State Institute for Nature Protection

The State Institute for Nature Protection was established by virtue of a Regulation of the Government of the Republic of Croatia (OG 126/02), pursuant to the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Protection of Biological and Landscape Diversity of the Republic of Croatia (NSAP; OG 81/99) and the Implementation Plan for the Stabilization and Association Agreement, signed by Croatia and the European Union in 2001. Pursuant to the Nature Protection Act (OG 70/05 and 139/08), the Institute carries out expert tasks of nature protection for the Republic of Croatia, in particular, tasks pertaining to: inventorisation; monitoring and assessing the state of nature; preparing expert base proposals for the protection of natural values; conserving parts of nature; establishing the conditions for nature protection; managing protected areas and the use of natural resources; developing expert base proposals for the assessment of acceptability of interventions in nature; reporting on the state of nature; participation in the implementation of international agreements on nature protection and organising and implementing educational and promotional activities in nature protection.The Institute began its operations in September 2003, and actively co-operates with state administration bodies, agencies, universities, non-governmental organisations, school and other interest groups.