The message of this largest volunteer action, when the lights in the main squares of cities and recognizable landmarks are turned off for one hour, is that planetary ecosystems are at the brink of endurance and that it is necessary to change our relationship with nature. The latest WWF Living Planet Report (2024) describes that the largest decline in the global index was observed for freshwater (-85%), terrestrial (-69%), and marine ecosystems (-56%).

Precisely because of these changes that we are witnessing, it is extremely important to take time at least every day in your life to have some kind of positive impact on our planet:

• participate in a volunteer clean-up campaign,
• spend a day in nature,
• use public transportation, bike or walk
• reduce food waste
• increase interest in nature conservation by watching documentaries, books and similar
• express your love for the planet through art and thus raise awareness about environmental and nature protection

We suggest you visit the Plitvice Lakes National Park and enjoy the natural values ​​of our largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Objava Earth Hour 2026. pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

However, sometimes it is not possible to reduce all emissions generated by business, production or travel. When we fail to do so, and we have taken important steps to reduce emissions, the part that remains is exactly what we should compensate for. Emission compensation is then crucial and refers to all those concrete measures taken by us to reduce emissions. They can be expressed through the allocation of a certain amount of money for investment in projects that carry out restoration interventions in degraded habitats, projects that invest in nature-based solutions, tree planting projects – in a word, projects that contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

When using a calculator to calculate carbon and ecological footprint, such as:

1.  Calculation of the carbon footprint for travel and accommodation (calculation for each mode of travel with various means of transport, for accommodation, activities, food) – click here 
2. Calculation of the ecological footprint (you will receive information on how many planets of the Earth are needed for your lifestyle and when your personal day of exceeding resources is) – click here
3. UN carbon footprint calculation (takes into account household, transport and lifestyle with a comparison of your personal emissions, the average for the country you come from and the world average) – click here

we can compensate the measured emissions by investing in projects that we find interesting and which are related to the above calculations. Above all, compensation alone without an active contribution to reducing emissions does not mean much.

The possibilities for participating in emission compensation are diverse, especially at the international level, while in Croatia we can highlight an interesting program that neutralizes the carbon footprint by planting trees – CO₂mpensating by planting, in which companies, cities, municipalities and all interested parties can participate through the described application steps.

Plitvice Lakes National Park and forest ecosystems

One of the important studies of forest ecosystems in the national park concerned the application of innovative methods in collecting spatial data from the air. This provided us with high-quality data on the proportion of trees, and the presence of 4,007,362 trees was calculated, with beech dominating with a share of 75%, fir with a share of 20%, and spruce with 4%. The growing stock on the entire Park`s surface amounts to 9,307,933 m³, and the estimated above-ground biomass for the national park of 330 t/ha is significantly above the value for Europe (120 ha/t). This data highlight the importance of forests in the global context, as well as their contribution to CO₂ sequestration. At the same time, the Plitvice forests ranked fourth in terms of sequestration of CO₂ from the atmosphere in the category of areas that include UNESCO World Natural Heritage.

Given that forests are key in the fight against climate change because they are important carbon sinks (1 ha of forest can remove up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide – CO₂), it is particularly important for the national park to leave forests to their natural development and logging is not allowed. In total, more than 3.8 million tons of carbon are stored in the growing stock of the Plitvice forests. With the development of the Forest Protection, Care and Restoration Program, an additional 942 ha of forest areas were identified that will remain permanently protected, and the share of the area under forests increased from 81% to 84%. A further project investing in the establishment of biomonitoring of forest growth and carbon storage was recognized as one of the good practice stories that aims to expand knowledge about biological and ecological processes in forest ecosystems, but also to bring forests closer to visitors in the context of climate change.

In addition to the obligation to conserve forest ecosystems, the national park certainly protects other habitats such as grasslands, peatlands and water ecosystems. Investments in the revitalization of grasslands and the prevention of succession on grassland surfaces are important steps in the permanent preservation of these habitats, which are also hotspots of biodiversity.

