Una NP and further downstream the In 1991, split up into several largest settlement in the area, the city countries and the political events that of Bihać; 2) the area along the Una River followed brought a very heterogenic on the Croatian side, in the part where situation for the newly emerging states the border is defined by the course of in the region. the Una River; and 3) the nearby area of the Croatian Plitvice Lakes NP, on the Recent historical context of other side of Lička Plješivica mountain, the area in the part where the border is defined by Lička Plješivica mountain.

This study focuses on the border The unfortunate events from the territory between Croatia and BiH, territories’ recent history, such as covering the area of Plitvice Lakes occupation, ethnic conflicts and war, do Fig.1.1. The area (in green) eligible for application within Croatia-BiH IPA CBC. National Park, Una National Park and the not represent a major obstacle to cross- area in between. This vast territory can border collaboration today. Nevertheless, be divided into three distinct regions, they have caused various changes on each of which disposes typical features. both sides, leading to a modification The Una River and Lička Plješivica of the ethnic structure of the local mountain ridge form the two natural population and destruction of the cultural barriers dividing the area into three and religious facilities in the region.

Fig. 1.2. Satellite image: the lower stream from Kulen Vakuf to Lohovo (the larger settlements in this area include Kulen Vakuf (approx. population 1000) and Orašac with Ćukovi (population 2,800) (Source: Googlemaps).

10 Fig. 1.3. The upper stream area from Donja Suvaja (in RH), i.e. Drvar (in BiH) to Kulen Vakuf, via Martin Brod where the tributary Unac drains into the Una River (the only larger settlement in this area is Martin Brod (population 500), excluding Drvar). (Source: Googlemaps).

Fig.1.4. Satellite image: Plitvice Lakes and Bihać (Source: Googlemaps).

11 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Border context the border issues, since it is not situated directly on the border. The border roughly follows the course The border can be crossed only at an of the Una River, or the ridges of the international check point on the road, nearby Lička Plješivica mountain, both while the remainder is guarded against river and mountain creating a natural illegal crossings by regular patrol teams obstacle. The border in its present shape from both countries. However, there are mainly follows a much older historical no particular physical artefacts pointing border still evident in the series of to the presence of a state border that fortified settlements along the way. would limit the movement of people The border was negotiated during the and wildlife across the state border. Treaty of Carlowitz 1699 which ended the hostilities between the Ottoman There is no visa regime and no legal Empire and the Holy League (Austria, obstacles that limit the movement of Poland, and Russia) (1683–1699) people between Croatia and Bosnia The Ottoman side was defeated at the and Herzegovina. As for health and Battle of Zenta (1697) and accepted to veterinary regulations, there are no negotiate a peace treaty, were Austria special rules for the neighbouring received all of Croatia and Slovenia. The border-crossings. However, general Croatian territories were incorporated rules for the transport of domestic into the (“Vojna animals between the two countries ” in Croatian, “Militärgrenze” in are in place and are aligned with the German) (Encyclopaedia Britannica relevant EU policies. Therefore, there 2011) of the , are three different inspections present while the side in BiH was a part of the at the border (phytosanitary, veterinary Ottoman Empire. As such, it was the and sanitary). border between the Christian and the Muslim world, a place of wars, but also, The State Border Police of the Ministry as has always been the case, a place for of Interior of the Republic of Croatia trading and communication. and Border Police of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina After World War II it became the are responsible for border area control border between the former republics of Yugoslavia. Once the republics and patrolling. proclaimed their independence from Yugoslavia, Croatia in 1991, BiH in 1992 Socioeconomic context it became the state border between Croatia and BiH. Demography

For the two areas along the Una River in BiH, the splitting of Yugoslavia in The entire area has been experiencing 1991 once again made the river banks continuous depopulation since the a state border, thus disabling the end of 19th century, and the war in the free movement of people and goods. 1990s intensified this process. This continues to cause problems for the local population along the river. For the Plitvice Lakes area (2001 census), Very often, farmers living on one side the population of the settlements of the river have a significant part entirely or partially located within of their cultivated land on the other the national park boundaries was side. They can only reach their land by approximately 1,300, while in 1991 crossing the border illegally in some this figure was 2,238. This decline in convenient places, since the regular population was largely a consequence 1 . http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/eng/index. border crossings are relatively far. The of wartime events (Plitvice NP php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=73 Plitvice Lakes NP area is less affected by Management Plan, 20071).

12 There are 21 settlements in the area inhabitants of the Plitvice Lakes Brod (pop. 500), Kulen Vakuf (pop. surrounding the Plitvice Lakes, which Municipality, of whom 1,000 work 1000), and Orašac (pop. 2,800)2. On are entirely or partially located in permanently or temporarily (during the entire territory of some 350 km2, two municipalities - Plitvička Jezera the season) in the park (Plitvice Lakes this makes an average population and Saborsko. The settlements are NP management plan, 2007). density of 12 inhabitants/km2. scattered, consisting of several smaller The unemployment rate in Bihać mutually remote hamlets that are The communities around Plitvice municipality is about 45%, while in the characteristic of mountain areas. The Lakes NP have a higher standard of Una NP region it is about 65%. main settlements within the national living than in the region adjacent to park are Plitvička Jezera with the the BiH border (along the Una River The demographic structure of hamlets Mukinje, Jezerce, , on the Croatian side). In comparison, the area in general shows a high Poljanak, Rastovača, Babin Potok and a this region is poor, with high percentage of elderly people. The series of other villages and hamlets on unemployment and the entire region active younger population has left the park periphery. Plitvički Ljeskovac is currently classified as an Area of the area in pursuit of better economic and Bijela Rijeka are located at the Special State Concern, and lags behind prospects. Today’s population very source area of the Plitvice Lakes. the national average in economic, represents approximately 60% of the Agricultural areas are abandoned social, and demographic development. pre-war population in the area, with due to continuous depopulation and the departure of a significant portion the fact that tourism infrastructure Today on the BiH side of the Una of the labour active population, due employs the majority of the region, there is a total population of to the lack of work opportunities in local population. There are 1,300 approximately 4,300, including Martin the region.

HUMAN POPULATION TRENDS

Plitvicka jezera saborsko

20000 18000 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000

no. of inhabitants no. 6000 4000 2000 0 1857 1869 1880 1890 1900 1910 1921 1931 1948 1953 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 year Fig. 1.5. Population trends within the national park (Source: Central Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Croatia).

2. Data taken from the development strategies of the municipality of Bihać and cited by interviewed officials in 2009. 13 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Land use, urbanization and There is a low intensity of hunting economic development trends and fishing tourism in the area and all activities are carried out outside In the area around Plitvice Lakes National the national park. Fishing is forbidden Park, the local population is traditionally within the park. As for medicinal engaged in farming, agriculture, milling herb or berry picking, there are no and forestry. Two villages with extensive significant activities within the park. agriculture and farming activities— Plitvički Ljeskovac and Bijela Rijeka—are For the region on both sides of the located at the very source area of the Una River, the situation concerning Plitvice Lakes. Since the establishment of economic development is almost the the national park, almost all commercial same. The major sectors are: extensive activities in the park territory have been agriculture, some animal husbandry banned (Plitvice Lakes NP Management (dairy cows on the BiH side, sheep Plan, 2007). on the HR side), some vegetables, orchards, farms (Martin Brod in Currently, the local population benefits BiH and Suvaja in HR) and forestry. from the park mainly in terms of On both sides of the border, there are employment (the park ensures an great expectations from tourism to income for 750 employees, reaching create a market for local agricultural up to 1 000 employees during the production focusing on premium high season, and around 3,000 family price organically produced traditional members). products as well as souvenirs, and in general to serve as a significant Farming, and traditional crafts, multiplier for the local economy. in addition to catering, tourism and recreational activities, are permitted Currently, the only relatively developed pursuant to the Nature Protection Act types of tourism are fly-fishing (Article 11). This means that the local opportunities on the Una River (Kulen population is allowed to use the land Vakuf and Martin Brod which hosted in a traditional way, for example for the European championship in 2010), mowing and cattle grazing. and rafting on the Una River (approx. 14,000 visitors per year). Tourism infrastructure within Plitvice Lakes National Park is well developed. On the BiH side, there are two hotels There is a hotel and a campsite owned (Martin Brod and Bastasi – total by the park. Private houses also offer capacity of 39 beds), three pensions accommodation and have much (Kulen Vakuf – 52 beds in total), greater capacity than the park itself. private accommodation (Martin Brod and Kulen Vakuf – total of 35 beds), There are no major agriculture eight restaurants that also offer some activities on either side of the state accommodation as an additional border and agriculture is generally activity, four camps (three in Bihać and of low intensity. There is some one in Kulen Vakuf), and five tourist cattle-farming in the area. Economic agencies offering rafting, kayaking, activities on the Croatian side consist canoeing, and fly-fishing on the Una mainly of tourism and jobs at the River. The surrounding area, i.e. the park. As a whole, - County cities of Bihać, Petrovac and Drvar, offer is underdeveloped compared to the 500 hotel beds and some 750 beds in rest of Croatia and the Municipality camps. The tourism infrastructure is of Plitvička Jezera is categorised as more developed on the BiH side of the an Area of Special State Concern, as it Una River, as opposed to the Croatian lags behind in economic, social, and side of the river, where tourism demographic development. infrastructure is virtually non-existent

14 (Plitvice Lakes NP with its highly the national park. Due to the natural developed tourist infrastructure is attractions and fame of Plitvice Lakes further away). NP, the tourism industry recovered quickly and the area is now the most Other sectors of the local economy recovered and fastest developing are a gypsum mine near Kulen Vakuf, among the three. a water bottling in Kulen Vakuf, a fish-farm in Martin Brod, and wood Before the war, other areas around the processing facilities in Ćukovi. Una River based their development on forestry, agriculture and the food The conflicts in the 1990s had a great and wood processing industries, all impact on all three areas in focus. of which collapsed during the war All were faced with hard post-war and post-war period and still show no transition challenges. Today, the signs of recovery. Therefore, the BiH socioeconomic situation of the regions side expects the new Una National differs significantly. Park to become a regional attraction. Similar to the Plitvice Lakes area, Even before the war, the economic income from tourism is seen as the activities in the Plitvice Lakes area only economic perspective. were very much focused on tourism in

