Submerged Karst Phenomena in the Kvarner Area

The submerged karst phenomena in the Kvarner area are posing valuable segment of Croatian marine geomorphologic natural heritage, but are also potentially interesting as a habitats to various biotic community. In order to assure adequate legal protection of these sites in future, the authors are hereby proposing following measures: (a) evaluation of features and values, as well as the estimation of a current rate of threat, should be made for each site covered by the Project ; (b) based on the fore mentioned evaluations, an assessment on necessity of preventive protection of certain sites should be made ; (c) preliminary determination of possible protected area category (in accordance with protected areas categorization as set by Croatian law on nature and environmental protection and management objectives. Finally, (d) due to preventive reasons it is strongly recommended to restrain from making the data contained in this Project available to general public before the adequate protection shall be imposed.