Plitvice Lakes National Park and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

Objava Carbon offsets pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Given the topic of project activities related to climate change, the key lecture at this gathering was given by Prof. Dr. sc. Mirko Orlić from the University of Zagreb, presenting global trends in climate change and projections. Conservator from Trogir, Jasna Popović, gave a presentation on the UNESCO cultural heritage management, the topic of the impact of climate change on natural heritage using the example of the Plitvice Lakes National Park was presented by Maja Vurnek, an employee of the National Park Conservation Service. As the main activities in the work package 1 of the CAMPUS project are related to the development of vulnerability and multi-risk assessments for UNESCO sites, representatives of the University of Venice, Silvia Zannin and Federica Parlato, presented the results so far for the areas included in the project. Risk maps of cities and modelling for Trogir and Stari Grad on Hvar were presented by Ivan Carević, along with the results of surveys conducted with residents regarding their experiences with climate change. From the Ministry of Culture and Media, Petra Smajić gave a lecture on the topic of risk management for cultural heritage and the legislative framework, while Martin Bućan from Split-Dalmatia County presented the Desirmed and A-AAGORA projects.

At the end of the presentations, a round table was held on the topic “From global science to local action”, moderated by Sandra Bračot, and the discussion was attended by Professor Mirko Orlić, Vinko Trbušković, Petra Smajić and Martin Bućan.

The second day of activities was reserved for a project meeting of partners, about the activities carried out so far, future tasks in further work packages, financial construction, and the outline content of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan was presented, which will be further developed in the coming months.

For more information about the CAMPUS project, visit https://www.italy-croatia.eu/web/campus.

Objava The International Conference and the 4th meeting of partners on the CAMPUS project pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Awards are granted by Green Destinations, a global non-profit organization established in the Netherlands, which has for many years been supporting sustainable development of destinations and tourism stakeholders, as well as encouraging good practices aimed at dealing with challenges posed by sustainable tourism. With over 600 destinations included in various Green Destinations programs and more than 160 certified and award-winning destinations in over 60 countries, the organization promotes the visibility of green destinations in the global tourism market.

THE PATH TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY

This award is an important step on the path toward sustainability, but it also serves as a key milestone for the public institution, confirming that we are heading in the right direction regarding nature conservation, management, social welfare, environment and climate, cultural heritage, business and communication. Our vision was clearly defined by the Green Destinations silver award in 2023, and this year’s golden award confirms that we are on the right path.

Given that the national park had previously been granted the Green Destinations award, after two years the renewal, or recertification, process followed, which started this year in April. On that occasion, the recertification expert team (Maja Vurnek, Zrinka Nenadić and Kristina Sigurnjak) collected documentation and described individual criteria that needed to be clarified, or harmonized, after the first audit. About 50 criteria were covered in the first phase, with another 34 criteria additionally clarified in 5 categories after the evaluator reviewed the documentation and visited the national park. Plitvice Lakes National Park was awarded the maximum score in the “Nature & Scenery” and “Culture & Tradition” categories.  This entire journey ultimately confirmed the attractiveness, quality, and investment in the sustainability of the largest and oldest national park in Croatia, allowing us to improve from the silver to the gold award!

GREEN DESTINATIONS CONFERENCE

 At the two-day conference, we had the opportunity to hear leading lecturers on the following topics:

• Destination management – toward successful sustainable tourism,
• Cultural heritage and tourism that strengthens and connects communities,
• Strategies, tools and activities for achieving climate resilience,
• Certificates (EcoLabel and regional cooperation in tourism),
• Innovations,
• Digital transformation,
• Decarbonization,
• Regenerative tourism through partnerships and social welfare.
  
  

The diversity of topics provided numerous opportunities for exploring sustainable solutions, exchanging best practices and connecting with various destinations from around the world (more than 300 participants), including Croatian representatives from tourist boards, counties, development agencies, Tourism Lab, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Objava Plitvice Lakes National Park honored with Golden Green Destinations Award pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Green Destinations Gold Award for Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park, as one of the most recognized and most visited protected areas in Croatia, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, and a renowned green tourist destination, has successfully applied for recognition of its sustainability policies and achievements through the Green Destinations Award program. This program evaluates sustainable tourist destinations at an international level in accordance with environmental, socio-economic, and cultural criteria.

