The Croatian Ministry of Environment and Energy has unveiled results from two projects that leverage digital technologies for wildlife conservation. In 2022, Croatia joined the Global Biodiversity Information System, an international network aimed at providing data access on all life forms on Earth.
The first project, the Croatian Biodiversity Atlas (BioAtlas), serves as a database for storing and sharing species data, establishing Croatia's first national open biodiversity data system.
It is based on the global platform 'Living Atlases,' which has been developed over the past two decades and adopted by many countries for biodiversity data management.
Croatia currently has 38.1% of its land protected and aims for 42.5% by 2030, along with increasing its marine protected areas from 12.6% to 30%.
The second project focuses on mapping the sensitivity of areas in Croatia for the development of solar and wind energy, which began in May last year and is valued at approximately €300,000. This initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry, The Nature Conservancy, and the Energy Institute 'Hrvoje Požar.'
Advanced machine learning models and expert analyses were utilized, processing around one million animal observations and predicting the distribution of over 350 species, particularly vulnerable groups like birds, bats, and large carnivores.
This smart mapping method enables precise risk assessments and informed decisions regarding potential solar and wind farm locations, minimizing impacts on nature.
Potential impacts of solar farms on bats include habitat loss due to substantial land use. Research indicates that bats may mistake solar panel surfaces for water and attempt to drink from them, while wind turbine blades can disrupt echolocation, posing significant risks.
In Croatia, three large carnivore species—wolves, lynxes, and bears—require extensive habitats and are sensitive to human activities, habitat fragmentation, and barriers created by solar and wind energy installations.