The chronology of attempts to protect the river Mrežnica goes deep in the past. In 1972 there were first initiatives to protect Mrežnica as a "protected environment", and in 1985 with the development plan of Croatia protection of Mrežnica was anticipated with the category of a "Natural Park". This idea was included in the Strategy of development of Croatia in 1997., and the Program of development for the Republic of Croatia in 1988.
And when we thought the idea about Mrežnica as a "Natural Park" will finally come true, the existing law was revoked and now its under reconstruction and development of a new law for protecting nature.

Last contacts with the Ministry responsible for enforcing this initiative, DZVO "Žabac" had on recent meetings. On the question if the process of giving Mrežnica the status of a "Natural Park", we received the answer that the process is withdrawn from the procedure and that it will be continued when new laws about protected areas are brought. It is interesting that recently we had a few decisions about new "Natural Parks" (Učka, Papuk, Vransko Jezero, etc…), and Mrežnica, although there is a longest initiative for it, didn't receive this title. That brought us to a conclusion that there are speculations among some interest groups which was confirmed by some unofficial informations.

It is also not clear how the problem of the military installation "Eugen Kvaternik" is supposed to be solved, and this installation occupies 11 km of the spring flow of Mrežnica, in the future "Natural Park". When asked about this, we received an answer that this will be taken care of according to the new Law about protected areas, whatever that means.
It is also interesting that giving the status of a "Natural Park" to Mrežnica is not supposed to happen with the project "Karst protection" in Croatia, for which Croatia is receiving a donation from The World Bank in the next five years. This project, among other activities, has to protect the waters of the Ogulin area, and Mrežnica is again left out.

The basic obstacle for giving the "Park of nature" status to Mrežnica was removed. In March 2001, the Ministry of environment and development came out with a new proposition of the Law on nature preservation. Therefore, we are expecting the same Law will be valid soon, the latest in the beginning of 2002. With this law, the obstacle of proclaiming new protected areas will be removed. Croatia is with the total protected land, beneath the European average (Europe 14%, Croatia 8%), and new areas will definetly be proclaimed. In the proposition of the new law about environment there are also areas suggested for the status of a "Natural Park", and Mrežnica is on top of the list.

The Association for water and environment protection "Žabac" will, with its action of signing a petition in spring 2002, support the initiative for the proclamation of "Mrežnica" as a natural park, and with radio shows and by distributing education flyers and material, prepare the local population for co-operation with the park management and introduce them to new laws which will be enforced in the park of nature.