The Path to the Gold Award

After a period of extensive preparation and the submission of detailed dossiers covering more than 75 sustainability criteria, followed by an independent on-site audit, the Green Destinations Gold Award was attributed to Plitvice Lakes National Park. This award indicates excellence in all fields of sustainable destination management, such as nature and heritage conservation, waste management, energy, and climate action. It also recognizes the Park’s efforts to sustain the attractiveness of its tourism in the future. Not only visible and tangible aspects are measured, such as natural heritage, but also policies and management plans that take sustainable development principles into account.

Recommendations for the Future

As one of the improvements for the future, it was recommended to focus on:

• Monitoring sustainability indicators (environmental, economic, social, and cultural).
• Measuring inhabitant satisfaction.
• Encouraging the use of public transportation and low-emission alternatives.
• Involving the private sector in sustainability measures.
• Promoting recognition of good environmental practices among entrepreneurs.

Building on Previous Success

Since 2023, Plitvice Lakes National Park has been included in the Green Destinations Award program, first receiving the Silver Award. In 2024, the Park entered the Top 100 Destinations Sustainability Stories competition with the story “A Ticket that Opens Doors of Lika Destination – branding initiative for sustainable tourism development.”

This Green Destinations Gold Award is a major step forward toward fully evidence-based and independently verified certification of sustainability performance, in accordance with international standards set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Official Ceremony

The Award will be officially presented to Plitvice Lakes National Park during the Green Destinations Global Conference 2025 in Montpellier, Occitanie, France.

About Green Destinations

The Green Destinations Award & Certification Program challenges municipalities, counties, regions, and protected areas to promote responsible destination management on an ongoing basis and to encourage the tourism sector to implement sustainable practices. Participating destinations engage in a sustainability management system, with independent verification of performance and progress every two or three years, accompanied by recommendations for improvements. With support from regional partners and representatives, more than 120 destinations in 25 countries have already received Awards and Certification.

Since 2018, Green Destinations Certification has been accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

More information: www.greendestinations.org

Objava Plitvice Lakse National Park once again in the global spotlight pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

CAMPUS project is co-financed by the INTERREG VI-A Italy – Croatia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021 – 2027, and the main objective of the project is to identify climate change risks and resilience capacities of UNESCO sites.

At the Jezero Hotel in the Sedra Hall, participants gathered to receive information about the project activities according to the work packages, which were introduced to them in the introductory presentation by the Senior Advisor for the Preparation and Implementation of Programs and Projects Marina Rukavina, M.Sc. in Pol. This was followed by a presentation by the Nature Conservation Service employee, Dr. Sc. Maja Vurnek, who provided descriptions of the outstanding universal value of the National Park, biodiversity and habitat diversity, as well as the observed impact of climate change and projections of possible changes. This presentation was followed by the research fellow of the IUAV University of Venice, Nives Giovannetti, who opened a dialogue on possible adaptations to climate change through planning, measures and monitoring tools. The University of Venice, as a partner in this project, is key in bringing a scientific approach through the creation of a risk and vulnerability matrix or the effects of multi-risks on cultural and natural heritage.

The working meeting, in which each project partner presented the activities undertaken so far and the future planned activities within the work packages, ended with the financial report of the project and plans for the next meeting and local conference. This conference is to be held in the autumn in the city of Trogir as a representative of UNESCO cultural heritage and associated partner of the CAMPUS project. The Public Institution for Coordination and Development of the Split-Dalmatia County – RERA will organize the aforementioned conference in Croatia.

Probably the most beautiful part of this conference and gathering of project partners was the tour of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, where the beauty of the tufa barriers, waterfalls and lakes of the World Natural Heritage amazed the project partners from Italy. We, who manage this area, but also visitors and residents, as well as all stakeholders, have a great responsibility to preserve this exceptional and unique value for the benefit of all humanity!

More information can be found on the CAMPUS project webpages https://www.italy-croatia.eu/web/campus. 

