Designated terrestrial protected areas

Croatia had achieved the EU’s policy target of protecting 30% of its terrestrial area upon joining the EU in 2013, when Natura 2000 sites covered 36.8% of the terrestrial area. The Natura 2000 network comprises 783 sites and covers 9.3% of the marine area under national jurisdiction.

Over the last decade, a number of nationally designated protected areas have increased in size and the percentage of protected surface area has grown continuously. In 2024, there were 410 nationally designated protected areas, which made up 7.4% of the total surface area of Croatia, 13.6% of the terrestrial area and 1.1% of the marine area.

Approximately 90% of nationally designated protected areas are covered by Natura 2000 sites. Therefore, nationally designated protected areas and Natura 2000 sites together cover 38.2% of the terrestrial area (see graph) and 12.6% of Croatia’s marine area.

To contribute to the target set out in the EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 – the target of legally protecting a minimum of 30% of the EU’s marine area – Croatia plans to amend its marine Natura 2000 network by designating sites for the conservation of marine bird species, bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles and Posidonia oceanica beds.