On 16 February 2026, a press conference was held at the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, where Minister Marija Vučković and her associates presented plans for the remediation of illegal waste disposal sites and new regulatory activities aimed at strengthening nature protection.
Remediation works were announced for sites in the Municipality of Bedekovčina and the Gospić area, with a total estimated value exceeding EUR 10 million. In Bedekovčina, two locations are involved, containing approximately 13,000 tonnes of illegally disposed waste, while in the Gospić area an estimated 35,000 tonnes of waste have been identified, with part of the remediation planned for the first phase of the project. Soil and water monitoring is being carried out in parallel, and results to date do not indicate any exceedances of limit values, while systematic supervision continues.
In addition to the remediation activities, draft regulations on park financing and the designation of the “Poljana” Special Reserve on the south-western slopes of Papuk were presented. This would place an additional 235 hectares under stricter protection to preserve old-growth forest stands and their biodiversity.
Through continuous monitoring of surface and groundwater quality, Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institute enables the timely identification of potential pollution impacts and provides an expert basis for decision-making related to remediation and environmental protection. In line with the need for enhanced monitoring of sensitive areas, the Institute is upgrading its monitoring network. A new monitoring station, Lika – Ostrvica Bridge, has been put into operation, along with two monitoring stations in the Poznanovec area of Hrvatsko Zagorje, further ensuring water quality surveillance in areas subject to increased risk.
Through the systematic collection and analysis of data, the Institute continues to contribute to the protection of water resources and the long-term preservation of water quality in the Republic of Croatia.
Source: Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition
