Wetlands Ecosystem Services Assessment (EcoWET) in Croatia-Serbia cross border region

A workshop for users within the project “EcoWET – Evaluation of the wet ecosystem services in the cross-border area of ​​Croatia – Serbia”

At the beginning of September 2018, more specifically on the 3rd of September in the Eco Center Zlatna Greda, a workshop was held for users. A valuable expert team of EcoWET during the summer was working on collecting and processing data and designing and preparing the workshop itself.

The aim of the workshop is to familiarize users with the methodology of data collection and processing (TESSA) by which service estimates are performed for each pilot area. Also, through demonstration exercises, create maps of ecosystem services. Workshops and all-day program were answered by all users, and compared to the previous trainings and some new ones that make us as a project team extremely proud.

Among the participants of the workshop were representatives of Croatian forests, Croatian waters, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, county administrative departments, local self – government, sport fishing companies, Nature Park Kopački rit, Osijek Department of Biology, Public Institutions for Nature Protection, etc.

The EcoWET project is funded by the European Union under the INTERREG IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Croatia-Serbia and implemented by the Association for Nature Protection and Environment Green Osijek and Public Institution Agency for the Management of Protected Natural Values ​​in the Osijek-Baranja County in Croatia as well as Goran Sremska Mitrovica Movement Provincial Institute for Nature Protection from Serbia.

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION FOR THE 3rd TRAINING OF ECOWET PROJECT – Ecosystem Services: mapping and assessment of the state

We are pleased to invite you to the third EcoWET training program – Evaluation of the wet ecosystem services in the cross-border area of ​​Croatia – Serbia, which will be held on September 3, 2018 at the Golden Greda Eco Center (Zlatna Greda 16, Zlatna Greda).

The goal of the EcoWET project is to contribute to the protection and sustainable use of wetland ecosystems of the Danube floodplain and its tributaries in the cross-border area of ​​Croatia – Serbia through the evaluation of ecosystem services.

In previous trainings, we had the opportunity to get acquainted with the identification of ecosystems and their services, stakeholder and area user assessment, assessment of the current and alternative status of pilot areas, indicators and ecosystem services mapping bases (ES). In the third training we will get acquainted with the methodology of data collection and processing (TESSA) by which we evaluate the services for each pilot area and through demonstration exercises to create maps of ecosystem services.

This is where we invite representatives of public institutions, development agencies, local governments, tourism communities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, fishing and hunting associations, and other stakeholders that can help in assessing and evaluating our natural resources. Through our training, leading Croatian experts will be led to evaluate ecosystem services.

Please confirm your participation no later than Friday, August 31, 2018 to e-mail: ivan@zeleni-osijek.hr, or by phone (091/780 53 53)

EcoWET – Assessment of wet ecosystem services in the Cross – Border area of ​​Croatia – Serbia

Second training was held within the framework of the EcoWET project – Assessment of wet ecosystem services in the cross-border area of ​​Croatia – Serbia.

In the period from 8 to 9 March 2018, another training was held in the eco-center of Zlatna Greda, within the framework of the EcoWET project, funded by the European Union under the INTEREG IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Croatia-Serbia, and implemented by the Association for Nature Protection and the Environment Green Osijek and Public Institution Agency for the Management of Protected Natural Values ​​in the Osijek-Baranja County in Croatia as well as the Sremska Mitrovica Gorge Movement and the Serbian Provincial Institute for Nature Protection.

The training was attended by more than 50 participants – managers of protected natural areas, representatives of PP Kopački rit, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, Croatian waters, Croatian Forests Osijek and Vinkovci, sport fishing association of Osijek – Baranja County, JU for management of protected natural values ​​of Vukovar – Srijem counties, non-governmental organizations, county institutions, representatives of local self-government, public enterprises, faculties and other sectoral agencies from Croatia and Serbia.

