Together with the Croatian island of Mljet, Rab is the greenest island in the Adriatic, and woodlands are a familiar symbol of Rab, with Mediterranean and coastal vegetation covering the ever-green euro-Mediterranean regions of Kalifront (meaning ‘green head’), Fruga, Sorinje and Loparski Gušć over a total area of around 4000 hectares. The most important tree on Rab is the crnika – the Holm Oak or Holly Oak (Quercus ilex). There are few examples of this tree in the Mediterranean that are so impressive in their girth, height and age as those preserved in the Dundo woodland. Among the trees we also come across the wild olive, the Manna Ash, Downy Oak, Service Tree, False Olive, Strawberry Tree, tree heath, Prickly Juniper, and many others, which create an unforgettable display with their array of colours, flowers and fruits, and draw us in with their heady aromas. There are also a number of climbers and creepers, as well as Mediterranean healing herbs – sage, dwarf everlast, basil, rosemary, laurel and others.
The beauty and importance of the woodlands of Rab are only added to by the animal species it harbours. The largest woodland, Kalifront, is also a state-owned hunting ground for the small Axis Deer and the mouflon. Administration of this area is carried out by the Zagreb University Faculty of Forestry, which apart from managing the area uses it for scientific research purposes. The island of Sv Grgur is home to the fallow deer. Other game varieties in the woods of Rab are the hare, pheasant, wild pigeon, dove, woodcock and jay, while in stony areas there are rabbits. Apart from game birds, 162 other varieties have been recorded in the woods of Rab, both indigenous and migratory, all of which are protected by law. As far as reptiles go, there are tortoises, lizards and snakes, and the smaller animals also include the Beech Marten and common fox. The woods of the island are also home to the European hedgehog and a number of varieties of bat. All animal varieties are protected by law, except the game species, which are protected by a quota system and other hunting regulations. |