VRANSKO JEZERO, Dec 14 (Hina) - Environment Minister Ivo Banac on Sunday visited the Vransko Jezero Nature Park, which was devastated by fire last week.
VRANSKO JEZERO, Dec 14 (Hina) - Environment Minister Ivo Banac on
Sunday visited the Vransko Jezero Nature Park, which was devastated
by fire last week. #L#
"We must not be afraid to say how big a disaster this is for Croatia
and also for the international community. We, therefore, expect
assistance from the international community in efforts to save the
bird reserve," Banac told reporters.
The minister said that over 90 per cent of the reed-covered reserve
had been consumed in the conflagration, and announced that the park
administration would set up platforms in the park so that birds
could return and nest.
Banac said that the fire had threatened the birds' migration route,
but expressed hope that new reeds would grow in the next year or two
and that the park would gradually regenerate.
The 57 square metre park, situated inland from the central Adriatic
resort town of Biograd, was Europe's largest winter ground for
birds. Now nearly completely devastated, it was home to at least 226
out of the 375 registered bird species in Croatia. About 140,000
birds, including 100,000 coots, used it as a winter ground.
The fire broke out last Monday and was extinguished the next day.
Its causes are still being investigated.
(hina) vm