Area:  Total: 56,538 sq km Land: 56,410 sq km Coastline: 5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km) Population: 4,676,865 (July 1999 est.) Source: CIA Worldfact Book (1999)

Croatia   Basic Data Contacts CSD Data EUCC Data Other Links Country Contacts Government of the Republic of Croatia State Directorate for Water Management Ministry of Environmental Protection and Zoning Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transportation and Communications Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry     (Source:  CIA World Factbook 1999)     OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the following information. The information was taken from Croatia's submission to the 5th and 7th Sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: August 1999). For further information on Croatia's social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Croatia at:  http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/croatia/index.htm   Decision-Making  Responsibilities of governmental bodies for integrated coastal zone management and sustainable development including impacts of activities affecting the coastal marine areas are scattered among different ministries and state directorates. Integration of the environmental protection activities in general is the responsibility of:    The State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment.  Other related governmental bodies are:    The Ministry of Physical Planning, Building and Housing;  The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Fisheries Department);  The Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications.  The State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment is the main coordinating body. The State Directorate for Water is responsible for environmental protection from land-based sources (coastal sewage, industrial effluents). The Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications is responsible for the protection of sea from discharges of ballast from shipping, oil spills. The Nature Protection Department in the State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment is responsible for the conservation of marine living resources both in the high sea and under national jurisdiction. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Fisheries Department is responsible for sustainable use and conservation of fish. The Ministry of Science and Technology coordinates the Croatian National Monitoring Programme "Systematic Research of the Adriatic Sea as a base for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia". The Parliamentary Board for the Physical Planning and Environmental Protection deals with all activities related to the physical planning and environment to be discussed in the Parliament.  There are no other special organisational or legal forms of integrated management of coastal areas. Specific tasks of coastal resources protection and development orientation are performed within the state organizations, sectoral institutions and other institutions mentioned above. The State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment is playing the role of the main coordinating body at the national level for nature and environmental protection. Legislation, regulations, and policy instruments In Croatia, all laws, regulations and decrees have been established by the Parliament, Government, relevant ministries or state directorates and they are all mandatory. The legislation and other policy instruments that have been developed to deal with the issue of integrated coastal zone management and sustainable development, including environmental impacts of activities affecting the coastal and marine are the following:    The Law on Environmental Protection; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessent; The Law on Physical Planning; The National Plan on Water protection. The legal instruments related to marine environmental protection, both from land-based activities and from sea-based activities include:    The Maritime Code; The Law on Water; Decree on Sea Water Quality for Beaches. In addition, the Law on Marine Fishery and several by-laws regulate sustainable use of marine living resources, both of the high seas and under national jurisdiction. Strategies, policies and plans The Croatian National Environmental Strategy which is under preparation in the State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment, will among others, cover all major issues relating to oceans and seas. Apart from the National Strategy of Environmental Protection, there are other sectoral strategies, some of them already adopted by the Parliament and some under preparation:    National Physical Planning Strategy; and  National Strategy on Tourism adopted by the Parliament;  National Strategy on Agriculture; National Energy Strategy;  National Biodiversity Strategy;  National Programme of Protection of the Cultural Heritage; National Traffic Strategy.  The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan foresee numerous action plans for the preservation and sustainable use of endangered ecosystems and species. Preservation and sustainable use of fragile ecosystem will be included in the Croatian National Monitoring Programme, as well as the sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources.  Within the local (county) physical plans, sea use is elaborated under a special chapter. Marine environmental protection from land-based activities include a number of plans and programmes for construction of sewage systems and treatment plants for municipal and industrial waste water and construction of plants for ballast water and bilge water treatment. Major Programmes The programmes that address the above mentioned issues in the coastal area of Croatia include:    Sewage treatment investment programme in Trogir-Kaötela and Solin-Split; Environment Management Plan for the Cres-Loöinj Archipelago; Sustainable Development plan and investment programme for National park Krka and the River Krka is under preparation in the framework of the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme (METAP PHASE III);  Water management programmes for the coastal region which integrate land-based activities; "Systematic research of the Adriatic Sea as a base for sustainable development of the Republic of Croatia" coordinated by the Ministry of Science and Technology.  