The Zlatna greda hunting lodge hosted the eighth meeting of the Naturavit project team, which was held on Thursday, July 8, 2021. The meeting was attended by representatives of all project partners. It was an opportunity for all partners to get acquainted with the status of implementation of all project activities, procedures and procurement plan, as well as changes to the grant agreement. Introductory speeches were given by Blaž Štefanek, Head of the Service for Projects Co-financed by EU Funds and International Projects from Croatian Forests and Filip Čorić, Project Manager of Naturavita. Representatives of Croatian Forests reported that the activity of biological reforestation was carried out on 60% of the project of the planned area, and out of the planned 32.98 km of fire breaks with elemens of forest road, 27.67 km were performed. A study for averages is being prepared, while project documentation has been prepared for the reconstruction of bridges. The renovation of the Educational Visitor Center “Podravlje” has been completed and the equipping of the Center is in progress. The establishment of educational trails that will be part of the educational and visitor infrastructure begins in late July. A member of the MUP project team in charge of education introduced us to leaflets, brochures and a picture book that will be used for mine risk education. The procurement of a play for children about mine danger is in progress. Representatives of Hrvatske vode informed the others that 13 public procurement procedures had been carried out and 16 contracts had been signed for the implementation of their activities. For the sub-activity Determining the retention capacity and zero state of waters and water-dependent ecosystems of the floodplain of the Kopački rit Nature Park, a 3D model of the floodplain was developed. A Zero State Study is underway. For the sub-activity Implementation of research works, establishment of a system and implementation of monitoring with interpretation of results, a piezometric network has been established, five new water metering stations are planned and 10 contracts for the implementation of monitoring are being executed. For the implementation of the remaining activities of the project planned, Hrvatske vode will conduct four more public procurement procedures. The future representatives of Kopački rit Nature Park are the field support for the monitoring contracted by Hrvatske vode, they introduced us to the challenges they face when working in the field. The Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds plans to procure more training for lecturers, while the planned educational materials are ready. The meeting ended with a tour of the renovated Education – Visitor Center “Podravlje” where an interim conference will be held in October.
