Argonauta partner at HCKZ.
On Tuesday, 22nd May 2018, a grant agreement was signed in Drniš to the project “Croatian Center of Coral Zlarin”. Partners in the project are the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Areas and Other Protected Areas of Nature of the Šibenik-Knin County – Nature, the Zlarin Tourist Board, and our Association Argonauta.
The mayor of Šibenik, Željko Burić, in the presence of the Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds Gabrijel Žalac, the Director of the Central Finance and Contracting Agency for European Union Programs and Projects (SAFU) Tomislava Petrica and the Prefect of Goran Pauk, signed a contract. Thus, the City of Šibenik successfully achieved a grant of HRK 13,332,404.97 for the Croatian Coral Center project Zlarin within the Call for Proposals to Promote Sustainable Development of Natural Heritage within the Operational Program “Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020”.
Minister Gabrijela Žalac has signed contracts for three projects on protected natural values of the Šibenik-Knin County with a total value of HRK 50 million. Along with the Croatian coral center, the same grant was awarded for the second phase of the project “Valorization of the channel of St. Ante” and “Natura Drniš – Sustainable development of natural heritage under the ecological network Natura 2000”.
The project for the establishment of the Croatian Center for Coral Zlarin includes the reconstruction and decoration of the Šare and Kažerma houses. The Kažerma House will function as an exhibition space with a well-arranged permanent exhibition that will contain an overview of the ecosystems and protected species of the Šibenik archipelago, the Zlarin Coral Tradition, a library that includes scientific works and poetry Vesna Parun.
The overall permanent design will include contemporary technologies such as extended reality, kinetic figures, audiovisual attractions, video games, etc. The House of Share will be redesigned into an educational research center with an amphitheater and accommodation units for researchers and scientists. The project will establish a visitor tracking system, monitor the coronal genetic biocenosis, acquire electric vessels and passenger transport vehicles, create a set of unique souvenirs of HCK Zlarin, conduct training for center staff and partners on the functionality of the center, develop educational and tourism programs, and develop a brand of future center.
The total value of the project is HRK 24,127,147.50, and the implementation deadline is in 36 months.
The Argonauta Association will participate as a partner in the development of educational programs that will be offered by the future Coral Center and other related activities.
We are extremely pleased to be able to share our 13th annual experience in the development and implementation of educational programs in nature and environment protection for all groups of users, especially for children and young people, and thus contribute to this valuable project.
We also share the excitement with project leaders, other partners, and Zlarinjan that this long-awaited project will revive and give a new wind to the back of a small island community in our county.
