Spatial Planning and Nature Protection in Focus at the 16th Meeting of Adriatic County Institutes for Spatial Planning

Krka National Park and the Institute for Spatial Planning of Šibenik-Knin County partner in organising the expert meeting in Šibenik.

The Public Institute of Krka National Park and the Public Institute for Spatial Planning of Šibenik-Knin County have signed a Partnership Agreement establishing cooperation in the co-organisation of the 16th Meeting of Adriatic County Institutes for Spatial Planning, which will take place on 3 and 4 November 2026 in Šibenik.

This year’s meeting is dedicated to spatial planning and nature protection, issues of particular importance in areas of exceptional natural value, where spatial development must be aligned with the preservation of natural and cultural heritage.

The exchange of experience and a field visit to Krka National Park will provide an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the conditions on the ground and learn about the technical documentation and supporting materials essential for the effective planning of the Park’s future development.

“This meeting is particularly important because it allows us to present spatial planning professionals with the conditions on the ground and the supporting materials on which we base our plans for the Park’s future development. To this end, we have developed the Visitor Infrastructure Catalogue for Krka National Park, which systematically and precisely documents existing, planned and proposed visitor infrastructure elements, accompanied by detailed descriptions, cartographic, graphic and photographic representations, and guidelines for future spatial development. The Public Institute of Krka National Park is the only institution in the Republic of Croatia to have compiled such a detailed inventory of visitor infrastructure elements. The Catalogue is an important technical basis for the preparation of the Spatial Plan, as it enables a more comprehensive assessment of the area and helps ensure that visitor infrastructure is aligned with the preservation of the Park’s natural values",said Nella Slavica, Director of the Public Institute of Krka National Park.

The Director of the Institute for Spatial Planning of Šibenik-Knin County emphasised the importance of cooperation between spatial planners and nature conservation professionals, as well as the exchange of experience in spatial planning in areas of exceptional natural value.

Space is one of our most valuable, shared resources, and the way we manage it affects both our quality of life and the development opportunities available to future generations. Spatial planning is therefore not merely a matter of preparing plans and following procedures; it is also about balancing different needs and interests, safeguarding the values of our surroundings and taking a long-term view of their future.

"At this year’s meeting, we want to initiate a discussion on how high-quality spatial planning can help us better protect our surroundings, while also addressing the challenges we face in practice. Attention will be given to spatial planning in protected areas, where the preservation of natural and cultural heritage must be reconciled with the needs of local communities and development. Through practical examples, new technical planning documents and the experiences of other counties, we want to highlight approaches that have proved successful in practice, while also having an open discussion about the problems for which we are still seeking solutions.

I believe that effective spatial planning requires us to look at the bigger picture and think in the long term, rather than focusing solely on individual interests and immediate needs. This is where I see an important role for county and city institutes for spatial planning, whose professional expertise, experience and continuity of work provide essential support for spatial decision-making. We are particularly pleased to be partnering with Krka National Park, demonstrating just how important cooperation between different institutions is. I hope this meeting will encourage us to translate the knowledge and experience we share into concrete, better solutions for the space for which we all bear collective responsibility", said Petar Mišura, Director of the Institute for Spatial Planning of Šibenik-Knin County.

The field visit will give spatial planning professionals the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the area’s characteristics, values and specific features that need to be considered when preparing spatial planning documents. It will also provide an opportunity to exchange professional experience and learn about practical methods for collecting data essential to high-quality spatial planning.

The cooperation between the Public Institute of Krka National Park and the county’s Institute for Spatial Planning helps bring together expertise in spatial planning and nature protection. Meetings of this kind provide valuable opportunities to exchange experience and explore approaches that support responsible spatial management while considering natural values and future development needs.