Each year, the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories competition collects stories from destinations around the world in the categories of management, environment and climate, culture and tradition, thriving communities, and business and marketing. The stories should be related to or contribute to sustainable tourism, and explain the detected problem, the proposed solution, and the benefits created for the local community, the environment, and tourists. Stories about good practices in sustainable tourism inspire destinations, tourism operators and tourists to behave and develop tourism responsibly.

Plitvice Lakes National Park joined the 2025 competition with the story titled “Feel the pulse of the forest – biomonitoring of forest growth and carbon storage”. Our story was also featured on a poster displayed at the conference in the main atrium where participants gathered, which was also an excellent opportunity to promote the natural values ​​and sustainability of our protected area. A summary of the story is provided below.  

STORY SUMMARY

In the battle against climate change, forests serve as nature’s most powerful carbon sinks, with just a single hectare absorbing up to 12 tons of CO₂. Implementing biomonitoring of forest ecosystems involves setting up sustainable meteorological stations, devices for measuring tree growth, and devices for measuring water movement from roots to leaves. From November 2024 to 2028, ten biomonitoring stations will be active in the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Visitors can scan QR codes at every station to view live meteorological data, track tree growth, and carbon sequestration in real time. Several of these stations are located along visitor routes to promote sustainable tourism, while additional insights are shared through informative display panels. The Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology of the University of Zagreb processes the collected data and publishes them in annual reports, while the equipment has been supplied in partnership with ENSOLX ENERGIJA Ltd. This innovative approach to biomonitoring is adaptable to forest ecosystems around the globe, and a similar network of stations is already in place across the Czech Republic. Biomonitoring offers a powerful tool for smarter management of protected areas, a deeper understanding of climate change, and a renewed appreciation of forests as the “lungs” of our planet.

Special thanks for the realization of the story on biomonitoring of forest ecosystems go to the General Manager of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Mr. Tomislav Kovačević; Scientific Director, Dr. Kazimir Miculinić; Head of the Department for the Protection of Forest Ecological Systems, Mr. Nikola Magdić; as well as to the dedicated staff of the Department who conduct the monitoring activities. Sincere thanks also go to Associate Professor Dr. Stjepan Mikac from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, who, together with his team, designed and implemented this research.

Objava The story of Plitvice Lakes National Park included in Green Destinations Top 100 Stories of sustainable tourism pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Every year the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories competition collects good practice stories from destinations all over the world to be shared as inspiring examples to others, from tourism professionals to travelers. By telling their stories, destination management organisations are acknowledged and recognised for the solutions they have implemented in response to challenges and problems to sustainable development they have faced. With the tourism sector facing very challenging times in the past years, the resiliency and hard work of these destinations to become more responsible should be celebrated.

The 2025 selection included Plitvice Lakes National Park, with the story “Feel the pulse of the forest – biomonitoring of forest growth and carbon storage”.

In the fight against climate change, forests are the most powerful natural carbon sinks. At Plitvice Lakes National Park ten biomonitoring stations were installed in 2024 and will remain operational until 2028. These include devices for measuring tree growth, devices for measuring water movement from roots to leaves, and sustainable meteorological stations. Visitors to the Park will be able to scan QR codes from interpretive panels at several biomonitoring stations to monitor meteorological data, tree growth, and carbon sequestration in real time. The collected data is processed by the Faculty of Forestry in Zagreb and published in annual reports. This innovative approach to biomonitoring is adaptable to forest ecosystems around the world. Biomonitoring provides a powerful tool for smarter management of protected areas, a deeper understanding of climate change, and is a reminder of the recognition of forests as the “lungs” of our planet.

Submissions from 33 countries were evaluated by the Green Destinations Top 100 Team, country experts, and Green Destination Partners, coordinated by Green Destinations. The Top 100 Committee stresses that selection to the Top 100 list does not imply the destination is sustainable, but that the destination has been pre-selected based on a minimum level of compliance with the core criteria of the Green Destinations Standard and selected to the list based on the assessment of their Good Practice Story.

The competition is held under the auspices of the Top 100 Partnership, with special contributions by: Green Destinations, QualityCoast, ITB Berlin, Asian Ecotourism Network, Ecotourism Australia, DEL Turismo, Slovenia Green, Global Ecotourism Network and the Future of Tourism Coalition.

The story “Feel the pulse of the forest – biomonitoring of forest growth and carbon storage” and the whole 2025 Top 100 list are available on the Green Destinations website.

