NATURA 2000 U VARAŽDINSKOJ ŽUPANIJI

What is Natura 2000?

Natura 2000 is an ecological network made up of areas important for the conservation of threatened taxa and habitat types in the European Union. Its objective is to conserve or re-establish a favourable conservation status for more than a thousand threatened and rare taxa, and approximately 230 natural and semi-natural habitat types. To date, some 30,000 areas in almost 20% of the EU territory have been included in the network, making this the largest system of conserved areas in the world. Natura 2000 is founded on the EU Directives. Areas are selected according to scientific benchmarks, and special consideration is given to public interest and the benefit of the people living in these areas. Natura 2000 is the fundamental programme by which the European Union is attempting to halt negative trends in its territory.

EU Directives - foundation of the Natura 2000 network

The Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive represent the core of the EU's nature conservation legislation. Together, these regulations set an ambitiously high standard of nature protection for all EU Member States. Their implementation is primarily executed through the establishment of the Natura 2000 ecological network. Each EU Member State contributes to this network by designating their most important areas for each individual species and habitat type listed in the appropriate annexes to the directives. Pursuant to the Birds Directive, states proclaim Special Protection Areas (SPA) for bird species. The Habitats Directive covers all other European species and habitat types for which Member States are required to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), after which these areas are subjected to verification and approval by the European Commission. These two groups of areas together make up the NATURA 2000 network.

NATURA 2000 in the Varazdin County

Ecological network of the Republic of Croatia has been proclaimed by the Ecological Network Directive (O.G. No. 124/2013) and represents the areas of the EU Natura 2000 ecological network. It includes the Special Protection Areas (SPA) for wild birds, and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) for habitats and species.

The areas of Natura 2000 network can also be found in Varaždin County, and covers about 16% of its territory. Out of the total 18 areas of Natura 2000 network in Varaždin County, 3 areas belong to the Special Protection Areas (SPA sites – Bilogora and Kalnik mountain, Drava accumulations and the Upper Drava), whereas 15 areas belong to the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC sites – the site along the River Drava, the peak parts of Ivanščica and Ravna gora, meadows by the River Bednja, a part of Lonja watercourse, and a few caves and pits closed to the public). The ecological network also includes the meadows that are a habitat for the Adriatic Lizard Orchid, which is a rare and endangered plant species. Like any orchid, the Adriatic Lizard Orchid is a strictly protected species under the Nature Protection Act, and it is additionally protected by international regulations signed by the Republic of Croatia, as well as by the European Union Directives.