Objava A Local Conference of the CAMPUS project pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

It is important to note that the inscription of the national park on the List happened just a few years after the adoption of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) and only a year after the first sites were inscribed as natural heritage sites (Yellowstone National Park and the Galápagos Islands in 1978). By 1976, 24 countries had ratified the Convention; by 2017, that number reached 193. One of the key considerations and bases for adopting the Convention was the idea that deterioration or disappearance of any item of the cultural or natural heritage constitutes a harmful impoverishment of the heritage of all the nations of the world! Today, the World Heritage List consists of 1,223 sites, of which only 231 are classified as natural heritage sites. The majority of sites (573) are located in the Europe and North America region.

To be included on the World Heritage List, a site must be of Outstanding Universal Value, meaning it must justify its significance by meeting at least one out of 10 criteria. Until 2004, the criteria were divided into six cultural and four natural ones (i to iv), but after the revision of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, they were merged into 10 criteria (natural criteria have since then been numbered vii to x). Each criterion has its own description, and today’s sites must meet at least one of them, although they often meet more.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) received the proposal to nominate the Plitvice Lakes National Park for the World Heritage List in April 1979. The description of the site, its historical characteristics, special geological features, and the most important part of the document, the justification for its inscription on the World Heritage List, were prepared on behalf of the Plitvice Lakes National Park by Aleksandar Brnek-Kostić in cooperation with Stahan, an engineer from the State Institute for Nature Protection in Zagreb. Describing the tufa barriers that form dams in the river valley and the biological and ecological conditions necessary for the formation of these barriers, the authors also highlighted the well-preserved forests and rich fauna. The nomination proposal included various maps (a geological map, a soil map, a phytocoenological map and a longitudinal profile of the lakes) and photographic documentation. As is to this day common practice when reviewing nominations for the World Heritage List, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) gives its opinion on the proposal. It was concluded that the Plitvice Lakes National Park should be included on the World Heritage List primarily due to the “undisturbed formation of tufa,” which shapes the specific landscape and hydrological system. This process aligns fully with criterion ii, which relates to the ongoing development of plant and animal communities, landforms, and marine and freshwater bodies. As secondary reasons for inclusion, the IUCN notes the criterion which includes the interaction between humans and their natural landscape as well as criterion iii for the exceptional combination of natural and cultural elements.

Today, the criteria under which the Plitvice Lakes National Park is recognized as having Outstanding Universal Value are criteria vii, viii, and ix.

In the new Management Plan, we have determined that the interaction of water, air, geological substrate, and organisms, along with special physical-chemical and biological conditions, enables the formation of tufa, which has, by damming watercourses, created a series of lakes, barriers, and waterfalls. The totality of these processes, their unique ecology, and the exceptional beauty of the area make it a site of Outstanding Universal Value.

The vision for this largest and oldest national park implies a future in which the park remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which certainly includes preserving its Outstanding Universal Value and the criteria by which it is described. Currently, but also in the coming years, it is essential to understand the importance of Plitvice Lakes as a natural heritage site of great significance not only to Croatia but also to the entire world.

Objava 45 years since the inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

In 2024, we celebrated 75 years since the proclamation of Plitvice Lakes as a national park and 45 years since its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We would like to use these big anniversaries to celebrate the Park’s unparalleled beauty and value and honor the ongoing efforts to preserve this incomparable natural treasure of Croatia.

The Plitvice Lakes system comprises 16 named lakes and numerous smaller bodies of water. These are divided into Upper and Lower Lakes based on the underlying geological formations and hydrogeological features. The twelve Upper Lakes – Prošćansko Lake, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Veliko Lake, Malo Lake, Vir, Galovac, Milino Lake, Gradinsko Lake, Burgeti, and Kozjak – sit on impermeable dolomites. These expansive lakes boast gentle, well-developed shores, while the Lower Lakes are nestled in a narrow, steep canyon carved into porous limestone. The Lower Lakes include Milanovac, Gavanovac, Kaluđerovac, and Novakovića Brod. The system culminates in the breathtaking Sastavci Waterfalls, marking the beginning of the Korana River.

