Prevention of excessive runoff of water from Lake Biograd, its systematic research, prohibition of the use of motor vehicles and motorcycles in the National Park area and prohibition of any type of tree felling, are some of the recommendations from the draft Audit Study for the Biogradska Gora National Park (NP).
It provides a series of guidelines that should improve the condition of that protected area. As explained by the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, the audit, authored by experts in various fields from the Environmental Protection Agency, was carried out "in order to harmonize measures and protection regimes with current regulations, as well as for the purpose of restoring and updating data and due to the need improvement of the overall environment".
The reason for drafting that document, as explained, is "harmonizing the needs of biodiversity protection with the purpose of the space and the development of sustainable tourism, without consequences for the primary value of the park".
The authors of the Study, among other things, suggested that a project should be prepared to stop the excessive outflow of water from Lake Biograd. Also, a detailed and systematic survey of the lake, fish fauna and benthos (animals and plants that live on the bottom) was proposed, "in order to assess the condition and capacities".
Then, it was explained, a method of managing the fish stock should be proposed through the Fisheries Basics document.
Detailed and systematic research of other glacial lakes in the NP area is also suggested. The goal of those activities, as written in the Audit Study, would be to define a measure for reintroduction (artificial return of endangered plant species to their native habitats) of autochthonous species that inhabit lakes.
Among the tasks is the preparation of a study of the carrying capacity of tourism for the NP area, and especially for the Biogradsko jezero site. This would imply defining the maximum number of people who can visit a tourist destination at the same time.
The revision study recommends, among other things, a ban on the use of motor vehicles (quads) and motorcycles in the NP area, as well as the adoption of an action plan, which would limit the number of off-road vehicles that can be found on local roads within the NP during one day . Also, according to the authors of the Study, the vehicles that can access the Biogradsko jezero location should be limited to delivery vehicles and those that use the NP surveillance services, and the parking lot should be moved outside that location.
It was also recommended that a management plan be drawn up for protected species of plants, animals and fungi and that the condition of those populations be continuously monitored.
"For commercial species of plants, mushrooms, provide training for collectors, which will be mandatory along with obtaining a license (certificate) on the method of collection... It is necessary to disable any type of felling of trees and ensure the maintenance of already existing conditions in forest habitats, in this way which will enable natural processes to take place unhindered. Fallen trees and stumps should not be removed from the rainforest reserve and, if possible, not moved from footpaths, but bridged with wooden bridges", are some of the recommendations from that document.
The assessment is that traditional forms of livestock production should be stimulated, without the preparations used in conventional agricultural production, as well as the use of motorized machinery.
One of the guidelines is to continue further research in the area of the park "in order to obtain comprehensive data on the wealth of species diversity in this area".
Based on the essential features and values, as well as the importance and functions that the area has, as written in the Study, it is concluded "that the area meets the conditions for maintaining the status of protection due to its originality, i.e. the characteristics of biodiversity and unique hydrological, geomorphological and natural characteristics". Biogradska gora has been under protection since 1878, and currently enjoys the protection of a natural asset of the II category.
In the protected area of NP "Biogradska gora", it was explained in the Audit Study, protection regimes of I, II and III degrees are being established. That National Park covers an area of 5.962 hectares, of which the I degree protection regime has been established on 47,9 percent of the territory. About 51 percent is under the II degree protection regime, and 0,5 percent of the territory is under the III degree protection regime.
The protective zone around the NP is 13.856 hectares.
The Ministry invited the citizens to give their opinion and present relevant information of importance to the NP by the end of January next year at the public discussion on the draft Audit Study. As announced, an expert discussion will be organized at which experts from all necessary fields will present their professional views, by taking into consideration the interests and thoughts of citizens.
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