PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Activity A3 Demining of forest and forest land was completed during december 2019. By obtaining certificates of exclusion from the mine suspected area, declaring the area cleared of mines and safe for all other activities, this activity was completed. After 29 years, the project area is finally mine free!
By so far, 25.3 km2 of forests and forest land have been cleared, or 100 % of the total projected area. In the demined area, 5,611 explosive remnants of war have been found and destroyed, of which 1,762 are anti-personnel mines, 3,103 anti-tank mines and 746 pieces of other unexploded ordinances.
The objective of this activity is to restore forests and forest land in protected and Natura 2000 areas that have been degraded as a result of the Homeland War activities in the project area for the purpose of improving the public benefit forest functions. This will also protect wetland and floodplain forests, increasing flood protection and protecting wildlife. The implementation of this project activity will bring back indigenous vegetation to a total of 440.82 ha of area overgrown with alien species (Euro-American poplar, American ash, maple spider, common acacia, ..). Furthermore, it also includes restoration of forests that were contaminated and damaged by landmines, forests where timely restoration could not be carried out as a result of war activities and forests which were affected by drought and decline, by changing the main tree species according to the habitat types and their natural dynamics.
Forest and forest land will be restored to a total of 1021 ha by planting forest seedlings:
- White willow on the area 320 ha
- Black poplar on the area 226 ha
- White poplar on the area 33 ha
- Pedunculate oak on the area 316 ha
- Plain ash on the area 126 ha
Results so far:
The objective of the activity is to improve the fire protection of forests in the Nature Park Kopački Rit and the Regional Park Mura-Drava, by constructing and rebuilding 107 ha of fire breaks, 33 km of fire roads and renovating 4 bridges.
- Fire breaks – the average striped forest space in the form of stripes, cleared of trees and low vegetation, 4–15 m wide without elements of a forest road, sometimes perpendicular to the pavement of the terrain.
- Fire breaks with forest road elements – the average striped forest space in the form of stripes, cleared of trees and low vegetation, 4–15 m wide with forest road elements intended for passage of fire trucks to the fire.
Results:
Fire breaks with forest road elements:
- all planned 18 with a total length of 33 km were built
Fire breaks:
- 92 ha of fire prevention averages were established
Bridges:
- a bridge was built on the Barbara channel
The aim of this activity is to improve education and improve public awareness of mine hazards, biodiversity and the value of ecosystem services, the importance of sustainable forest management, forest land, water and water dependent ecosystems.
In order to achieve the stated goals, the following sub-activities are carried out:
Reconstruction of the Podravlje forest house – due to the location away from the communal infrastructure, the Center will be completely reconstructed so that it is infrastructurally and energy independent (pellet boiler room, well with treatment system, biological wastewater treatment plant, solar collector)
Results 2021.
- The building of the educational-visitor center Podravlje has been renovated and fully equipped.
- During 2021, three educational trails were built (Veliko polje, Perunika and Biljsko jezero). Realization of the fourth educational and recreational trail (Halaševo) is expected during July 2022 when works are allowed in Mura-Drava Regional Park.Development of educational programs for target groups and development of educational materials – several educational programs will be designed and educational materials adapted to the needs of target groups will be designed and developed.
Development of educational programs for target groups and development of educational materials – several educational programs will be designed and educational materials adapted to the needs of target groups will be designed and developed.
Results 2021
- educational programs developed
- the coloring book about the dangers at the warehouse in the forest has been completed
- work on a brochure on forests
Implementation of educational programs for target groups – by forestry and pyrotechnic experts.
- During October, November and December 2021, 20 trainings were held.
- From the project budget, transportation and one meal for visitors were provided during the trainings.
Development of a long-term management plan for the Education-Visitor Center “Podravlje” with the aim of long-term sustainability of the Center
Results 2023. (end of the project) –
- A total of 115 trainings were held
- A long-term management plan for the Education and Visitor Center “Podravlje” was drawn up
Education materials:
Brochure on Visitor Centre Podravlje
The aim of this activity is to contribute to the protection of water resources of wetlands and floodplains as well as water-dependent ecosystems in the project area through the establishment of zero water status and water-dependent ecosystems, management objectives, measures needed to achieve management objectives and monitoring systems for water revitalization and conservation ecosystems of the floodplain Kopački rit Nature Park as well as the surrounding area (buffer zone) that has an impact on it.