“There are waters, lakes, waterfalls, and forests elsewhere – but there is only one Plitvice Lakes in the whole world!” — Dr. Ivo Pevalek

Internationally acclaimed academician Ivo Pevalek, one of our best plant scientists specializing in algae, fungi, and bryophytes, was a staunch advocate for nature conservation and formal designation of Plitvice Lakes National Park as early as 1920. Having played a crucial role in the protection of Plitvice Lakes, paving the way for the formal establishment of the national park, he is honored by a commemorative plaque on the Galovac Barrier. As an instrumental figure in the nature conservancy in Croatia, he is also a namesake of the Ivo Pevalek Research Station, established in 1975, and Dr. Ivo Pevalek Scientific Research Center, established in 2003. His quote reflects the unique, singular nature of the Plitvice Lakes, a source of immense pride to us all.

45 years since the inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Plitvice Lakes National Park is part of the prestigious World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Nominated thirty years after its founding, the park became the first site in Croatia and one of the first globally to be selected for the outstanding value of its natural properties.

The UNESCO World Heritage List selection process is both rigorous and time-consuming, requiring compliance with at least one of ten selection criteria. Plitvice Lakes National Park met the criteria numbers (vii), (viii), and (ix)*, reflecting its outstanding universal value.

The interactions between water, air, geological substrates, and living organisms, coupled with distinct physical, chemical, and biological conditions, facilitated the creation of tufa deposits. Acting as a natural dam, these formations gave rise to a series of lakes, barriers, and waterfalls. All these processes, alongside the site’s unique ecology and extraordinary beauty, collectively underpin the outstanding universal value of Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, part of the Dinaric Karst system, is recognized as one of the most remarkable karst landscapes globally, boasting unique geological, geomorphological, and hydrological features. Karst topography is made up primarily of carbonate rocks, notably limestones and dolomites, owing to their susceptibility to chemical and mechanical erosion as well as tectonic movements (fault lines, folds, cracks, etc.) Carbon dioxide-enriched water penetrates through the fissures in the water-soluble carbonate substratum, giving birth to a myriad of surface and underground karst formations, including limestone pavements, sinkholes, karst fields, towers, caves, pits, and caverns.

The History of Plitvice Lakes

To understand the remarkable scientific significance and allure of Plitvice Lakes, we need to look no further than the history of research in the area, spanning almost 170 years. Initial studies – mostly one-man endeavors – date back to 1850. Structured, multidisciplinary initiatives would have to wait until the official designation of the national park and the subsequent financial backing. The Plitvice Lakes Biological Station, the first on-site research station founded in 1961, and the Ivo Pevalek Research Station, a modern facility founded in 1975, played a pivotal role in ramping up scientific research, paving the way for the selection of Plitvice Lakes to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979.

Plitvice Lakes remained relatively unknown to the broader public until the mid-19th century due to limited access and lack of settlements in the area. In 1845, Saxon King Frederick Augustus II paid a visit to the lakes and produced some sketches. In 1861, border officers built the Tourist House, the first lodging facility at Velika Poljana. Early travel writers such as Adolf Veber Tkalčević and Dragutin Hirc marveled at the beauty of the lakes. Despite the lack of roads, the number of visitors to Plitvice Lakes was on the rise. By the late 19th century, the new Cordon Road facilitated access to the lakes. Following the visits by Princess Stéphanie in 1888 and Archduke Joseph in 1894, the trails around the Upper Lakes and Lower Lakes were christened “Stéphanie’s Path” and “Dorothea’s Path”, respectively. In 1893, the newly-founded Society for the Beautification of Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb embarked on a mission to make the lakes more accessible to visitors and preserve their natural beauty. The Society played a major role in promoting Plitvice Lakes both nationally and internationally, advocating for the establishment of the national park as early as 1925. In 1986, new lodging options included Hotel Plitvice as well as private villas at Velika Poljana. In 1890, Antun Devčić opened a sawmill at Labudovac, which was subsequently converted into Labudovac Inn by Prof. Gustav Janeček in 1896. A drinking water supply system was built in 1909. “Plitvice Lakes and Their Surroundings”, published by Dragutin Franić in 1910, remains an important source of information about Plitvice Lakes. An official decree from 1914 abolished all civic societies, including the Society for the Beautification of Plitvice Lakes. Although the hopes for developing the area remained high throughout the early 20th century, little action was taken. Around 1926, the Royal Forest Directorate took over the construction projects at the lakes, adding new walkways, bridges, and roads.

