On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Public Institution Nature of Šibenik-Knin County, an International Scientific and Professional Conference titled ‘The Importance of Protected Areas for the Preservation of Natural and Cultural Values and Sustainable Development of the Local Community’ was held in Šibenik from October 18 to 20. As part of the professional conference, the monograph ’15 Years of Protecting Natural and Cultural Heritage’ was also presented.
The Public Institution Nature of Šibenik-Knin County is marking 15 years of operation in this way, and the conference was opened on Wednesday at the Interpretation Center of the Cathedral of St. James Civitas sacra, with numerous guests in attendance. The guests were welcomed by the director of the Public Institution Nature of Šibenik-Knin County, MSc. Anita Babačić Ajduk, the Šibenik-Knin County Prefect, Dr. Marko Jelić, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Šibenik, MSc. Danijel Mileta, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Ivica Poljičak.
– When we were thinking about the celebration, we had the idea to create a conference designed as a platform for the exchange of scientific and professional experiences in the protection of natural and cultural heritage. Since this is a multidisciplinary job, we have various speakers from geologists, meteorologists, cultural experts, naturalists, and those who conduct education in protected areas. We wanted to gather everyone in one place. The crown of our 15 years of work certainly includes the projects realized in the St. Ante Channel, regarding the St. Nicholas Fortress and the Visitor Center of the St. Ante Channel, but we must not forget the numerous other projects that we presented in the monograph published on the occasion of this anniversary – said the director of the Public Institution Nature of Šibenik-Knin County, MSc. Anita Babačić Ajduk.
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The director also thanked the Šibenik-Knin County, the founder of the Public Institution, for its selfless support in operations, as well as all collaborators and partners in the conducted research and projects.
As part of the professional conference, a promotion of the monograph ’15 Years of Protecting Natural and Cultural Heritage’ was held at the City Library ‘Juraj Šižgorić’, which showcases the most significant activities of the Public Institution Nature of Šibenik-Knin County in preserving natural and cultural heritage. The monograph was presented by MSc. Anita Babačić Ajduk, the director of the Public Institution Nature of Šibenik-Knin County, Dr. Sanja Slavica Matešić, the head of the Department for Environmental Protection, Spatial Planning, Construction, and Communal Affairs of Šibenik-Knin County, and Dr. Drago Marguš.
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– Šibenik-Knin County is an area of exceptional biodiversity and cultural-historical heritage that requires special measures for protection and preservation, valorization, and sustainable management. In these busy times, we especially want to emphasize the importance of preserving protected areas. We hope that this monograph will inspire you and encourage reflection, awakening a new guardian of heritage within you – the director conveyed to the attendees.
At the International Scientific and Professional Conference ‘The Importance of Protected Areas for the Preservation of Natural and Cultural Values and Sustainable Development of the Local Community’, numerous experts and scientists participated, and the lectures and discussions were divided into three sections. During the first day of the conference, important topics from the section on Managing Protected Areas were addressed, moderated by MSc. Anita Babačić Ajduk, who spoke about the integral management of natural and cultural heritage in Šibenik-Knin County. Discussions also covered the Coastal Plan of the County, the Spatial Plan for Areas of Special Features of the Žut-Sit Islands Group, as well as the Action Plan for Visitor Management of the Significant Landscape of the Canal – Luka in Šibenik and NP Krka. Throughout the rich program, participants had the opportunity to hear about numerous important experiences in managing protected areas.
The second section of the conference focused on cultural heritage, with Dr. Ivo Glavaš as the moderator. The introductory lecture was delivered by Dr. Ivica Poljičak, while Dr. Ivo Glavaš provided an overview of some aspects of the Venetian and Austrian phases of the St. Nicholas Fortress. Discussions also included the new generation of conservation bases, starting points for the restoration of the St. Nicholas Fortress, protective archaeological reconnaissance of the underwater around the St. Nicholas Fortress, and many other interesting topics.
The preservation of natural heritage was the focus of the third section, moderated by Dr. Drago Marguš, with some of the topics discussed including the flora and fauna of the protected areas managed by the Public Institution Nature of ŠKŽ, Krčić as a gem among the rivers of the Dinaric karst, discussions on the hidden wealth of the Krka River, endemic species of the Krka River, and numerous important topics in the field of preserving natural resources.
After the conclusion of the conference, participants had the opportunity to tour Šibenik with a guide, while on the last day of the conference, they visited the St. Nicholas Fortress, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017, and the Visitor Center of the St. Ante Channel. They thus had the opportunity to learn all about the projects realized in the St. Ante Channel, which are the crown of 15 years of work of the Public Institution Nature of Šibenik-Knin County.
