Dinaric Arc

Where Eastern Europe meets the Mediterranean

This Ecoregion, called the Dinaric Arc, in south-eastern Europe, covers some 100,000 km2 and more than 6,000 km of coastline. It stretches from the eastern Adriatic coast from Trieste in Italy to Tirana, Albania covering Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania.

Much of the region is still unspolit.  Vast stretches of forest that cover the Dinaric Alps mountains, that run parallel to the coast, are home to large carnivores such as lynx, European brown bear and wolf.

The Adriatic sea, with its submerged reefs and seagrass, provide feeding and breeding grounds for whales, dolphins, marine turtles and commercial fish species such as blue-fin tuna.

And, with a population density of around 100 people per sq km, this ecoregion is sparsely populated by average European standards.

Unique natural features

The Dinaric Alps are breathtaking in their span, reach and variety of species and landscapes.

Oak, beech, and conifer forests nestle alongside outstanding plant diversity – important sanctuaries for large carnivores such as the lynx, the European brown bear and wolf.

The Eastern Adriatic is one of the richest fishing grounds in the Mediterranean and commercial fish species, whales, dolphins and marine turtles thrive.

The area boasts an extensive network of rivers and lakes in Europe and wetlands of international importance such as the Neretva delta in Bosnia and Croatia, and Skadar lake in Montenegro and Albania

Socioeconomic values

This area is home to people that speak several languages and practise three major religions.

The region suffered a series of conflicts between 1991 and 2001 after the collapse of Yugoslavia.

Since then, reconstruction and rehabilitation have been the main common characteristics of the region.

The people that live here, particularly on the islands, derive their income from traditional economic activities such as small scale agriculture and fisheries, and from family-run pensions.

Fisheries and tourism are the main economic activities for people living along the coast, while forestry is important in the inland areas of Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina.