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Project Preparation Services
Croatia Nature Protection Investment Project
DESCRIPTION of the SERVICES
Background
The Republic of Croatia has received a Project Preparation Facility (PPF) Advance from the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to support the preparation of
a proposed Croatia Nature Protection Investment Project (CNPIP). The CNPIP is intended to
be a key vehicle for a multi-year program to help expand and support Croatia’s preparation
for European Union (EU) integration in the Nature Protection Sector. Based on EU Habitat
and Birds Directives, EU members are obligated to determine areas important for
conservation of endangered species and habitats. Access to EU grant post-accession funds for
nature protection will depend on a strong proactive capacity to identify opportunities, and on
strengthened inter-governmental discourse and coordination to agree on beneficial
approaches. The over-arching goal of the proposed CNPIP is to support Croatian authorities’
efforts on EU integration in nature protection. The Ministry of Culture (MoC), as
governmental body responsible for nature protection in Croatia will implement the PPF.
Natura 2000 Preparations. In accordance with its Nature Protection Act (NPA), Government
has designated an ecological network (EN) that features a system of ecologically important
areas and ecological corridors.1 This network includes 1,550 sites important at the national
and European level to conserve species and habitats, including potential NATURA 2000 sites
(pSCIs and SPAs). Ecological network conservation is a key objective to be achieved through
measures enforcement, determined by NPA. This regulation aligns Croatia with European
legislative framework, especially, Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitat Directive) and Council Directive 79/409/EEC on
the conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive). Croatia will also have to propose sites for
the NATURA 2000 Network for over 250 species and 70 habitat types that occur in Croatia
and that are considered to be of EU importance, such as the Eurasian lynx, scarce fritillary
butterfly or Adriatic lizard orchid. Around 1000 sites have been identified that should be
proposed for the EU NATURA 2000 Network. The selection is based on standard scientific
criteria that apply in the same way to all EU countries. 11,32% of land is already protected
under different categories according to the Nature Protection Act (NPA).
Starting in 2007, EU post-accession nature protection grants became more complex when
mainstreaming was introduced across several EU instruments: The European Agriculture
Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) has 21 key articles of relevance to Natura 2000; the
European Fisheries Fund (EFF) has 15; the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
has 27; and the European Social Fund (ESF), Cohesion Fund, and Research Framework
Programs (FP7) each have three or fewer; all are equally important. EU LIFE+ is the only EU
grant instrument with a dedicated focus on biodiversity and nature; its scope is limited by
requirements that EU LIFE+ grant proposals first explain why no other grant programs can
offer support. Thus access to EU nature protection grant funds will depend on a strong
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Regulation on proclamation of the ecological network
proactive capacity to identify opportunities, strengthened inter-governmental discourse, and
coordination to reach agreement on mutually beneficial approaches.
Significant additional resources and efforts are required over a relatively short time frame to
enable Croatia to maximize access to EU grant funds after accession. Croatia deferred
introduction of agri-environment measures under SAPARD due to its start-up complexity, and
is just starting to initiate agri-environment pilots with EU-IPARD funds near declared
protected areas. No pilots of EU-LEADER2 have been initiated yet, although this approach
may be particularly useful for local development of communities living in and around
protected areas. Currently there remain substantial efforts to prepare stakeholders and baseline
data systems for Natura 2000 and to enable future EU grant Natura 2000 payments.
The Croatia Nature Protection Project. Following successful completion of the Karst
Ecosystem Conservation (KEC) Project, closed in December 2007, the Government of
Croatia requested continued World Bank support in a follow-up loan to help expand and
support Croatian preparations for EU integration in the Nature Protection Sector. The KEC
project demonstrated a systematic approach to addressing biological data collection gaps,
participatory park management planning, and community investments to enhance biodiversity
benefits across five parks in Croatia. EU accession requires an expanded ecological network
beyond the core National and Nature Parks to be protected and aligned with EU Nature
Protection Legislation; and Bird and Habitat Directives. Based on these Directives, EU
members must determine which areas are important for conserving endangered species and
habitats. Croatia’s National Ecological Network (NEN), proclaimed in November 2007,
covers 46 % of Croatian territory and serves as the preliminary basis for negotiating the future
Natura 2000 network in Croatia, a requirement for accession.
The KEC project introduced a new management planning process, which was subsequently
adopted into law for all parks in Croatia with various timetables for completion. It is
anticipated that these management plans will be developed using highly participatory and
consultative processes to ensure strong local community support. While the KEC project
helped to introduce five completed management planning models, several other projects and
donors in parallel supported management plan preparation for other parks. Now many parks
are working on their plans through a range of financial supports from different sources;
therefore, some supplementary assistance is needed to complement these ongoing efforts
without duplicating them.
The Nature Protection Act (NPA) requires all public institutions responsible for managing
protected areas and ecological network sites to prepare park management plans for their sites
and areas. All nine national parks and eleven nature parks have worked intensively to develop
these plans and nine plans by the end of 2008, nine plans were finalized. County–level
development of management plans has begun through projects financed by international
assistance (21 counties in Croatia). The MoC approves management plans for protected areas,
including national ecological network areas and future NATURA 2000 sites, with the
objective of implementing a uniform Protected Area Management System across all national
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EU Leader + supports geographically based integrated community driven investment programs (e.g. rural
tourism, cultural heritage, infrastructure, and microenterprise support)
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and regional institutions responsible for managing protected areas and/or other protected
values. The State Institute for Nature Protection (SINP) as a central expert institution deals
with inventory, monitor, and operate a nature protection information system for biodiversity.
The SINP is also responsible for evaluating management plans for protected areas.
As of the end of 2008, management plans are developed for NP Paklenica, NP Plitvice lakes,
NP Risnjak, NP Northern Velebit, Nature Park Velebit, Nature Park Učka, Nature Park
Žumberak Samoborsko Gorje, Nature Park Lonjsko Polje, and Nature Park Kopački Rit. All
National and Nature parks aim to complete management plans by the end of 2010. The WWF
Medpo project is specifically supporting management plans for “marine” and island parks,
which include NP Brijuni, NP Kornati, NP Mljet, Nature Park Telašćica, and Nature Park
Lastovsko Otočje. An EU-financed PHARE Natura 2000 project is developing a management
plan for Vransko Lake Nature Park. Parks using their own resources to develop management
plans include: NP Krka, Nature Park Biokovo, Nature Park Medvednica, and Nature Park
Papuk.
The proposed project development objective is to help establish and implement an integrated
ecological network that advances EU harmonization and integration under the Bird and
Habitat Directives, while generating local and national benefits. It is anticipated that the
project will have three components that mutually support and reinforce one another:
Ecological Network Investments, Community Driven Conservation and Rural Revitalization
Investments, and Institutional Capacity Building and Program Management. A World Bank
Project Information Document (PID) that describes these components in detail is available.
The initial project proposal includes preliminary estimates for an overall investment of around
50 million Euros. Under this framework, Mo C and World Bank team efforts are underway to
seek donor grant funds to help co-finance softer investments such as technical assistance, and
training, to reduce the IBRD loan to perhaps to 35 million Euro and use it to finance heavier
investment components such as computer geographic information system (GIS) technology
and fire prevention equipment; and park infrastructure—visitor centers, road rehabilitation,
research stations, trail and pathway improvements, and utility services. The Government of
Croatia is expected to co-finance project investment needs from its budget in an amount to be
determined later. Specific project components proposals are subject to further preparation to
clarify priorities and determine the most feasible approaches.
Scope of Work
The objective of this consultancy is to help prepare the CNPIP for World Bank (and /or other
donors) appraisal and eventual government implementation. The desired outputs include key
documents and reports that will form part of full project proposal for an investment package,
according to World Bank operation guidelines. The proposal will specify: project description
details and activities; detailed cost estimates; and recommended administrative arrangements
for implementation at the national, regional, and local levels. This consultancy includes a
wide range of technical areas and requires a participatory and consultative preparation process
that includes all stakeholders. The Consultant will work in close collaboration with the Client
and its project preparation team. The Consultant will review existing information, specifically
the 2008 Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), key documents from past and
ongoing donor-funded nature protection activities in Croatia and undertake field assessments
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to further define and develop each proposed project component. This Scope of Work requires
implementation of four broad tasks, described below:
(1) Needs Assessment for Capacity Building, Education, and Training. This sub-task should
help identify and define investments needs for activities to strengthen institutional, legal, and
regulatory capabilities for national, regional, local, and protected area biodiversity
conservation. This sub-task should help target training and education on biodiversity offered
by national, regional and local biodiversity conservation institutions or administrations, local
communities, NGOs, and other stakeholders in protected area and ecological network
management.
(2) First Phase Investment Needs, and Advisory Support for the Management Planning
Process. This sub-task should identify and quantify estimated costs of first phase priority
investments at protected areas in Croatia with completed or soon-to-be-completed park
management plans. The consultant would also help to identify and quantify estimated costs of
priority investments needed by parks to expand fire management systems, and the GIS-based
computer network and database system supporting EU Natura 2000 payments. Priority
investments will include important Croatian natural and cultural heritage sites, including
UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB). The Consultant would provide on-call advice to the
Management Planning Preparation Process underway in other parks.
