The project entitled Nature Experiences and Wildlife Observationsthe acronym NATURE&WILDLIFE, is being implemented under the Interreg V-A Program Slovenia-Croatia 2014-2020.

In the cross-border area of the Dinaric karst, the project will develop a tourist product of nature and wildlife experience, which will mostly follow the guidelines for responsible management of nature, especially the use of brown bears in tourism. The area represents a large-scale forest massif on both sides of the border, which is part of the northern Dinarides. It is one of the few areas in Europe where all three species of large carnivores (bear, lynx, wolf) have been preserved.

In a thematic cross-border tourism product, we will combine an exceptional natural and cultural heritage in an innovative way, upgrade it with an interpretation and new visitor infrastructure, thereby increasing the attractiveness of the destination for specific target groups of visitors who are looking for green products.

The main objective of the project is to actively maintain the natural heritage of the project area through sustainable tourism, which will be achieved by improving the state of the inherited heritage sites, increasing the attractiveness of the content, promoting the green economy and raising the awareness and knowledge of local SMEs and the population.

The main direct effects of the project will be the creation of new cross-border green products/programs, an increase in the number of people with improved capacities and a visit to the areas and natural heritage sites involved in the project.

We pay a lot of attention to project communication with the public, therefore all the results will be presented in more detail, including recommendations for the creation of a sustainable product for the observation of wild animals, which will be based on the experience from the project.

Lead Partner:

• RDA Green Karst, Ltd.

Partners from Slovenia:

• Municipality of Pivka
• Public Institute for Culture, Tourism and Intergenerational cooperation Snežnik
• Jezerski hram, Institution for preservation on Natural and Cultural Heritage, Cerknica

Partners from Croatia:

• Public Institution National Park Risnjak
• Local Development Agency PINS
• Rijeka Development Agency Porin Ltd.
• Subject LLC

Associated Partners:

• Woodland Ways Ltd.
• The World Owl Trust from the United Kingdom
• Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation
• Forestry Institute of Slovenia.

The project is co-financed by the EU from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the COOPERATION PROGRAMME INTERREG V-A SLOVENIA – CROATIA in the 2014-2020 program period. Project value: 982.694,29 €. Co-financing from ERDF: 835.290,12 € or 85% of eligible costs.