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia © IUCN / Boris Erg

15 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Transport infrastructure The Una River region in BiH is a sparsely populated rural area, relatively isolated The state road D1 Plitvička Jezera – because of the underdeveloped – – Gračac (direction transport infrastructure. The major N-S) passes through Plitvice Lakes barrier for movement is the inadequate National Park. This was formerly the number of border crossing check points main route to the major tourism in this area. The distance between the destination, the Dalmatian coast, two existing border crossings (Užljebići before the motorway was built. and Strmica) is approximately 110 km. Another state road D52 Plitvička Jezera – Otočac (direction E-W) also There are several roads (Boričevac in passes through the park with two road RH – Kulen Vakuf in BiH; and Doljani extensions – D504 Plitvička Jezera – in RH – Martin Brod in BiH) where the Prijeboj – Ličko Petrovo Selo and D217 traffic is relatively low, despite the two Rakovica – Ličko Petrovo Selo – state official border crossings. Izačić on the border crossing with BiH (Izačić). north, near Plitvice Lakes, and Aržano on the south are the more often used Public traffic along these transport alternatives. The famous Una railroad corridors is heavy, especially for roughly follows the course of the Una transportation of gasoline for the area River, and crosses the state border a around Bihać in BiH, which originates number of times. primarily from the Rijeka terminal, but also from (both in Croatia). The State of the environment and City of Bihać is the capital of the Una- Canton and the Bihać municipality. threats

The areas in both Croatia and BiH The general condition of the are well connected by the road D environment is at a relatively 217 (Rakovica – Licko Petrovo Selo), satisfactory level, in the sense that where the international state border the state of the environment has crossing point Izačić is situated. It not been altered in any major way holds international status and is not within the study area. The area restricted to serving only the citizens of has no wastewater collection and the two neighbouring countries. purification infrastructure (except for Plitvice Lakes NP). This is largely due to the sparse and relatively small total population. The collapse of pre-war industry such as the cellulose factory in Drvar, and the lag of new industries in the area, the absence of any major polluting sources is the main reason for the good environmental quality. Monitoring the water quality of the Una River shows that it meets category II criteria, with significant deterioration downstream of the larger villages, especially downstream of the inflow of the Orašac tributary, which carries the wastewater from the Orašac and Ćukovi villages. The best water quality of the Una River is upstream of Martin Brod, while the

Fig. 1.6. Border crossings (Source: Googlemaps).

16 Unac River upstream of Martin Brod is system was later repaired and new already polluted by wastewater from measurements of the uppermost Drvar. layer need to be conducted in order to estimate if these measures have helped to reduce the detergent- Plitvice Lakes National Park derived chemicals level.

The majority of tourism infrastructure is Forest management: There is forest in the vicinity of Kozjak Lake, including cutting on private land within Plitvice three hotels built about 50 years ago. Lakes National Park. However, this The sewage system was constructed has not been a significant issue, since without considering the protection all forest cutting on private land is of the lakes. The park area and the regulated. municipalities of Rakovica and Plitvička Jezera are supplied with potable water Invasive alien species: Plitvice Lakes from Kozjak Lake. National Park has problems with chub and char, and the result has been the The large number of visitors may pose decline of stock to very low levels. a problem to species living in the The solution would be to eliminate park, especially those inside the lake chub from the and streams. Bark zone where tourists’ concentration is beetle does not represent a significant greatest. One example is the Eurasian problem, as only 102 of 29,685 hectares otter (Lutra lutra). This mammal are threatened by it and its population requires at least half of the water banks is monitored. without the disturbance of visitors. Visits to forests and other areas also Water management: Plitvice Lakes require certain restrictions and control. National Park has a significant issue with the potential overuse of One of the case studies of the EU water, especially during the tourist Framework Programme 5 “Study of season, though an EU funded project Anthropogenic after the starting soon is expected to resolve War and Establishing of Measures the issue of water consumption from for Protection of the Plitvice Lakes Kozjak Lake. Water supply will be National Park and the Bihać Region provided for Ličke Jasenice, though the at the Border Area of Croatia and issue of water supply to Korenica and Bosnia-Herzegovina” (European some other villages still remains. Commission 2005) was directed at investigating the human effects of Wastewater management: Plitvice the Plitvice Lakes National Park area. Lakes National Park has problems The conclusion has shown that the with septic tanks at the water source. concentrations of trace elements and A growing problem occurs especially organic substances were mainly of at Plitvički Ljeskovac, a village at natural origin. This allayed the park the source of Crna and Bijela Rijeka administration and local authorities (Black and White Rivers). The few concerns about the negative impact households standing at the water of tourism activities and heavy traffic. source are expected to be relocated. The only pollutants detected were Although the settlements around the detergent-derived chemicals, which national park have sewage systems, are believed to have been caused by discharging of wastewaters into the the defects in the sewerage system rivers is still a problem. Measurements of the hotels situated above Kozjak have confirmed that the polluted water Lake in recent decades. The entire flows towards Bihać in BiH, though the

17 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

water is purified along the way and is tufa formation in the Plitvice Lakes. already purified by the time it reaches The lakes are exposed to the natural Bihać. The sewage network has been process of eutrophication (enrichment constructed up to the village Rastovača, of water with nutrients) or “lake-aging,” where a clarifier thickener is located. which has accelerated as a result of Wastewater is currently emitted human activity (agriculture, animal into a , though project husbandry, tourism, wastewater). The documentation has been developed to eutrophication of Plitvice Lakes induces build a wastewater treatment plant at the growth of macrovegetation, which this location, and this issue is expected in turn decreases water circulation, to be resolved in the near future. adds to the accumulation of organic Nevertheless, the sewage network of material, slows tufa formation and municipalities Rakovica and Plitvička can even jeopardize the statics of the Jezera still needs to be designed. tufa formed barriers by its weight, threatening them with collapse. Tourism: The lake zone open to visitors is a recreation and tourism Vegetation succession: Vegetation infrastructure zone. It is the most stages maintained by human attractive area of Plitvice Lakes intervention are very endangered in National Park, where tour programmes the park. The low level or absence of and therefore the largest number traditional land uses such as mowing of visitors concentrate. In order to and grazing of meadows leads to preserve the ecological balance and overgrowth by bushes and later by avoid possible negative consequences trees, and thus the grassland associated on the sensitive of the biodiversity in the park’s territory is lakes and the natural process of tufa being lost. Based on a rough estimate, formation, and also to ensure quality 70% of the park’s biodiversity is tied to tourist experiences in this part of the non-forest habitats, primarily to such park, development of a study on the grass-covered surfaces. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia © IUCN / Boris Erg capacity of the lake system for visitors is planned for the near future. This To ensure preservation of the park’s will define the optimum number of landscape diversity and its abundance visitors in this zone and serve as a basis of plant species, all existing forms for developing sustainable tourism of grasslands/meadows must be services and amenities. maintained to prevent the growth of tree-like and bush species. There Transport: An important issue in are large grassland areas in the Plitvice Lakes National Park is the park, such as Homoljačko Field previously mentioned road Rijeka- (1080 ha), Brezovačko Field (960 ha), Bihać. This road is an “oil trail” and Karleušine Plase (80 ha), and so forth. passes straight through the water If the overgrowth process of grassy source area of the national park, and surfaces is not halted, the number is used for public traffic, especially of plant species will decline, and the the transportation of oil and fuel for appearance of the landscape will be the area around Bihać in Bosnia and altered. The colour and diversity of Herzegovina. This problem has been grassy surfaces will thus not come to partially resolved by escorting cisterns their full beauty. through Karlovac, while other cisterns and all trailer trucks still pass through management: Subterranean the water source area of the national habitats in the park are threatened park. by uncontrolled visits by tourists, illegal waste dumping, and the Eutrophication: Increased amounts related seepage of waters which of dissolved organic matter impede may be polluted. Such waters also

18 threaten subterranean aquatic , destruction of travertine barriers and while subterranean fauna in general valuable habitats by inadequately (especially the endemic insect, regulated tourist activities; Machaerites udrzali) are threatened by illegal collection. overfishing of fish stocks as a consequence of non-existing fishing Land mines: Land mines pose a threat, plan and appropriate enforcement. but only outside Plitvice Lakes National Park (all land mines have been cleared Another threat to the region is within the park boundaries). However, a prospected (137 m) for a there still remain areas close to the hydropower plant on the Unac river border that are polluted by land mines upstream of Martin Brod. This plan (Plitvice NP Management Plan, 20073). from the Ministry of Energy would contradict the vision and objectives The war left no particular damage of the declared national park Una. on the environment of the Plitvice Until now the opposing views of the Lakes NP region, as the area was ministries of energy and physical secured by the Czech battalion of the planning and environment have not UN Protection Forces (UNPROFOR), achieved a consensus. stationed at the Plitvice Lakes, during the temporary occupation. The EU Framework Programme 5 (European Commission 2005) stated Una National Park: threats of invasive allochthonous species for the Una River system in the Actual threats within the park Bihać region. However, little data are boundaries include: available, as the entire area has yet not been properly surveyed. untreated communal wastewater— the settlements of Drvar, Martin The area of the former military base Brod, Kulen Vakuf dispose their and Željava airport, situated at the wastewater directly into the Una state border between Croatia and River or its tributary. As previously BiH, is contaminated by PCBs4 (airport demonstrated, pollution from the tunnels lying under Lička Plješivica towns of Udbina and Korenica, mountain) and land mines. Land mine settlements on the Croatian side, pollution is also a problem for some appears at the spring of the Una areas close to the state border and River tributary Klokot, which supplies some areas within Una National Park, for the Bihać area; and these have been declared a priority area for mine clearing programmes. communal solid waste disposal in nature or on ad hoc formed To summarize, the environment in the dumpsites; entire transboundary area has not faced any great threats and has not experienced devastation of the landscape by ecological disaster of any kind. illegal building/development and poorly prepared physical plans;

3. http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/eng/index. php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=73

