Situated on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, the 145-kilometre long Velebit massif is one of the most prominent natural areas in the Balkans. Encompassing two national parks and a biosphere reserve, the area boasts a diverse range of habitats - from barren Mediterranean landscapes at sea level, to vast beech forests, to almost boreal systems and alpine grasslands at higher altitudes. These habitats are home to an array of iconic wildlife species - from Balkan chamois and brown bear, to red deer and Eurasian lynx.
The tourism infrastructure along the coast is very well developed, with hiking trails, professional visitor centres, smaller overnight cabins, and various other types of accommodation. The dramatic coastal landscapes — characterised by steep cliffs, rugged canyons, cascading waterfalls, and sweeping plains — pay testament to the untamed beauty of the region.
Rewilding vision
The Velebit Mountains | Croatia
The Velebit Mountain chain — together with surrounding lowlands and marine areas — will be one of the wildest, largest, best protected, and most well-known natural areas in Mediterranean Europe. The natural heritage of the area is a source of income and pride for the people who live here, as well as for Croatia as a nation. Velebit inspires people in adjacent areas that have similar natural settings to use rewilding as a means of addressing challenges and generating new nature-based opportunities.
The unbroken ecological integrity of the Velebit massif has been preserved, as part of the larger Dinaric Arc Mountain chain, which ranges from Slovenia into Albania. At the same time, large areas of Velebit have become much wilder, with several core rewilding areas where natural processes largely regulate nature and native wildlife populations are abundant. Here, local residents have taken a clear step back from actively managing the landscape and its wildlife, with wild resources providing people with new or additional ways of making a living. These opportunities are attracting new residents to the area as well as many more visitors, boosting Croatia's tourism offerings and extending the country's tourism season.
Do you want to know more about Rewilding Europe's efforts to make the Velebit Mountains a wilder place?
Visit RewildingEurope.com >Take a journey into the heart of the Velebit Mountains
The Rewilding Velebit team is working to restore natural processes, support wildlife comeback, and promote human-wildlife coexistence through innovative and sustainable land use.
A primary focus is transforming nearly 30,000 hectares of former hunting concessions into areas where wildlife watching replaces traditional hunting. As a result, iconic species such as brown bears, red deer, wild boars, lynxes, and golden eagles are returning and thriving. This resurgence is helping to power a growing nature-based economy, with wildlife hides and nature-based tourism experiences already bringing new income to the region.
Visitors to the Velebit rewilding landscape can experience this transformation first-hand. From dramatic coastal cliffs to deep forested canyons, access to the landscape is supported by a growing network of hiking trails, cabins, visitor centres, and local accommodations. With its mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and vast uninhabited areas, this landscape offers those who travel here a deep connection with wild nature and a new vision for sustainable rural development.