A Master Plan for the Adriatic will be prepared within the work of the trilateral Commission between Croatia, Italy and Slovenia. The first phase of the Master Plan will produce a "Preliminary Study for the Integrated Management of the Adriatic Ecosystem". Other studies prepared include:   Report on Coastal Area Management in Croatia prepared by the State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment;  Rijeka-Istria Region Solid Waste Study;  Major Groups Most of the Major Groups identified by Agenda 21 are involved in national decision-making for issues related to oceans and seas through the process of public hearing in the Environmental Impact Assessment procedure. Non-governmental organizations and Farmers have the opportunity to express their opinion through the media and forums of their own. Local Authorities are involved in decision-making for issues related to oceans and seas through physical plans, local development programmes and direct contacts with relevant governmental bodies. In most cases, the scientific and technological community is involved in the decision-making process at the beginning of the development issues. Status 1.    Coastal areas:  Major towns in the coastal area of Croatia are: Split, Rijeka, Pula, Zadar, äibenik, Ploc e and Dubrovnik.  The major current uses of the coastal areas are: fishing which contributes to about 5% of the economy, tourism, maritime transport, ports, shipbuilding, oil refinery, oil terminal, gas exploration, petrochemical industry. 2.    Sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Fisheries Department is taking measures based on research to encourage the development of marine living resources. The oceanographic institutes are in charge of the research of marine living resouces. 3.     Impact of shipping Oil spills from ships, uncontrolled discharged of ballast and bilge water from ships, possible dumping especially of hazardous and harmful matters from ships, could have an undesirable impact on the sustainable management of coastal zones. 4.     Impact of other coastal- and marine-based industries The main impact of coastal-and marine-based industries is wastewater discharge without prior treatment. Another impact is inadequate disposal of solid waste in porous karstic terrain which could contaminate ground water which is used for drinking purposes. 5.     Land-based pollution The primary sources of land-based pollution of the marine environment are: a) waste water from settlements in the coastal discharged directly into the sea; and b) oil pollution from oil refineries located in the coastal area. 6.     Sea-based pollution Bilge water from ships is the primary source of sea-pollution. 7.     Priority actions Construction of wastewater treatment plants is the priority in addressing the problem of ecosystems pollution. The Subregional contingency plan is under preparation in the case of accidental pollution for the Adriatic together with Italy and Slovenia. Other important actions needed include: the development of existing cleaning companies specialised for sea and shore cleaning, the establishment of the new one as well as the purchase of equipment for sea cleaning (boats, booms, pumps etc.) Capacity-building, education, training and awareness-raising There are no specific programmes in Croatia to educate policy makers in the concept and policy design of sustainable coastal management and its aspects, but such aspect is included in environmental and physical planning educational programmes in general. International training courses for management of sustainable development in coastal zones are organized within the UNEP MAP PAP/RAC SPLIT. The State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment and the Ministry of Physical Planning, Building and Housing organize training courses for special purposes, in co-operation with relevant governmental and other institutions (universities, scientific institutions etc.) intended for responsible planners and local authorities and relevant industries to assist them in managing sustainable development in coastal zones.  Croatia is included in the World campaign for Clean Seas. Local authorities, often in association with NGO's, organize cleaning of beaches before the tourist season. Cleaning boats are used during the whole summer, for instance, to control the coastal sea in the northern and middle Adriatic area. A NGO "Lijepa naöa", in co-operation with the State Directorate for the Protection of Nature and Environment, conducts the project Blue Flag for the environmental education and protection of the coastal zones particularly in the marinas and on the beaches. Constraints The main constraint for Croatia in implementing effective programmes to address the issues related to integrated coastal zone management and sustainable development is the lack of financial resources. Technology A current technology concern of relevance to oceans and seas is the expected availability of gas from the Adriatic Sea by 2001 which will replace heavy fuel oil for heating and in industry. Croatia applies the best available technology to identify and prevent the pollution of the marine environment. Approximately US $ 1 million is spent annually for the operation of cleaning vats and the prevention of pollution of the marine environment. Further details related to the clean technologies are provided