About Green Destinations

Green Destinations is the world’s largest network of destinations committed to sustainability, supported by more than 50 program partners worldwide. Our goal is to support destinations in improving quality and sustainability based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and globally agreed principles. Over 600 destinations and 400 businesses in 60 countries have already joined our programs. and 400 businesses. For more information, visit our website: www.greendestinations.org

About the Green Destinations Top 100 competition

The Top 100 competition recognises and honours tourism destinations worldwide that are working toward more sustainable and responsible tourism practices. Each year, the competition invites destinations worldwide to submit their stories, showcasing how they address key challenges in environmental protection, social equity, cultural preservation, and economic viability in tourism. Visit our website: www.greendestinations.org/top-100-destinations/

For more information, please contact us at:

• Green Destinations Communications, communication@greendestinations.org
• Green Destinations Top 100: top100@greendestinations.org

Objava Plitvice Lakes National Park’s Good Practice Story has been selected as part of the 2025 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories list. pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

The Green Destinations certificate is the result of long-term efforts by all services and departments within the National park, all of whom are dedicated to preserving natural values, ensuring the smooth functioning of natural processes, and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. The certification was granted based on the evaluation of 84 criteria across six key sustainability areas: destination management, nature and landscape, environment and climate, culture and tradition, social well-being, and business and communication.

In November 2023, a presentation titled “Plan for Implementing Activities Based on the Green Destinations Audit” was held. At this event, Park staff were thoroughly introduced to the certification process and its criteria. The presentation took place in the conference hall of the Jezero Hotel, with 70 participants in attendance.

In addition to preserving the extraordinary natural beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park, the Institution carries out a range of activities that are often challenging to align with the high standards of nature protection.

At the end of 2024, we highlight a few activities that are part of the Park’s sustainable practices:

The Park’s service for protection, maintenance, conservation, promotion, and management, through the Cro Buzz Klima project, has supported initiatives to preserve the biodiversity of wild pollinators. This is achieved by mowing grass less frequently in certain areas, allowing various plant species to bloom and protecting wild pollinators. Interestingly, Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the pilot areas for bumblebee research.

In 2024, the Hotel and Catering Branch initiated the procurement process for a biowaste device and a composter to produce compost from plant materials and food waste.

During 2024, the Park received another ZelEn certificate, confirming that all electricity supplied to the Park comes from 100% renewable sources. From 2018, when the Park first received its ZelEn certificate, until 2023, the trend of energy consumption has been declining, which is a positive indicator.

In the area of e-mobility, the Park joined a development project by HEP (the Croatian electric power company) in 2024. This partnership led to the installation of electric car charging stations at various locations within the Park. A total of 13 charging stations with 14 charging points were installed at Entrance 1, in front of the Jezero Hotel, and at the Borje Restaurant. These include 12 AC Wallbox chargers (up to 22 kW) and one AC/DC charger (up to 50 kW).

In 2024, the Park also joined the MOSI (Mobility of Persons with Disabilities) project, launched by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure. This project provides people with disabilities access to a national disability card, offering a range of benefits.

In collaboration with the Croatian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Park became an associated partner in the “Nature for All in Sign Language” project, which aims to raise awareness of accessible tourism. The project focuses on improving the quality of tourist experiences for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. According to data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (September 2023), there are approximately 19,000 people in Croatia with hearing impairments.

The Green Destinations Top 100 Sustainability Stories competition recognizes the best global practices in sustainability each year. In 2024, Plitvice Lakes National Park was selected as one of the Top 100 with its story “A Ticket That Opens the Doors to Lika Destinations – A Branding Initiative for Sustainable Tourism.” In collaboration with the Lika Destination Cluster and nine other attractions within the Lika region, the Park has offered a joint ticket for the Lika destination since 2018, with support for organization and marketing from Plitvice Lakes National Park.

As part of Earth Day 2024, two educational programs were held in the National Park: Water of Life and What’s Happening to the Climate? These are just some of the educational activities conducted by the Park’s service for protection, maintenance, conservation, promotion, and management throughout the year.

In 2024, a new visitor experience was added with the Tomićevo pogledalo viewpoint. Situated at an elevation of 684.82 meters above sea level, the viewpoint was designed with nature conservation in mind and offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Upper Lakes. This helps alleviate some of the pressure on the most visited areas of the lake zone by dispersing visitors.