4. Polychlorinated biphenyl.

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Tourism as the local economy the initiative for establishment of Una sector depending on natural National Park. Eventually, in 2002 the assets of the region process of establishing Una NP was initiated, first with the preparation of Gustav Janeček was the initiator of a feasibility study in 2005, followed the Society for the Arrangement and by adoption of the Act on the Una NP Embellishment of the Plitvice Lakes (2008). The physical plan for Una NP has (Društvo za uređenje i poljepšanje not yet been established, though its Plitvičkih jezera), founded in 1893. The preparation was initiated in 2007. Society’s goals were to conduct research and development of the Plitvice Lakes Plitvice Lakes National Park is and to develop tourism. Thanks to considered a great success story judging Janeček, the first tourism trails were by the number of visitors to the park. marked, the first hotels and resorts Consequently, local communities have built, and systematic tourist marketing developed both through the provision started. of park related jobs and through the provision of tourism related services. The first legal protection of the Plitvice Lakes was realized for a short period in The possibility of development 1928/29 under the Financial Code of of sustainable tourism and visitor the time. Due to administrative issues, management was the main reason this protection lasted only two years. why nature protection authorities Only after World War II were the Plitvice and protected area administrations Lakes assigned permanent protection. considered the possibility of Based on the 1948 Regulation on the establishing transboundary cooperation. management of national parks, in April Yet, the existing tourism practices have 1949 the Parliament of the then National to be assessed against the pressure Republic of Croatia adopted an Act posed on nature and the participation of declaring the Plitvice Lakes a national local communities for Plitvice Lakes NP park as an area of a special natural and Una NP alike. beauty. Since then, certain amendments have been made. Tourism development The EU IPA CBC project proposal “Una has always been intertwined with the – Spring of Life” is a positive example intention of placing the area under of transboundary cooperation on special protection regime. sustainable tourism. It builds on a successful implementation of the EU The story of the establishment of CARDS 2004 project “UnAvanTurizam”. Una National Park is more recent. “Una – Spring of Life” covers parts of Symposiums on physical planning, two counties in Croatia (City of Zadar wastewater treatment technologies and and Municipality of Gračac in Zadar protection of the Una, Sana and County; Municipality of in Rivers were held in the mid 1980s. In Lika-Senj County) and a part of a canton 1991, the symposium “Value of the in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Municipality natural and cultural heritage of the Una of Bihać in Una-Sana Canton). As part River basin in Bihać” finally triggered of this project proposal, building and

Number of visitors in Plitvice Lakes National Park, 2000-2009

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 (10 Oct)

Total 482,275 597,884 665,108 721,265 749,209 855,866 866,218 931,372 948,891 905,000

20 improvement of tourism infrastructure package available. Development of a needed is planned for the development joint booking system for tourism services of the joint tourist offer “Una – Spring of (e.g. accommodation, transportation, Life”. A wooden railway is planned to be guided excursions, cultural events) constructed along the tourist walkway would increase the attractiveness of both to the Una Spring. Creation of foot and national parks, since the visitor would bicycle paths alongside the Una River be able to visit more than one site on a and other similar activities have been single trip. Organising joint training for outlined in the project proposal. tourist guides and interpreters facilitates experiences and interpretation skills Sustainable tourism exchange, provides for better knowledge of the region, its natural, historical development in the region and cultural heritage, and improves - conclusions and points for communication and understanding consideration between partners. The joint promotion of tourism and recreational potential, Previous cooperation with neighbouring and marketing of visitor services areas is visible from the fact that before available on each side of the state border the war in the 1990s, Plitvice Lakes increase marketing strength of both National Park filled accommodation national parks and increases incomes of capacities in a radius of 60 km from the the local tourism service providers and park, including Bihać in BiH, Otočac, accommodation owners. Korenica in Croatia, etc. Nowadays, Una-Sana Canton and the Municipality It is an opportunity, but also a challenge of Bihać have their information desk at for Plitvice Lakes National Park, with Entrance 1 of the Plitvice Lakes National its long tradition and advantage Park. It is expected that the Plitvice of experience and knowledge, to Lakes National Park will also set up an cooperate with the newly established information desk at the entrance to Una National Park. Una National Park once the entrance is opened. Plitvice Lakes National Park has a very well established park infrastructure and This cooperation can still be improved. management. It is very well promoted The parks could start exchanging visitors nationally and internationally with an through some form of unification of adapted brand, tourist offices and all the visitor services and accommodation necessary tourism facilities. Una National standards. This would facilitate Park, on the other hand, is struggling to development of joint regional tourist establish the basic facilities required for packages and would increase the quality a national park, and is still halfway from of tourist services. Plitvice Lakes National completing its management scheme, Park cooperates with approximately 500 infrastructure and zoning. domestic and foreign travel agencies and tour operators, and their share in Furthermore, different economic recorded tourist days is 85% of the total backgrounds place these two parks on number of recorded tourist days. The completely different stands. Plitvice vast majority of visitors are international Lakes National Park generates most (foreign) visitors. of its own income (95.8%)5 and so far has had a relatively independent Development of joint tourism product position politically. Una NP is completely packages would enable greater dependent on government support and marketing strengths of the two national foreign donors. Therefore, every decision parks and attract more tour operators becomes one of political importance and due to the economy of scale and more leaves the management in a dependent 5. State budgetary revenues represents only 0.89% of the diverse and wider tourism product and weak position for negotiation. An entire park budget.

21 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

agreement on cooperation with Plitvice The local population is predestined Lakes National Park could therefore to cooperate, since tourism cannot be end up being quite unbalanced, with developed by an isolated individual. The Plitvice Lakes National Park representing Una region has to become a branded a generous donor of knowledge, and tourism destination, which can only Una National Park left in a position of the be achieved through cooperation poor inexperienced partner asking for with all local stakeholders. It could be support. difficult to bring everyone on board, as it is likely that not all share the same Generally, it may be difficult to satisfy vision of long-term sustainable rural the expectations for the development development based on a combination of of the Una region from tourism alone. organic farming, traditional small scale As illustrated in the socioeconomic production of premium price products, overview of the region, there is no other and eco-tourism. important industry in the region. Tourism and agriculture are the only existing Additionally, tourism in this region is sources of income in the area. This gives almost entirely seasonal. During winter, tourism a quasi-monopoly and a difficult tourism facilities are almost empty and position of a “saviour” for the Una region, the number of visitors drops significantly. with the responsibility of attracting as Therefore, the major portion of revenues many visitors as possible each year. Thus must be generated during the few the view on economic development for summer months. This adds pressure the Una area is biased due to the nearby on the amount of income to be gained Plitvice Lakes area. To depict this better, during this period to suffice through the here is a quotation from our consultant winter months. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia for BiH, “More or less follow the footprints © IUCN / Boris Erg of the nearby Plitvice area”.

22 Nature and its protection in the region of the transboundary area

Legal and administrative Dinaric Arc, protection of the priority unit has its own government and framework for protected area areas in a network of protected areas ministries, including the ministry of designation and management is far from complete, with particularly environment and physical planning, serious gaps found in the southern and they all operate at three different The Dinaric Arc eco-region can and eastern portions of the region. levels (municipality, canton and state), be defined as the bio-geographic often without interaction and legal crossroad between the , the The situation of protected areas, both hierarchy. plains of , and the in terms of quantity, protected surface, . The Dinaric Alpine and management effectiveness, Apart from the difference in the mountain chain runs parallel to varies substantially among the nature legislation of the two countries, the east coast of the Adriatic Sea different countries. As a general the law enforcement in Croatia and from Slovenia to Albania. Some rule, Slovenia and Croatia have the BiH also differs significantly (Zeleni- outstanding biological values of this most extensive network of protected , 2008:21). eco-region include: areas and best management levels, while the network of protected areas one of the richest subterranean is less complete in Serbia, Albania fauna, large and well preserved and Montenegro, and even less forests with high floral species so in Bosnia and Herzegovina and diversity and a high rate of Kosovo. Existing protected areas endemism (10–20% of all are often lack management plans, and/ endemic); or the financial and human resources for effective management. The largest and most spectacular karst break-up of the former Yugoslavia ecosystem in Europe, including also contributed to a fracturing of an extensive cave system and the conservation planning for the subterranean network of lakes and region and laid the ground for the rivers with specially adapted life establishment of transboundary forms; protected areas (IUCN, 2008).

representation of healthy Croatia and BiH are both currently populations of large carnivores such aspiring towards membership in the as brown bear, lynx, wolf, as well as EU. This will lead to better balancing many birds of prey – a phenomenon of legislation on nature conservation now rare in Europe; between the two countries. However, it is important to note that Croatia intact freshwater ecosystems – the is ahead of BiH in this process. For most water-rich area in Southern Croatia, EU accession could already Europe and the Mediterranean become a reality in the next few basin. years. On the other hand, BiH remains in a political standoff between its Over the millennia, low intensity two major entities: the Federation farming practices have created of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the habitats that integrate forest, pasture . All this has put the and cropland, and provide a home country in a standstill with political for a unique set of species. These stagnation. Due to the division, the complex mosaics are still present institutional framework and the throughout the Dinaric Arc. Despite framework for nature conservation the conservation importance of the remain relatively complicated. Each

23 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Croatia Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) and Una National Park (Bosnia and In Croatia, the Ministry of Culture Herzegovina)”. is the main authority in charge of nature protection, pursuant to the The Public Institution of Plitvice Lakes Nature Protection Act adopted National Park is the management in October 2003 and amended in authority of the park. In accordance November 2008. The Directorate for with the Nature Protection Act (Official Nature Protection of the Ministry Gazette 70/05, 139/08), these public represents an administrative unit institutions are founded by the Republic dealing with nature protection at the of Croatia by virtue of a regulation state level, and it prescribes nature adopted by the Government of the protection measures and conditions Republic of Croatia (Article 72). The for sectoral cooperation, approves public institution’s bodies are the concessions for the economic use of Governing Board, Director General and natural resources, maintains a central Conservation Manager. The Governing register of protected areas, and is in Board makes the key developmental charge of implementing international decisions, while the Institution’s conventions. The Directorate for Nature operations are organized and Protection Inspection of the same administered by the Director General, Ministry is in charge of inspection and appointed by the Minister for a four-year supervision, and the ranger service6. mandate. The Conservation Manager oversees the Institution’s conservation 6. Main articles of the Nature Protection Act that deal with the The State Institute for Nature operations (conservation service). The responsibilities of Ministry of Culture in national parks are the 7 following: 38 – interventions in nature, 70&71 – special nature Protection of Croatia is the central Plitvice Lakes National Park Management protection and conservation measures, 72, 76&77 protected institution responsible for specialized Plan was adopted in 2007. The Physical area management, 80 – management plan, 112&113 – pre- emption (restrictions in legal transactions), 127 – interventions nature protection activities in Plan of the Plitvice Lakes National Park in protected areas (permissions), 135&137 – concessions, 195 – Croatia and represents an expert dates from 1986 and will be replaced by misdemeanour provisions. unit for nature protection in Croatia. a new one in the near future. Regional 7. http://www.dzzp.hr/eng/ It is responsible for collecting and authorities responsible for the area 8. In more detail, adoption of the regulation in internal order processing data that constitutes the where the park is situated are Lika-Senj (Article 71), protected area management (Articles 72-79), and County and . The local management plan (Articles 80-81). With regard to protected background for nature protection area management (Articles 72-79), the Nature Protection Act design and planning. authority in Lika-Senj County is the states that public institutions manage protected areas (Article Municipality of Plitvička jezera, while the 72). Public institutions carry out the activity of protection, maintenance and promotion of protected area with the When the State Secretary for Nature local authority in Karlovac County is the purpose of protection and conservation of authenticity of Protection of Croatia signed the Big Municipality of Saborsko. nature, safeguarding the undisturbed running of natural processes and sustainable use of natural resources, as well Win commitments for Dinaric Arc as control the enforcement of nature protection conditions at the CBD COP 9 in Bonn, The section “Implementing protection and measures in the area they administer (Article 73). Article in May 2008, the initiative was also in protected areas” in the Nature 74 states the provisions for financing public institutions and their work. Articles 75-76 define the Governing Board and its handed down to the regional level. Protection Act (Articles 69-81) responsibilities, such as adoption of statute, management plan, In 2008, the Ministry of Culture sent stipulates the main responsibilities of annual programme for protection, maintenance, conservation, promotion and use of a protected area containing a price list for official letters to the Plitvice Lakes the public institutions/management services related to use of protected natural assets, general acts, National Park and the State Institute authorities of protected areas8. development plan of a public institution and annual financial plan, and decision concerning the election or appointment for Nature Protection regarding and dismissing of officers designated in the by-laws of a public cooperation on the implementation The Public Institution of Plitvice entity. The remaining provisions on protected area management of CBD PoWPA, which includes the Big Lakes National Park is divided into define provisions for the manager (Article 77), conservation manager (Article 78), and supervision of work of public Win commitments, and particularly the two services and three sectors which institutions (Article 79). Also, direct supervision in protected commitment “Examining possibilities are administered by the Office of the areas is carried out by the chief ranger and rangers of the public institution (Article 174). for transboundary cooperation between Director General.

