PROJECTS AND RESEARCH

RESEARCH

Scientific research and inventorying

The objective of scientific research and inventorying the natural and other resources within Učka Nature Park is to obtain some insight into their actual situation in order to determine and implement appropriate management activities. When deciding upon the field of science for conducting these activities, we consulted the available reliable data.

Research and inventorying activities initiated and financed by the Učka Nature Park Public Institution:

Research project for the planning of Učka Nature Park’s development policy
Researcher: Igor Kardum, Ph.D.

Researching and inventorying the caves within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Spelunka Caving Club

Inventorying the cave fauna within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Croatian Biospaeleological Society

Inventorying the geological phenomena within Učka Nature Park and compiling educational materials
Researcher: Department for Mineralogy and Petrography of the Croatian National History Museum

Birds of prey within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Eco Centre Caput Insulae-Beli

Assessment of the ornithofauna and its habitats within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Eco Centre Caput Insulae-Beli

Determining the structure of nesting bird communities in the area of Vela draga and proposing temporary management and protection measures
Researcher: Eco Centre Caput Insulae-Beli

Inventorying the ornithofauna, categorising bird species and canyon habitats in Vela draga and on the peak areas of Učka
Researcher: HAZU Croatian Academy of Science and Arts, Institute for Ornithology

Monitoring bird fauna of special importance for protection and conservation within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: BIOM association for biological research

Inventorying ornithofauna, categorising bird species and habitats within Učka Nature Park with special reference to bird-watching
Researcher: Ivan Budinski

Compiling the plan for the preservation of the existing active golden eagle pairs on Učka and Ćićarija
Researcher: BIOM association for biological research

Organisation of the bird-ringing camp
Researcher: Učka Nature Park Public Institution and BIOM association for biological research

Mapping the flora of Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Faculty of Science Zagreb, Rijeka Natural History Museum, and the Croatian Botanical Society

Compiling the checklist of vascular flora within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Compiling of the red list of flora within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Vegetation characteristics of the beech forests within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb

Researching the diversity and number of bat fauna within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Researching the butterfly fauna within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: doc. Mladen Kučinić Ph.D. (Faculty of Science, Zagreb)

Inventorying and researching the beetle fauna within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: BIOM association for biological research (project leader: Lucija Šerić-Jelaska, M.Sc.)

Biological diversity and inventorying the amphibians and reptiles within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Irena Grbac (Croatian Natural History Museum, Zagreb)

Survey of the distributions of the Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra), fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), common toad (Bufo bufo) and agile frog (Rana dalmatina) in the forest habitats within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: BIOM association for biological research and Hyla Croatian Herpetological Society

Environmental monitoring programme within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Cultural and historical monuments within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Martina Blečić M.Sc.

Influence of abiotic ecological factors and habitat types on the diversity of bird fauna within Učka Nature Park
Researcher: Marin Grgurev (Master’s thesis)

Traditional culture as the basis for the strategy of sustainable development in protected areas
Researcher: Grga Frangeš (doctoral thesis)

PROJECTS

International projects

KAM – Karst associated management: Establishment of a cross-border net of karst protected areas and common management
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution and the Škocjan Caves Regional Park

Production of a model for preserving the biodiversity of Croatian grasslands
Project leader: Žumberak Samoborsko gorje Nature Park Public Institution, FFI (Flora and Fauna International) and Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Research in cooperation with other researchers and institutions:

Field research of archaeological sites – Pupićina peć
Project leader: University of Cambridge, Department of Archaeology, Archaeological Museum of Istria

Field research of archaeological sites in the area of Molinarska draga – Učka Nature Park
Project leader: University of Cambridge, Department of Archaeology, Archaeological Museum of Istria

Survey of the distribution of Croatian barbberry (Berberis croatica) within Učka Nature Park
Project leader: Ksenija Karlović M.Sc. (Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb)

Investment projects

Protection and restoration o the Water of Joseph II fountain

Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Preservation and putting in function of eco tourism in the peak area of Učka and refurbishing the Vojak tower
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Setting up the Vela draga educational trail
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Setting up the Plas educational trail
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Setting up of the Slap educational trail
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Preparation of the Učka Outdoor project
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Preparation of the Renewal of the Korita Source project
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Učka Nature Park’s School in Nature – educational programme for pre-school and school children
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Construction of the Poklon info-point and additional facilities
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Setting up the Trebišća-Perun history and mythology trail
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Construction of the visitors centre
Project leader: Učka Nature Park Public Institution

Did you know?

The griffon vulture feeding site

…that griffon vultures, endangered in Croatia, are often flying over Učka in search for food? Once they were nesting here, but today their northern-Adriatic population is decreasing and in order to help in their preservation, a feeding site was build in Učka Nature Park, popularly called 'griffon vulture restaurants'.

The „Two towers“ trail

…that in 2018 a trail named „Two towers“ was established, which connects the town tower in Lovran with the Vojak tower on Učka? The trail goes through the existing hiking trail, and alongside there are educational boards that inform visitors on the flora and fauna of Učka.

The Roman cheese

…that it is traditional on Učka to produce the „molded“ sheep cheese of distinctive taste since the Roman Empire time? Its production was standardized due to its use in the nutrition of the Roman legions, while today's cheese made on Učka doesn't differ much from its antique ancestor.

Slavic mythology

…that the Mošćenička Draga's canyon used to be the scenery of sacred beliefs for the first Slavic settlers on the Kvarner area? The local toponyms like Perun, Babin grob and Voloski kuk witness about the old Slavic cult of Perun.