Effectiveness of Protected Area Management in Croatia Results of the First Evaluation of Protected Area Management in Croatia Using the RAPPAM Methodology (public institutions at the county level) Rajković, Ž. (2009), Effectiveness of Protected Area Management in Croatia: 2 Results of the First Evaluation of Protected Area Management in Croatia Using the RAPPAM Methodology (public institutions at the county level) Effectiveness of Protected Area Management in Croatia Results of the First Evaluation of Protected Area Management in Croatia Using the RAPPAM Methodology (public institutions at the county level) A project implemented in collaboration between the Republic of Croatia Ministry of Culture and the WWF Mediterranean Programme Author: Željka Rajković Rajković, Ž. (2009), Effectiveness of Protected Area Management in Croatia: 3 Results of the First Evaluation of Protected Area Management in Croatia Using the RAPPAM Methodology (public institutions at the county level) Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................................................................6 I. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT................................................................................9 I.a Biological diversity in Croatia................................................................................................................9 I.b Nature protection system in Croatia..................................................................................................10 II. APPLICATION OF THE METHODOLOGY............................................................... 14 II.a Programme of Work on Protected Areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity ............14 II.b Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) Methodology................................................................................................................................................14 II.c Application of the RAPPAM Methodology in Croatia .................................................................16 III. STATUS.......................................................................................................................... 18 III.a Protected natural assets by protection category............................................................................18 III.b Staffing levels in public institutions for protected area management at the county level......18 III.c Governing Council membership.....................................................................................................19 III.d Cities or municipalities that have established public institutions managing protected natural assets .............................................................................................................................................................19 III.e Admission fees ...................................................................................................................................20 III.f Boundaries...........................................................................................................................................20 III.g Protected area patrols and supervision...........................................................................................20 III.h Pre-emption right, compensation for restrictions, assignment of stewardship, concessions and concession approvals in public institutions managing protected natural assets at the county level (status in March 2009).......................................................................................................................21 III.i Educational facilities and visitor infrastructure..............................................................................22 III.j Documents...........................................................................................................................................22 III.j.1 Public institution by-laws..........................................................................................................22 III.j.2 Management plans......................................................................................................................23 III.j.3 Nature protection programmes and reports..........................................................................24 III.j.4 Availability of management documents..................................................................................25 IV. RESULTS AND ANALYSES .........................................................................................26 IV.A Planning..............................................................................................................................................26 IV.A.1 Objectives..................................................................................................................................26 IV.A.2 Legal security.............................................................................................................................28 IV.A.3 Site planning and design..........................................................................................................29 IV.B Inputs ..................................................................................................................................................31 IV.B.1 Staffing........................................................................................................................................31 IV.B.2 Communication and information...........................................................................................33 IV.B.3 Infrastructure.............................................................................................................................34 IV.B.4 Finances......................................................................................................................................35 IV.C Processes.............................................................................................................................................36 IV.C.1 Management planning..............................................................................................................36 IV.C.2 Management decision making ................................................................................................38 IV.C.3 Research, evaluation and monitoring ....................................................................................39 V REQUIREMENTS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL ............................................................ 41 V.1 Intersectoral co-operation..................................................................................................................41 V.2 Co-operation with the Counties........................................................................................................42 V.3 Co-operation with central government............................................................................................43 V.4 Co-operation with local communities..............................................................................................43 V.5 Capacity building .................................................................................................................................44 V.6 Equipment ............................................................................................................................................44 V.7 Ecological network..............................................................................................................................44 V.8 Financing...............................................................................................................................................45 V.9 Issues related to pre-emption right, compensation for restrictions, management right transfer, concessions and concession approvals....................................................................................45 VI. RECOMMENDATIONS ...............................................................................................47 Rajković, Ž. (2009), Effectiveness of Protected Area Management in Croatia: 4 Results of the First Evaluation of Protected Area Management in Croatia Using the RAPPAM Methodology (public institutions at the county level) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. 51 ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................52 ANNEX I: RAPPAM QUESTIONNAIRE .........................................................................................52 ANNEX II: RAPPAM WORKSHOP AGENDA...............................................................................56 ANNEX III: LIST AND CONTACT DETAILS OF WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS ............57 ANNEX IV: ACRONYMS USED.........................................................................................................59 Rajković, Ž. (2009), Effectiveness of Protected Area Management in Croatia: 5 Results of the First Evaluation of Protected Area Management in Croatia Using the RAPPAM Methodology (public institutions at the county level) List of Tables Table 1 : Protected Areas (Including Areas Under Preventive Protection) ...................................... 11 Table 2 : Public Institutions Managing Protected Natural Assets at the County Level ..................... 12 Table 3 : Assessment Elements in WWF's Rapid Assessment Questionnaire .................................. 15