(3) Social Assessment, Public Consultation, Stakeholder Workshops. This sub-task would
perform a social assessment to gather sufficient qualitative and quantitative information on
which to base a project design aligned with the expressed needs of local people in the project
area, including incentives for nature-friendly management of natural resources. This sub-task
should raise public awareness about the benefits of biodiversity conservation, and increase
participation in conservation activities. This sub-task will identify public information needs
through public fora and discussions that inform project design and component details, and
identify stakeholder concerns; and develop project components/activities to address them.
(4) Inventory and Mapping of Biodiversity. This sub-task will require the Consultant to
develop, in cooperation with SINP and MoC, a plan for preparing an inventory and
monitoring system for Croatia’s biodiversity needs during the proposed project
implementation.
Note to consultants: There is the potential for follow-up downstream work (financed through
a separate contract under the envisioned loan) for preparation of second phase investments
(follow-up from task 2) and related to inventory and mapping of biodiversity (task 4). World
Bank procurement procedures would apply as well to this future contract.
The background, objective, and activities for each of the 4 tasks are provided below:
Task 1. Needs Assessment for Capacity Building, Training, and Education
Background. The existing system of nature and national parks is managed by 19 public
institutions of varying capacity; each of 21 Croatian counties has a public institution to
manage protected areas at county level for strict reserves, special reserves, protected
landscapes, and other lower protection categories. Some of these 40 national and county level
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public institutions are also responsible for managing ecological network sites. Therefore,
public institution staff should be well-trained and competent to manage protected areas (PAs)
and the wider Ecological Network.
The 2008 BSAP includes a description of the institutional framework for Nature Conservation
in Croatia and recommends further development of institutional capacities on the national,
regional and local level. Specific needs include increasing the number of staff, and furthering
staff education and training. Capacity improvement also requires developing financial
instruments to implement the BSAP, including specific financing mechanisms to manage
Protected Areas and the NEN. A detailed description of the Institutional organization for the
Nature protection sector in Croatia can be found in the BSAP.
Objective. To identify and prepare for appraisal, key actions and investments that increase
capacity to sustainably manage protected areas and ecological network sites. This would
require identifying priority capacity building and institutional arrangements needed to
effectively plan and implement conservation goals and protected area/ecological network
management; and based on this review and assessment, recommend detailed project activities
to strengthen the institutions responsible for biodiversity conservation and other overlapping
sectors at the national, regional and local levels. These recommendations will include a
training plan to ensure appropriate skills and knowledge, and a program of actions to improve
education.
Activities. The Consultant will:
 Identify needs/ specify actions to strengthen capacity to prepare and implement projects
funded from international sources, especially EU funds, among staff in the MoC, SINP,
parks, and County Public Institutions (CPIs). Through participatory processes such as
workshops or focus group meetings, seek opinions on capacity needs from stakeholders
of the 40 public institutions responsible for Nature Protection in Croatia; use
consultation information to recommend priority actions, detailed costs, and
implementation plans. Recommendations should include priorities identified by the
BSAP process, including estimated investment needs to establish an MoC NATURE net
Website, and to develop a clearing-house mechanism for sharing and updating biological
diversity information.
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Recommend activities to prepare and implement a strategy for long-term financing of
the nature protection sector within the NPIP project, including identifying economic
instruments and financing mechanisms for biodiversity conservation; and assessing
options for longer-term national and international funding sources for biodiversity
conservation in Croatia. Recommendations should promote transition to a protected area
system that would introduce a single-ticket entry scheme for National and Nature Parks.
Recommend mechanisms to partner with NGOs for nature protection services such as
education and training, inventory development, monitoring, and communication.
Identify enhancements for existing programmes of public institutions that manage
protected areas and species, zoos, botanical gardens, and museums, to embed the
concept of biological, landscape and geological diversity, and define related investment
needs.
Identify priorities for capacity development in sectors that overlap or depend on nature
protection such as fisheries, forestry, agriculture, water, and tourism management.
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Convene public meetings and inter-sectoral focus group discussions for each
overlapping sector to identify priority pilot tasks for joint implementation through the
project to experiment with policy improvements.3 Specify proposed pilot actions; key
participants, geographic focus, policy reform or questions/concerns being tested or
targeted; financial resources, and timetables.

Identify in coordination with a PROFOR-financed activity, legislation and policies that
would improve biodiversity revenue streams (taxes, charges, concessions); review and
propose economic policies and instruments that would improve and promote sustainable
management of biological resources, such as introducing agri-environment incentives.

