The relationship between human and environment is becoming one of the key questions for development of humanity and brings the need of protecting the nature so natural ecosystems wouldn`t be in danger of becoming extinct. Protected area is clearly defined area which is recognized with the purpose of permanent preservation of overall nature, uses of ecosystems, which ecosystems secures and belonging cultural benefits. The law of enviromental protection establishes nine categories of protected areas and these are: strogi rezervati, national parks, parks of nature, special rezervati, regional parks, monuments of nature, important landscapes, park architectures. In the Republic of Croatia, there are 706 protected objects. Croatia has 2 stroga rezervata and they are Hajdučki kukovi, Rožanski kukovi, Bijele stjene and Samarske stijene. Of eight national parks, five of them are in the up-country: Plitvička jezera, Paklenica, Risnjak, Krka, Northern Velebit. Mljet, Kornati and Brijuni are at the sea. Of ten parks of nature: Velebit, Kopački rit, Medvednica, Biokovo, Lonjosko polje, Vransko jezero, Papuk, Učka te Žumberak i Samoborsko gorje are on the land, and Telaščica is at the sea. National parks and parks of nature are the areas which represent the rarity on the planet Earth. In the protected areas is not investing enough because of the developed opinion that tourism in the protected areas has the bad effect on the nature. Although they are still relatively good protected from the bad people`s influence. Benefits od protected areas cannot be bought or sold on the classical market.