Contracts worth 4.2 million euros awarded in Karlovac for the preservation of natural heritage
Today, contracts were officially awarded in Karlovac for two public institutions - the Natura Viva Public Institution and the Barać Cave Public Institution - for projects aimed at preserving natural heritage, with a total value of 4.2 million euros, of which 3.5 million euros were provided from European grants.
The funds were allocated within the framework of the Call for Proposals "Improved Management of Protected Areas and Natura 2000 Ecological Network Areas" from the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme. "Through the aforementioned call, 75 million euros have been provided so far to strengthen the nature protection system, with 33 projects with a total value of almost 60 million euros in grants approved," stressed Minister Vučković, adding that this is also the largest such allocation of funds aimed at preserving natural heritage.
The minister also recalled that during the mandate of this Government, almost 230 million euros have been invested in the water and communal economy in Karlovac County, with the largest amount of funds directed at flood protection.
"We are proud of our two institutions, Natura Viva and Barać's Caves, which, through their work, confirm how important it is to preserve natural heritage with responsible management. We are continuously working to protect our natural values and create new opportunities for development and a better quality of life for the local community," said County Prefect Martina Furdek-Hajdin.
The first project, "Living Rivers and Secrets of the Underground", implemented by the NATURA VIVA Public Institution, focuses on the integrated conservation of river and underground ecosystems. The project is worth 1.8 million euros, with almost 1.6 million euros in grants.
It covers three key areas of the ecological network - Mrežnica - Tounjčica, the Dretulja Valley and the Ogulin-Plaščansko area, including seven speleological sites. Through protection measures, habitat restoration and systematic monitoring, the state of the ecosystem will be improved on more than a thousand hectares of the Natura 2000 area.
The second project, "Conservation of Karst Waters and Underground Biodiversity in the Significant Landscape of Barać's Cave", implemented by the Barać's Cave Public Institution, is worth 2.3 million euros, with almost 2 million euros in grants.
The project includes the protection of the karst area through research, education and concrete conservation measures, including grassland restoration, watercourse cleaning and the removal of invasive species in the Barać Caves area and related Natura 2000 sites.
Minister of Environmental Protection and Green Transition Marija Vučković said that these projects clearly demonstrate how nature protection and sustainable development go hand in hand. By investing in the preservation of our rivers, karst subsoil and biodiversity, we are not only protecting nature, but also creating the preconditions for a better quality of life for local communities and sustainable development. It is particularly important that the projects are implemented in cooperation with local institutions and experts, because it is precisely such an approach that ensures concrete and lasting results.
The contracts were ceremoniously presented to directors Antonija Bišćan and Tihana Oštrini by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Green Transition Marija Vučković, State Secretary of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition Tanja Radić Lakoš, State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds Zrinka Raguž, Director of the CFCA Dragan Jelić, and County Prefect of Karlovac County Martina Furdek-Hajdin.
After the ceremonial awarding of the contract, a working meeting was held in the county building, attended by Minister Vučković and County Mayor Furdek-Hajdin, along with the Director of Croatian Waters Zoran Đuroković and his associates, the Director of the Water Management and Marine Protection Directorate Elizabeta Kos, and the Mayor of Karlovac Damir Mandić. The meeting discussed key topics for the development of Karlovac County, including flood protection projects, development of water and utility infrastructure, green transition, and waste management.