Assess potential for a volunteer ranger program and recommend a pilot program to
finance volunteer rangers; identify “training-of-trainers” needs for program materials.
Propose a training programme for parks and CPI staff to be executed during project
implementation, and assess costs. Propose a training program and delivery mechanism
for state-of-the-art interpretation and education related to biodiversity conservation.
Training should focus on services in protected areas, and operation/use of GIS and
biodiversity monitoring equipment. The Consultant should also explore training needs of
others such as museums and their interpretation and educational staff, and should specify
details to establish a National Training Centre for nature protection services.
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Collaborate with Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, MoC, and SINP to propose
an implementation plan for Faculty of Natural Science curricula on inventory and
identification of flora and fauna taxa.
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Identify international opportunities for short courses, distance learning, or educational
exchanges to supplement course work among Croatian students with an interest in flora
and fauna taxonomy.
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Develop a ranger training program with inputs from protected area managers, and estimate
investment needs. Training components could include park services for visitors (guided
tours, information, search and rescue), assistance in monitoring and research activities,
and cooperation with local communities (schools, local authorities, NGOs, etc). Develop
system-wide standards for ranger-led environmental awareness programs that could
include: (i) infrastructure, materials, educational facilities, interpretive services and
facilities, educational programs; (ii) biodiversity conservation curricula; and (iii)
educational training and materials for tourism groups and staff.
Define capacity building needs to enable local people to apply for future EU grant Natura
2000 funds.
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Task 2 First Phase Investment Needs Review
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Two examples: identify marine ecosystems to pilot “no take” zones or “no discharge”
areas to enhances both fisheries stock and biodiversity protection; test biodiversityfriendly tourism certification process.
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Background. Action plans of five KEC parks recognize the need to finance investments (TA,
equipment, and works) to support implementation of priority Action Plans, including: expand
and improve visitor service infrastructure to enhance safety and accessibility (including
special needs visitors) and encourage visits to under-utilized areas; strengthen management
and supervision services; improve interpretation and education facilities and programs;
improve equipment and facilities for research and monitoring in support of PA management
objectives; develop cultural heritage resources (UNESCO; MAB) within and around PAs; and
market and promote PAs as tourism destinations. These investments will target mainly
National Parks and Nature Parks, but may extend to other sites within the wider NEN with
completed Management Plans, where this is a priority to achieve national and local
conservation objectives.
National parks and county public institutions for management of protected areas are both
obliged to manage sites within the national ecological network and proposed NATURA 2000
sites and prepare management plans for sites under their jurisdiction. The basic content of the
management plans for the National Ecological Network and future NATURA 2000 sites is
similar to the protected areas management plans of National and Nature Parks (NP/PPs). NPs
and PP’s are all included into NEN and proposed for NATURA 2000.
The project would accelerate efforts to establish a unified GIS-format management system
integrated across the ecological network as required for allocation of Natura 2000 payments.
Specific investments include digitization and conversion of research and field data into GIS
electronic formats, field surveys, and legal support for difficult park boundary conflicts,
development of communication protocols across existing systems to enable data sharing,
development of user guidelines and training, provision of geo-referencing field equipment for
data collection (e.g., GPS and specialized underwater marine equipment for habitat and
species assessments) as well as computer workstations and training. This work will build on
and accelerate donor-driven efforts led by the MoC in close cooperation with SINP and the
State Geodetic Administration (SGA) (e.g., PAMS Norway project). The project will build on
integrated SINP Natura 2000 data (habitats, species, and sites) and the PAMS database
through a NPIS (Nature Protection Information System). Integrated Data will be Web-based
through standardized GIS application at MoC and SINP and accessible through other
Geoportals such as the State Geodetic Administration (SGA).
The project will strengthen fire prevention, monitoring, and control efforts led by parks in
their role as first responders and educators for fire hazards. It will help finance specific
infrastructure improvements such as reconstruction of firebreak roads, automated telemetry
equipment (including remote sensing) for early detection and warning, specialized fire
fighting equipment adapted to park vehicles, and training and public awareness. Priority will
be placed on the most vulnerable coastal protected areas.
Objective. Define priority package of investments for the Nature Protection Sector. These
investments will be targeted mainly at National Parks and Nature Parks, but may be extended
to other sites within the wider NEN with completed Management Plans, and/or cultural
monuments where this is a priority for achieving national and local conservation objectives.
