Page 228 - Koderman, Miha, and Vuk Tvrtko Opačić. Eds. 2020. Challenges of tourism development in protected areas of Croatia and Slovenia. Koper, Zagreb: University of Primorska Press, Croatian Geographical Society
P. 228
challenges of tourism development in protected areas of croatia and slovenia
social pressure as older property and buildings are being sold off and adapt-
ed to the needs of tourism or temporary residents5. There are a number of
other negative effects, ranging from overcrowding in the main pedestrian
areas of the Park (and on the county road that goes through it), to problems
for the local community that arise from nature protection imperatives and
restrictions (Marković, 2015).
A good example of such an issue for the local community is that con-
struction in the village Korana is restricted and access to certain roads
and paths, traditionally used by the local community, has also been re-
stricted. Functional overburdening is seasonal in the area of the Park,
echoing tourism demand. The Park has experienced unequal develop-
ment throughout and, as a consequence, the number of visitors puts im-
mense pressure on the existing public infrastructure, which is insufficient
for the relatively-modest needs of the local community alone (much less
for tens of thousands of tourists). This has serious negative effects on the
surrounding environment.
Threatened hydrological elements of the environment
According to the latest research, a certain amount of change has been not-
ed in the fundamental physio-chemical process of tufa formation and
catalysed biological processes in relation to prior research. According to
Pribičević et al. (2011), areas where tufa formation has stalled or slowed
have been identified. The research demonstrated how the increased amount
of dissolved organic substances (pollution) in the water has halted or hin-
dered the process of tufa formation in the fundamental phenomenon of
Plitvice Lakes.
Additionally, there is the process of eutrophication or of aging lakes—
this is a natural process that lasts for centuries, but humans can accelerate
it greatly with their actions (agriculture, herding, tourism, traffic, waste
water) (Stilinović and Božičević, 1998; Marković, 2015). Plitvice Lakes are
currently overgrown with marsh vegetation and the lake bottoms are cov-
ered with aquatic grasses (Pribičević et al., 2011). Looking at the availa-
ble biochemical data, it can be concluded that Plitvice Lakes are undergo-
ing a process of anthropogenic eutrophication. Measurements of the flow
on Kozjak since 1954 show a continual reduction over the last 60 years of
5 As a consequence, there is a certain kind of class difference between “newcomers”
who have capital and the local community, which feels less of the positive effects
resulting from the Park.
226
social pressure as older property and buildings are being sold off and adapt-
ed to the needs of tourism or temporary residents5. There are a number of
other negative effects, ranging from overcrowding in the main pedestrian
areas of the Park (and on the county road that goes through it), to problems
for the local community that arise from nature protection imperatives and
restrictions (Marković, 2015).
A good example of such an issue for the local community is that con-
struction in the village Korana is restricted and access to certain roads
and paths, traditionally used by the local community, has also been re-
stricted. Functional overburdening is seasonal in the area of the Park,
echoing tourism demand. The Park has experienced unequal develop-
ment throughout and, as a consequence, the number of visitors puts im-
mense pressure on the existing public infrastructure, which is insufficient
for the relatively-modest needs of the local community alone (much less
for tens of thousands of tourists). This has serious negative effects on the
surrounding environment.
Threatened hydrological elements of the environment
According to the latest research, a certain amount of change has been not-
ed in the fundamental physio-chemical process of tufa formation and
catalysed biological processes in relation to prior research. According to
Pribičević et al. (2011), areas where tufa formation has stalled or slowed
have been identified. The research demonstrated how the increased amount
of dissolved organic substances (pollution) in the water has halted or hin-
dered the process of tufa formation in the fundamental phenomenon of
Plitvice Lakes.
Additionally, there is the process of eutrophication or of aging lakes—
this is a natural process that lasts for centuries, but humans can accelerate
it greatly with their actions (agriculture, herding, tourism, traffic, waste
water) (Stilinović and Božičević, 1998; Marković, 2015). Plitvice Lakes are
currently overgrown with marsh vegetation and the lake bottoms are cov-
ered with aquatic grasses (Pribičević et al., 2011). Looking at the availa-
ble biochemical data, it can be concluded that Plitvice Lakes are undergo-
ing a process of anthropogenic eutrophication. Measurements of the flow
on Kozjak since 1954 show a continual reduction over the last 60 years of
5 As a consequence, there is a certain kind of class difference between “newcomers”
who have capital and the local community, which feels less of the positive effects
resulting from the Park.
226