Scholar Ivo Pevalek endeavored to draw attention to preservation efforts between the two World Wars, leveraging his professional work and influence to protect Plitvice Lakes from travertine mining and deforestation by aggressive investors. His hard work bore fruit and the lakes were designated as a national park during the 1928/1929 financial year, alongside Paklenica and Štirovača. The dynamic development of Plitvice Lakes concluded with the fire at Hotel Plitvice and the Bathing Area in 1939. During World War II, between 1941 and 1945, the area suffered significant damage during the military campaign, including the burning of public and residential buildings. Plitvice Lakes was the setting for the First Session of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Croatia (ZAVNOH) in 1943, resulting in the “Plitvice Resolution.”

After World War II, settlements were rebuilt and the area gained the national park status in 1949. The park was run by two institutions: the National Park Administration, responsible for conservancy, forestry, and hunting, and the Plitvice Hospitality Company, dealing with tourism. In 1970, these institutions merged into the Plitvice National Park.

The first significant facilities at Velika Poljana were Restaurant Kozjak (1949) and Hotel Plitvice (1954–1958), alongside several accommodation options and the Izletište Restaurant. Priority was given to building low-rise, elongated buildings utilizing natural materials and terrain features. Various construction projects were underway between 1950 and 1990, including new trails, bridges, railway tracks, and boats, as well as events like “Plitvice Weddings”. Some of the facilities built during this period were Hotel Bellevue (1964), Hotel Jezero (1970), Lička Kuća Restaurant (1974), Poljana Restaurant (1978), and Grabovac Motel (1979). Plitvice National Park gained worldwide recognition in the mid-1980s, breaking visitor records in 1985. The Homeland War halted development and reconstruction plans between 1991 and 1995, but a new cycle of reconstruction began following the national liberation in 1995. The Dr. Ivo Pevalek Scientific Research Center was opened in 2003 to support research and preservation at the National Park.

With visitor numbers returning to pre-war figures, the park welcomed its one-millionth visitor in 2011. In 2019, the park instated an hourly limit of 1200 visitors. These restrictions are part of the effort to conserve the natural beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park and ensure sustainability amidst booming visitor numbers. Scientific research and environmental protection have become focal points of any future development of this unique natural resource.

Objava 75th birthday of Plitvice Lakes National Park pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Waterbird counting activities are carried out every January, when the waterbirds come to their wintering grounds, the unfrozen bodies of water.

The Wetlands International organisation started the winter bird count initiative in 1967 to identify wetland bird habitats of international importance, monitor the changes in them and take the necessary measures for their protection.

Counting waterbirds is both challenging and demanding. It includes a great number of sites and participants around the world. Nevertheless, encountering the many different bird species in their wintering grounds is a special experience every time.

In Croatia, the winter count is carried out at over 500 sites, and the Plitvice Lakes National Park is proud to be one of them.

The vast majority of the bodies of water in the Park are oligotrophic lakes (low nutrient levels) and smaller watercourses which feed them. Compared to other wetland habitats such as Kopački rit, Vransko jezero and the like, where thousands of birds are recorded during the winter count, these kinds of ecosystems support only a small number of waterbirds. However, these ecosystems are still extremely important for their conservation, especially for rare and protected species that prefer these kinds of habitats. The Plitvice Lakes National Park, thanks to its status as a protected site listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, offers these species a high degree of protection.

During this year’s winter waterbird count, the Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata) was recorded for the first time, during an unplanned tourist visit to the Plitvice Lakes National Park of an employee of the Naše Ptice association(Tarik Derović), a Birdlife partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the first of January 2024. The Red-throated Diver is a rare and strictly protected species, listed in the Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (the Bern Convention).

Another species recorded after a long absence is the Black-throated Diver (Gavia arctica)–2 animals, recorded by an employee of the Department of Protection, Maintenance, Safeguarding, Promotion and Utilisation of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, which was carrying out monitoring from 16 to 18 January 2024. This is another rare and strictly protected species listed in the Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (the Bern Convention). This species has been recorded in the park only twice before (first sighting by Hainard between 9 and 13 January 1955 and second sighting by ornithologist Gordan Lukač during the winter count of 2001).

