University of Zadar, Department of Geography 16th EUROPEAN SEMINAR ON GEOGRAPHY OF WATER WATER MANAGEMENT IN COASTAL AND INSULAR KARST AREAS Zadar, July 7 th -18 th, 2013 Conflict of environmental protection and agriculture: a case of the Vransko jezero Nature Park AFRASINEI Gabriela-Mihaela, BECKER Cristian, BONATI Sara, BOSCARATO Isabella, CIRILLO Davide, NEMES Viktória, PALADINI SAN MARTÍN Bilal, PARASKEVOVA Stefka, PIOVAN, Silvia, ROOSE Antti, SAMPEDRO SÁNCHEZ David, SATURNINO Daniela, SEBESTYÉN Tihamér-Tibor, WILHELM Zoltán tutor: Branimir Vukosav
Introduction Vransko Jezero Location - SE of Zadar, 25 km Ornithological reserve (1983) NW wetland area, breeding, wintering and resting site for 241 bird species Nature park (1999) - area: 57 km 2 Biggest natural lake in Croatia - 30 km 2 Narrow land strip between the lake and the sea Connected to the sea through Prosika canal Administrative units that include the territory of the park - Pakoštane, Stankovci, Pirovac
Sea water inflows into the lake Prosika canal was digged out in order to connect the lake with the sea. 1752: Venetian Senate decided to grant the Vrana fief to Count Franjo Borelli. After a long period of Ottoman rule, the area was in a derelict condition (turned into marshland). 1770: Borelli s labourers finished the cutting of Prosika canal in order to improve the lands. 1948: the canal got its final profile. Prosika canal mouth
18 th Century map
1800 map from Rumsey collection Title: Italy with the addition of the southern parts of Germany as far as Pettau in Stiria; Murlakia, Dalmatia, the adjacent countries, and all the Illyric Islands Author: L.S. De la Rochette. Publisher: Willm. Faden, London. 1883 atlas map from Rumsey collection Title: Austria. No. 3. (with) The Empire of Austria. Author: Letts, Son & Co. Publisher: Letts, Son & Co., London
1983 Special ornithological reserve was established but without any protection (only nominally until 1999. Anyone could use the area the way they wanted). 1999 Nature Park included reserve part and the lake. 2000s Illegal buildings within the reserve Conflicts between municipality and county plans 2004 Special plans in order to solve the conflicts: Agreement + changes in the borders (buildings sanction) The area for birds (swamps area) was reduced in favor of the agricultural one
Houses excluded from protected areas were not demolished Local owners can use their buildings only for ethnological and ornithological tourism (limited function). Compensation Jasen area included (agricultural, with a plan to expand the reserve). Jasen (mostly public) OUT Majdan IN NATURE PARK BORDERS CHANGES Park area Vransko lake
Infrastructures Municipalities: Pakoštane (Drage, Pakoštane, Vrana) Benkovac (Radosinovei) Stankovci (Banjevci), Tisno (Murter Betina) Pirovac
Transportation system Roads D8 state road + county roads Railway potential fast railway
Energy system High voltage line D 110 kv Middle voltage line D 35 kv Planned new voltage line
Household infrastructure No sewage system, just septic tanks Percolation of pollutants Spot like pollution sources
Land use Important agricultural land Vegetated areas with forest management Planned golf centres Small scale agriculture dominates
Multispectural satellite imagery change recognition in landcover False color composite RGB 147 Landsat TM july 2005 False color composite RGB 421 Landsat MSS 1976
Economic approach: Agriculture Crops surfaces in Pakoštane municipality Meadows and pastures 7% Others 6% Vineyards 7% Orchards 23% Other vegetables 11% Forage crops 11% Olives 20% Cereals 15% DATA SOURCE: CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS (2003)
Economic approach: Irrigation Irrigated surface in Pakoštane municipality 19% Non irrigated areas 551,38 ha 81% Irrigated areas 125,62 ha (12,562 km2) Vrana food Company Approximately 80% of irrigated land is used by the big company
Some characteristics of local farmers Households with other activities Household members by age With tourism 43 With aqua culture 1 With processing of farm products 2 With other 6 Only agriculture 489 Total 541 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Less 25 to 34 35-54 Over 54 years Less 25 to 34 35-54 Over 54 years Less than 10% of households carry out another activity. Nearly 50% of householders are less than 34 years old.
Sunshine -Tourism Nature Park Tourism Global: +20% annual growth Croatia (2004): 30% anglers Active -Tourism Year Total Domestic Foreign 2001 19.500 90 10 2002 26.800 88 12 2003 28.000 80 20 2004 27.600 75 25 2005 35.250 72 28 Table 1:Tourists composition of Vransko jezero Nature Park (Klarić, 2006) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Domestic tourist Foreign tourist Bird-watchers Anglers Cyclists Outdoor generalists Agro-tourism Economic Importance: Accommodation Catering
Agrotourism Concept: Local products/culture Experience production process Direct contact with locals Awake awareness Advantages: Stabilized, second income Increased value of local knowledge Less resource consumption
Social actors map T = S;I r A;E T= {r 1,r 2,r 3,r 4,r 5... }
Social actors
Some good examples Implementation of activities related to socio-economic and rural development Implementation of a programme for improving water quality, natural vegetation and reforestation activities International network of lake municipalities Living lakes international network for the protection of lakes and wetlands The initiative began in 1998 102 lakes Nestos Lakes and Lagoons, Greece Lake Garda, Italy La Nava, Spain
Conclusions Our Proposals: As a first step: the identification of the actors through a field research Activation of an inclusive-participatory process Realization of an observatory and a control committee to monitor and manage the process SWOT analysis Measurement of water consumption by farmers (Installation of flowmeters). In the future the cost of water must be assumed by the farmers, especially the big company. Transformation of the production into organic ecologic farming in order to improve the quality of water. Development of agro-tourism opportunities. Development of transformation food industry to increase farmers income.
References: Državni Zavod za zaštitu Prirode (2010) Ornitološki Rezervat Vransko jezero s Dijelom Jasena, Obrazloženje uz izmjenu granica. Ornitološkog rezervata Vransko jezero, Listopad. Zagreb European Commission: The Tourism Unit (2003) Sustainable Tourism based on natural and cultural heritage. Brussels: European Commission Frankic, A. (2005) Sectoral Study. Protected Areas in the Dalmatian Coast Report. Center for Coastal resources Management Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences USA Katalinic, A., Rubinic, J., Buselic, G. (2008) Hydrology of two Coastal Karst Cryptodepressions in Croatia: Vrana Lake vs Vrana Lake. Sengupta, M., Dalwani, R. Proceedings of Taal 2007: The 12 th World Lake Conference: 732-743 Katalinić, A. (2005) Aquatic system of Vransko jezero: Present knowledge and guidelines for management. Public Institution Nature Park Vransko jezero. Biograd Public Institution Vransko jezero nature park (2006) Local Tourism Master Plan for the Vransko Jezero Nature Park and its surroundings. Biograd
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