The largest project of nature protection with „Hrvatske šume“ as the lead partner, has been launched. The project „Demining, reconstruction and protection of forests and forestland in the protected and the ecological network Natura 2000 areas in the Danube-Drava region – NATURAVITA“ is one of the biggest nature protection projects that has ever been conducted in Croatia.
At the 6th Session of the Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem, chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, MA, contracts for projects in the following counties were signed: Virovitica-Podravina, Pozega-Slavonia, Brod-Posavina, Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem. The largest of these projects, „Demining, reconstruction and protection of forests and forestland in the protected and the ecological network Natura 2000 areas in the Danube-Drava region – NATURAVITA“, was signed.
„NATURAVITA“ is a strategic project aimed at demining, restoration and protection of forests, forestland and water resources in the project area which is still contaminated or is suspected to be contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) which prevent access and the systematic and long-term sustainable management of this area.
The project if entirely implemented in the Osijek-Baranja County and covers forests and forestland in Natura 2000 and protected areas.
By implementing the project, the results will be 597 hectares of forests and forestland cleared of mines and UXO in the area of Nature Park Kopački rit and 1.937 hectares in the Mura-Drava Regional Park which will in turn significantly improve protection of forests from fire. Moreover, the Forest House „Podravlje“ will be reconstructed and the Educational and Visitor Center „Podravlje“ will be established with 4 educational and recreational paths and classrooms in nature.
The total value of the project „Demining, reconstruction and protection of forests and forestland in the protected and the ecological network Natura 2000 areas in the Danube-Drava region – NATURAVITA“ is 376.8 million HRK, out of which 85% or 314.1 million HRK are non-refundable funds from the European Union Cohesion Fund.
The NATURAVITA project will be implemented within the boundaries of the “Hrvatske šume”– Branch Osijek on the protected Natura 2000 site that includes parts of the Nature Park “Kopački rit” and the Mura-Drava Regional Park. Much of the project area, as a direct consequence of the Homeland War, is contaminated with mines and UXO from the Homeland War, which prevent access and preparation and implementation of a systematic and long-term sustainable management of this area. Precisely because of this fact, the demining of this area is a prerequisite for its further sustainable development.
The project partnership for the preparation and the implementation of the project consists of 6 partners: “Hrvatske šume”, Croatian Centre for Mine Action, Croatian Government Office for Mine Action, “Hrvatske vode”, Public Institution “Kopački rit Nature Park” and Agency for the Regional Development of the Republic of Croatia.
The NATURAVITA project will be implemented within the framework of the European Union Operational program Competitiveness and Cohesion for the period 2014-2020, under the specific objective Demining, restoration and protection of forests and forestland in protected and Natura 2000 areas, from which 85% of the total budget for project is from the Cohesion Fund while 15% will be provided through the national co-financing, by project partners. The project will last for 5 years.