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Geoheritage and its protection in Croatia

The care and legislative protection of geoheritage in Croatia dates back to the 19th century when it was regulated by the the Law on Hunting (1893) and latter Law on Cave conservation (1900). In former Yugoslavia, protection of geoheritage was treated by the Law on nature protection (1960, 1974), and several geological sites in Croatia were declared natural monuments. Since 1991 geoheritage and the protection of nature was treated by various governmental offices, such as The State Directorate for Nature Protection (untill 2000), the Ministry of Environment Protection which was soon merged with the Ministry of Physical Planning (comprising the Division for Nature Conservation with the Natural Heritage Department) (untill 2004), the Ministry of Culture (since 2004), and the State Institute for Nature Protection (founded in 2002, but operative since 2003). The new Law on Nature Protection (2003) brought the consistent and comprehensive overall regulations of Nature conservation, including protected animal and plant species, geological heritage (fossils and minerals), protected areas and sustainable usage of natural resources. Today, 10.33 % of the Croatian territory is under administrative protection. There are 6 geological monuments (Brusnik island, Jabuka island, Stara straža Lemeš-beds, Rupnica basalt columns, Fantazija quarry, Gaveznica achate-bearing volcanics), 4 paleontological monuments (Hušnjakovo Neandertal site, Vindija cave, Mačkova cave, Velnačka glavica with Permian limestone), 4 hydrogeological and 35 geomorphological monuments. Although the first geological monument was protected already in 1948 (Gaveznica columnar basalts), geological heritage is still in juvenile stage of recognition, which is probably due to lack of awareness that geoheritage is unique, unrepeatable and unrepairable. However, on the positive side, there are 7 National Parks and 10 Natural Parks which have significant geoheritage sites under their protection and management. Some of the Park management offices have organized geological trails, and several new trails, as well as two geoparks are under construction. Education is considered a primary tool in rising of public awareness on the necessity of protection of the geoheritage, and numerous geological workshops were organized for primary school children since their start in 2000.

geoheritage; Croatia; history

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