24 The Institution’s internal organizational Una National Park was proclaimed units are: by the Parliament of the Federation Office of the Director General; BiH and the Act on Una National Park National Park Conservation, was passed on 29 May 2008. By virtue Promotion and User Service; of this decree, the Public Institution Joint Operations Service; of Una NP was established and will Hotels and Hospitality Sector; operationally manage the area, in Maintenance and Utilities Sector; accordance with the Act on Una Retail Outlets Sector. National Park and the Management Plan for Una NP. Within these departments, the park currently employs 730 persons, of The establishment of the institution which approximately 130 perform was still underway at the time of conservation related jobs. A small the preparation of this assessment, number of the park’s activities are and at the phase of appointing financed from the State Budget, while the Institution’s director. The 10- the rest is financed by the park’s own year management plan is yet to be revenues9. adopted by the FBiH Government, while the Annual Program for the Bosnia and Herzegovina Public Institution will be approved by the FBiH Ministry of Environment and In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is Tourism. no state level ministry in charge of environmental issues. This represents The Una-Sana Canton, and the a general obstacle to all processes settlements in the area, the largest of implementation of international being the City of Bihać, are very conventions such as the CBD. The interested in the protection of the government and parliament of the area and its expected associated Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina benefits for the sustainable local and is the highest authority in charge regional development, and as such of the management, including they participate in the governance sustainable development, and of the area as very important Una National Park, Bosnia and Herzegovina conservation of this area. stakeholders. © IUCN / Boris Erg

9. The current organizational structure of Plitvice Lakes National Park can be found in the National Park Plitvice Lakes Management Plan (page 21, Figure 3)

25 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Comparison of protected reserves, a larger number of natural area networks in the two monuments and seven memorial neighbouring countries monuments. It has to be noted that the protected area categories listed above Both countries are parties to the are occasionally overlapping, e.g. the Convention on Biological Diversity Peručica Strict is located (CBD) and the UNESCO World Heritage within the border of National Convention. Furthermore, both countries Park (Niewiadomski, 2009:45). are involved in the integrated river basin management project for the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) completed River. This project is aimed at identifying drafting its National Environmental in Posavina to be introduced in Action Plan (NEAP) in 2006 and identified a network of protected areas. sites relevant for the Emerald Network (November 2006). The country is further As stated above, Croatia is currently committed to developing the list and GIS in the accession phase to EU database of natural habitat types and membership and BiH is on the supports the process of preparation of European Commission list for potential the Red Lists of species (CBD, 2009). candidates (European Commission, 2009). This process includes important For the Republic of Croatia, the Registry efforts to align the national nature of protected natural values at the Ministry protection legislation with EU of Culture of the Republic of Croatia (as standards. After becoming a member of 14 May 2010) lists a total of 461 high of the European Community, both nature value areas in Croatia, protected countries would have to identify, in nine categories. The largest portion of propose and establish a network of the territory is protected in the nature Special Protected Areas and propose park or national park categories. There Special Areas for Conservation that will are two strict reserves, eight national form the NATURA 2000 network. parks and eleven nature parks already protected. Several areas are in the process There are important differences in nature of designation in other categories. As of legislation between Croatia and BiH. In May 2010, 12 areas in Croatia were under Croatia, protected areas represent 7.95% preventive protection, two of which of the national territory, including the as regional parks, one special reserve, sea (or 11.37% of the continental part five protected landscapes, two nature of Croatia and 0.22% of maritime part of monuments and two park forests. Certain Croatia; May 2010). On the other hand, areas in Croatia enjoy international legal protected areas in BiH represent only protection. The Plitvice Lakes National 0.9% of the national area (this was only Park is listed on the UNESCO World 0.6% prior to the establishment of Una Natural Heritage List. The Ramsar List of National Park in May 2008). Wetlands of International Importance lists the Kopački Rit and Lonjsko In 2009, the protected area network Nature Parks, the Crna Mlaka fishponds in BiH encompassed almost 50,567 special ornithological reserve and ha and included three national parks: lower course of the Neretva River as (3,375 hectares), Sutjeska (17,250 internationally important areas. hectares) and Una (19,800 hectares); Mountain forms a part of the two nature parks: Blidinje and Hutovo UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Blato (one of the three Ramsar sites in Reserves under the Man and Biosphere BiH, alongside Bardača and Livanjsko Programme. In 2007, Nature Polje); five strict nature reserves, three Park became a member of the UNESCO managed nature reserves, 29 special Global Network of National Geoparks as reserves (6 geological, 22 botanical and a European Geopark (State Institute for 1 ornithological), 16 nature landscape Nature Protection, 2007b).

26 The proposal of the Croatian National Croatia in the Matica Valley (Ljeskovačke Ecological Network (CRO-NEN) was Bare). So far, 114 speleological sites have completed in 2005, thereby forming the been identified in the park. This number basis for the Ordinance on the National also includes sites in peripheral areas, Ecological Network adopted by the to approximately 500 m outside of the Croatian Government pursuant to the official boundaries. Nature Protection Act in September 2009. The designation of the National According to the habitat map, and Ecological Network was the first step in compliance with level III of the towards preparation for the NATURA National Habitat Classification, there 2000 proposal as part of Croatia’s are 43 different habitat types within the accession process to the European boundaries of Plitvice Lakes National Union. The National Ecological Network Park, and of these, 21 belong to the is defined under the Nature Protection categories of endangered and rare. The Act (Official Gazette 70/05 and 139/08) most common among the endangered pursuant to the EU Habitats Directive and rare categories in the national park and NATURA 2000 habitats types (State are beech forest with giant dead nettle Institute for Nature Protection, 2007b). trees and the Dinaric beech/fir forest. The EU PHARE NATURA 2000 project has further assisted Croatia in preparing The interplay between geographical its NATURA 2000 proposal, and a new position, horizontal and vertical IPA project has started and will assist stratification and geological and in preparation of the marine part of pedological particularities creates a rich NATURA 2000 proposal. and diverse in the park, with many rare, endemic and . Brief overview of the natural To date 1,448 plant taxa have been recorded, including some 50 orchid values of the region species, many of which are endemic. For some species, such as the Siberian The have a variety of rayflower (Ligularia sibirica), this is the Mediterranean, continental and alpine only known locality in Croatia. A rare species and habitats. and interesting plant is a species of The main reason for the placement hawksbeard (Crepis conyzifolia) that of both areas, Plitvice Lakes National forms the special grassland association Park and Una National Park, under Crepido conyzifoliae-Molinietum protection is the specific geological altissimae (Šegulja, 1992). There are and hydrological karst phenomenon. only two known locations of this The basic feature in the Plitvice Lakes association in Croatia recorded in the NP is a chain of lakes connected by literature. waterfalls, created by the biodynamic process of tufa development. Placed The park fauna is also rich and within the forested karst landscape, diverse. There are records of four large the sixteen larger and smaller lakes carnivores in the park: brown bear, are interconnected by cascades and lynx, wolf and wild cat. Additionally, waterfalls. In the continuous process of Plitvice Lakes National Park is the only tufa deposition, certain plants (algae national park in Croatia where the and mosses play a significant role) Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex), cause the barriers between the lakes Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra), to grow and form new waterfalls and Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus), cascades. Striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) and Whiskered bat (Myotis Furthermore, Plitvice Lakes National alcathoe) can be found. The record of Park includes a virgin forest, Čorkova the Whiskered bat is the first and the , and the largest peat surface in only one in Croatia so far.

27 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Una National Park has equally unique these species are found within the cliff phenomena of karst bio-, hydro- and fissures, but also in the anthropogenic geomorphology. As in the case of grasslands. Wetlands associated with Plitvice Lakes NP, this is a sensitive river streams are especially endangered biodynamic system of plants, algae and therefore valuable habitat. There is and mosses forming various travertine a great diversity of invertebrate fauna shapes and barriers creating “micro” (comparable to Plitvice Lakes NP), with lakes, caves, islands, and waterfalls 215 species confirmed and up to 250 along the course. (including unconfirmed species) of vertebrate fauna species including rich The landscape is very attractive due to ornithofauna as a consequence of the a number of scenic valleys (Martin Brod, great habitat diversity, 15 freshwater Kulen Vakuf, Klisa, Lohovo) and deep fish species including local endemics, sections with steep sides and 12 amphibian species, 15 reptile species cliffs. The Unac River, the main tributary and 70 mammal species. to the Una River, is hydrogeomorpho- logically unique, since it submerges The area is sparsely populated, with several times along its course, and poorly accessible subareas of preserved ultimately springs from the Black Spring wilderness, where all of Europe’s top upstream of Martin Brod. predators are found. Furthermore, the area is one of significant biodiversity, There is important diversity of the in terms of the total number of species, watercourse, from a karst spring, faster number of endangered species and the and slower sections of the river stream number of endemic and relict species. and flooded meadows, and terrestrial diversity of the habitats in a landscape For both Plitvice Lakes National Park of cliffs, virgin forests, anthropogenic and Una National Park, water is the grasslands meadows and/or pastures. central element. Even though water The area is the meeting place of three surfaces make up only 0.74% of the ter- different climatic zones: Mediterra- ritory of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, nean, continental and alpine, which water represents its most important results in relatively high humidity. All value. It is present in each and every these features, i.e. karst, geomorpho- postcard of the Plitvice Lakes National logic characteristics, geological history, Park and in its name. The same is true mosaic of habitats, and the biogeo- for Una National Park. The park was graphic position makes this a zone of an named after the river that flows through exceptional diversity of flora and fauna it. This makes the river its central ele- with many endemic species. Many of ment and the focus of protection.

Una National Park, Bosnia and Herzegovina © IUCN / Boris Erg 28 Protected areas in the Natural Parks Federation and the includes the preparation of the transboundary area European Parks of Nature. “Strategy for development of tourism in cross-border region of the upper course Plitvice Lakes National Park on the Una National Park of the Una River”. It could also include Croatian side and Una National Park on other sectors beside tourism. The the Bosnia and Herzegovina side are not Una National Park was recently momentum and established structures the only officially designated protected established, and has been officially from the earlier successful joint EU zones within the cross-border area. in existence since 29 May 2008. CARDS 2004 project “UnAvanTurizam” However, some general establishment can be built upon. Further, the project On the Croatian side there are also the procedures are yet to be finalized. Una partners have gained experience following smaller protected areas: National Park expands over 19,800 in another EU CARDS 2004 project, hectares in Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Promoting conservation of border Javornik - Tisov vrh peak (special while the physical plan for the river ecosystems and sustainable use reserve); area, currently under preparation, of resources in border area of Croatia Velika Plješivica - Drenovača (special proposes extension of the area to and Bosnia and Herzegovina“. In the reserve); a total of 34,700 hectares, which course of that project, activities led Bijeli River tributary - Kamensko is a requirement for an effective to the proposal of an Action Plan for (protected landscape); management of the area. conservation of the upper course of the Una spring (nature monument). Una River. Plitvice Lakes National Park Strategic point for Administration The park is located in two counties, with consideration - connectivity 91% of the park located in Lika-Senj and continuity of protected Plitvice Lakes National Park currently County, and 7% in Karlovac County. area network has much greater capacities in all sectors compared to Una National The Plitvice Lakes have been under There is currently no jointly elaborated Park, owing to the fact that Una protection since 1949. Therefore, and adopted planning document or National Park was only recently Plitvice Lakes National Park has over strategy for cooperation between the established. Both partners stated 60 years of experience and, in several two national parks. The cooperation their willingness to allocate staff aspects, it represents the older and between Plitvice Lakes National time, facilities and equipment more experienced “brother” in this Park and Una National Park is not for developing transboundary transboundary relationship. Today, formalised and there is no common cooperation. the total surface of the Plitvice Lakes funding or communication strategy. is over 29,685.15 hectares, after a spatial extension in 1997 to also For the elaboration of a mid-term plan include the . Plitvice of transboundary cooperation, the Lakes National Park was registered upcoming EU IPA CBC project “Una – on the UNESCO World Heritage List Spring of Life” could present a unique in 1979, and is also a member of the opportunity. The project proposal

29 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

Needs for mutual assistance in Funding and coordination operational and/or technical capacity building were identified, though A common governing structure and not specifically in relation to the regional funds for transboundary transboundary cooperation initiative. cooperation are, at the moment, neither There is not much experience in an issue nor an area of interest on either either of the two countries with the side. Because a spatial connection following issues: between the two areas is not sought after, there is no interest in the development of a carrying capacity establishment of a common governing study (visitor management); structure for the area. Therefore, funds economic evaluation of protected directed at visible, concrete outcomes areas and benefit sharing are more welcome than a permanently mechanisms (including tourism, Una River near Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina installed regional trust fund with incentives, and other economic © IUCN / Boris Erg a bureaucratic system that wastes opportunities); resources without visible benefits sustainable financial management for the general community. Further, of protected areas (including private neither in Bosnia and Herzegovina nor sector fundraising); in Croatia is there much experience transboundary protected area with this kind of a fund. Croatia’s management. interest in such a fund is at an even lower level, because they expect that The needs of Una National Park have its contribution would not meet the been defined in the EU IPA CBC project expected advantages. proposal, including the component of capacity building, in particular Furthermore, there is currently no “Strengthened human capacities in legal or contractual basis allowing the tourism services in cross-border region establishment of a common ‘governing and increased awareness of conditions body’ that would have a mutually for living and working in or near approved mandate to coordinate protected natural values”. transboundary cooperation. First and foremost, national and regional Due to the specific situation of Plitvice authorities need to provide an enabling Lakes National Park, it is expected that environment for transboundary it will provide its expertise, know-how cooperation, which would mainly include and capacity to assist Una NP in its political will and legislative support. development. The Action Plans on specific priorities within the Plitvice It could be estimated that more formal Lakes NP Management Plan, adopted and regular coordination (as ad hoc prior to the establishment of Una coordination and cooperation already NP in 2008, do not list enlargement exist)11 will be achieved once the or support to the Una region in the initiative related to the area’s protection actions planned for the period 2008– and sustainable development becomes 2017.10 However, the revision of the stronger. An additional contributing Plitvice Lakes NP Management Plan in factor to the enhancement of 2012 could present an opportunity to coordination could be seen in the fact include cooperation with Una NP. that both countries are aspiring to EU accession, and these two areas might For the time being, there are gaps become parts of the same NATURA between expectations on one side and 2000 site. There is also apparent concrete, funded and planned actions willingness to cooperate demonstrated 10. Plitvice Lakes National Park Management Plan,(2007). pp73- 76, -A29/ B1-B32 on the other. by both sides.

11. A bilateral BiH-RH committee for management of common river basins exists.

30 A common governing structure could Other projects (national, funded be established on BiH side, affiliated to by the Ministry of Culture and the the future Public Enterprise of Una NP. Government Office for Cooperation On the Croatian side, an affiliation of the with NGOs (for Croatia), and regional and local authorities could be international, such as GEF, UN established, and include the counties, bodies, World Bank, etc.); regional development agencies, local Private donations and sponsorships. municipalities and county protected The state budgets of Croatia and area management institutes. It is, Bosnia and Herzegovina contain however, difficult to find support for this budget items for monitoring and co- initiative, since there is no existing trust financing EU projects. Co-financing fund of this kind in Croatia. of non-EU projects is also supported by the State Budget. Budgets of The current economic crisis and regional authorities (counties) and budgetary restraints will slow local authorities (municipalities and the dynamics of cooperation towns) in Croatia also contain line development. However, the items for monitoring and co-financing protection and sustainable EU projects. Co-financing of non-EU development based on the unique projects is also supported by regional natural value and attractiveness of the and local budgets, and the budgets Una area is perceived to be a major of the management authority of a opportunity for development, both in particular protected area. this rural area and the broader region. It can, therefore, count on long-term The private sector in Croatia would support and commitment from all potentially be interested in co- levels of authority. financing transboundary cooperation, as most of the private businesses Different funding sources could be in the Plitvice Lakes National Park available for supporting common region rely on the park for their activities to be undertaken in the activities (tourism: travel agencies, course of the planned transboundary accommodation, restaurants, etc.) and cooperation. Some of these are: would benefit from transboundary cooperation. Private businesses in EU IPA, with the following Bosnia and Herzegovina would also components: be willing to follow the common •• Transition Assistance and initiative, especially if some sources Institution Building, of financing were made available •• Cross-Border Cooperation (with EU (e.g. grants for pilot projects and/ Member States and other countries or loans with lower interest rates), as eligible for IPA), envisaged by the Act on Una NP12. •• Regional Development (transport, Plitvice Lakes National Park could environment and economic allocate funds for transboundary development), cooperation as long as activities are •• Human Resources Development planned in advance in accordance (strengthening human capital and with the annual budget. combating exclusion), •• Rural Development; EU Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund; State Budget (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry 12. Article 11: support for activities in line with Una NP objectives and Water Management in Croatia); including organic agriculture; traditional craftsmanship; Environmental Protection and ecological, nature-based and biodiversity friendly rural tourism; Energy Efficiency Fund (Croatia); revitalization of cultivated rural landscapes. 31 ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE Western Balkans Environment & Development in the Dinaric Arc Cooperation Programme

The willingness of regional (counties Other cultural and social events include in Croatia; cantons in BiH) and local sport events and competitions (fishing, (municipalities and towns of both cycling, rafting, etc.), celebrations of countries) authorities to co-finance important dates, volunteer camps, common activities related to protection workshops which are part of existing and sustainable development within projects currently taking place in the the area was already demonstrated area, special events dedicated to nature with their joint applications for EU and/or environmental protection (e.g. pre-accession funds and two EU UN Biodiversity Day on 22 May; Una CARDS 2004 projects which have River Day on 17 May, etc.). already been successfully implemented (“UnAvanTurizam” and “Promoting There are possibilities for the conservation of border river ecosystems establishment of a common visitor and sustainable use of resources in information centre or facility in the border area of Croatia and Bosnia and future. Herzegovina”). The EU IPA CBC project proposal “Una – Spring of Life” was The projects carried out to date and the submitted for approval in October 2009. planned future projects all contribute to There are also ongoing discussions facilitating active communication and regarding other joint project proposals, information exchange through their all of which present a diverse set of activities (visibility events, workshops, examples of common transboundary volunteer camps, etc.). fundraising initiatives in the region. A problem that remains to be solved Communication is the lack of official border crossings in the area surrounding Una National The above mentioned projects are the Park. Their establishment has been best demonstration that direct personal emphasized by partners from both sides contacts have been established between of the border as the highest priority for the partners on each side of the state further regional development. border. There is communication at the State level and also an exchange at To conclude, there is two-way the local level between Plitvice Lakes communication between the areas, National Park and the Una-Sana Canton though at the moment there is and the Municipality of Bihać. The fact no intention to coordinate a joint that the cooperating partners completely communication strategy. understand each other’s language and the local dialect is understood on both Legal foundations sides of the state border greatly facilitates cooperation. Scientific and technical In Croatia, the management authority terminologies used in the two countries of Plitvice Lakes National Park would are similar and compatible, apart from be the main driving force for the some minor differences. establishment of transboundary cooperation. Depending on the category There are several regional cultural of protection, official recognition would and social events that bring together be granted by the Ministry of Culture or stakeholders from different parts regional authorities (counties), which of the region and could be used are both responsible for the nature to communicate and promote protection system in Croatia. transboundary cooperation: The decision-makers in Bosnia and EKOBIS Fair in Bihać; Herzegovina are the Government Days in Otočac; and the Parliament of the Federation Autumn in Lika in Gospić; of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Una Regatta on the Una River 32 Ministry of Environment and Tourism Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia and the Public Enterprise of Una NP, as © Željka Rajković well as other interested stakeholders, especially at the local level.

