Full project title:
Still Water Revival – Restoring and conserving still water ecosystems of Mediterranean karst mountains
Duration:
1st April 2o22 – 31st March 2025
Total budget:
664.910 €
Association Biom:
209.172,38€
Donor’s Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems: 130.927,5€
Ecological Restauration Fund: 28.888,11€
Own co-financing: 65.075,85€
Lead partner:
Association Biom
Partners:
4 Grada Dragodid, Hrvatske Šume, JU Park prirode Učka, JU NP Sjeverni Velebit, JU Park prirode Biokovo
Contact:
Luka Škunca, luka.skunca@biom.hr, project lead
Project goals
Still freshwater ecosystem assessment and restoration methodology agreed by key national experts and relevant institutions
Preconditions for restoration of still freshwater ecosystems provided for Biokovo, Učka and Northern Velebit protected areas
Restoration of 10 still freshwater ecosystem units within Dinara area
The sustainability of still freshwater ecosystems insured within target areas
Project summary
Most water bodies in the karstic mountains were created long time ago through human activity, as they were an important source of vital water, crucial for humans as well as cattle. As karstic mountains in Croatia are mostly dry and lack surface water, these small water bodies are also hotspots of biodiversity and a source of water for wild animals. Still, their survival today is endangered as these ecosystems are dependent on regular maintenance, and mountainous parts of Croatia in the last few decades, have been affected by abandonment of extensive cattle farming as well as depopulation. Through the project “Still Water revival” we want to restore ponds and wells on the mountains of Biokovo, Dinara, northern Velebit and Učka, in order to support the conservation of biodiversity connected to these small ecosystems, as well as the traditional pastoral practices in the aforementioned areas.
We plan to ensure a long-term conservation of these important ecosystems in the karst landscape by using a strategic approach, with the assessment of their current status, develop a prioritization methodology and finally restore ponds and wells using traditional techniques. Additionally, as part of the project we’re going to develop a caretaker program which will encourage active participation of local stakeholders, who will take care of water bodies in their area. In each part of the project area (Učka, Velebit, Dinara, Biokovo) we plan to map ponds and wells, do the prioritization process, make a management plan and restore at least one pond or well, as well as carry out the caretaker program.
Materials and publications
View
Pogledaj kratki video
This document was produced with the financial assistance of the Donors Initiative For Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems. The contents of this document are solely the liability of Association Biom and under no circumstances may be considered as a reflection of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation or Donors Initiative For Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems’ position.