Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity in Croatia

Croatia is located in a region that makes it one of the richest European countries in
terms of biodiversity. The great diversity of land, marine and underground habitats has
resulted in many species, including a significant number of endemics (R. Jasminka (Ed.),
2009). The amount of known species in Croatia is around 37,000 while the estimated
number is much higher. This is a very large number, compared to other European countries
and taking into consideration how small of a country Croatia is. There are many species that
are threatened in other European countries, but have large, preserved areas of habitats in
Croatia that are important for breeding (R. Jasminka (Ed.), 2009). Along with the many
thriving species in Croatia, there are some that are in danger of going extinct. Cattle are in
danger of going extinct, which in turn makes it a competition for livestock production within
the country.

The cultural diversity in Croatia is mostly wrapped around the history and traditions
that took place years ago in the country. Religion plays a huge role in the country, with
Roman Catholicism being the largest in the country. With most of the population being
Catholic, citizens of Croatia celebrate the same holidays and traditions (Culture of Croatia,
2015). Along with religion in their culture, marriage is very common in Croatia. Couples
arrange their own marriages, and rely on family for a lot of things. The bond between
families in Croatia is very strong, and is a very important part of culture in a country.

Along with religion and family, the workforce has an impact on the cultural diversity
of a country. A countrys economy depends on the jobs and money that it is bringing into the
system. Croatia is known for their tourism, which plays a huge role in the economy. Croatia
has become more known within the past few years when it comes to tourism in the media. It
is becoming known for many of its natural and cultural attractions (Croatia.eu, 2015).
Plitvice National Park is the most visited inland attraction in Croatia. It includes many lakes
and waterfalls, and is home to many wild animals, including wolves and bears (Foster, 2015).
This shows how the culture of tourism relies on the biodiversity of a country. Below, there is
a picture of the pristine lakes of Plitvice from http://www.visit-croatia.co.uk

Overall, Croatia has one of the richest regions when it comes to biodiversity. With its
different climates and natural areas, it is home to a large amount of species and plants.

Tourism, within cultural diversity relies a lot on the environment of Croatia, as it is the
countrys largest source of income, and has a strong impact on the economy.