Project activities are divided into three parts:
- Determining the retention capacity and zero state of waters and water-dependent ecosystems of the floodplain of the Kopački rit Nature Park,
- Conducting investigative work and monitoring with interpretation of results,
- Preparation of a study on the revitalization of aquatic ecosystems in the floodplain of the Kopački rit Nature Park.
The aim of the research within the activity Determining the retention capacity and zero state of water and water-dependent ecosystems of the floodplain of the Kopački rit Nature Park is to make a 3D model of the Kopački rit Nature Park with determined thicknesses of silt deposits at the bottom of the main channels dunavac, Hulovski kanal, Hordovanj, Čonakut, Novi kanal / Linjov) and based on that to determine the retention capacity of the floodplain Kopački rit Nature Park. By reviewing and analyzing all existing available documentation, the results of previous monitoring and collected measurement data, it is necessary to determine the zero state of water and water-dependent ecosystems. It is also necessary to prepare a Study on the determined retention capacity and zero water status and on the waters of dependent ecosystems and on the basis of it to prepare a proposal for a detailed research and monitoring plan to collect appropriate data needed to prepare a study of flood revitalization Kopački rit Nature Park.
For the purpose of determining the retention capacity and zero water status, it was agreed to make a 3D model of the terrain of the floodplain of the Kopački rit Nature Park by conducting LIDAR scanning and hydrographic survey, and the developed 3D model will be used to determine the retention capacity of Kopački rit Nature Park. These activities were carried out, and a Study on the zero state of waters and on the waters of dependent aquatic ecosystems was prepared.
Within the Implementation of research works and monitoring with interpretation of results, the research and monitoring activity aims to establish long-term quality management of aquatic ecosystems in the Kopački rit Nature Park in accordance with the highest protection criteria, which requires:
- get data on the interaction of abiotic and biotic factors of aquatic ecosystems in relation to previously processed data,
- get data that would reduce the so-called. “knowledge gaps”, lack of information in monitoring and future water management and water-dependent ecosystems of the floodplain, and
- collect complete and accurate data that will be the basis for the development of proposals for revitalization measures for the purpose of protection and conservation of water and water-dependent ecosystems of the floodplain of the Kopački rit Nature Park.
For this purpose, Monitoring of the ecological status and / or potential of surface waters was carried out, as well as Monitoring of the chemical status of surface waters in a period of 3 years at 19 measuring stations in the area of Kopački Rit Nature park.
Within the activities of Groundwater Monitoring, quantitative monitoring is carried out on 10 wells, and chemical monitoring of groundwater on selected 5 wells in a period of 3 years. The wells were drilled as part of exploratory drilling in the wider area of Kopački Rit Nature Park, with complete sedimentological analyzes, determined lithological and hydrogeological characteristics of the exploration area. Measuring devices have been installed in the exploration wells, which enable continuous measurements of groundwater level oscillations.
Recent sedimentation surveys were also conducted in the PPKR floodplain, during which sedimentation or erosion was recorded at 50 measuring posts as part of three-month visits, geological mapping was carried out to create a lithofacies map, and a synthesis of all geological surveys.
Habitat and flora monitoring, Mollusk monitoring, Insect monitoring, Herpetofauna monitoring, Bird monitoring as well as Otter and beaver monitoring are also carried out.
The construction of 5 water meter stations and their equipping for monitoring water levels, flows and suspended sediments were made.
Activities for the preparation of the Study of Typology and Classification System for the Assessment of the Ecological Condition for Kopačevo Lake was prepared.
Within the activities Preparation of the study of revitalization of aquatic ecosystems of the floodplain of the Kopački rit Nature Park, a the subject Study is currently being prepared, the aim of which, based on well-founded facts, is to provide clear and unambiguous answers and instructions on which measures need to be implemented in order to permanently ensure the stability of the mentioned ecosystems within the project area.
The study of revitalization of aquatic ecosystems in the Kopački Rit Nature Park will be based on the results of three years of water monitoring of water-dependent ecosystems, which will be a good basis for a detailed proposal for a combination of revitalization measures to protect and preserve water of the Nature Park.
Communication strategy:
Promotional items:
