Developing a Safety Study for Krka National Park

The Public Institute of Krka National Park, as manager of the protected area of Krka National Park, has ordered the drafting of a Safety Study for the park area, and in accordance with the accepted bid (CLASS: 480-08/18-20/07, REG NO: 16-18-6 of 5 September 2018) concluded the contract with the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, Šibenik station (CMRS).

The process of contracting the service was carried out as part of the grant contract for the project "The Unknown Krka – Hidden Treasures of the Upper and Middle Courses of the Krka River" (CC 06.1.2.01.0003) in the framework of the Call for Proposals for the Promotion of Sustainable Utilization of the Natural Heritage in National and Nature Parks, as a part of the Operational Program "Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020". The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund.

The Safety Study in Krka National Park, including the edge areas of the park, was drafted with the aim of preventing risks on walking trails and maximally securing and protecting visitors, and also those persons entrusted with protecting the values of a certain locality. The document includes predicting risk elements on marked trails and surrounding trails, necessary prevention measures, eliminating possible risks, and defining behaviour patterns in the case of an accident.

Given the significant visitation of Krka National Park, it was necessary to conduct an analysis and assess the safety level of walking trails and other visitor infrastructure, in order to avoid or minimize the possibilities of accidents in the park area. During the safety analysis of walking trails and visitor infrastructure, both subjective and objective factors that impact visitor safety were considered.

In addition to the expert assessment by CMRS, the opinions and experience of rangers at Krka National Park and the local population were also taken into consideration. The information and recommendations received served for a more realistic and detailed assessment of the state of safety in the park. The study also analysed the development of trails of particular interest, and the overall passability of walking and technical trails, with the aim of connecting them and creating new tourism programmes that can be implemented safely.

The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service is a national, vertically organised, volunteer, expert and humanitarian society of public significance, and its fundamental objectives are accident prevention, rescue training, rescue and first aid in the mountains and other inaccessible areas and in extraordinary circumstances, where rescue and first aid require special expert knowledge and technical equipment. The organisation is dedicated to protecting human life, health and property. CMRS is the only national services of its kind, and it is made up of local mountain rescue stations, each with its own organisation. CMRS performs activities of interest for the Republic of Croatia. The expert knowledge and experience in search and rescue of the CMRS members forms the basis for the drafting of this study.