4 February 2013: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) reported that the Government of Croatia has designated Vransko Lake as its 5th Wetland of International Importance. The site is a Nature Park and Special Ornithological Reserve that is the largest natural lake in Croatia.

According to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, the lake is separated from the Adriatic Sea by a narrow karst ridge, and seasonal variations in water level and salinity because of sea water intrusion have led to the development of specific habitats. The site is a nesting, wintering and resting area for many threatened waterbirds and plays a regulating and purifying role in the hydrological cycle.

Croatia’s designation contributes to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release]