EN
HR
The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development is working intensively on activities to protect Ivanščica, Strahinjčica, Maceljska gora and Ravna gora in the category of nature parks. This is an idea that was launched in 2009 and revived in 2021.
During January, the principal scope of the future park, covering an area of over 31.000 haConsultations were held with representatives of 14 cities and municipalities whose areas are included in the proposed border.
The goal was to introduce them to the nature park category and the effects it will have on the population of the area, but also to gather their opinions.
Numerous advantages of establishing a park
A nature park is a vast natural or partially cultivated area of land and/or sea with great biodiversity and/or geodiversity, with valuable ecological features, pronounced landscape and cultural-historical values, and has a scientific, cultural, educational and recreational purpose.
It is a suitable form of protection for larger valuable areas such as Hrvatsko Zagorje because it simultaneously enables the protection of natural values, but also the use of natural resources. By declaring a nature park, it is expected that natural and landscape values, in synergy with the rich cultural and historical heritage, will become basis of development this part of Croatian Zagorje.
It is an opportunity for recognition and additional promotion of the area at the national and international level, development of sustainable tourism, recreational facilities in nature, overall development of the area, and greater and easier availability of EU funds for financing projects to preserve natural and cultural values.
Examples of the withdrawal of EU funds in the improvement of visitor infrastructure in the area of nature parks include the Sky Walk (Biokovo Nature Park), the Voćin Geoinfo Center (Papuk Nature Park), the Poklon Visitor Center (Učka Nature Park), the Cerovačke Caves (Velebit Nature Park), etc.
/ / / Papuk steps into another top year
People staying and better quality of life
The nature park will certainly contribute to preserving the quality of life and health of the people of the area by preserving rural households and mitigating the trend of depopulation.
The above statement is supported by the statement Josip Beljak, the mayor of the Municipality of Stubičke Toplice, whose municipality is located within the Medvednica Nature Park.
"I am pleased to point out that 80 percent of the area of the Stubičke Toplice municipality is covered by the Nature Park. The conditions prescribed by the Nature Park are in themselves somewhat 'stricter' than usual, but they are precisely the guarantee of rational use of space with as little environmental destruction as possible.", believes Bellak.
Such planned activity by all stakeholders in the process contributes to natural balance, sustainable development, preservation of natural resources and biodiversity.
"Preserved nature is one of the most important reasons for young people to move to our municipality, and at the same time an opportunity for everyone to take advantage of these conditions, whether in terms of producing local food or engaging in tourism. Cooperation with the Medvednica Nature Park has been excellent so far and I believe it will continue to be so.", he adds.
/ / / Growing awareness of the importance of nature conservation is leading to the growth of agritourism
Cooperation and connection of local producers
The nature park is managed by a public institution established by the Republic of Croatia by government decree. The public institution will be an intermediary in the development of the area in terms of providing support to the local population in communication with institutions responsible for agriculture and other branches of the economy.
It will also be a partner in ensuring the certification, promotion and placement of local products, as well as the restoration of cultural and historical heritage, while simultaneously working to promote the park area as a destination for visiting and sustainable tourism.
An example of quality cooperation with the local population can be found in the Papuk Nature Park, where around forty local producers and service providers use the '100% Papuk' logo with the slogan 'From the mountain that remembers the sea'.
The logo is a sign of trust, quality, geographical origin, sustainable and environmentally friendly management, nature protection and tradition with which the user of the logo and slogan, who has acquired the right to use them, provides the products and services marked with them on the market.
The goal is to achieve mutual Cooperation and connecting local producers from the Park area, enable them to better market their products and services, improve promotion and thus help them create conditions for the expansion of production and markets.
/ / / Short food supply chains make communities closer and economies healthier
Development of tourism
The establishment of a public institution also brings new jobs. Initially, it will be a small number of employees, but over time it will grow and there is also the possibility of seasonal employment.
Experiences in other protected areas in the Republic of Croatia have confirmed that in the first years after the establishment of protection, tourism development and an increase in the number of domestic and foreign visitors increased. It is therefore expected that Hrvatsko Zagorje will also benefit from the effects that tourism will bring, and it will also have an impact on the entire economic situation areas.
In the nature park, economic and other activities (including manufacturing and industrial activities) and interventions that do not have a significant negative impact on the important characteristics and role of the park can take place - therefore, no significant restrictions are foreseen.
The presence of humans is a basic prerequisite for conservation of space the park, and any unfounded halt to activities that could result in the population moving away would be extremely unfavorable from the point of view of nature protection, it announced. Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
Photo: Jasenka Haleuš