In Croatia’s Nature Protection Act (Official Gazette 70/05, 139/08), Articles 21–25 define the procedure for the designation of a protected area in Croatia. A decree issued by the FBiH Parliament would be sufficient to designate a protected area in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In accordance with Art. 11. of the Nature Protection Act (Official Gazette 70/05, 139/08), protected area administration is responsible for land management issues in Croatia. In fact, the only management authority in the Plitvice Lakes National Park is the Public Institution of Plitvice Lakes National Park, since all economic use of natural resources in national parks is prohibited.

Cooperation between the two protected areas exists, though it only represents ad hoc cooperation without a jointly formalized strategy. Therefore, there is currently no governing structure or any form of joint management for a transboundary protected area.

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Plans for extension of protected area other river bank into the protected networks in both neighbouring countries area system. These areas would be managed as a regional park. In Croatia, the Lika-Senj County Physical Plan proposes the In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is an proclamation of two nature parks in ongoing initiative within the process the vicinity of Plitvice Lakes National of preparation of the physical plan for Park: Lička Plješivica mountain and the area to extend the area currently the Una River. Also, Zadar County under protection to include the parts plans to proclaim the area around of the Unac River basin north of Drvar the upper course of the Una River, upstream to the spring of the Bastašica located right across the border from tributary. The total area would cover Una National Park as protected. This 34,770 ha. would resolve the need to include the

Fig.1.7 Macro zones within Una National Park (Elektroprojekt, 2005)

34 Transboundary cooperation—priorities, challenges and opportunities

Priorities for conservation in the coming no closer than 3 kilometres transboundary area to the border. The Una River actually represents the border and divides the The establishment of a transboundary area into the riverbank on the Bosnia protected area through a spatial and Herzegovina side, mainly forming connection of existing protected areas the Una NP, and the riverbank on the is currently a very idealistic idea. The Croatian side. In BiH, most of this area transboundary cooperation of the is forested (ca. 65%), while agricultural two countries is expressed more as land (ca. 30%) is mostly in the form of an interest at the political level and pastures and meadows. The rest includes cooperation in individual initiatives, construction land (0.9%), roads (0.2%), rather than a direct spatial connection water courses (0.9%), and rocky surfaces (see the analysis below). (3.1%). The area is virtually unpopulated, and the arable land in the vicinity of For this reason, the necessary the river course is almost completely preconditions of forming a spatial unit privately owned, while the forested area for protection are only discussed in part and riparian areas (15 m from the water in this study. stream and all areas that have been flooded for the last 100 years, with 10 m Habitats and ecosystems wide buffer zone) is mainly state owned. benefiting from a As stated above, the spatial connection transboundary protected area of the two parks is currently wishful thinking. Nevertheless, it is useful This section addresses the issues of to have an overview of the shared a direct spatial connection between ecosystems and habitats divided by the the two parks, which would include border, which would greatly benefit a large area where four smaller areas from the establishment of such a spatial are currently under protection on the connection. Croatian side [Javornik-Tisov vrh (special reserve), Velika Plješivica-Drenovača It is important to note that data about (special reserve), Bijeli Stream- the area are scarce (apart from Una Kamensko (protected landscape), Una NP, Plitvice Lakes NP and the special Spring (nature monument)]. Otherwise, reserves Javornik-Tisov vrh and Velika the area is under no special protection Plješivica-Drenovača in Croatia). At the status as the two national parks are not moment, proper inventory in the area is adjoining. lacking. Moreover, there is no political interest to conduct such an inventory As described earlier, the area is defined at this time, as a spatial connection of partly by the Una River and partly by the two protected areas has not been Lička Plješivica Mountain, dividing incorporated into the agenda of either of it up in the above mentioned three the national parks. parts. Plitvice Lakes National Park, on the slopes of Lička Plješivica Mountain, Lička Plješivica Mountain was planned is situated near the state border with for protection as a nature park in the Bosnia and Herzegovina, but does National Physical Planning Strategy of not directly touch upon the border, Croatia from 1999. However, following

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the extension of Plitvice Lakes NP in •• Ozeblin s Vukasovicom, Prkosom, 1997, the project has not been further Rudim liscem: habitats – alpine and elaborated. subalpine swards on calcareous substrates; A smaller project is in the pipeline, as •• Korana River: species – White-finned stated in the chapter above, to enlarge Gudgeon (Gobio albipinnatus), Una National Park on the Croatian side Bullhead (Cottus gobio), (see Fig.1.7) which would include just a roach (Rutilus pigus), Large part of the Croatian Una riverbank. The spot barbel (Barbus balcanicus), area is currently part of the National European crayfish (Astacus astacus9; Ecological Network and prospective habitat types – watercourses with EU NATURA 2000 network in Croatia. If vegetation dominated by Crowfoot the plans to declare it a regional park (Ranunculion fluitantis) and are realized, further zoning with stricter Callitricho-Batrachion, tufa-forming zones will be established. Still, it will not riverine associations; achieve the status of a national park, but •• Borovac: Scots pine forest with will instead be managed at the county hellebore on dolomite; level. Quoting our consultant from Lapačko Polje: species – Corn the region, to put the other riverbank crake (Crex crex), Meadow squill under protection is “a necessity for (Chouardia litardierei), Marsh fritillary effective protection and sustainable (Euphydryas aurinia); habitats – development of the area, as all fauna boreal alluvial meadows, alkaline species inhabiting the Una River depend fens, Molinia meadows (Molinion on the quality of the river as a natural caeruleae); habitat; this can be secured only by Mihaljevac pine forest – threatened coordinated action from its both river fungi of forest habitats; banks.” various caves: •• Barićeva Cave: species – Niphargus In Croatia, the following areas of the croaticus, Common Bentwing bat Croatian Ecological Network are close to (Miniopterus schreibersi), Long- the border or at the border: fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii), Mediterranean horseshoe bat Lička Plješivica Mountain: valuable (Rhinolophus euryale), Lesser with flora and fauna species, such as mouse-eared Myotis (Myotis blythii, Brown bear (Ursus arctos), Eurasian Troglocaris anophthalmus, Marifugia lynx (Lynx lynx) and Gray wolf (Canis cavatica), Greater horseshoe bat lupus) and habitats such as Dinaric (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), beech - fir forest, endangered at the Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis European and national level. myotis), A series of areas overlap with Lička •• Kukuruzovićeva Cave: species – Plješivica mountain, such as: Niphargus croaticus, Troglocaris •• Plješivica-Javornih-Tisov vrh: Dinaric anophthalmus, Marifugia cavatica, , Croatia beech-fir forest (special reserve); •• Upper Kukićeva Cave, Lower © IUCN / Boris Erg •• Gola Plješivica: species – high Baraćeva Cave and Dumenčića mountain flora; habitats – alpine Cave: endemic taxa, karst caves and and subalpine swards on calcareous ; substrates, ruderal vegetation of further south in the Una canyon – Sesleria tenuifolia and acuta; Kanjonska dolina and calcareous •• Velika Plješivica – Drenovača: rocky slopes with chasmophytic Dinaric beech-fir forest (special vegetation. reserve); No transboundary wildlife migration •• Mala Plješivica: high mountain flora; corridors in the border area have been •• Manita draga; researched yet. Bordering areas sharing •• Kozja draga; the same habitats and ecosystems

36 would greatly benefit if they are to be (European Commission, 2005); Action There are no official legal provisions protected on both sides of the border, Plan for protection of the upper course for data exchange between the as this would reduce the risk of habitat of the Una River (Zelena Akcija, 2009). partners on each side of the state loss. Transboundary cooperation would border, though generally speaking, no allow coordinated ecosystem-based In Croatia, Plitvice Lakes NP has a GIS information relevant to transboundary management for plant and animal database for nature protection, though cooperation between the two parks is species where populations occur on work remains to be done to enter all of restricted use. both sides of the state border and for the available data into this database. migratory wildlife species that cross At the state level, there are different It would be very useful to develop a set state border, especially large carnivores databases: Natura 2000, Protected of harmonised databases for the entire and their prey, such as brown bear Area Management System in the potential transboundary area, and an Ursus arctos, wolf Canis lupus, European Republic of Croatia, Habitat Map, Map official accord for free data exchange lynx Lynx lynx, red deer Cervus elaphus, of Wetland Habitat of the Republic of between the two institutions. roe deer Capreolus capreolus, and wild Croatia, Emerald Network, Red List of boar Sus scrofa. The same applies for Plants and Animals of the Republic birds of prey. of Croatia 13. These databases are continuously being updated. Coordinated protection and restoration of natural linkages across the border The GIS database of the National Park (ecological corridors) would allow Plitvice Lakes was developed by the wildlife species to migrate across Ministry of Culture as part of the Nature the state border, thus providing an Protection Information System. The extended habitat range, in particular for central database is located at the State large mammals. Institute for Nature Protection and the methodologies for data collection and To sum up the situation, a spatial management were developed as part connection with Croatia (other of the KEC project14 (2002–2007), which riverbank on the Croatian side) is Plitvice Lakes National Park was part of. essential for the effective protection of Due to the wartime destruction, part of the river habitat in Una National Park. the data was lost. Since 1996, long-term In the case of Plitvice Lakes National data and recent research results at the Park, in spite of its already large surface national park have been collected. (in 1997, the park was further enlarged With the assistance of institutions and to include the entire catchment area), scientists working within the park, a wide range of habitats would greatly a substantial amount of data was benefit if protection is maintained collected. The publication “Contribution on both sides of the border and to the Bibliography of Plitvice Lakes protection measures and scientific National Park 1988–2000” was released research are jointly undertaken. The in 2001. greatest advantages would be for the large mammals and migratory Further, monitoring of the biochemical wildlife species that cross the state quality of river water is conducted, both border regularly. In order to achieve in Croatia (at Suvaja) and Federation this, ecological corridors must be more BiH (at four monitoring points from precisely analysed. the entrance of Una into the FBiH territory to Bihać; upstream of Martin Common database Brod; Martin Brod downstream of the confluence of the Unac into Una; Kulen As stated above, no common or Vakuf, Ripač). This monitoring serves to updated databases or maps of habitats prevent water polluted with untreated 13. State Institute for Nature Protection Databases and web maps, 2011, < http://www.dzzp.hr/eng/nature-protection-information- and species distribution of the whole municipal wastewater to be used for system/databases-and-web-maps-170.html>, accessed 3 March transboundary region are currently recreation purposes such as swimming, 2011. available (information can be found in rafting, and fishing. 14. KEC Karst Ecosystems Conservation, 2003, , Feasibility study for Una NP (in FBiH) accessed 16 November 2009.