This task would also advance the management planning process in Croatia through as-needed
technical advisory support to parks/ counties in Croatia that have not yet started their
management planning process, or parks/ counties that would like some supplemental support
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for their existing process. This support should be prioritized by need and demand, in the first
instance to help complete all National and Nature Park management plans.
Activities The Consultant will:
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Review Management plans with action plans of five KEC and other 14 national and
nature parks and prepare proposals for investments, civil works and equipment
needed.
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Review Annual Work Plans of 19 national and nature parks for 2009 and define
jointly with park staff and MoC which investments have to be planned for NPIP
project
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Review results of donors/MoC/SINP ongoing activities and prepare plan of
investments to further develop the Nature Information system and investments for
digitalization and delineation of the boundaries of the protected areas in Croatia
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Recommend specific infrastructure improvements for NP/PPs such as reconstruction
of firebreak roads, automated telemetry equipment for early detection and warning,
specialized fire fighting equipment adapted to park vehicles, and training and public
awareness needs.
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Recommend 5 priority pilot NEN investment sites for CPIs in 21 Croatian counties.
Selection of these pilot sites should focus on habitat and species in NEN which have
not benefited previously from other MoC and donor financed projects. Pilots should
include support for the management planning process and priority investments.
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Explore with the Ministry of Agriculture their plans and programs related to
introducing agri-environment measures under SAPARD due to its start-up
complexity, and initiating agri-environment pilots with EU-IPARD funds near
declared protected areas.
Review land ownership, property transfer, and land registration/cadastre issues
which present important challenges to management of PA/NEN and propose
activities that this project can support to help reduce property related problems. In
the context of specific investments, identify any important land issues which would
affect implementation
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Task 3 Social Assessment and Public Consultation and Stakeholder Workshops
Background. The overall aim of creating linkages among communities and protected
areas/NEN is to empower local people to contribute to the sustainability of their natural
resources, their potential for tourism, protected cultural heritage, and biodiversity
conservation and to derive sustainable economic benefits from contributing to sustainability.
The previous KEC project was highly appreciated for its extensive public consultation and
involvement in design and implementation stages and this project proposal intends to replicate
this good practice. Outputs from KEC included park visitor surveys with specific
recommended actions.
Objective. Ensure key stakeholders have opportunities to contribute to project design,
disseminate information about planned investments, and help to test and define project
coordination mechanism/channels. Overall, this task should increase local community
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involvement in protect area management. Outputs of a social assessment would provide
baseline information necessary for development of a Resource Access Restriction Framework
required under World Bank social safeguard operational policy 4.12 which will be developed
using outputs from this task under a separate contract.
Activities.

The social assessment should be conducted in communities associated with project
protected areas, using quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including a background
socioeconomic study, household surveys, focus group discussions, and in-depth
interviews with key stakeholders/landowners. It should also identify historic and
cultural/traditional types of sustainable land uses, their current status and trends. The
Consultant should define and implement a methodology to ensure representation of all 4
NEN geo-ecological regions of Croatia and all PAs. All raw data sets generated through
this work shall be made available to and shared with the Client and consultants working
under separate contracts upon request to maximize synergies of work.
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Conduct a desk review of available data as input to this task so that use of prior work can
be maximized and report on how best this will be used in the inception report.
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A survey of local people should collect information on patterns of natural resource use in
PAs/NEN to quantify the degree to which they rely on a variety of products. The sample
framework should be representative of the local population to (i) indicate the nature and
magnitude of natural resource use, and (ii) quantify the aggregate importance of natural
resource use to local people.
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During background study preparation, the consultant will be responsible for preparing
and facilitating participatory workshops with selected stakeholders to elicit information
that will be used in project design. National-and local-level participatory workshops
should be held, directly connected to sub-tasks for project preparation such as social
assessment. The workshops would present findings and workshop activities would
develop the project design. The workshop series must include: a project preparation startup workshop; no fewer than two workshops for each proposed project; one workshop for
NGOs and other conservation organizations; and two national-level workshops with
selected stakeholders. (These exclude workshops specifically for the social assessment).
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Develop a project component/activity which includes (i) an information dissemination
strategy to generate awareness of biodiversity issues and effective stakeholder
participation in project implementation; (ii) a public participation plan for the project
including a specific activity to strengthen environmental NGOs, e.g. small grants program,
agro-environmental program, (iii) a monitoring and evaluation plan for participation and
public involvement.
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Identify active NGOs or institutes that can contribute to conservation awareness,
education activities, and are prepared to work on agri-environmental programs.
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Identify community organizations (e.g. hunting and fishing organizations, recreational
organizations) which exist in Croatia who use biological resources, and provide a mapping
of various user groups. For example active student groups at university, research
institutes that use resources in parks, etc.
