The Croatian consultations on drought, heatwaves, and wildfire (DHF) management were held from March 4 to 6, 2025, in Zagreb. The event was organized by DHMZ with the support of the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology of the University of Zagreb. Participating stakeholders included associated partners: the Ministry of the Interior (Directorate of Civil Protection) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, as well as representatives of other ministries and relevant institutions.
Participants actively discussed the current DHF management, focusing on the legal framework, data sharing, and communication. The aim of the consultations was to identify responsible institutions, assess the current situation, and propose improvements. Based on the conclusions of the consultations, a national action plan will be developed and shared with stakeholders and decision-makers for feedback.
The consultations were highly successful, generating strong interest in cross-sectoral collaboration. Croatia has a well-organized wildfire protection system, while there is room for improvement in heatwave protection. The drought management system, however, remains reactive and insufficiently developed on national level. At both the national and local levels, drought monitoring lacks a forecasting component, making it more difficult to mitigate drought impacts.
More information (in Croatian): https://meteo.hr/objave_najave_natjecaji.php?section=onn¶m=objave&el=priopcenja&daj=pr10032025