Study Visit to Croatia: Exchange of Experiences on Participatory Management of Protected Areas

Representatives of the Parks Dinarides – Network of Protected Areas of the Dinarides carried out a study visit to Croatia from April 27 to 30, 2025, with the goal of strengthening knowledge and capacities in the field of participatory management of protected areas.

The visit focused on the exchange of experiences related to the establishment of participatory bodies, such as advisory councils, which enable the involvement of local communities in nature protection and area management. Participants in the visit included Zoran Mrdak, Jelena Marojević Galić, and Milica Kandić.

The following meetings were held:

Association Sunce, Split

Sunce is a prominent civil society organization focused on nature and environmental protection. They shared their extensive experience in developing management plans for marine protected areas and in establishing advisory councils. It was emphasized that a well-functioning advisory body can significantly enhance the management of protected areas, although its success largely depends on the specific local context.

Association Biom, Sinj

As Croatia’s leading civil society organization for nature protection and a member of BirdLife International, Biom presented its work in the Dinara Nature Park, where they established an advisory council and actively involved the local community in area management. The discussion also included Biom’s valuable experience with applying for and implementing EU LIFE programme projects, which is especially relevant given Montenegro’s recent accession to the programme.

Public Institution Zeleni Prsten, Zagreb County

The visit to Zeleni Prsten provided insights into cooperation models between protected area managers and local communities. Two examples were presented:

• Cooperation with the mayor of Dubravica Municipality, Mr. Marin Štritof, regarding the management of the Crep Special Botanical Reserve, protected since 1966.
• Collaboration with Sister Stjepanka Poljičak, director of the historic park around Lužnica Manor, a protected site since 2019.
  Although Zeleni Prsten has not yet established formal participatory bodies, the visit offered valuable lessons on local-level cooperation and day-to-day management challenges.

Ministry of Environment and Green Transition, Zagreb

At the meeting with Mr. Igor Kraitmajer, Assistant Minister for Nature Protection and his colleagues, discussions focused on the functioning of Croatia’s protected area system and future cooperation. This study visit contributed to a better understanding of participatory approaches to nature conservation and contribute for further strengthening regional cooperation within the Parks Dinarides network.

The study visit was organized as part of the project “Empowering Local Communities for Sustainable Management of Protected Areas,” supported through the “Supported = Empowered” program, implemented by the Fund for Active Citizenship (fAKT) in partnership with the Slagalica Foundation for Local Community Development from Croatia. The program is funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration.