Plan underway to address threats to the Croatian Šibenik-Knin County Coast

Low laying coast around river Krika estuary in Croatian County of Sibenik-Knin is under the threat of sea-level rise and flooding, due to climate variability and change. With the support of GEF through the MedPartnership, and within the Climate Variability and ICZM Project, PAP/RAC is preparing an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan with special focus on climate variability and change, in collaboration with the regional authorities of the Šibenik-Knin County. The Inception and Scoping Reports, as well as the Stakeholder Analysis will be presented to the Steering Committee and Advisory Board of the project, for adoption in October 2013. By its natural assets, the Šibenik-Knin County is one of the richest Croatian counties. Its coast has seen significant touristic development, and has more than 280 islands, islets and rocks. It also has 2 exceptional national parks, the Kornati islands and the Krka river, as well as 11 other protected natural sites of particular value. It was also established that one of the most imminent threats due to the climate variability and change for this County are forest fires. Firefighters and representatives of the regional office of the State Directorate for the Protection and Rescue accompanied the PAP/RAC expert team on a boat trip, organized by the Regional authorities of the Šibenik-Knin County to the location of the project.