Seminar on Sustainable Agriculture opened the Mediterranean Wetland Week
As part of the LIFE for Mauremys project, the Mediterranean Freshwater Days were this year successfully integrated into the local Spring in Konavle event, organized in collaboration with the Agroturizam Konavle association. This approach aimed to leverage the visibility of this well-established local manifestation to bring the topic of freshwater ecosystems closer to the local community and small-scale farmers. The event kicked off on April 25th at the St. Blaise Monastery in Pridvorje with a two-day educational seminar on ecological innovations in agriculture, and the program will conclude with a grand finale featuring a rich and engaging program for both children and adults.
The two-day seminar Eco-Innovations for Small-Scale Farming was organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, and the Croatian Hub for Regenerative Agriculture (CRAC at the Savory Institute). The seminar was primarily intended for small-csale farmers and family owned farms, associations, and organizations operating in areas important for the conservation of the Balkan terrapin – such as Ston, Majkovi, and Konavle – as well as for anyone interested in deepening their knowledge of sustainable agriculture.
Through interactive lectures and demonstrations, participants learned how regenerative and ecological farming methods can become key tools in preserving biodiversity and revitalizing the habitat of the Balkan terrapin. Topics covered ranged from using sheep wool as mulch and natural repellent, permaculture design for self-sustaining gardens, ecological free-range poultry farming, to marketing local products online.
Presentations by experts such as Tamara Pecoja, Jasminka and Željko Iličić, Maja Lang Balija, Bruno Tariba and Ivan Kekez, Nikolina Pokupec, and Zrinka Dermit offered participants practical guidance on improving their own agricultural practices in ways that benefit both soil health and nature conservation. A special emphasis was placed on the role of the local community in protecting natural habitats, further highlighting the importance of integrating agriculture with environmental protection.
During the event, an educational exhibition on the Balkan terrapin was set up in the St. Vlaho Monastery in Pridvorje. It featured informative posters providing additional insights into one of the rarest and most endangered reptile species in the Republic of Croatia.