The above and many other activities within Plitvice Lakes National Park contribute to nature preservation and the promotion of sustainable resource use. The Green Destinations certificate is a globally recognized award and also a commitment, as the sustainability criteria are re-evaluated every two years. The upcoming recertification in September 2025 will serve as an additional incentive for continued proactive efforts to improve the Park’s sustainable practices and adopt new ones.

Objava Plitvice Lakes National Park – One Year with the Green Destinations Certificate pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Every year the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories competition collects good practice stories from destinations all over the world to be shared as inspiring examples to others, from tourism professionals to travelers. By telling their stories, destination management organisations are acknowledged and recognised for the solutions they have implemented in response to challenges and problems to sustainable development they have faced. With the tourism sector facing very challenging times in the past years, the resiliency and hard work of these destinations to become more responsible should be celebrated.

The 2024 selection included Plitvice Lakes National Park, with the story “A Ticket that opens doors of Lika Destination- branding iniciative for sustainable tourism development”.

While the Plitvice Lakes National Park is visited by over a million tourists a year, with an increased number of visitors during the peak season, the Lika destination has many other unexplored and lesser-known natural resources. In cooperation with the Lika Destination Cluster and nine attractive locations within the Lika destination, a joint ticket for the Lika destination has been created since 2018, organized and supported by the Plitvice Lakes National Park’s marketing efforts. The visibility of the tourist offerings of lesser-known locations is gradually increasing, presenting numerous opportunities for guests to extend their stay in the destination.

Submissions were evaluated by the Green Destinations Top 100 Team, country experts and Green Destination Partners, coordinated by Green Destinations. The Top 100 Committee stresses that selection to the Top 100 list does not imply the destination is sustainable, but that the destination has been pre-selected based on a minimum level of compliance with the core criteria of the Green Destinations Standard and selected to the list based on the assessment of their Good Practice Story.

The competition is held under the auspices of the Top 100 Partnership, with special contributions by: Green Destinations, QualityCoast, ITB Berlin, Asian Ecotourism Network, Ecotourism Australia, DEL Turismo, Slovenia Green, Global Ecotourism Network and the Future of Tourism Coalition.

The story “A Ticket that opens doors of Lika Destination- branding iniciative for sustainable tourism development” and the whole 2024 Top 100 list is available on the Green Destinations website.

About Green Destinations

Green Destinations is the world’s largest network of destinations committed to sustainability, supported by more than 50 program partners worldwide. Their goal is to support destinations in improving quality and sustainability based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and globally agreed principles. Over 600 destinations and 400 businesses in 60 countries have already joined our programs. For more information visit the website: www.greendestinations.org

About Top 100 Green Destinations

The Top 100 competition recognises and honours tourism destinations worldwide that are working toward more sustainable and responsible tourism practices. Each year, the competition invites destinations worldwide to submit their stories, showcasing how they address key challenges in environmental protection, social equity, cultural preservation, and economic viability in tourism. Visit our website: www.greendestinations.org/top-100-destinations/

For more information please contact:

Green Destinations Communications, communication@greendestinations.org

Green Destinations Top 100: top100@greendestinations.org

Objava Plitvice Lakes National Park’s Good Practice Story has been selected as part of the 2024 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories list pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

An Insight into the Activity Implementation Plan According to the Green Destinations Criteria

Having received the Green Destinations Silver Award this autumn, rather than resting on its laurels, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is planning intense efforts for the next two years, aimed at achieving compliance with the criteria contributing to destination sustainability.

The themes and criteria arising from the audit of the Green Destinations Award application by the Plitvice Lakes National Park, have been outlined in a presentation for the employees of the National Park, held by Maja Vurnek, PhD, expert associate at the Protection, Maintenance, Safeguarding, Promotion and Utilisation Department and member of the team responsible for Green Destinations-related activities, and organised in cooperation with General Manager Tomislav Kovačević.

After the opening speech by General Manager Tomislav Kovačević, and the introduction of the team that participated in gathering documentation and examining the criteria (employees Zrinka Nenadić from the Marketing and Sales Department and Kristina Sigurnjak from the Maintenance, Technique and Utility Infrastructure Unit), the presentation opened with the topic of sustainable development. The focus areas included Sustainable Development Goals, 2030 Agenda and the pillars of sustainable development relating to social progress, economic development and the environment (naturally including environmental protection). The most recent report on the global Agenda for Sustainable Development unfortunately shows an underachievement within the framework of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their targets, and highlights the need to enhance these efforts on a global level in the next 7 years. As a result, greater importance is given to activities aimed at improving sustainability carried out by individual destinations, protected areas, and hotel and hospitality establishments, and Green Destinations is a great example of an organisation that provides an excellent basis and tools for assessing sustainability.