in the section on Environmentally Sound Technology. The extent of application of environmentally sound technologies is determined by the availability of funds. Information The national information available to assist both decision-makers and planners working in different aspects of coastal area management are the following: (a) National investigation programmes (statistics) used for sustainable management of fishery resources (b) National reports of marine research for marine pollution; (c) National research programmes for gas and oil to also deal with mineral resources; (d) There is a lack of permanent monitoring system for living resources other than fish; (e) Climate change studies have been prepared for the Cres-Loöinj Archipelago and the Kaötela Bay in the framework of the UNEP-MAP. The Environmental Information System as a part of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is under the establishment. State institutions, local authorities and expert institutions will be linked to the network for processing the data. The relevant information is available through a national web site: www.ring.net /duzo/;www.dzs.hr International workshop on environmental performance indicators in the framework of METAP activities (UNEP-MAP,BLUE PLAN) was organised in November in Split. Financing This sector is mainly financed by the National budget and partly by private sector partners. Fund within Croatian water company is used for the construction of sewage systems and waste water systems, and external assistance is used as loans and as grants for the development of studies and programmes. Co-operation Croatia, as a signatory of the Barcelona Convention on the Protection of the Mediterranean against Pollution, co-operates at the international level within the framework of the MAP, and especially with its Regional Centre - REMPEC/Malta, the Especially Protected Areas Centre in Tunis, and the PAP/RAC in Split, which deals with the integrated area-specific environmental management.   EUCC Data COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN CROATIA EUCC has compiled country files on Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) for all coastal states of Europe and Central Asia. Summaries for all countries will become available in August. This page provides a preliminary summary on the following items for Croatia:  Spatial planning Environment Nature Conservation Sectoral Development Framework for Development of ICZM National Achievements in the Field of ICZM Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM 1. Spatial planning 1.1 Legislation and Regulations Law for Territorial Management, (1980). Law on Spatial Planning, (1994, 1998). Spatial Planning Strategy of the Republic of Croatia, (1997). Spatial Planning Programme of the Republic of Croatia, (1999). 1.2 Administrative Competencies The highest organ at the national level responsible for spatial planning was the Ministry of Territorial Management, Construction and Housing. But in the beginning of 2000 the ministry merged with the State Directorate for Environment and Nature Protection into the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning. Another important organ at the national level is the Ministry of Development and Reconstruction. The system of territorial management comprises County Institutes and Offices for Physical Planning. The State Council of Physical Management evaluates documents related to spatial planning at the regional level. Within the local self-government there are departments in charge of land-use planning. Environmental protection has similar organisational structure. [18]  1.2 Coastal Policy The land use planning system in Croatia as defined by The Law on Physical Planning is comprehensive and includes planning documents such as the National Physical Development Strategy and the Programme of Physical Development on the State level, County Physical Plans as regional level planning documents (the first generation of these planning documents is being prepared now), Comprehensive Plans of Towns and Municipalities, General Master Plans, Local Plans and Site Plans, all covering whole or parts of local jurisdictions. [19]       2. Environment 2.1 Legislation and Regulations Law on the protection of the environment, (1994). The maritime code. Declaration on the protection of the environment of the Republic of Croatia, (1992). [20] 2.2 Administrative Competencies The highest organ at the national level responsible for the environment was the Directorate for Environment and Nature Protection. But in the beginning of 2000 the Directorate merged with the Ministry of Territorial Management and, Construction and Housing into the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning. (21) Another important organ at the national level is the State Directorate for Water. At the national level the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications also plays a role. The Council for the Environment evaluates documents relative to environmental planning at the regional level.  2.3 Environmental Policy In Croatia Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an integrated part of the procedures preceding economic activities to evaluate if the projects can cause any considerable damage to the environment.     