Central - BIC Central Europe Biodiversity Innovative Communities

The main objective of the project is to restore degraded grasslands and prevent further biodiversity loss. Through this project, the Kamenjak Public Institution plans to implement an innovative grassland restoration model that includes the use of native domestic animal breeds, such as goats and sheep.

The first step of the approach is the introduction of goats, which will graze the pilot area for about three months. Next, sheep will take over and continue the grazing process.

The project aims:

• to restore 2 ha of Mediterranean dry grasslands and preserve existing grasslands within the Natura 2000 ecological network,
• to improve stakeholder engagement (administration, farmers and the local community),
• to track progress through baseline monitoring, comparisons with other clearing methods, and analysis of results.

Main activities:

1. Ecosystem Services Assessment (WP1)
   Kamenjak will conduct an ecosystem services assessment, sharing knowledge and expertise with other partners, and analyse the best approaches to preserving natural resources ​and biodiversity.
2. Analysis of tested models (WP2)
   Kamenjak will analyse the results of applied grassland restoration models, in cooperation with other partners, and select the best methods for long-term restoration and conservation of grasslands.
3. Pilot project – Grassland restoration (WP3)
   Kamenjak will conduct a pilot grassland-restoration project in the Lower Kamenjak area, introducing native domestic animal breeds (goats and sheep) as an innovative model for the restoration of dry grasslands.
• Goats will be introduced first due to their ability to clear the maquis and garrigue, as they are able to stand on their hind legs and grab leaves, flowers and young branches of shrubs and trees.
• After the goats, sheep will continue the grazing process, as they are considered the most efficient in maintaining Mediterranean dry grasslands.

The Central-BIC: Central Europe Biodiversity Innovative Communities project has started with a kick-off meeting and represents an important step towards preserving biodiversity in Central Europe. This project is funded by the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE 2021–2027 cross-border cooperation programme, and its objective is to develop sustainable communities that manage biodiversity in the region.

The project will last 30 months, with an expected completion date in December 2026.

More information about the project can be found at the following link:

https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/central-bic/

From November 11 to 13, 2024, we participated in the partner meeting of the CENTRAL – BIC project, held in Škofja Loka, Slovenia. The meeting was hosted by the Slovenian partners, IDRIA and KRANJ.

On the first day, work package leaders presented the activities and results achieved so far, as well as plans for meeting the objectives in the second phase of the project implementation. Discussions were also held regarding the preparation of the first report, which will be submitted at the end of the first project period. The second day was dedicated to project activities, including presentations and discussions on habitat and ecosystem services assessment, socioeconomic analyses, and models for sustainable management and implementation of ecosystem services. Besides the working sessions, the second day also included a field visit near Idrija. During the visit, good practices for biodiversity conservation in the Gorenjska region were showcased, with a special emphasis on the importance of sustainable agriculture for preserving cultural landscapes and ensuring food security in remote and hilly areas.

On the third day, each partner presented their planned activities for the upcoming period, highlighting how these will contribute to improving biodiversity and introducing ecosystem services in their regions. After the working sessions, a final review of agreed activities and planning for future meetings took place.

Check out our video gallery, where we captured the most interesting moments from our days in Slovenia.

From May 6th to 8th, 2025, we participated in the transnational partner meeting of the CENTRAL - BIC project, which this time took place in Kraków, Poland. The host of the meeting was the Association of Municipalities of the Małopolska Region.

During the first working day, discussions focused on administrative and financial matters, as well as progress and plans within each of the three project work packages. The afternoon was dedicated to a field visit to the Carp Valley, where participants had the opportunity to take part in professional birdwatching led by an ornithologist and explore interesting sites in the Zator area, guided by the president of the Carp Valley Association.

The final day of the meeting was held at the “Pod Gruszką” Journalists' Club in the center of Kraków. Through brief presentations, project partners showcased the status of their activities in their respective regions, followed by discussions on WP1, WP2, WP3, communication activities, and the next steps of the project.

Take a look at our video gallery capturing the most memorable moments from our visit to Poland.