Limestone as the common denominator of natural and cultural heritage along the karstified part of the Adriatic coast

The entire Adriatic Region shares at least 200 million years of common geological history. The limestone created on this platform was used as a primary building material throughout the whole project area and takes one of the most important roles in creating common human history. The specific platy limestone as the basic construction material gives the Adriatic coastline and its interior the primary character. Although we inevitably share common future, it is clear that we unfortunately do not appreciate what we have and that some things are taken for granted. The problem of today is that stakeholders in spatial planning, urbanization and cultural and natural conservation lack firm guidelines for sustainable use of natural stone as building material, then for conservation of the stone as natural heritage and finally for conservation of sites and materials as cultural heritage. This results in improper use of material (often even with good intentions) and in destruction of natural and cultural heritage by non-sustainable exploitation. The RoofofRock project therefore gathered the most relevant stakeholders around one idea with the intention to establish joint platform for platy limestone sustainable use, preservation and promotion, create the relevant guidelines and to upgrade both individual and joint capacities in preserving such common natural and cultural heritage. The project partnership is built on strong cooperation and proven experience of the relevant institutions from Slovenia, Italy, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The consortium of partners has obliged to ensure the complete integration and adequate recognition of the platy limestone within the physical, social and cultural context of their wide use in the Adriatic Region in order to secure resource management and cultural significance of the platy limestone. They will also provide an adequate geologic definition of the platy limestone and its use as mineral commodity within this project. Finally, they will make joint efforts to raise the public awareness on the natural, cultural and economic values of the platy limestone. The Roof of Rock project is coherent with the objectives of IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme and therefore is strongly committed to the promotion of good and neighbouring relations, regional stability, security and prosperity of the participating countries and the Adriatic Region. This RoofofRock project is essential for uniting the relevant public institutions, educational institutions, local communities and various stakeholders from Slovenia, Italy, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina around the single idea. This project will furthermore enhance both their individual and joint capacities and will establish the universal practice in preservation and promotion of the platy limestone. The RoofofRock project is coherent with several relevant national, sub national, regional and international programmes, conventions, policies and other documents and is firmly based on their objectives and principles. This is the first and unique regional initiative in terms of content, capacities, covered area and public aimed to preserve the common heritage and trace the ways for its proper recognition.