Field visit with Dinara back to LIFE

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. Within the scope of the Dinara back to LIFE and Still Water Revival projects, numerous ponds have been restored. Ivan Budinski led a diverse field tour to showcase how the restored ponds are currently utilized and the real-time progress of restoration efforts. The partners had various inquiries regarding the restoration process, pond selection criteria, wildlife inhabiting the ponds, encountered challenges and their solutions, succession control methods, the use of lime in restoration, community involvement, and more. They received expert and detailed answers from their gracious hosts.

During the visit to Venišica spring in Rumin, Ivan Budinski emphasized the significance of comprehending how ponds receive water. This knowledge helps in making informed decisions about filling cracks in the substrate or allowing water flow. Locals often possess this information, passed down from their grandparents who built the original ponds.

Furthermore, the field tour took the partners to Kovačevac spring in Bitelić, which BIOM Association restored during the volunteer drywall camp Ježević. Among other topics, they discussed the importance of access ramps and the installation of troughs to facilitate animal watering. Animals are the primary users of the ponds and contribute to their maintenance by grazing the pond's surrounding vegetation.

Vegetation control in the ponds was also discussed at Marunska pond, restored by BIOM Association in collaboration with the Hrvace Hunting Association. Ivan Budinski emphasized that different vegetation requires various removal methods, such as removing thorns from roots, allowing hawthorn and oak to remain, maintaining some species through mowing. After restoration, it is beneficial for various domestic animals to graze as they feed on different plants, contributing to comprehensive vegetation control in the area.

One of the visited ponds was still undergoing restoration, providing partners with an excellent opportunity to engage with contractors and gather essential technical information for machinery requirements, substrate removal, etc.

Besides these ponds, the partners also visited Borkovića ponds in Koljane, two ponds in Malo Suhopolje, and the Muljika pond. This full-day tour concluded with a shared lunch and ongoing discussions with colleagues. We are grateful for their hospitality and for sharing their knowledge and experience in pond restoration.