Field visit from project advisor
On 14th and 15th March 2024., Project advisor Nikica Skroza visited project areas in Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Accompanied by project coordinator Dragica Šalamon (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture) and Petra Sisan, team leader from Public Institution for Management of Protected Natural Areas of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, advisor was shown around the first Croatian herpetological reserve, “Lokve u Majkovima” where the following activities are being carried out:
- testing the modifications of the fykenets to eliminate freshwater turtle bycatch,
- hydrogeological studies as necessary prerequisites for reconstruction of water bodies,
- testing out the methods for eliminating invasive alien plants and Trachemys turtles
- removing predators such as wild boars and turtlefriendly agrotechnical measures on the parcels Balkan Terrapins use as the nesting sites,
- adaptation of a tunnel to be a functional ecological corridor between two ponds in Majkovi and setting up sunbathing platforms.
Visit continued in the Natura 2000 area "JI dio Peljašca – Ston" along canals cleaned in 2023 and others designated for cleaning. The project advisor observed the setup of research fyke-nets to capture Balkan Terrapins for pathogen testing. While in Ston, they visited the future refugium pond where hatchlings from the assisted breeding program will be released to reinforce the Balkan Terrapin population by project's end.
The field visit concluded in Gruda in the Natura 2000 area "Sniježnica and Konavosko polje" with an inspection of ponds agreed upon for the installation of sunbathing platforms and parcels with nesting sites. Activities include defense against wild boars and testing agrotechnical measures, as well as reviewing canals renovated in 2023.
One week after this field visit, a three-day consortium meeting of all project partners was held, during which partners presented consolidated reports of their work packages to the project advisor. Read more about it here.