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Stakeholders and existing Examples of past and current common relevant projects transboundary initiatives undertaken The first cross-border project was the Existing and future cooperation EU Framework Programme 5 “Study between the two regions is outlined of Anthropogenic Pollution after the below. War and Establishing of Measures for Protection of Plitvice Lakes National In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the most Park and Bihać Region at the Border interested stakeholders at local and Area of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina” cantonal level are: (European Commission 2005). The project lasted from 2003 to 2005. Municipality of Bihać; Partners of the project were: Una-Sana Canton Tourist Board; NGOs with long history of Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, involvement in issues of protection – Project Coordinator; and sustainable use of the Una Institute für Geowissentschaftliche and its surrounding area (eg. Unski Gemeinschaftsaufgaben, Hannover, smaragdi, EKUS, others, including Germany; various sport fishing associations); Ruđer Bošković Institute, , small and medium enterprises Croatia; active in tourism sector; farmer Geological Institute, Zagreb, Croatia; associations; authorities within Geological Institute of Bosnia and individual settlements (e.g. Kulen Herzegovina, , BiH; Vakuf self-government bodies have Biotechnical Faculty of the demonstrated respectable activity in University of Bihać, Bihać, BiH. the past). The main objective of the project was In Croatia, the key partners for the assessment of anthropogenic transboundary cooperation are: pollution after the war events and its consequences to the karst ecosystem in management authorities of the the border zone between Croatia and protected area, i.e. Public Institution Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project of Plitvice Lakes National Park, and promoted scientific and technical regional authorities; cooperation between these countries Ministry of Culture; and European Union Member States. State Institute for Nature Protection; Project activities were focused on the Lika-Senj County (and other hydrogeologically connected areas of counties, such as Zadar County, etc.); Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) and local authorities – municipalities and the Una River system in the Bihać region towns (local self-government); (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The project tourist boards (regional and local); targeted end users: local authorities, Chamber of Commerce (county enterprises, national parks and non- level); governmental organizations in the NGOs, sport clubs, associations, etc.; area. The Final Report of the project is SMEs, such as tourist agencies, available online for download15. local craftsmen, accommodation providers (B&B), restaurants, etc.; The following two projects dealt with local schools. cross-border cooperation and the Una River, but not with Plitvice Lakes National Park. 15. Project ICA2-CT-2002-10009, 2009, , accessed on 30 October 2009, 9 February 2010

38 “UnAvanTurizam“ project16 lasted from the conservation of the upper course of June 2007 to June 2009, with funding the Una River was developed. This was in the amount of EUR 135,822 (80% EU a two-year project aimed at increasing CARDS, 20% the Municipality of Gračac). awareness, knowledge and cross- Partners of the project were: border cooperation in environmental protection. Conservation of river Municipality of Gračac, Croatia - ecosystem biodiversity was taken as the Project Coordinator; core for sustainable development and City of Bihać, BiH; sustainable use of natural resources. Una-Sana Canton Tourist Board, BiH; A series of workshops were organized Una Fishing Society, BiH; on different bordering rivers and the UNA NGO, Srb, Croatia; workshop organized on the Una River Pastrva sport fishing society, Gračac, hosted more than 20 participants from Croatia. the Public Institution for Management of Protected Areas in Sisak-Moslavina The overall objective of the project was County, regional municipalities, Sisak- to support sustainable development Moslavina County, Croatian Waters, of the area lining the Una River development agencies, Faculty of through transboundary cooperation Science of the University of Zagreb, of tourism-oriented organisations municipal services, Croatian Forests, from Croatia and BiH. The specific local population and NGOs from both objective was to develop recreational Croatia and BiH. Participants worked tourism (ecotourism) in the bordering on a vision for the Una River basin area of the Municipality of Gračac, and discussed existing problems and Croatia. Activities of the project were: possible solutions. establishing partner cooperation and the development of small tourism The IPA proposal “Una – Spring of Life” infrastructure, education of locals in was submitted to the EU in October offering tourism services, education 2009. This is a joint application by Zadar of project partners, and cooperation County, Croatia and the Municipality of on the development of a joint tourist Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the IPA offer. An example of an activity within Cross-Border Programme Croatia-Bosnia the project UnAvanTurizam in 2008 was and Herzegovina 2007–2013. Other the organization of a volunteer camp project partners are: in the Una River Valley with the local UNA NGO from Srb, Croatia. The main Municipality of Gračac; goal was to raise the environmental Public Institution for Management awareness of the local population and of Protected Areas in Zadar County; to reinforce networking through the Zadar County Development Agency promotion of sustainable development – ZADRA; and environmental protection. Zadar County Tourist Board; Volunteers repaired and built walking Una Association from Croatia; paths, signs, and installed wooden PLOD - Centre for Promotion of Local benches and tables. Development Bihać; Una-Sana Tourist Board from BiH. The EU CARDS 2004 project “Promoting conservation of border river ecosystems The overall objective of the project and sustainable use of resources in proposal is to contribute to the border area of Croatia and Bosnia creation of a common economic space and Herzegovina” (2007–2009) in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was coordinated by Green Action through the development of joint environmental NGO (Zelena Akcija, tourist offers. A specific objective is to

2009) from Croatia. As part of the jointly develop and promote the Una 16. Una-Avanturizam project, , accessed on 16 November 2009

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and the old town of Ostrovica in cooperation and implementation of the Martin Brod in BiH as parts of the common development vision, was the same environmentally-integrated joint main criterion to describe them as key tourist product. This is to be achieved stakeholders. through cross-border collaboration and pooling of experience between all A signed Memorandum of stakeholders in the cross-border region Understanding for transboundary of the upper course of the Una River. cooperation exists in the field of commerce. There are official agreements Informal relationships between the on transboundary cooperation between involved local actors are good and have the chambers of commerce of the two existed for many years. There have been countries. Memoranda of Understanding various discussions on transboundary have been signed between the Una- cooperation, which has resulted in Sana Canton Chamber of Commerce joint projects. There are smaller direct in BiH and Chambers of Commerce of initiatives, such as creating a broader Karlovac (1998), Lika-Senj (1999), Zadar tourism offer in the Plitvice Lakes area by (1999) and Sisak-Moslavina (2001) also advertising the Una area and Bihać Counties in Croatia. The Memoranda on as interesting nearby destinations. Environmental Protection between Una- Sana Canton Chamber of Commerce Still, there is great potential for in BiH and the Chambers of Commerce enhancing this cooperation. There are of Karlovac (1998), Lika-Senj (1999), ongoing discussions between the local and Sisak-Moslavina (2001) Counties in partners on joint project applications. Croatia were signed at the same time.

Not all key stakeholders from Croatia There is also an approved Global have been involved in preparation Environment Facility project concerning of the transboundary cooperation, the protection of forested mountainous though they should be involved in areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the future. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a total budget of USD 3.4 million, of however, stakeholder involvement which 1.7 million was allocated to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia so far, including their interest for Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A © IUCN / Tomasz Pezold part of the allocation to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was allocated to Una National Park for preparation of a management plan and development of basic infrastructure.

There are many regional social events that gather stakeholders from different parts of the region, such as the EKOBIS fair in Bihać in BiH, organized by the Una- Sana Canton Chamber of Commerce, with the participation of the Lika- Senj County Chamber of Commerce. This presents a good opportunity for elaboration and/or promotion of the common vision for the area.

Another event is Gacka Days in Otočac, Croatia. This event is organised by the Lika-Senj County Chamber of Commerce in Croatia, with the participation of the Una-Sana Canton in BiH. In 2009, for

40 example, a fishing competition, cycling adjusted to the real local needs or competition and scientific and expert interests. meeting on native species of karst were organized. Projects and action orientated transboundary partnership concerning Una-Sana Canton also participates environment issues exist and are in the event Autumn in Lika, held in actively sought out by local partners. Gospić, Croatia, which is an exhibition This constitutes a sound base with of agriculture, food and decorative experience in project preparation products. and implementation that further transboundary initiatives can built on. The Una Regatta is a traditional international tourism, sport and cultural Opportunities and challenges event that is a central event of tourist promotion of the potential of the Una for transboundary cooperation River. The regatta lasts four days, with in the transboundary area many other cultural and sporting events organized besides rafting. Opportunities

Exceptional though informal cooperation Plitvice Lakes National Park has and communication has been established successfully re-established its tourist between Plitvice Lakes NP and the offers and the ever increasing number of Municipality of Bihać. The tourist boards visitors brings economic development of Una-Sana Canton and the Municipality to local communities. of Bihać have set up an information desk at Entrance 1 to Plitvice Lakes National The two areas on both sides of the Una Park. For example, a trip to the Bihać area River are in a difficult socioeconomic is offered as an excursion in the camp on situation. They believe that Plitvice the Korana River, next to Plitvice Lakes NP. Lakes NP is a great success story and This is of mutual interest, as it expands that development of the tourism the tourist offer for Plitvice Lakes, sector, based primarily on the natural while also serving as a great marketing attraction of the Una River and the opportunity for Bihać which is only 40 km adjacent area, is a vision for the future. from Plitvice Lakes NP, which sees up to 1 Their cooperation is based on the million visitors per year. intention of common development of sustainable tourism and visitor All these transboundary projects are management for the entire area. primarily foreign funded. This is also cited in the country report of the The environment in the region is still CBD (2009) “Bosnia and Herzegovina of relatively high quality because it has has finished National Environmental not been altered in a major way. This Action Plan (NEAP) three years ago, is also a consequence of the economic which was an important contribution lag of the area and no new industry to the creation of adequate framework appearing. Apart from economic interest for the CBD implementation process. for this cooperation, there is a wide However, the implementation process range of common conservation interests itself would not be possible without that could also bring advantages, significant financial support provided by such as the transfer of expertise and foreign agencies, such as UNDP/UNEP/ know-how and experience exchange GEF/World Bank/Council of Europe and (i.e. through implementing joint many others”. This substantial foreign projects). Joint research would enhance support brings with it the difficulties that knowledge of migration corridors arise when the project is shaped by an and the condition of endangered and international agenda and not concretely endemic fauna species.

