ZAGREB, 5 March (Hina) - A total of €6 million in EU grants has been awarded to four croatian public nature conservation institutions  -- the Public Institution "Natura Slavonica", managing protected areas in Brod-Posavina County, the Public Institution "Priroda", and the Biokovo and Telašćica nature parks.

The funds will support projects to protect target species and habitats and promote sustainable ecosystem management through the restoration and protection of Natura 2000 sites in Croatia, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition said. The total project value is approximately €7.3 million.

These grants are part of the 2021-2027 "Competitiveness and Cohesion" programme, awarded under a €75 million call for improved management of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites.

So far, 30 projects have been approved under this call, with around €54.5 million in grants awarded for projects worth nearly €65 million, the ministry said. The projects aim to strengthen the implementation of European and national nature protection goals, while supporting local communities, enhancing expertise, and raising awareness of biodiversity.

Separately, the state-owned Hrvatske Šume forest-management company received €5.58 million in EU grants for the GRAS project, which focuses on the restoration and preservation of overgrown grasslands on forested Natura 2000 sites. The total project cost is €6.56 million, covering 3,861 hectares across Zadar, Šibenik-Knin, and Split-Dalmatia counties.

The project aims to restore rare and endangered grassland habitats and associated species, prevent fires, enhance biodiversity, and support sustainable grassland management while mitigating climate change impacts. It is funded under the 2021-2027 "Competitiveness and Cohesion" programme, specifically targeting the strengthening of nature protection, biodiversity, and green infrastructure.