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Assess the extent to which various user groups (including households) rely on natural
resources for their livelihoods, and help identify any possible negative impacts that new
protected areas or management plans for existing areas might have on local livelihoods.
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Assess the range of types of issues related to resistance or hesitations that the local public
tend to have toward protected areas in Croatia.
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Assess how people tend to find out about what is happening in their local parks (e.g. use
of media, brochures, word of mouth, local municipality etc.)
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Identify socio-economic linkages between cultural and natural heritage and investigate
possibilities to increase visitor attraction to both resources.
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Identify existing local development initiatives that demonstrate linkages between
biodiversity conservation and economic benefits for local communities including rural
tourism, traditional community activities, provision of accommodation in traditional
homes, guiding and site inter-operation, local production of handicrafts, and traditional
agriculture.
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Establish collaborative mechanisms with local stakeholders to ensure that biodiversity
concerns are incorporated in local NEN land use and development plans.
Based on the draft socio assessment and in conjunction with other project preparation studies,
the Consultant will help incorporate outputs and recommendations into proposed project
component/activities, to better address the social needs of the communities relevant to
biodiversity.
Task 4. Inventory and Mapping Biodiversity
Background. The 2008 BSAP concludes that Croatia retains an exceptional level of
biological and landscape diversity in the context of Central and Western Europe. However,
biological diversity data remain inadequate, which hampers the design and implementation of
protection measures. Consequently, a strategic objective of the BSAP is to identify and assess
biological, landscape, and geological diversity to establish a Nature Protection Information
System with a database linked to a countrywide information system. BSAP action plans
anticipate many activities to identify and assess biodiversity through inventory, monitoring,
and mapping (as listed in Annex A).
Scientific and/or high education institutions, such as universities, institutes, and museums can
contribute to biodiversity data collection. Particularly active are Faculty of Science, Croatian
Natural History Museum, Veterinary Faculty, Institute for Ornithology, to name a few.
Scientific institutions specialized for research of marine biodiversity include the Institute for
Oceanography and Fisheries, Split; University of Dubrovnik, Institute for Marine and Coastal
Research; Marine Research Center, Institute “Ruder Boskovic,” Rovinj and Faculty of Natural
Science, Department for Zoology, Zagreb. These institutions are directly involved in scientific
research and are the first link in collecting biodiversity data.
In Croatia, about 200 NGOs deal with nature and environmental protection, about a third of
these are registered in Zagreb. However, only a third of these accords top priority to
protection of biodiversity. Most NGOs are professional organizations whose members are
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from scientific community. Biodiversity is also of interest to ecological associations such as
diving clubs and centers. For example, the Faculty of Kinesiology and the National Olympic
Academy of Croatia offer specialized courses on marine ecology, including theory and
fieldwork, for diving instructors and coaches; the Croatian diving federations gather around
150 diving clubs and 150 diving centers.
The NSAP strategic goal is to continue defining areas important to preserve endangered and
rare habitat types in the framework of developing NATURA 2000 network and program, and
to prescribe protection measures and management. Based on activities during 2003-08 and
available scientific data, the SINP has prepared the draft NATURA 2000 proposal (16
October 2008) that covers 44.83 percent of its territory. However this proposal is incomplete
regarding marine life, due to lack of scientific data: the great knowledge ‘gap’ includes
detailed data on distribution of species and habitat types included in the annexes to the
Habitats Directive. Although the gap was identified, data are still not systematically collected.
Communications from the EU have stated that “further research is required in respect of some
marine sites to establish the distribution of the NATURA 2000 species and habitat types and
the importance of individual sites at EU level in compliance with the criteria laid down in
Annex III of Habitats Directive”
According to Article 8 of Regulation on Proclamation of Ecological Network, PIs and CPIs
(write out acronymns) have an obligation to carry out monitoring of the species and habitats
considered conservation objectives of the sites. The SINP is responsible for developing a
state-level monitoring plan for EN and NATURA 2000 sites (to be developed before
accession), and detailed monitoring plans should be developed for each particular site.
Objective. The project will compile and assess existing inventory data, identify gaps and
define needs for new biodiversity data, methodology, and a timeframe for advancing
biodiversity inventory and monitoring in Croatia. The Consultant should define with MoC
and SINP priorities for Biodiversity Inventory and Mapping to be carried out under the
project.
