Plitvice Lakes National Park—a UNESCO natural heritage site—has successfully concluded its participation in the CAMPUS project (Interreg IT-HR 2021–2027) this year, serving as an associated partner. Through this engaging and valuable initiative, we established collaboration with project partners from Croatia (the Development Agency of Lika-Senj County, the Development Agency of Split-Dalmatia County, the City of Trogir, and Stari Grad on the island of Hvar) and Italy (the City of Ferrara, the University of Venice, the City of Monte Sant’Angelo, and the Po Delta Biosphere Reserve), connecting through the shared themes of natural and cultural heritage.
The CAMPUS project had a specific objective: to develop a Climate change adaptation plan for a UNESCO site. By integrating expert analyses, participatory stakeholder engagement, and GIS-based assessment of climate risks, a document was created that serves as a supplement to the Management Plan. The expert analyses identified the spatial concentration of risks, while stakeholder workshops determined which measures are considered the most important, feasible, and relevant for the actual management of the Park. It is precisely this integration that forms the foundation of this plan.
Analyses have shown that the areas most vulnerable to climate change spatially overlap with the most valuable and most visited parts of the Park. The central lake system, tufa barriers, and pedestrian infrastructure within the lake zone are the highest priorities for adaptation. At the same time, forest and slope zones play a crucial role in protecting the watershed, preventing erosion, reducing fire risk, and preserving biodiversity. Key courses of action include fire prevention and early detection, adapting trails and bridges to hydrological risks, monitoring tufa, water, fauna, and forests, conserving habitats, and integrating climate risks into the regular management of the Park.
Another significant document that emerged from the CAMPUS project refers to the Feasibility Study for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
The purpose of this study is to assess which greenhouse gas emission reduction measures are feasible within the management system of Plitvice Lakes National Park, and how these measures can be integrated with existing management documents, climate change adaptation efforts, and the protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of this UNESCO site. The study does not view the Park solely as a natural area, but rather as a complex operational system encompassing nature conservation, visitor reception and transport, hospitality services, accommodation, retail, technical maintenance, facility management, utility infrastructure, spatial monitoring, education, and day-to-day logistics.
If you are also interested in other climate change adaptation plans for UNESCO sites, please visit the project website at https://www.italy-croatia.eu/web/campus.