Conservation Under Siege: The Intersection of Tourism and Environmental Threats in Croatian Protected Areas

This paper investigates the illegal activities that may negatively impact the environment in Croatia’s protected areas, particularly those associated with tourism. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and sensitivity analysis are used to identify distinct high-risk activities specific to differe...

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Main Authors: Mira Mileusnić Škrtić, Sanja Tišma, Davor Grgurević
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2114
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author Mira Mileusnić Škrtić
Sanja Tišma
Davor Grgurević
author_facet Mira Mileusnić Škrtić
Sanja Tišma
Davor Grgurević
author_sort Mira Mileusnić Škrtić
collection DOAJ
description This paper investigates the illegal activities that may negatively impact the environment in Croatia’s protected areas, particularly those associated with tourism. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and sensitivity analysis are used to identify distinct high-risk activities specific to different park types. Coastal parks are found to be particularly vulnerable to maritime-related illegal activities, with high risk exposure from mooring vessels and swimming in prohibited areas. These parks also face significant risks from illegal fishing and the capture of strictly protected plants and animals, highlighting the need for enhanced marine ecosystem protection. Mountainous and forest parks face significant risks from fire-related activities, while wetland parks are sensitive to poaching and illegal fishing. Additionally, diverse landscape parks show increased vulnerability to littering, poaching, and the collection or harvesting of strictly protected plants and animals. The results underscore the necessity for tailored risk-management strategies that prioritize interventions based on park-specific challenges. By addressing the unique vulnerabilities of each park type, this study contributes insights into mitigating environmental threats posed by tourism and emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptive management in protected areas.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2073-445X
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Land
spelling doaj-art-343b0bceac4a414a88c7e511331d90c72024-12-27T14:35:11ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-12-011312211410.3390/land13122114Conservation Under Siege: The Intersection of Tourism and Environmental Threats in Croatian Protected AreasMira Mileusnić Škrtić0Sanja Tišma1Davor Grgurević2Environmental Health Engineering, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaInstitute for Development and International Relations IRMO, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaMinistry of the Interior, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaThis paper investigates the illegal activities that may negatively impact the environment in Croatia’s protected areas, particularly those associated with tourism. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and sensitivity analysis are used to identify distinct high-risk activities specific to different park types. Coastal parks are found to be particularly vulnerable to maritime-related illegal activities, with high risk exposure from mooring vessels and swimming in prohibited areas. These parks also face significant risks from illegal fishing and the capture of strictly protected plants and animals, highlighting the need for enhanced marine ecosystem protection. Mountainous and forest parks face significant risks from fire-related activities, while wetland parks are sensitive to poaching and illegal fishing. Additionally, diverse landscape parks show increased vulnerability to littering, poaching, and the collection or harvesting of strictly protected plants and animals. The results underscore the necessity for tailored risk-management strategies that prioritize interventions based on park-specific challenges. By addressing the unique vulnerabilities of each park type, this study contributes insights into mitigating environmental threats posed by tourism and emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptive management in protected areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2114protected areasenvironmental threatsillegal activitiesrisk managementtourismbiodiversity
spellingShingle Mira Mileusnić Škrtić
Sanja Tišma
Davor Grgurević
Conservation Under Siege: The Intersection of Tourism and Environmental Threats in Croatian Protected Areas
Land
protected areas
environmental threats
illegal activities
risk management
tourism
biodiversity
title Conservation Under Siege: The Intersection of Tourism and Environmental Threats in Croatian Protected Areas
title_full Conservation Under Siege: The Intersection of Tourism and Environmental Threats in Croatian Protected Areas
title_fullStr Conservation Under Siege: The Intersection of Tourism and Environmental Threats in Croatian Protected Areas
title_full_unstemmed Conservation Under Siege: The Intersection of Tourism and Environmental Threats in Croatian Protected Areas
title_short Conservation Under Siege: The Intersection of Tourism and Environmental Threats in Croatian Protected Areas
title_sort conservation under siege the intersection of tourism and environmental threats in croatian protected areas
topic protected areas
environmental threats
illegal activities
risk management
tourism
biodiversity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2114
work_keys_str_mv AT miramileusnicskrtic conservationundersiegetheintersectionoftourismandenvironmentalthreatsincroatianprotectedareas
AT sanjatisma conservationundersiegetheintersectionoftourismandenvironmentalthreatsincroatianprotectedareas
AT davorgrgurevic conservationundersiegetheintersectionoftourismandenvironmentalthreatsincroatianprotectedareas