An exchange of the good practices of two protected areas
A bilateral cooperation agreement was signed today at the Šibenik-Knin County offices between the Public Institute of Krka National Park and the Castelli Romani Regional Park in the Italian region of Lazio. The agreement was signed by Nella Slavica, Director of the Krka National Park Public Institute, and Ivan Boccali, President of the Castelli Romani Regional Park, in the presence of Paško Rakić, the Prefect of Šibenik-Knin County.
The agreement paves the way for long-term cooperation between the two protected areas, with a particular focus on the exchange of knowledge, experience, and the best practices in protected area management, as well as the joint promotion of the natural and cultural heritages. The delegation from the Castelli Romani Regional Park was welcomed by Paško Rakić, the Prefect of Šibenik-Knin County.
"Šibenik-Knin County is one of the smaller counties in the Republic of Croatia, yet it is rich in natural beauty and a valuable cultural-historical heritage. Our region is home to two national parks, three nature parks, two sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and numerous other protected natural and cultural assets. The County continuously invests efforts into environmental and nature conservation and protection, as well as in raising public awareness – particularly among young people – about the importance of a responsible attitude toward the environment in which we live and which we leave as a legacy to future generations", said Prefect Rakić, highlighting the importance of establishing long-term, high-quality cooperation between the two parks: "I believe that this cooperation will open up new opportunities for the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and good practices, and even stronger international promotion of our cultural and natural heritage.“
The collaboration was launched upon the initiative of the Castelli Romani Regional Park, with the mediation of the Croatian National Tourist Board in Italy, with the intention of linking the two institutions through joint activities in the fields of nature protection, biodiversity conservation, education, sustainable tourism, and engagement of the local community.
"For Krka National Park, this collaboration represents an important opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the Castelli Romani Regional Park. In addition to possessing exceptionally valuable natural and cultural features, both parks – Krka and Castelli Romani – manage areas visited by large numbers of people, and because of this, finding a balance between nature conservation, the quality of life for local residents, and sustainable tourism development is crucial. The greatest importance of this agreement is represented specifically in this exchange of experience. We are particularly pleased that the Krka National Park was chosen as the first partner for the Castelli Romani Regional Park in this type of collaboration, which we view as a significant recognition and compliment of our work", noted Nella Slavica, Director of the Krka National Park Public Institute.
The Castelli Romani Regional Park was established on January 13, 1984, to protect the integrity of the natural and cultural features of the volcanic Alban Hills area in the Lazio region. In addition to preserving
the natural features, the Park’s activities focus on enhancing its resources and fostering sustainable socio-economic development for the benefit of the local population. The area's distinctive natural features include two volcanic lakes – Albano and Nemi. Castel Gandolfo, renowned for the Pope's summer residence and gardens, is situated on the shores of Lake Albano. The Park also manages the Tor Caldara and Sughereta di Pomezia Regional Nature Preserves, the Madonna della Neve Regional Natural Monument, and a series of Special Areas of Preservation within the Natura 2000 ecological network.
"We chose your region for this collaboration because we feel a close bond – both historically and at heart – and we therefore thank the Krka National Park for recognizing our 'Park Beyond the Park' initiative. This is not merely a signature, but rather the beginning of a tangible partnership that we believe will be fruitful for both our regions. In today’s world, it is important to demonstrate that positive initiatives and successful projects can and should be carried out at an international level, especially in terms of education and young people. Let us, therefore, create something wonderful for our two countries", stated Ivan Bocalli, president of the Castelli Roman regional park
A key benefit of this collaboration will be the exchange of experience related to visitor management and sustainable tourism, as well as the joint promotion of protected areas. The goal is to enhance the visibility and recognition of both parks on an international level, while also encouraging visitors to adopt a more responsible attitude toward the natural and cultural heritage.
"We were guided by the idea that this agreement should mark the beginning of a wonderful partnership between our peoples and lead to the creation of a network of parks marking thois friendship. We face similar challenges regarding protected areas – specifically, how best to safeguard the ecosystems – and we therefore need to seek shared solutions. We see the greatest potential in the education of children and young people, and we hope that this collaboration will result in student exchanges through study visits", stated the dirctor Francesco Ciferri.
During the visit of the Italian delegation to the Krka National Park, on September 15 and 16, the representatives of the two protected areas will discuss actual possibilities for future cooperation. The Castelli Romani Regional Park delegation consists of president Ivan Boccali, director Francesco Ciferri, project manager Francesca Barbarancia, and journalist Andrea Scotto.
During their stay in our county, representatives of the Castelli Romani Regional Park will also become aquainted with the exceptional natural, cultural, and historical assets of the city of Šibenik and Šibenik-Knin County. In cooperation with the Šibenik Tourist Board – which is actively involved in organizing the Italian delegation's visit – presentations and tours have been arranged to showcase the diversity and unique features of the destination to the guests.
The visit program thus includes a tour of the Krka National Park and an introduction to its natural and cultural features, as well as visits to Skradin, Šibenik, the islands of Prvić and Zlarin, and the Channel-Port protected landscape, including the St. Nicholas Fortress. In this manner, alongside insights into protected area management, the Italian delegation will be introduced to the broader context of the destination, where the natural and cultural heritage is linked to sustainable development and tourism.
During the visit, the activities and areas of cooperation to be implemented in the coming period will be defined. In addition to the Public Institute of Krka National Park, Šibenik-Knin County and the Šibenik City Tourist Board will be involved in carrying out future activities, thus further linking the international cooperation between the two protected areas with the development and promotion of the local destination, while laying the groundwork for new partnerships and concrete joint activities in the future.