Project goal is to come to a joint Croatian-Dutch long-term monitoring plan for Natura2000 habitats and species in the Kornati Archipelago. Aim is that this pilot project will serve as a model for Natura2000 and other protected area management in Croatia.
Research Objectives:
The project is divided in three main activities:
1. The introduction workshop is meant to introduce the Dutch experts and their Croatian counterparts to each other as well as to the pilot area: the Kornati Archipelago. Through listening and learning from each others strengths and approach we aim to come up to a joint monitoring plan for the year 2009.
2. The timeframe for the actual field work very much depends on the ecology of the species concerned. The Dutch and Croatian specialists will guide voluntary students and participating locals in the monitoring of species and habitats and the proper storage of data. Like in the Netherlands the participation of enthusiastic volunteers is needed to be able to cover a representative part of the species populations or habitat cover.
3. Through an evaluation workshop we aim to discuss the lessons learned and to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of our work in 2009. This will enable us to improve the monitoring plan for coming years. After the workshop we will communicate the results to the wider public through a dissemination seminar. With this seminar we hope that our approach will also be recognized by nature policy makers and other protection authorities in Croatia.
Resultaten:
The main results of this project are two fold:
1. Capacity building of protected area managers, biologists and volunteers regarding a system for regular monitoring of habitats and species and proper storage of the monitoring data in GIS. With these data the protection authorities are better able to assess the current status of habitats and species and to analyze positive or negative trends. At the end this will lead to an improved nature and visitor management of protected areas like the project pilot area: Kornati Archipelago.
2. The dissemination of the lessons learned in this pilot-project may initiate a change in nature policy and protected area management in Croatia. |