3. Nature Conservation 3.1 Legislation and Regulations Law on the Protection of the Nature, (1994). Law on the Protection of the Environment, (1994). Law on the Protection of Cultural Monuments. Declaration on the Protection of the Environment of the Republic of Croatia, (1992). [22] 3.2 Administrative Competencies The highest organ at the national level responsible for nature conservation was the State Directorate for Environment and Nature Protection. But in the beginning of 2000 the Directorate merged with the Ministry of Territorial Management and, Construction and Housing into the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning. [23] Another important organ at the national level is the Directorate for Cultural and National Heritage under the Ministry of Culture. The Council for the Environment evaluates documents related to the protection of the environment. [24]  3.3 System of Protected Areas In the coastal region, there are 107 protected objects, of which 33 objects of nature have been selected and classified in 8 protection categories; National parks, natural parks, Strict reservations, Special reservations, Park-forests, Protected landscapes, monuments of nature and Monument of park architecture. The majority of protected areas in the coastal zone concern National Parks and Nature Parks. The National Parks are areas with at least one protected ecosystem and with an exceptional value. Nature Parks are nature areas with particular values where you can exercise activities that do not endanger the essential characteristics of the park. The protected objects of nature in the coastal region cover a total area of 2,863 km², or 65% of the area covered by all the protected objects in the Republic of Croatia, which illustrates the great value, as well as sensitivity of the coastal and island areas. [25]     4. Sectoral Development 4.1 Coastal Defence No information received.  4.2 Recreation and Tourism The tourist sector is contributing 10-12% to the GNP and employs 180.000 people, direct or indirect. The total capacity of the tourist sector in 1990 was around 862.653 beds and 830.981 of were located in the coastal provinces. In 1992 the number of beds dropped to 2/3 of the capacity registered in 1992, mainly caused by a drop in the number of tourists (approximately 70 % foreign tourists), from 49 million in 1990 to only 9 million in 1992. After 1993 we can see a gradual and stable growth. But modernisation of the tourist sector will demand considerable investments where it is also important to create a new identity. A rich environment with high ecological values will contribute to long term development in the tourist sector.  4.3 Fisheries and Aquaculture Fisheries are a traditional sector that is showing a decrease in the catch of fish, molluscs and crustaceans (from 48.822 tons in 1987 to 17.347 tons in 1996). Deep-sea fish like anchovy makes up the biggest part of the catch. Aquaculture is showing an increase in producing sea organisms. In 1995 25 aquaculture farms were registered, 17 on the islands and 8 on the main land. They produced 1.600 tons of fish, 600 tons of mussels and 50.000 oysters.  4.4 Transport In 1992, the total length of the motorways in the coastal provinces is 10.879 km, of which 9.258 km is paved. But the density of motorways, especially highways is still insufficient. Croatia is planning to construct 1.600 km of motorways, mainly in this decennium, which should improve communications in Croatia.  4.5 Harbours and Shipping Naval construction is a traditional industrial branch in Croatia. Naval construction is equally divided in the coastal provinces (Split-Dalmatia, Primorje-Gorski kotar and Istria). Naval traffic is also a traditional economic activity in the coastal provinces, with big fluctuations in revenues in the 90s. In 1996, six big naval companies, employing more than 1.000 employees, realised revenues of 500 million dollar. The main harbours, as well for goods as for passengers, are situated along the Adriatic coast. The main harbours for goods are Rijeka and Ploce. The traffic in the Croatian harbours decreased from 29.042.000 tons in 1987 to 13.875.000 tons in 1996. The number of passengers, more than 10 million in 1996, is still increasing.  4.6 Industry The process of de-industrialisation of the Croatian economy is clearly visible from 1987. The volume of the total industrial production diminished constantly between 1987 and 1995, in 1996 there was slight progress in production. The contribution of the industrial sector to the GNP has diminished to approximately 25% in the last few years. At the same time the number of people working in the industrial sector decreased rapidly. The positive side of the de-industrialisation is the elimination of polluting technologies near the coast and the possibility of creating new economic activities that are not endangering the coastal environment.  Primorje-Gorski kotar is the most industrialised coastal province, followed by Split-Dalmatia and Istria. The main industrial plants are found around the cities of Rijeka and Split.  4.7 Agriculture Agriculture is characterised by a constant decrease of the share of the rural in the total population. Agricultural grounds cover approximately 55% of the total surface in the 7 coastal provinces. Istria, Ravni Kotari (between the river Zrmanja and the river Krka), the valley of Split-Kaötela and the delta of the river Neretva are the most favourable areas for agricultural exploitation. The mild Mediterranean climate is particularly suitable for growing grapes, olives, fruit and vegetables, flowers and typical Mediterranean plants. A diminishing trend has been noted in the cultivation of traditional Mediterranean species that give way to other species that are less labour intensive or more profitable. The contribution of agriculture (including fisheries!) to the GNP nowadays is approximately 10%.     5. Framework for Development of ICZM The international co-operation aimed at environmental protection and land-use planning of the Adriatic region started in the mid-1960s through the environmental protection projects for the Southern and Upper Adriatic, implemented with the help of UN Development Programme (UNDP). Croatia has been actively involved in the formulation and implementation of the Program of regional seas of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), the Barcelona Convention and the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP). Just after gaining their independence, Croatia signed and ratified the Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean against pollution and its protocols. