HR019
Vrana Lake and Jasen


Country/territory: Croatia

IBA criteria met: A4iii, B1i, B2, C2, C4, C6 (2010)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 5,912 ha

Association BIOM
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2013 not assessed high low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2005 baseline)
The Vransko Lake is the largest lake in Croatia. The water is shallow. A large and well developed reed bed in the NW part of the lake supports the richest wetland ornithofauna on the Croatian coast. Revitalisation of wetland habitats and flooded meadows in the area north of the Nature Park (former Vransko blato) is proposed. Hills on the eastern side are covered by maquis. In winter Vransko Lake regularly supports more than 20.000 waterbirds (mostly Coots). It is the only breeding area for Purple Heron in Mediterranean Croatia and the only regular breeding site of Pygmy Cormorant in Croatia. Birds are threatened mainly by illegal construction, agricultural intensification, drainage, excessive or illegal hunting in surrounding area and excessive water extraction from lake tributaries.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Vrana Lake and Jasen. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/vrana-lake-and-jasen-iba-croatia on 19/03/2024.