A national park to preserve the biodiversity of the Brijuni Archipelago
Istria boasts a major national park, one of the first in Croatia, created in 1983. Brijuni National Park protects both marine heritage and monuments and buildings linked to the country's history. The archipelago's terrestrial and marine ecosystems are home to a wealth of wild flora and fauna, both native and non-native. Two islands welcome visitors (Mali and Veliki Brijuni). Accessible by boat, they can be explored on foot or by bike, "taking care not to leave anything behind", as the saying goes, and taking a zero-waste approach - even on vacation - and using sunscreen without chemical filters.
Protecting the sea from anthropogenic pressures
Human activities generate significant pollution, the effects of which are exacerbated by biogeography. The Adriatic is a shallow, narrow sea that carries domestic, agricultural and industrial effluents from the Bay of Venice and the Po delta all the way to Istria. Maritime traffic also contributes to marine pollution. Efforts have been made in Istria with the construction of wastewater treatment plants and improved waste management (collection, pre-treatment and compliance of landfill sites). However, plastics remain a cause for concern. Pollution contributes to the loss of biodiversity and contamination of the entire food chain. Added to this is the weakening of the Adriatic underwater current, induced by global warming, which is disrupting the environment. Another factor in the decline of marine biodiversity is the industrial overfishing carried out by various European countries in Croatian waters since Croatia joined the European Union (2013). Faced with this situation, in 2017, the Italian and Croatian authorities set up a 3,000 m² fishing zone, the Jabuka Trough, which is closed to fishing, thus making this fish breeding ground a sanctuary and enabling biodiversity to recover. The country's over-frequentation by tourists also puts pressure on fish stocks. Responsible consumption of seafood can also contribute to the renewal of plant and animal species living in aquatic environments.
All actors in the face of climate change
The region is particularly threatened by global warming, which could lead to rising coastal waters, submerged land and forest fires. The European Environment Agency warns of the potential consequences, not only economic but also human, with the displacement of coastal populations. Adaptation and mitigation measures are urgently required. Stop concreting the coastline, for example! In the extreme south-east of the peninsula, near Ližnjan, in the Luka Budava-Istria ecological network zone, an oasis of unspoilt nature has been left untouched, criss-crossed only by small footpaths. It is an integral part of the European Union's large network of protected natural areas (Natura 2000). For their part, activists from Zelena Istra (Green Istria) organize awareness-raising campaigns aimed at civil society. At the end of the chain, holidaymakers also have a role to play. They can take individual action in the way they travel, to reduce their carbon footprint as well as their local consumption.
www.zelena-istra.hr/en/news/