The framework for compliance with the themes and criteria, i.e. the Green Destinations standards, recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, is made up of 6 themes with a total of 84 criteria. After achieving compliance with the themes and criteria, all the materials were audited by a specially appointed Green Destinations auditor, and the destination was given a report and proposals, remarks and suggestions by the auditor, together with the scores for the themes and compliance with the specific criteria.

The participants were introduced to the themes, scores and criteria remarked on by the auditor, whereby certain criteria were marked as partially compliant and a very small number of the criteria were marked as non-compliant. However, our Plitvice Lakes National Park fulfilled most of the criteria, thereby proving its compliance with the sustainability standards and ultimately earning the Silver Award. Going through the specific themes and criteria with the defined priorities, the participants were given some insight into the activities to be carried out by the public institution in the upcoming period.

The presentation concluded with a focus on the priority activities including climate change adaptation and mitigation, monitoring satisfaction levels of the local community, encouraging the business and tourism sector towards achieving sustainability and improving the visitor system in terms of its accessibility.

Finally, the Plitvice Lakes National Park will be carrying out additional activities in the upcoming period, all aimed at improving the management and strengthening the sustainable processes within our protected area.

Objava Green Destinations pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

At this year’s global Green Destinations Conference that was held 8–10 October in Tallinn (Estonia), the 2023 European Green Capital, the Plitvice Lakes National Park officially received the prestigious Green Destinations Silver Award for sustainability.

This important award is handed out by Green Destinations, a global non-profit organisation based in the Netherlands, that has for many years been enhancing the sustainable development of destinations and stakeholders in tourism, as well as promoting good practices tackling the challenges of sustainable tourism. The organisation is present in more than 90 countries, collaborates with over 500 destinations worldwide and promotes visibility of green destinations in the global tourism market.

Today, the topic of sustainability is becoming increasingly relevant, but it is important to show what the destination is doing and which good practices it follows because that is what tourists look for nowadays when choosing a destination.

The Green Destinations certification process itself consists of 84 criteria covering 4 dimensions of sustainable development: social, environmental, economic and cultural. In Croatia, besides the Plitvice Lakes National Park, this process was successfully completed by Međimurje County and the town of Mali Lošinj. Existing responsible practices were reviewed, and the destinations were provided with a tool for monitoring and improvement over the next 2 years, after which they will be re-evaluated.

“The certification process following the Green Destinations model was long and required continuous monitoring as well as dedicated work by all stakeholders. I am extremely pleased that we completed it successfully and showed that by respecting and applying sustainability principles, together with excellent cooperation between all stakeholders, we could make our destination more responsible and more sustainable for us, but also for future generations”, said Tomislav Kovačević, General Manager of the Plitvice Lakes National Park Public Institution.

The two-day Green Destination Conference gathered a large number of world leading experts in the field of sustainability, and more than 260 delegates who had the opportunity to attend lectures and participate in workshops and discussion panels on climate change, collaborative sustainability efforts of the public and private sectors, national and regional perspectives, destination management, practical sustainability solutions for businesses in tourism, ways to communicate sustainability practices, planning sustainable events, digital transformation of tourism, and the significance of authentic destination experiences by fostering local culture and traditions.

Every day we are given the opportunity to do things better and think outside the box, address the vision of the local community and create local partnerships, promote regenerative tourism, offer an authentic experience to our guests, pass on knowledge on how to protect the natural and cultural values of the destination, and raise awareness of sustainability through everyday activities. There are many sustainability certificates that guests do not know much about, and that can only be justified through work and transparency.

Dr. sc. Maja Vurnek and Zrinka Nenadić accepted the award at the Green Destinations Conference dinner on behalf of the Plitvice Lakes National Park team responsible for the Green Destinations certification process.

The Green Destinations Silver Award is an acknowledgement of the hard work the Plitvice Lakes National Park has put into sustainability efforts, but also motivation to improve and develop new sustainable practices to be shared with all conscious travellers in collaboration with the Green Destinations organisation.

Objava Plitvice Lakes National Park becomes the first national park in Croatia to receive the Green Destinations certificate for sustainability pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".