“Evaluation of the Situation in the Management System of the Krka National Park, Analysis of the Reception Capability” and “The Study of Visitor Management at the Krka National Park”
The Public Institution Krka National Park (further: PI Krka National Park), which manages the protected area of the Krka National Park (further: Krka National Park), has commissioned an evaluation of the situation in the management system of the Krka National Park, an analysis of the reception capacity, and a study of the visitor management (further: the SUP – APUP Project).
The process of contracting the service was carried out as part of the grant contract for the project "The Unknown Krka – Hidden Treasures of the Upper and Middle Courses of the Krka River" (CC 06.1.2.01.0003) in the framework of the Call for Proposals for the Promotion of Sustainable Utilization of the Natural Heritage in National and Nature Parks, as a part of the Operational Program "Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020". The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund.
The overall objectives of the SUP – APUP Project
The SUP – APUP project is being implemented within the project "The Unknown Krka" and consists of two interrelated documents:
The overall objective of the project, based on the evaluation of the current state and the current visitor management system of the Krka National Park, is to develop a management framework and set appropriate goals, activities, and performance indicators that will, in accordance with the protection of natural and other features, improve visitor management and the visitor infrastructure of the Krka National Park. The "Visitor Management Study" will contain the "Visitor Management Action Plan (further: APUP) of the Krka National Park for the period from 2019 to 2031.
The APUP will determine visitor management goals for the given planning period and specify activities to achieve those goals, along with indicators for plan implementation and management effectiveness, according to the following guidelines:
The APUP has been worked out in accordance with the principles of adaptive and participatory management/planning. Participation refers to the involvement of stakeholders (interested parties) in various ways and at various levels in different stages of the Krka National Park management cycle.
THE FINAL PRESENTATION OF THE EVALUATION OF THE SITUATION IN THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF THE KRKA NATIONAL PARK, ANALYSIS OF THE RECEPTION CAPACITY (January 3, 2019)
The final presentation of the “Evaluation of the situation in the management system of the Krka National Park, analysis of the reception capacity” was held on the 3rd of January 2019. The presentation was attended by members of the project team from the PI Krka National Park, and a member of the expert team, the representative of the Executor, Marko Jakelić, who carried out a detailed presentation of the Evaluation. It was concluded that the Evaluation had been prepared in accordance with the procurement documentation and the contract, taking into account all the specific features of the Krka National Park and the needs of the PI Krka National Park established through the coordination and workshops that had been carried out.
In the presentation of the Evaluation, emphasis was placed on the content, the methodology of production, key concepts, the relations of valid documents and documents and projects currently under development or implementation, analysis of guidelines related to visitor numbers according to management zones, the evaluation of the situation on the basis of items in accordance with the guidelines of the HAOP from 2018, and a SWOT analysis of such contributions to the study. The Evaluation cites all relevant information as of the end of December 2018.
THE STUDY OF VISITOR MANAGEMENT – THE VISITOR MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN
WORKSHOPS HELP WITH INTERESTED PARTIES (8th and 9th of April 2019)
The APUP was designed in accordance with the principles of adaptive and participatory management/planning. Participation refers to the involvement of interested parties in various manners and at various levels in different stages of the Krka National Park management cycle.
Six workshops in total with local interested parties were held on the 8th and 9th of April 2019 with the aim of informing them about the ongoing activities of the Krka National Park. Proposals and opinions of the interested parties have been included in the drafting of goals and activities for the management of visitors to the Krka National Park to 2031.
The workshops were attended by varied interested parties divided into focus groups: administrative/public entities, institutions of science and culture (polytechnics in Knin and Šibenik, the University of Zadar ...), “economic entities” (services in tourism, hotels, tourist agencies...), educational institutions, and local communities (cities and municipalities).
The interested parties were thoroughly informed beforehand about the preparation of the “Visitor Management Action Plan”, in terms of activities carried out by the Krka National Park, and at the workshops they were informed in detail about the general and specific goals and context of the study/APUP, and were acquainted with the key excerpts from the evaluation of the situation in the system of visits. Participants at the workshop also took part in the consideration of the preliminary proposal of the general and specific goals of visit management at the Krka National Park for the period 2019 - 2031, and further in consideration of the proposal of activities to achieve the proposed goals, and provided their principal and specific comments, opinions, and suggestions for further work on drafting goals and activities for managing visitors to the Krka National Park during the stated planning period.
FINAL PRESENTATION OF THE STUDY OF VISIT MANAGEMENT (July 3, 2019)
The Public Institution Krka National Park (further: PI Krka National Park), which manages the protected area of the Krka National Park (further: Krka National Park), has commissioned an evaluation of the situation in the management system of the Krka National Park, an analysis of the reception capacity, and a study of the visitor management (further: the SUP – APUP Project).
The process of contracting the service was carried out as part of the grant contract for the project "The Unknown Krka – Hidden Treasures of the Upper and Middle Courses of the Krka River" (CC 06.1.2.01.0003) in the framework of the Call for Proposals for the Promotion of Sustainable Utilization of the Natural Heritage in National and Nature Parks, as a part of the Operational Program "Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020". The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund.
General aims of the SUP – APUP Project:
Based on the evaluation of the existing situation and the current visitor management system of the Krka National Park, to develop a management framework and set appropriate goals, activities, and performance indicators that will improve the visitor management and infrastructure of the Krka National Park in line with the protection of natural and other elements.
Specific aims of the SUP – APUP Project:
After completion of the study “Evaluation of the Situation in the Management System of the Krka National Park, Analysis of the Reception Capability” (further: Evaluation), the project task in relation to the Visitor Management Study was carried out, in accordance with DON, in 2 phases:
Phase 1: The general aims and framework of visitor management at the Krka National Park
Phase 2: Action Plan for Visitor Management at the Krka National Park in 2019 – 2031
The presentation of the final document of the “Study of Visitor Management at the Krka National Park” was held on the 3rd of July 2019. The presentation was attended by members of the project team of the Public Institution Krka National Park, the representative of the Executor, Marko Jakelić, and all the executives involved in the composition of the Study.