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Transboundary cooperation would case-studies and national strategies, reduce the risk of biodiversity loss. It but without any kind of joint actions would also provide for coordinated undertaken in this regard.” (CBD 2009). ecosystem-based management and better protection of plant and animal When it comes to the transboundary species on both sides of the state border, initiative, cooperating partners from especially for migratory wildlife species the two countries do not meet on a that cross the state border (such as large regular basis. Nevertheless, they do carnivores and birds of prey). meet at the regional level, both formally and informally, where they normally Coordinated protection and restoration discuss very specific issues, such as joint of natural linkages across the border preparation of project proposals or (ecological corridors) would improve preparation of social events. migration possibilities, especially for large mammals, thus providing an The national Chambers of Commerce extended habitat range. Implementing meet and coordinate their activities, common measures regarding invasive for example participation in different alien species would allow better control social and cultural events in both and, if needed, eradication of pest or countries. Such meetings are used to invasive species that threaten habitats consult, plan and evaluate common on both sides of the border. transboundary activities and activities that could influence the border areas, The prospective for both areas to though there is still room to enhance be included into the NATURA 2000 the level of cooperation. network would likely enhance a more formal and regular cooperation Individuals that are expected to between the two sides. become leaders and coordinators of the transboundary cooperation have Nowadays, most initiatives to proclaim sufficient capacities to undertake the new protected areas on the Croatian necessary initiative. A good example side originate from regional authorities is the significant effort by FBiH to (counties) and local self-government make necessary steps for formal (cities and municipalities), i.e. the Lika- establishment of Una NP. Senj Physical Plan which has proposed the proclamation of two nature parks in Plitvice Lakes National Park has Croatia in the vicinity of Plitvice Lakes sufficient operational, technical National Park. These are Lička Plješivica and communication capacities at mountain and the Una River. If these its disposal to lead and coordinate two parks are designated, they would transboundary cooperation; however, likely become regional parks (financed support from other authorities and by the regional government), and not institutions would surely benefit all. nature parks (financed by the central government). Also, Zadar County intends Language would not be an issue, as to proclaim the area around the upper partners on both sides of the border course of the Una River, located right understand the language of the across the border from the Una National neighbouring country. Park, as a regional park. Demonstrated by the signing of several A range of diverse transboundary contracts defining cooperation on activities has been developed in the common projects it could be said that region, to quote, “In some aspects, on both the BiH and Croatian sides, there is an excellent co-operation the involvement in developing the with neighbouring countries realized transboundary cooperation is supported through the exchange of experiences, and welcomed at municipality and

42 county/canton level. Also, since the as in Plitvice Lakes, as it also represents signing of the Joint Statement of the an exclusive employer in the region. Big Win for Dinaric Arc by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia Throughout history, there has always and the Ministry of Environment and been communication between the Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and two sides of the border. Good informal Herzegovina, there is a foundation to communication was established build upon. between the two sides after the end of the war in the 1990s. There are no It could be said that the stakeholders common elements in the cultural are aware of the benefits that the heritage of this region, as the border transboundary cooperation brings between Croatia and BiH has over and this has been demonstrated by a long time been the border region the past and current transboundary between the western force of the cooperation initiatives. In-depth Austria-Hungarian Empire and the analysis of each potential partner can eastern forces of the Ottoman Empire. be carried out, if needed. But this could also be seen as an advantage. In fact, it is the cultural Local municipalities have also diversity that makes the area interesting demonstrated their support through and tourism promotion in the past was their willingness to co-finance common based on this diversity. There are no activities related to protection and specific land claims for the area and the sustainable development within the area. borders are not fortified or specially They perceive it as a major development marked by elements restricting people opportunity for this rural area and for the or wildlife to cross the border. There is broader region. Therefore, it is possible no visa regime or other legal obstacles to count on long-term support and that would hinder crossing the Croatia – commitment from all levels. Bosnia and Herzegovina border.

Local private businesses also share that War events have shaped the region. belief and therefore they would also be On the BiH side, the war affected the willing to follow the common initiative. relations between ethnic groups. But today, the general intention is to Cooperation between the park and overcome these hostilities and reach out local stakeholders is good. Inhabitants for new cooperation. on the Croatian side are employed in the park, in the tourism sector or Challenges work in agriculture. In general, it could be said that the interests of the local No joint statement of cooperation communities and the park are not at the local level exists so far. The opposing. All local stakeholders benefit two entities, Plitvice Lakes National from the park and cooperation among Park and Una National Park, have not them is good. This good position yet signed an official agreement of within the community enhances its cooperation that would facilitate the leading role as a partner in or initiator implementation of the “Big Win” joint of transboundary cooperation, which statement. Such an official agreement could facilitate obtaining general may help receiving financial support for acceptance. furthering TB cooperation.

So far, Una National Park has no Regarding infrastructure, management experience in interaction with the local and visibility, Plitvice Lakes National community. Nevertheless, if the national Park is well ahead of Una National park establishment process evolves as Park. Plitvice Lakes is already a brand, envisaged, it could reach the same level whereas Una has to establish itself first

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as a national park and then as a tourist NP area and forms the border with destination. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Consequently, the national park’s spatial design is not Una National Park completely depends meant to require the conservation of on state support or foreign projects, adjacent areas across state borders. whereas Plitvice Lakes National Park has the advantage of carrying out its own The socioeconomic situation of the tourism based activities. Consequently, region is rather worrying. Economic the two parks function on totally activities of the Croatian side consist different levels. The establishment of mainly of tourism and employment a cooperation agreement with Plitvice within the park. For the Una area, there Lakes National Park would, in this sense, are great expectations on both sides of not be on an equal scale. the border. There are high expectations from the transboundary cooperation and Additionally, Plitvice Lakes NP is large protected areas authorities as job and enough and other national projects income providers that will bring benefit for extension of the protected area and direct economic improvement for the network are ongoing in its vicinity, i.e. region. These expectations could put the Lika-Senj Physical Plan proposes the sustainable part of the project at risk, as proclamation of two nature parks near sustainable rural development can only Plitvice Lakes, Lička Plješivica mountain be achieved when all stakeholders are and the Una River; also, Zadar County convinced to act in a sustainable way. That intends to proclaim the area around is why local involvement becomes crucial; the upper course of the Una River as a however, this requires time and patience. regional park. Joint transboundary projects have been At the moment, there are no common funded mainly from abroad. Substantial nature inventories or databases. No financial support is needed not only common databases and maps of on the BiH side, as the region itself habitats and species distribution are cannot generate all necessary funds. available for the entire transboundary Although the financial capacity of the region. Knowledge is deficient on both area allows for project co-financing, sides of the Una River (information can further financial implementation be found in Feasibility study for Una would exceed the local capacity. NP (in FBiH), European Commission, Furthermore, in Croatia, managing 2005; Action Plan for protection of the externally funded projects, especially upper course of the Una River, Zelena the EU funded ones, has largely been Akcija, 2009). Regarding scientific data, perceived as very demanding with the difference between the two areas is regard to administration and finance also evident. Apart from scientific data, management. there is an obvious difference in issuing promotional and information materials The most serious challenge of the (guides, leaflets, internet site, maps, region is its demographic situation. etc.). Officially, there are still no legal The emigration from rural areas leads provisions for data exchange between to a significant lack of local capacities partners on each side of the state border. and regional offers. Transboundary cooperation can create opportunities, The spatial design of Plitvice Lakes though it may take time to sufficiently NP integrated the whole catchment raise the profile of the area, even more area during its last extension in 1997. so if development is to be achieved in a Transboundary cooperation was put sustainable way. on the agenda only in 2008. Moreover, as described above, Lička Plješivica Another important influence on mountain separates the Plitvice Lakes transboundary cooperation is the

44 different political situation in both It will be important to underline that countries and their law enforcement. development and tourism management The future goal of both countries is should be handled in a sustainable way. accession to the EU. However, achieving this goal in the near future is only The issue of wastewater management feasible in case of Croatia. BiH accession should be resolved on both sides of the to the EU is a long-term process. In border. Water is an important key factor this sense, the institutional situation for the entire area, and to keep it as in BiH will remain complex. Law clean as possible should be one of the enforcement and achieving the goals foremost priorities. of international conventions will also remain difficult. This is affected by the The involvement of the local population lack of a responsible institution, such is crucial for the transboundary initiative. as a Ministry of Environment, at the This implies taking into consideration national level. the socioeconomic situation of the region including unemployment Apart from Plitvice Lakes NP, the issue of (estimated at 65% in the BiH part of the wastewater management has not been area), depopulation and abandonment regulated. The planned hydropower of traditional agriculture. Further, it is plant on the Unac River, a tributary of important to invest in the establishment the Una, is still an unresolved issue. of informal contacts among the people This project could currently represent on both sides of the border and to the only serious obstacle to sustainable improve understanding on sensitive war development of the region. issues.

Recommendations What is critically needed in the Una region are concrete actions with tangible A more detailed agreement at the results that can help to make the vision local level is needed for transboundary of cross-border cooperation a reality. In cooperation between Plitvice Lakes NP this sense, the sharing of know-how and and Una NP, including a perspective experience, cooperation between two for a “governing body coordinating tourism destinations, Plitvice Lakes NP transboundary cooperation” based on and Una National Park, would provide equal terms between the two national numerous advantages. Development parks. Generally, it would be important based on conservation and revitalization to take into consideration the unique of the natural and cultural heritage of position of the two partners, and to the area is the best conceivable scenario, support Una NP in its negotiations with not only for biodiversity but also for the Plitvice Lakes NP. local population.

Establishment and subsequent capacity In summary, it can be said that there building of a management authority is already an established practice of of Una National Park is of the utmost informal cross-border cooperation importance. between institutions on both sides. Partners are ready for common projects A common database and free data and sufficiently experienced. The interest exchange between the cooperating is a bit less accentuated in the Plitvice partners would be valuable in the future Lakes area. There is still room to enhance in order to reach common decisions the level of cooperation and a need to on priorities for cooperation on involve all stakeholders. No intention of conservation issues. Joint projects could a direct spatial connection between the be developed based on these data and two national parks has been expressed. coordinated protection across the state Cooperation is usually mentioned in border would become easier. the context of tourism development

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