Activities. The Consultant will:

Indicate gaps in existing biodiversity data based on review of relevant documents and
database in the NEN4 (national and NATURA2000) in regard to status of endemic, rare,
and endangered taxa (genera, species, subspecies), and habitats (biotopes),
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Identify need for digitalization and conversion of biodiversity research and field data into
electronic formats (GIS data based system),
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Identify methods of conversion into electronic formats for existing historical data related
to definition of protected areas boundaries,
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Identify needs and methods to develop communication protocol(s) for data collection,
exchange, verification, access, and sharing, building on existing MoC, SINP and SGA
efforts, with Norwegian support.
Define key needs to support SINP for setting up a national system for monitoring
biological, landscape, and geological diversity,
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The SDPNE will provide the necessary documents to review
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Identify investment needs to further support development of species specific inventory
and monitoring manuals
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Outputs and Schedule
Following is a time schedule for production of consultant reports. The Consultant shall begin
work upon contract signature. The work would be completed over a period of 10-12 months.
The Consultant shall propose a clear schedule with critical milestones, and make all possible
efforts to complete the work in a shorter duration than the proposed time schedule. All
reports shall be delivered in English initially with a Croatian translation to follow within a
month. The consultant will provide three copies in English and 15 copies in Croatian of each
report, together with CD files of all materials produced (Microsoft Word for text; Excel for
graphs and tables). All GIS data shall be provided in electronic formats compatible with the
Croatia biodiversity database system.
MILESTONE
1. Contract Signature
2. Inception Report
3. Comments by the Client
4. Mid-term Report
5. Comments by the Client
6. Final Report
7. Comments by Client
WEEKS TO COMPLETION
0
4
6
20
22
40
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In addition to the deliverables listed above, the Consultant shall hold monthly progress
reporting meetings with the Client and prepare minutes to document this progress. The
Consultant will propose a detailed work plan and timetable in the Inception Report. The Final
Report shall include:
 Identification of institutions and organizations responsible for all project activities. The
Consultant will prepare a description of project implementation arrangements at all levels,
including the proposed management structure, the roles and specific activities of
participating institutions and organizations, and a management structure recommended for
project implementation.
 All costs for project implementation will be specified in cost tables according to World
Bank standards, including breakdowns by component, year, and disbursement category.
Foreign and local costs will be presented separately. The budget will contain price and
physical contingencies. The World Bank will provide guidance on its standards for
budgeting and cost tables. The budget and cost tables will be submitted in an Excelcompatible format, and will include costs scheduled over the five-year project period, and
price contingencies, and will incorporate an appropriate inflation index.
 The financial and institutional sustainability of project activities and benefits, and propose
means to strengthen sustainability after project implementation.
 A draft procurement plan for items and services needed for project implementation.
 .Description of all local and international technical assistance needed to support project
objectives. Detailed recommendations and phasing will be annexed to the report.
 Economic and other benefits of the project will be quantified to the degree possible in
collaboration with the PROFOR/financed study.
 Separate summaries of technical, institutional, and political risks that could jeopardize
project implementation, including how the risks will be mitigated.
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Working Arrangement and Reporting
The Consultant will report to the MoC. The Consultant will work closely with the Client
project preparation team comprising key counterparts/experts. Overall coordination for
project preparation among Government and other stakeholders will be assured by an
Interagency Steering Committee that will provide guidance to the MoC in preparing and
executing the proposed project. MoC will be the lead agency for project preparation and
implementation. The Consultancy team leader is expected to remain in Croatia for the
duration of the consultancy. The Consultant will be provided with working space to include
office equipment, and phone/internet access. Office supplies will be the responsibility of the
Consultant. The client will also provide contacts and help to liase with local authorities,
NGOs, academic and research institutions, government institutions, and will work
cooperatively with the Consultant for all public participation and public consultation
activities.
Qualifications
The consultant team should include expertise in project management; social assessment and
social and rural development; protected area planning and management; NATURA 2000;
karst, forest, wetland, coastal and marine biodiversity habitat assessments and management;
geo-hydrology; NATURA 2000 polices and law; EU IPARD, SAPARD, and Agrienvironment measures: institution and capacity building; training and education; GIS and
database expertise; nature protection financing instruments; and economic and financial
appraisal of investments. The consultant team may comprise local and international expertise,
as needed. It is highly desirable that team members have previous experience in preparing
World Bank projects, and local knowledge of biodiversity conservation needs and
opportunities in Croatia.
