The "LIFE for Mauremys'' project was designed to preserve the unfavorable conservation status of iconic freshwater turtle species Balkan Terrapin (Mauremys rivulata) within all Natura 2000 areas in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County where it has been recorded. In accordance with the The European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 supported by the European Parliament, the project will deal with Mediterranean freshwater habitats that are very important for Balkan Terrapin and biodiversity in general.
The project's activities include restoration of habitats, improvement of their quality and connectivity as well as population reinforcement by implementing a breeding programme. By including the community in the project activities, we will raise awareness about the importance of Balkan Terrapin conservation.
Croatian Hub for Regenerative Agriculture organized a seminar titled "ECO Innovations for Small Production Areas" through the LIFE for Mauremys project at the House of Honey and Traditional Products in Majkovi.
The LIFE for Mauremys project has reached the halfway point of its planned duration, and partners gathered for a consortium meeting held from October 21 to 23, 2024, at the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
This important investment, worth over 105 000 euros, is a crucial step in the implementation of the LIFE for Mauremys project, which aims to improve the conservation status and long-term sustainability of the Balkan Terrapin population.
We were at the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration by the name of “Bridging Science, Practice, and Policy of Nature Restoration”.
The team from the Zagreb Zoo partnered with organizers of the Šipan Summer Film School (LJŠFŠ), to collaborate with their mentors and participants in creating the first Croatian animated film about the Balkan Terrapin.
We participated in the 1st Summer School organized by the Natural Heritage Mission, titled “Our Mediterranean ecosystem’s health is in danger. Time to restore it!”
On Saturday, June 1, 2024, Zagreb Zoo visitors had the opportunity to participate in the second Mauremys Day.
Project coordinator Dragica Šalamon presented LIFE for Mauremys at the LIFE Platform Meeting, where international experts discussed the challenges and opportunities related to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Europe.
From May 23 to 25, the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Areas of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County organized the first Mediterranean Wetland Week
May 23, World Turtle Day, is just around the corner. The LIFE for Mauremys project dedicates this day to educational and promotional activities centered around two main events.
Activities aimed at the restoration of habitats and addressing threats to the Croatian population of the Balkan Terrapin are in full swing.
Year and a half of the LIFE for Mauremys project
On February 29, 2024, we participated in a networking meeting of Croatian beneficiaries of LIFE SAP projects - "Results and Effects of LIFE Projects in Croatia," organized by the National Contact Point for the LIFE Program.
World Wetlands Day in Opuzen Elementary School
In November, partners held a collaborative workshop on sustainable fishing practices in the Balkan Terrapin habitats.
Gravid Balkan Terrapins females, collected during field research in June from Dubrovnik-Neretva County, were carefully transported to the Zagreb Zoological Garden.
One year from the beginning of the project, on October 2nd, 2023, partners gathered at the Entrepreneurship Centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County for the third live meeting.
On June 27, 2023, we had the opportunity to meet with Fotini Vrettou and Zoi Mylona.
To restore habitats and mitigate direct threats to the Balkan Terrapin population in Croatia, we are collaborating with fishermen and experts to design, manufacture, and test a new type of fishing net.
To enhance their knowledge and learn from other projects' experiences in restoring small water bodies, project partners visited Ivan Budinski, Tomislav Sotinac, and Melani Glavinić from Association BIOM on Dinara.
The teams of project partners conducted extensive field research on Balkan Terrapins in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County from June 12th to 17th.
With the arrival of spring, turtle activity increases and the project team is more active in Work package 4 (task 4.2.)
In anticipation of World Turtle Day, celebrated annually on May 23rd, Mauremys Day was held at the Zoological Garden of Zagreb.
WP1: Project management and coordination
WP2: Restoring and improving habitats
WP3: Reinforcement of Ston field population
WP4: Adressing the other threats
WP5: Monitoring and evaluation
WP6: Public awaraness, dissemination and networking
WP7: Sustainability, replication and exploitation of project results
