Tuesday, March 18, 2025 CET

Final Conference of the Still Water Revival Project

On March 11 and 12, 2025, we participated in the final conference of the Still Water Revival – Restoring and conserving still water ecosystems of Mediterranean karst mountains project, held in Sinj under the title “Ponds and Wells – Traditional Heritage of Freshwater Ecosystems in Karst”. The conference was organized by BIOM Association in collaboration with project partners – Public Institutions Nature Park Učka and Biokovo, Northern Velebit National Park, Croatian Forests Ltd., and the 4 Grada Dragodid Association.

The aim of this two-day conference was to bring together experts, institutions, and organizations involved in nature conservation to exchange knowledge and experiences in the restoration and preservation of small freshwater ecosystems.

In this context, special attention was given to ponds and wells – elements of traditional heritage, but also key habitats for the conservation of biodiversity. During the conference, numerous examples of good practice in pond restoration from areas such as Dinara, Učka, Biokovo, and Velebit were presented. Public institutions managing protected areas showcased the project’s achievements, while the 4 Grada Dragodid Association presented the Guidelines for the Restoration of Ponds and Wells as well as the Pond Guardian Programme, which actively involves local communities, schools, and volunteers in the conservation of these habitats.

One of the key moments of the conference was the presentation of the Declaration on Cooperation for the Conservation of Small Freshwater Ecosystems of the Karst Mountains of the Dinarides, which lays the foundation for future cross-sectoral cooperation in the protection and restoration of these endangered yet highly valuable ecosystems.

As part of the conference, Ana Štih Koren from Association Hyla presented the role of dragonfly monitoring as a bioindicator of the success of freshwater habitat restoration. Dragonflies are insects closely associated with aquatic environments, and their presence and diversity are often early indicators of habitat quality improvement. In degraded areas, their numbers and diversity are significantly reduced, and the question of their return after restoration is crucial for understanding the long-term effects of project activities on small freshwater ecosystems.

Ana concluded:

In recent years, the restoration of wetland habitats in Croatia has gained significant momentum. Proper cleaning of ponds is crucial to avoid disrupting the natural balance of the aquatic ecosystem being restored. This is exactly why organizing such conferences is so important—sharing knowledge and experience allows us to learn from both the successes and mistakes of others. Additionally, through the organization of such events and lectures, local communities become familiar with the work of the biological community and the efforts invested in biodiversity conservation. I congratulate the organizers on a successfully completed project, on all the results achieved, and especially on the watermarks they’ve left on Dinara.

In her presentation and discussion, Ana shared experiences and plans from the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, where the LIFE for Mauremys project aims to restore several ponds important for the conservation of the Balkan terrapin, as well as other species dependent on ponds – amphibians, reptiles, insects, and native plants. She emphasized the importance of systematically monitoring each component of restored ecosystems to achieve a balance beneficial for both nature and people.

Participation in this conference was a valuable opportunity to connect with other experts and projects, as well as to strengthen the foundation for broader collaboration in the protection of aquatic habitats both within and beyond the scope of our project.