In the north, near the Slovenian border
In the forests of the Dinaric Alps, the natural domain of large trees, conifers dominate (fir, black pine, spruce), but also junipers, which are well resistant to winter snow. In the lower parts, there are wooded hills, valleys and vast meadows, where different species of pedunculated oaks, hornbeams, hazelnuts, beeches and sycamore maples grow.
In the great Croatian North, the king of the forest is the brown bear!
There would be over a thousand of them breeding there. While hunting wild boar, deer or roe deer is widely allowed, shooting bears is strictly regulated (four months a year), as the plantigrade is one of the three large predators protected along with the lynx and the wolf. At the Veterinary University of Zagreb, research on brown bears is led by one of Europe's leading specialists, Prof. Djuro Huber. The association Kuterevo, in a village of the same name (30 km from Senj), also participates in its safeguarding. A team of volunteers runs a shelter for orphaned bears, which can be visited.
Always in the forest, the patient observer will be able to see wild boars, wild cats or red foxes. With the wolf, it's harder! Reintroduced in Slovenia in the 1990s, the dreaded canid has just reappeared in the north of Croatia and in the heights of Plitvice Park. Much less feared, the pine marten, the kuna, holds a special place in the hearts of Croatians. This small carnivorous mammal, of the mustelidae family, has been chosen as the symbol of the national motto (HRK). In the Middle Ages, the fur on its long, bushy tail was used as a bargaining chip. Today, the animal is engraved on the coins still in use, just like the bear, the fish, the turtledove or the endemic yellow iris (Degenia velebitica)
Another emblematic animal is the strange eel proteus (Proteus anguinus), which divers have unearthed in the karst caves of the Dinaric Alps (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy). Protected in the same way as amphibians, the aquatic underground predator belongs to the salamander family. It is sometimes called "human fish" because its photosensitive skin resembles that of humans. Also protected, the sea otter, which lives in the waters of Plitvice and Krka National Parks, feeds on crayfish and freshwater fish. In these lakes and rivers, you can also find eels, carp, trout, pike, huchen and catfish. In the Slavonic wetlands (North-East), many migratory birds are a delight for birdwatchers. In the natural park of Kopački Rit, there are more than 275 species of birds. There is the grey heron, wild duck, water hen, crane, golden eagle, short-footed eagle as well as cormorants, egrets, terns, eagles, storks..
The Adriatic Sea, still full of fish, suffers more than elsewhere from overfishing and global warming
The seabed, those of the Kornati archipelago for example, are lined with Posidonia. Hanging on the rocks: gorgonians, corals, nudibranchs. We can see starfish, sponges, more rarely seahorses and very frequently sea urchins, signs of excellent water quality. Off the island of Losinj, a small colony of wild dolphins is being pampered by the Blue World Institute's association, while sea turtles have just been reintroduced to the Istrian coast. On the island of Cres, the colony of griffon vultures does not mix well with holidaymakers. We're trying to relocate them to the mainland.
In the southern lands, karst pits have created deep lakes, salt lakes where fresh water mixes with seawater. The endemic flora adapts to high temperatures. Cypress, olive trees, fig trees, wild almond trees draw water from deep within. In the scrubland or scrubland, perfumed with aromatic plants, hide the mongoose, the hypolai of olive trees, the turtle of Hermann, lizards, insects. In the Paklenica Canyon, there are peregrine falcons, hawks, harriers and owls, not to mention two endemic species of vipers, the unicorn and the peliad. Yes, there are a lot of snakes in Croatia! Most are non-venomous, such as the leopard snake, snake or orvet. In short, an admirable biodiversity!
A country divided between tourism and ecology
But today, Croatia is not immune to the global paradox. Its crystal-clear waters in the Adriatic Sea are attracting ever more people. This overcrowding damages the ecosystem. In recent years, a collective awareness has pointed to the problems of environmental pressure. The observation is simple: the golden goose is fragile.
After the last war, Croatia quickly developed its natural resources into a real single industry. The economic challenges related to tourism are based on the attractiveness of historic cities, but above all on the joys of seaside tourism, pleasure boating or the discovery of fantastic national parks. Having the chance to enter an unspoilt nature, swim at the foot of the waterfalls, watch for wild geese, find a deserted island, observe the seabed, encounter marine mammals or large birds... all this is possible in Croatia. Problem: Every summer, mass tourism in the South is such that it ultimately threatens the balance of this wonderful natural heritage. The concreting of coasts and islands is combined with the increase in cruise ships, offshore operations and other pollutants. But how can we find a compromise between the need to exploit nature and the duty to preserve our common good? This is the enormous challenge facing Croatian political leaders and, consequently, civil society as a whole.