The consultant shall propose and justify the range of disciplines to be included in the core
project team and the complementary skills of short-term specialists. The inputs by foreign
and local/national specialists should be clearly indicated as it is anticipated that the majority
of work would be carried out by firms or individuals sub-contracted locally in Croatia, or who
are part of a joint-venture company. The consultant shall name individuals to participate in
specified roles within the project team and provide full curricula vitae and any other
information considered relevant by the Consultant. The consultant shall name the project
leader, the deputy team leader, the other core team members, and key short-term specialists,
and provide an assurance that all members of the proposed team will be made available as
specified in the proposal, if the Consultant is selected.
Schedule of Payments to the Consultant.
For the performance of duties under the Terms of Reference, the Consultant will be paid a
lump sum fee. The lump sum fee shall be paid in the following manner:
15% upon contract signature
15% upon acceptance of the inception report
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30% upon acceptance of the mid-term report
25% upon submission of the final report
15% upon completion of the assignment and submittal of a revised final report
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Annex A- Details from BSAP Action Plan on Monitoring and Inventory Needs
Habitats
 Develop maps of land habitats with 1:25000 scale or larger for National Ecological
Network areas and NATURA 2000 network
 Develop sea habitat maps for areas under Croatian jurisdiction
 Amend the National Classification of Habitats
 Develop the Red List and Red Book of habitat types in Croatia
 Develop inventory and maps for threatened and rare habitat types, and habitat types
aligned with Appendix I of the Habitats Directive, significant for introducing the
NATURA 2000 Network
 Identify areas important for conservation of habitat types from the Appendix I of the
Habitats Directive, and areas important for the conservation of habitats that Croatia
wishes to add to Appendix I, and include these in the Croatian proposal for NATURA
2000 network
 Introduce schemes focused on protecting species and habitats in protected areas in the
Agricultural-Environmental Programme
 Designate ‘island’ habitats for endemic taxa, nesting and migration resting areas,
sandy beaches, ponds and water sources, and implement protection measures
 Provide incentives to private landowners to implement conservation measures for
threatened habitats
 Involve local communities in habitat protection activities such as cutting overgrown
vegetation, mowing, or grazing
 Develop protocols to identify FCS habitats (favourable conservation status) from
Appendix I of the Habitats Directive
National Ecological Network and NATURA 2000 Network
 Determine boundaries of the National Ecological Network and NATURA 2000
Network on the Croatian Base Map (HOK) with 1:5000 scale and include, when
required, ortho photo (aerial photogrammetric map) and/or cadastral plans
 Develop and implement Management Plans for areas of the National Ecological
Network and the NATURA 2000 Network
 Put in place monitoring mechanisms in areas of the National Ecological Network,
emphasizing monitoring qualification species and habitats in some NATURA 2000
areas in cooperation with stakeholders
 Provide incentives to private landowners for implementing conservation measures in
the Agricultural-Environmental Programme, and users (agriculture, forestry, fisheries)
in areas of the National Ecological Network and NATURA 2000 Network
 Provide funding to implement conservation measures in the areas of the National
Ecological Network managed by Public Institutions
Protection and Conservation of Wild Taxa
 Develop an inventory and maps of taxa from Appendices II and III of the Habitats
Directive and the Appendix I of the Birds Directive that are significant for the
introduction of the NATURA 2000 network.
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
Develop protocols to identify FCS species (favourable conservation status) from the
Appendix I of the Birds Directive and Appendices II, IV and V of the Habitats
Directive.
 Identify and inventory species that Croatia wishes to add to the Appendix of the
Habitats Directive
 Scientifically identify the extent of threat to non-examined groups of wild taxa
 Develop Red Books of non-examined groups based on scientific data
 Develop and implement action plans to protect threatened taxa in line with IUCN
criteria (CR-critically endangered, EN-endangered, VU-vulnerable)
 Develop and implement action plans to protect threatened endemic and relict species
 Set up and maintain a Nature Protection Information System by collecting data on
wild taxa
 Develop and implement action plans to protect migratory species protected by
international conventions
 Develop steps and procedures when highly protected animals are found injured,
poisoned, or killed
 Enhance cooperation with authorised bodies and continue funding
rescue/rehabilitation centres that care for injured, poisoned, or confiscated animals
under protection
 Provide public information events to raise awareness about damage to wild taxa and
habitats by inappropriate use of poisons
Invasive species
 Identify, list, and map non-indigenous and invasive species;
 Implement a removal programme for non-indigenous and invasive species
 Scientifically identify the number of game animals brought to islands and implement
removal programmes
 Carry out on-going trainings on invasive species for the general public
 Develop and implement programmes to monitor distribution of invasive species in
Croatia
Geodiversity
 Make an inventory of and evaluate geo-diversity and develop a database and a
monitoring programme
 Make an inventory of speleological sites and develop a National Speleological
Cadastre
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