Reconstruction of the Botanical garden on Lokrum

For many years, the Botanical Garden on the island of Lokrum has been in a state of stagnation and decay, mainly due to natural processes. Therefore, last year, the Public Institution Lokrum Reserve launched a project to improve the overall condition of the garden as quickly as possible, which is a matter of interest to all our visitors. The Botanical Garden on the island of Lokrum was established in the 1960s with the aim of monitoring the adaptation of exotic plants in the conditions of our climate as a kind of scientific experimental area. Today, the Institute for Marine and Coastal Research of the University of Dubrovnik takes care of this garden in a scientific and professional sense. Unfortunately, the effects of shelling during the Homeland War and the intense adverse weather events in recent years have had a significant negative impact on the garden and plant material, and urgent action was needed to revitalize the garden. The Public Institution Lokrum Reserve has taken the initiative and initiated the process of garden restoration for the purpose of preservation and better interpretation, invested significant resources and work in the preparation of the necessary documentation and provided funds for the renovation. A conceptual and detailed design were developed based on the landscaping of the garden, and all necessary permits and approvals of the competent authorities in the field of nature protection and cultural heritage were obtained. At the end of last year, the project documentation for the design and furnishing of the garden and paths was prepared, with a total value of the construction works of approximately HRK 3.8 million.

The project envisages the equipping of existing paths and the installation of interpretation elements within the garden in order to increase the material standards of the botanical garden and the entire protected area. It also ensures an increase in the number of educated and informed visitors about the role and importance of forest ecosystems, as well as providing information on families and types of plant material in the area of the Botanical Garden and the entire reserve. In 2019, three procurement procedures were conducted. Given that during the first two procedures the amounts were inadequate, this Public Institution conducted the third procedure and finally signed a contract with the company Araucaria d.o.o. from Zagreb in early summer. The anticipated duration of reconstruction is six months starting from 1 September 2019, noting that works in the garden will not start before October. The University of Dubrovnik is familiar with all the facts and actions and its employee, Katija Dolina, is an expert advisor at the Botanical Garden on the island of Lokrum, who actively participated in the preparation of documentation during which her expert opinion and guidelines were respected. This reconstruction project envisages the rehabilitation and refurbishment of existing trails of approximately 725 m length, removal of damaged plant material and planting of 195 new plant species with a total of 1,466 seedlings on 13 fields in the garden. New urban equipment (benches, information and interpretation panels, entrance portal) will also be installed. The Botanical Garden will enter its new season with a whole new look to welcome everyone who chooses Lokrum as their favourite destination during their visit.

Public Institution Lokrum Reserve