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas, MARPOL, the ECE Convention and the Ramsar Convention have been signed and ratified as well.  Croatia hosts the Regional Activity Centre for the Priority Actions Programme, which has been acting for almost 20 years within the Mediterranean Action Plan-UNEP. The principal activity of the Centre is integrated planning and management of coastal areas. Special stress has been placed at the implementation of the MAP Coastal Area Management Programme. Croatia actively participates in the work of other UNEP-MAP bodies, such as the Commission for Sustainable development, and is also signatory of the Agenda 21 for the Mediterranean.     6. National Achievements in the Field of ICZM   Under the guidance of the Directorate for the Environment and Nature Protection the ëBureau for the Adriaticí has been established which co-ordinates the activities within the field of nature protection in the Adriatic. Croatia has been one of the first Mediterranean countries that adopted an emergency plan in case of accidental pollution of the sea (e.g. oil spills). A project focussed on rehabilitation of coastal forests has been realised thanks to the World Bank. Preparation of the document ëCoastal Area Management in Croatiaí. Preparation of a document on ëprotection of the marine and coastal zoneí of the province Primorje-Gorski kotar, and ëmanagement of the public maritime zoneí of the Split-Dalmatia. Croatia has actively participated in the preparation on the ëConvention on access to information, public participation in decision making and policy making.í National ëRed Bookí on endangered species. [26] Last but not least, it should be pointed out that the large scale state intervention aimed at fostering regional development, and at rehabilitation of devastated parts of the coastal region brought some considerable results, such as: improved traffic connections of the coast and the islands with other parts of Croatia and the rest of Europe, as well as improved water-supply and sewerage infrastructure; closing down of harmful industries in the Bakar bay and äibenik; improved management of the national parks and preparations for physical plans of the natural parks; reconstruction of settlements and removal of other consequences of war destruction suffered during the year 1991, which particularly regards the towns and cultural heritage of the southern part of the Croatian coast (the most outstanding example is Dubrovnik with surroundings, where apart from war damages, earthquake also struck). [27] 7. Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM Conflicts between different economic activities, between different sectors. Institutions and mechanisms of coastal management are insufficiently developed. In Croatia there are no organisations focussed on integrated management in the coastal zone. Expansion of construction zones, uncontrolled and illegal construction. Certain sites along the Adriatic are under a high degree of pollution due to the implantation of polluting industries. (Around Rijeka, Kastela and Sibenik). [28] A training course organised in 1998 re-confirmed the importance of physical planning in coastal areas, but also pointed out the under-developed management institutions and mechanisms. Although poli-centric development is part of all national strategies, regional disparities have become even greater. Many of legal provisions are still to be applied, while the administrative and court practice, which supports the legal protection of the environment, is not yet established. The land use planning system, regulated mostly by the Physical Planning Law, is comprehensive but also complex and costly in implementation. At the national level the main planning documents are often too general without going beyond goals and broad policies and without providing adequate implementation instruments. [29] References 18 Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie: Aménagement des zones côtières en Croatie. Zagreb, Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie. 1998. 19 Coastal Planning and Environmental Management in Croatia, by Gojko Berlengi, Split, Croatia, 1999. 20 Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie: Aménagement des zones côtières en Croatie. Zagreb, Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie. 1998. 21 Coastal Planning and Environmental Management in Croatia, by Gojko Berlengi, Split, Croatia, 1999. 22 Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie: Aménagement des zones côtières en Croatie. Zagreb, Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie. 1998. 23 Coastal Planning and Environmental Management in Croatia, by Gojko Berlengi, Split, Croatia, 1999. 24 Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie: Aménagement des zones côtières en Croatie. Zagreb, Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie. 1998. 25 http://www.rec.org/REC/Publications/CountryReport/Croatia/chapter3.html 26 Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie: Aménagement des zones côtières en Croatie. Zagreb, Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie. 1998. 27 Coastal Planning and Environmental Management in Croatia, by Gojko Berlengi, Split, Croatia, 1999. 28 Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie: Aménagement des zones côtières en Croatie. Zagreb, Direction nationale de la nature et de líenvironnement de la République de Croatie. 1998. 29 Coastal Planning and Environmental Management in Croatia, by Gojko Berlengi, Split, Croatia, 1999.   Prepared by Martijn Onderstal at EUCC International Secretariat  © Copyright: European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC), 2000    Other Links Mediterranean Action Plan