Recording these two rare diver species, especially the Red-throated Diver–which is more rare in Croatia and especially so in the continental parts–is a fascinating result of this year’s winter waterbird count.

Apart from the two divers, four commonly present species were recorded: the Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficolis)–16 animals, the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)–18 animals, the Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)–1 animal, and the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)–18 animals. These numbers are quite standard for a winter count (give or take a few animals), apart from the Mallard, which is sometimes present in far larger numbers, up to 150 animals.

Some species which were recorded in the previous years were not recorded this year. Why is this so? Tracking the changes in the representation and the numbers of species over longer periods may give us the answers to these kinds of questions, and this is precisely the point of monitoring.

Pollution, habitat degradation and the effects of climate change at the global level make monitoring ever more important.

Objava Winter waterbird count–International Waterbird Census (IWC ) 2024 pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

It should be noted that this inscription of the national park on the List occurred a few years after adopting the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), and just one year after the first inscription of a cultural and natural heritage site (when Yellowstone National Park and the Galapagos Islands were inscribed as natural heritage sites). The Convention was ratified by 24 countries in 1976, and by 2017 that number reached 193 States Parties. One of the more significant considerations and grounds for the adoption of the Convention was the statement that “deterioration or disappearance of any item of the cultural or natural heritage constitutes a harmful impoverishment of the heritage of all the nations of the world”! Today, a total of 1092 sites can be found on the World Heritage List, 209 of which are natural heritage sites. The largest number of sites on the List (514 of them) can be found in Europe and North America.

To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value, i.e. each site has to justify this value by meeting at least one of a total of 10 criteria. Until 2004, these criteria were divided into six cultural and four natural criteria (from (i) to (iv)). With the adoption of the revised Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, they became a single set of ten criteria (natural criteria are since then marked with numbers from (vii) to (x)). Each criterion has its own description and today’s sites have to meet at least one of the mentioned criteria, although more often than not, they cover more than one.

In April 1979, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) received a proposal for the nomination of the Plitvice Lakes National Park for inscription on the World Heritage List. The description of the site, its historical characteristics, geological features and the most important part of the document, the reasons to be included on the World Heritage List, was drawn up on behalf of the Plitvice Lakes National Park by Aleksandar Brnek-Kostić, working together with engineer Stahan from the Republican Institute for Nature Protection in Zagreb. When describing tufa barriers separating the river valley, as well as the biological and ecological conditions necessary for the formation of the tufa barriers, authors also talk about well-preserved forests and an abundance of fauna. The nomination proposal was accompanied by various maps (geological maps, soil maps, phytocenological maps, longitudinal profile of the lakes) and photographic documentation. As is the practice today when revising proposals for inscription on the World Heritage List, the opinion on the proposal is submitted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It was concluded that the Plitvice Lakes National Park should be inscribed on the World Heritage List primarily because of the “undisturbed tufa formation” which forms the landscape character and hydrological system. This process completely meets criterion (ii) relating to the constant development of plant and animal communities, land forms, and marine and freshwater bodies. As secondary reasons for inscription, IUCN highlighted the criterion which covers interactions between humankind and its natural environment, and criterion (iii) as an exceptional combination of cultural and natural elements.

Today’s criteria according to which the Plitvice Lakes National Park is recognised as an outstanding universal value, are criteria (vii), (viii) and (ix).

The new Management Plan establishes that the “interaction between water, air, the geological substrate and organisms, and thanks to special physicochemical and biological conditions, enabled the formation of tufa that has dammed the watercourse to create a series of lakes, barriers and waterfalls. The combination of these processes and their unique ecology, as well as the exquisite beauty of the area, represents outstanding universal value.”  

The vision of this largest and oldest national park implies a future in which it is still a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which definitely includes the preservation of outstanding universal value and the criteria that describe it. Now, as well as in years to come, it is necessary to understand the value of Plitvice Lakes, not just as natural heritage of exceptional significance for Croatia, but also as globally important heritage.

Read other interesting stories from the Plitvice Lakes National Park

Objava 40 YEARS ON THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".