After the first training during which the knowledge and skills acquired were necessary for the first phase of ecosystem service assessment, participants were introduced to the second training session with an assessment of the alternative ecosystem condition and ecosystem mapping methods. During the work in the groups, the participants had the chance to apply the knowledge acquired in practice in the specific pilot areas: the Special Ornithological Reserve of Podlapa and the ponds of Donji Miholjac, the northern part of the Croatian Podunavlja and the Spačva basin in Croatia as well as the Special Nature Reserve of Zasavica, Bari Trskovača and Bosut forests in Serbia .

Training in the Golden Gredi, apart from the regional one, was of international character. Namely, training as guest lecturers was attended by habituation mapping experts and assessment of ecosystem services from the Czech Republic, RnDr. Sc. David Pithart and Dr. Sc. Karel Chobot. Their task was to present participants with good practice of habitat mapping and assessment of ecosystem services in various studies in the European Union. During the training, colleagues from the Czech Republic participated in training and group work. With their knowledge and experience, they greatly helped to further implement project activities.

This was also an opportunity for the participants to strengthen the old and to establish new cross-border partnerships, as well as to exchange experiences and stimulate the ideas necessary for the long-term preservation of the common natural values ​​of the cross-border area, which represent the unique and invaluable eco-system of the Danube River flood plains and tributaries.

First EcoWet Project Training – Assessment of wet ecosystem services in the cross-border area of ​​Croatia – Serbia

In the period from 13 to 15 February 2018, the SRP Zasavica Visitor Center in Sremska Mitrovica was the first training course within the framework of the EcoWet project, funded by the European Union under the INTEREG IPA cross-border cooperation program Croatia-Serbia, and implemented by the Association for Protection Nature and Environment Green Osijek and Public Institution Agency for the Management of Protected Natural Values ​​in the Osijek – Baranja County in Croatia as well as the Sremska Mitrovica Gorge Movement and the Serbian Provincial Institute for Nature Protection.

More than 50 participants – managers of protected natural areas, representatives of PP Kopački rit, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, JU for management of protected natural values ​​of Vukovar-Srijem County, Croatian waters, non-governmental organizations, representatives of local self-government, public enterprises, faculties and other sectoral agencies from Croatia and Serbia.

Participants gained knowledge during training for the first phase of ecosystem service assessment, which includes the identification of habitat types and wet ecosystem services as well as analysis of users interested in their sustainable use. During the work in the groups, the participants had the chance to apply the knowledge acquired in practice in the specific pilot areas: the Special Ornithological Reserve of Podpanj and the Donji Miholjac ponds, the northern part of the Croatian Podunavlje and Spačvanski bazen from Croatia as well as the Special Reserve of Nature Zasavica, Bari Trskovači and Bosutski šume from Serbia .

This was also an opportunity for the participants to strengthen the old and to establish new cross-border partnerships, as well as to exchange experiences and stimulate the ideas necessary for the long-term preservation of the common natural resources of the cross-border region.

An introductory workshop for the new cross-border project – ECOWet

On Thursday, October 12, 2017, an introductory workshop was held in the premises of the Reception Center of the Zasavica Special Nature Reserve in the framework of the project “ECOWet – Assessment of the wet ecosystem services in the cross-border area Croatia – Serbia”, funded by the European Union under INTEREG IPA cross- cooperation between Croatia and Serbia 2014-2020.

The project partners included the Provincial Institute for Protection of the Guidelines, the Public Institution – the Agency for the Management of Protected Natural Values ​​in the Osijek – Baranja County, the Green Osijek Association and the Gorenje Gorje of Srijemska Mitrovica, and representatives of the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Values ​​of Vukovar – Srijem County , as well as representatives of numerous non-governmental organizations active in the field of nature protection in the cross-border area. Students and professors from the Faculty of Applied Ecology “Futura” attended the meeting.

Participants were given the opportunity to get acquainted with the objectives and planned activities of the ECOWet project, the importance and types of ecosystem services as well as the examples of good practice of evaluating the value of ecosystem services in the Republic of Croatia. Pilot areas will also be presented on which methodology will be tested for the ecosystem service assessment, the Special Ornithological Reserve of Podpanj and Donji Miholjac fishponds, the northern part of the Central Danube region and the spa pool in Croatia as well as Bara Trskovača, the Bosut forest and the Zasavica Nature Reserve in Serbia . The workshop was also an opportunity to establish contacts and exchange experiences among participants from Croatia and Serbia.

