Land use - National Responses (Croatia)

A significant progress in preservation of the coastal and island areas from inadequate building has been recorded in the period since 2004, after promulgation of new legislation regulating construction activities in these areas, and taking of concrete measures resulting in demolition of illegal buildings and structures.

The Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia [7] is a key long-term document and a guideline for the economic and social development and environmental protection respecting the principle of sustainable development of Croatia. Because of undesirable trends of inadequate use of space in the coastal and island areas, in 2004 the government passed the Regulation on Protected Coastal Area Development and Conservation [6] that intensified control and protection from inappropriate building in these areas.

Major changes in forest management resulted from the adoption of the National Forest Policy and Strategy [8] and the new Forests Act [9]. The preparation of the National Forest Inventory (CRONFI) is in the final stages and the Inventory will be available in 2010. Sustainable forest management in Croatia has received acknowledgement in the form of a certificate from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), whose standards mostly correspond with the principles of the NATURA 2000 network.

In accordance with the Environmental Protection Act [10], the formulation of the National Indicators List [11] fallowed in the beginning of 2009. as a basis for systematic monitoring of and reporting on the state of the environment. The same legislation defines soil protection and contamination and the protection of the lithosphere and stipulates the adoption of laws and special regulations to ensure its sustainable use. While the Act on Confirmation of the of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa [12] was passed in 2000, Croatia has not adopted a umbrella law on soil protection although the issue of soil protection is indirectly addressed by a number of regulations, from those regulating agriculture and forestry to regulations dealing with polluters whose activity affects the state of the soil. Monitoring of agricultural land is included in the Agricultural Land Act [13], and monitoring of forest soils in the Ordinance on the Collection of Data, Network Points, Keeping the Registry, and Conditions of Use of Data on Damage to Forest Ecosystems [14].

References

[1]  Strategy for Spatial Development of the Republic of Croatia

[2] Draft State of Environment Report of the Republic of Croatia, Croatian Environment Agency

[3] State of Environment Report of the Republic of Croatia, Report, Croatian Environment Agency, Zagreb, 2007

[4] National Mine Action Program for the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette 120/09)

[5] Rural Development Strategy for the Republic of Croatia for the Period 2008-2013

[6] Regulation on Protected Coastal Area Development and Conservation (Official Gazette 128/04)

[7] Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia

[8] National Forest Policy and Strategy (Official Gazette 120/03)

[9] Forests Act (Official Gazette 140/05)

[10] Environmental Protection Act (Official Gazette 110/07)

[11] National Indicators List

[12] Act on Confirmation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (Official Gazette – International Treaties 11/00)

[13] Agricultural Land Act (Official Gazette 152/08)

[14] Ordinance on the Collection of Data, Network Points, Keeping the Registry, and Conditions of Use of Data on Damage to Forest Ecosystems (Official Gazette 129/06)