Organized by the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Parts of Nature and the Ecological Network of Virovitica Podravina County and the company Academia Tempora from Zagreb, the Specialist Training Seminar for Nature Rangers was held at the Visitor center the Drava Story from January 14 to 16, 2025. The seminar opened with welcome speeches from Tatjana Arnold Sabo, Director of the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Parts of Nature and the Ecological Network of Virovitica Podravina County, and Vladimir Ajhler, Chief Nature Ranger. The seminar was attended by nature rangers from the following public institutions: Međimurje Nature – Public Institution for Nature Protection, Public Institution for Nature of Varaždin County, Public Institution for Nature of Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, Papuk Nature Park, Kopački Rit Nature Park, and the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Parts of Nature and the Ecological Network of Virovitica Podravina County. Lectures were delivered by Josip Pavliček, Master of Criminology and Doctor of Criminal Law and Criminology.

The seminar was intended for officers of national and local authorities and nature rangers from public institutions, with the goal of supporting them in more effectively detecting, clarifying, and proving offenses and criminal acts against strictly protected animal and plant species. In this regard, they can benefit from the experience of specialized police units, particularly in the field of crime prevention, which is one of the important tasks of nature rangers. In addition to their preventive role, knowledge of criminology and legal sciences is essential to enable timely detection, clarification, and proof of offenses and crimes against protected areas of nature.

Specific knowledge related to security analysis, risk assessment, and the development of implementation plans for combating illegal activities harmful to nature is undoubtedly necessary for public institutions in the field of nature protection. This seminar represents an important step in strengthening the professional capacities of nature rangers and in further safeguarding and preserving natural heritage, with continued support from all relevant institutions and organizations. The seminar concluded with a joint discussion and the distribution of certificates of participation to all attendees.