Call for introductory workshop “Services of wet ecosystems: what nature gives us all!”

We are pleased to invite you to the introductory workshop of the project “ECOWet – Assessment of the wet ecosystem services in the cross-border area Croatia – Serbia”, which will be held on October 12, 2017, starting at 10.30 am, at the reception center SRP Zasavica.

The aim of the workshop is to get acquainted with the representatives of the natural values, local communities, nature protection institutions and non-governmental organizations operating in the cross-border area of ​​Croatia and Serbia, with the objectives and planned activities of the project as well as the potential of cross-border ecosystem services.

In addition, the workshop will be an opportunity to establish contacts and exchange experiences from representatives of the above mentioned sectors from Croatia and Serbia.

The ECOWet is funded by the European Union under the INTERREG IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Croatia – Serbia 2014-2020, which aims to strengthen the social, economic and territorial development of the cross-border area through the implementation of joint projects and activities.

Please confirm your arrival by telephone at +385 31 565 180 or +385 91 782 11 39 or by e-mail mihovil@zeleni-osijek.hr not later than Thursday October 11, 2017.

About the EcoWET project:

The EcoWET (Wetlands Ecosystem Services Assessment) is a continuation of cross-border cooperation of project partners with a common view to the sustainable development and conservation of unique wet and river ecosystems in the border region of Croatia and Serbia.

The project’s task is to evaluate the ecosystems services in the cross-border area of ​​Croatia and Serbia, along the flood plains of the Danube River and its tributaries in 6 pilot areas. Pilot areas in Croatia are Ribnjaci Donji Miholjac, the northern part of the Central Danubian region and Spačva basin, while the Zasavica, Trskovača and Bosut forests are pilot areas in Serbia. Pilot areas will evaluate ecosystem services, which imply nature’s benefits, and how man uses them. Examples of such services are: pollination of insect flora, drinking water supply, flood protection, tree mass utilization, biodiversity conservation, tourism and recreation, mitigation of climate change, etc.

During the implementation of the project, a common methodological approach will be established to evaluate the state of the ecosystem, and data on the current state and capacity of ecosystem services will enable the local population to use quality and sustainable use of natural resources. The data will also be used for the design of conservation plans, preservation and sustainable use of humid ecosystems. The whole project will be translated into an educational-documentary film that will serve as a promotion and as an inspiration for generating similar activities in other regions.

As a demonstration example of the role of humid ecosystems in the water purification process, the installation of plant water purifiers is planned in one pilot area in Croatia and Serbia. During the project, work meetings of partners, workshops, press conferences and seminars will be organized in order to raise the awareness of the general public on the theme of ecosystem protection. An important aspect of the project is communication and cooperation with the local population in pilot areas. Also, leaflets, brochures and posters will be created as part of the project as well as a website to familiarize the wider public with project goals and nature protection.

The ECOWet project started on 15.06.2017. and it runs until June 14, 2019. years. The project is implemented in the area of ​​Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem County in Croatia and in the Vojvodina region of Serbia.

In the project as partners are: Sremske Mitrovice Gorge Movement, Association for Nature Protection and Environment Green Osijek, Provincial Institute for Nature Protection and Public Institution Agency for Management of Protected Natural Values ​​in the area of ​​Osijek-Baranja County. The project is funded by the European Union under the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Croatia-Serbia 2014-2020, which aims to strengthen the social and economic development of cross-border areas as well as the protection of unique ecosystems through the implementation of joint projects and activities.

For more information:

Association for the Protection of Nature and the Environment Green Osijek

Ivan Damjanović, MSc in Biology., EcoWET Project Manager

• E-mail: ivan@zeleni-osijek.hr or on Tel: +385 (0) 91 780 53 53

Mihovil Mašić, MSc in Geography, EcoWET Project Assistant

• E-mail: mihovil@zeleni-osijek.hr

29-08-2018