PROJECT NAME: "Mauremys rivulata - conservation of the umbrella species of the Mediterranean wetlands in Dubrovnik-Neretva County"
SHORT PROJECT NAME: LIFE for Mauremys
PROJECT ACRONYM AND CONTRACT NUMBER: 101071737 – LIFE21-NAT-HR-LIFE for Mauremys
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.
Release of juvenile Balkan Terrapins into a newly restored pond in Ston Field, marking the International Day for Biological Diversity and Nature Protection Day in the Republic of Croatia, as part of the 2026 EU Projects Open Days.
From 16 to 18 April, we organised workshops, panel discussions, lectures, and a public event in Ston.
A volunteer action was carried out in the herpetological reserve in Majkovi to clean and restore a pond, in collaboration with several institutions and projects working together to preserve freshwater habitats in the south of Croatia.
To preserve precious water, people built new ponds and dry-stone walls around places where water naturally accumulated. Although ponds are small water bodies that are often underestimated, their importance as sources of fresh water is significant.
LIFE for Mauremys has entered its fourth and final year of implementation, and the partners gathered for a consortium meeting.
The aim of the visit was to exchange knowledge on freshwater turtle research, habitat restoration, and management of protected areas, as well as to improve existing nature conservation methods.
The animated film “Mara – A Life for New Generations” tells the story of a brave Balkan terrapin named Mara.
The LIFE for Mauremys project continues its activities aimed at conserving the native European pond turtle and Balkan terrapin, while also supporting local communities in developing sustainable fishing practices.
As part of the LIFE for Mauremys project, we aim to understand how our activities affect ecosystem services, because we know that conserving the Balkan Terrapin is not possible without preserving healthy and functional ecosystems.
The Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Areas of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County recently received a report about the presence of the invasive alien species Pond slider (Trachemys scripta) in the Vid settlement
What began with a two-day educational seminar on ecological innovations in agriculture concluded with a joyful public event for children and adults, which attracted a large number of locals from Konavle.
Mauremys Day was held again this year, on May 25, 2025, at the Zagreb Zoo.
On Sunday, May 25, 2025, we will celebrate Mauremys Day at the Zagreb Zoo.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Zagreb Zoo, an educational exhibition titled "Only 100 Years Young!" has been set up at Zrinjevac Park in the heart of Zagreb.
We equipped several individuals with small telemetry devices and released them back into their habitats to track their movement.
This spring, the LIFE for Mauremys project was featured at two major science events – the MUZZA Week of Science (April 10–13, 2025) and the Festival of Science (May 5–10, 2025) in Zagreb.
As part of the LIFE for Mauremys project, this year we organized the Mediterranean Freshwater Days event in Konavle, in collaboration with the local association Agroturizam Konavle.
As part of the activities under Work Package 2: Habitat Restoration and Improvement, new basking platforms for freshwater turtles were installed in ponds within the project area.
The Balkan Terrapin habitat is an important part of the Zoo's breeding and educational activities, but also a new attraction that allows visitors to get a close-up view of this endangered and secretive species.
This year, we are once again celebrating the Mediterranean Wetland Week – after Majkovi, the event is coming to Konavle!
Project partners are inviting the local community of Ston, Majkovi, and Konavle to join the effort!
On March 11 and 12, 2025, we participated in the final conference of the Still Water Revival held in Sinj under the title “Ponds and Wells – Traditional Heritage of Freshwater Ecosystems in Karst”.
Following significant interest in the sustainable agriculture seminar held in Majkovi, we organized an online seminar to enable the participation of as many farmers as possible, particularly those from the project area.
One of the project's objectives is to remove invasive species from all locations where habitat restoration and improvement efforts are being carried out. By reporting observations of IAS, you can contribute to their early detection and containment.
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
Project partners are inviting the local community of Ston, Majkovi, and Konavle to join the effort!
