26.03.2021, 13:30h
Rangers of Krka National Park received new identity cards and badges
Director of the Nature Protection Directorate, Igor Kreitmeyer, and director of the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection, Dr. Aljoša Duplić, visited Krka NP as part of a working visit of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development
At Krka National Park, there are 21 rangers who actively take part in protecting the complex processes so that they continue to unfold without hindrance. In addition to protecting natural values in the park, the rangers also protect the different ecosystems, the rich and diversity cultural and historical heritage, and carefully watch over the safety of visitors and employees.
Director of the Directorate for Nature Protection, Igor Kreitmeyer, issued the rangers of Krka National Park new identity cards and badges, aligned with the Ordinance on ranger identity cards.
“As part of the activities undertaken to align the visual identity of Croatian Parks with the Nature Protection Act, the rangers of all protected areas in Croatia will receive new identity cards. Starting this year, their recognisability from other services in parks will be prominent, with a specially designed official uniform, in response to the demanding field conditions they work in,” stated director Kreitmeyer.
The identity cards were formally handed out at Skradinski buk, where the directors also visited the experimental plots for removal of the invasive species, Tree of Heaven. Krka National Park is a partner in the LIFE CONTRA Ailanthus project, financed through the LIFE programme, an instrument of the European Union intended for financing activities in the field of protecting the environment, nature and the climate.
“The project is implemented by the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection within the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development. The project activities are scheduled over a period of four and a half years, and are aimed at establishing control over the invasive species Tree of Heaven in the Mediterranean region of Croatia,” stressed Dr. Aljoša Duplić, director of the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection.
The Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle) is considered one of the most invasive plant species in Europe. It forces out the native vegetation and reduces biodiversity, causes damages in agriculture, causes allergies in humans, and destroys cultural heritage and other structures due to its extremely strong root system.
“The main results expected from the LIFE CONTRA Ailanthus project is the improved conservation status of Natura 2000 habitat types, conserving cultural heritage, preventing the further spread of invasive alien species, and the development of a national protocol,” stated expert of the Public Institute of Krka National Park, Gordana Goreta, who added, “Additional goals are improving our capacities for managing invasive species and raising public awareness at the national level of the negative impacts of invasive species”.
During the working visit, discussions were held on activities taken with the aim of adopting the new Management plan and new Spatial plan for Krka National Park. “These are important strategic documents and their development requires the careful coordination of numerous stakeholders. The results will direct the course of activities of the Institute in the forthcoming period. These strategic documents will form the foundation for the annual programmes for the protection, maintenance, conservation, promotion and use of the national park,” concluded Nella Slavica, director of the Public Institute of Krka National Park.
