The purpose of the project is to provide reliable and comparable baseline data on the conservation status of these habitats.

Monitoring was established for eight Natura 2000 target habitat types, encompassing 13 habitat types under the National Habitat Classification: 

Representative sites were selected for each habitat type, and permanent transects were established at these sites for future monitoring cycles. The monitoring methodology was specified in the project terms of reference and is based on the national Terrestrial Flora and Habitat Type Monitoring Programmes (Oikon – Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, 2023) and the Guidelines for Developing Species and Habitat Type Monitoring Programmes (Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, 2025).

The research results show that the target forest habitats in Plitvice Lakes National Park are generally in a good state of conservation. All transects and habitat types showed a high prevalence of typical species, an absence of invasive and non-native species and, in most cases, favourable indicators of habitat functionality. In all habitat types, the volume of deadwood falls within the range indicating that natural processes are intact and that the biodiversity of these habitat types is being maintained.

The project has established a sound professional and scientific basis for the long-term monitoring of Natura 2000 forest habitats in the Park. The results provide a baseline for future monitoring cycles. They also enable conservation measures to be planned and implemented effectively in order to maintain the favourable conservation status of forest ecosystems and their biodiversity.

Objava Establishing permanent monitoring of Natura 2000 target forest habitats in Plitvice Lakes National Park pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

For years, the BIOM association and Alectoris Birding d.o.o., in cooperation with the employees of the Park’s expert service, have been carrying out the “Monitoring of collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) and red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva) target species as well as other forest songbird species. The monitoring of these species is carried out in regular annual cycles, every two to three years, in order to determine the population status, their numbers and potential threats. The monitoring consists of listening at points along several transects in different areas of the Park.

The populations of these species in the Park area are in good condition, which means that habitats provide plenty of food, shelter and nesting places, all of which indicates a healthy ecosystem.

Objava Monitoring of forest songbirds in the Plitvice Lakes National Park pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Invasive alien species of crayfish mostly introduced from the North America present a great threat to the indigenous species of crayfish. These “American species” are more aggressive, more fertile and, most importantly, are carriers of a type of crayfish plague (a crayfish fungal disease) introduced with them from the American continent, but are themselves resistant to this plague. On the other hand, European species are not resistant to this type of disease so they die in great numbers in aquatic habitats that they share with alien species if they come into contact with the fungi that cause the disease.

Crayfish monitoring in the Park, carried out annually by the employees of the expert service in cooperation with the Croatian Biological Society for years, consists of monitoring the population status, the mortality of the indigenous species of crayfish and the presence of invasive alien species of crayfish as well as the detection of crayfish plague.

Objava Studying and monitoring crayfish in the Plitvice Lakes National Park pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

With the end of the autumn monitoring of the amphibian migration, with a special emphasis on the fire salamander, we have successfully completed the second year of monitoring and rescuing amphibians from the local road. While the last data of the spring and autumn patrols are being processed, we can already determine that we recorded a total of 7 species of amphibians in the pitfalls and funnel traps, and the most abundant was the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra). From 2023 and with the end of monitoring in 2024, we found a total of 808 amphibians in pitfalls and funnel traps (of which the proportion of fire salamanders is 41%), which tells us that the National Park is a favorable habitat for this group of animals. For the fire salamander, however, some pitfalls or funnel traps proved to be more active in terms of the number of individuals caught, and we noticed differences between annual migrations, but further data analysis is definitely needed, which we will soon publish on our website. Fire salamander photos that we collect during field patrols are further processed through the Amphibian and Reptile Wildbook software to determine if individuals are captured more than once, and we photograph each individual amphibian for the database. Unfortunately, a certain number of roadkilled individuals of the fire salamander were also recorded during two years of monitoring (150 individuals), while all those encountered crossing the road (76 individuals) were safely transported during our morning and evening patrols.

The monitoring of migrations and relocation of amphibians from the road would not have been possible without the valuable hands of our employees who participate in the installation of temporary fences on eight sections along the road along with the digging of pitfalls and the installation of funnel traps. As with all monitoring in the National Park, without the activities of employees there is no collection of quality and significant data for the protection of both different habitats and species.

Be sure to continue following us if you are interested in the specific life of our amphibians!

Objava Monitoring of the amphibian migration pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".