Since the beginning of ConnectGREEN project implementation, the project partners have been cooperating intensively to develop a harmonized methodology for identifying ecological corridors in Carpathians and are currently revising the 1st draft. National experts are now asked for their input to the this first draft at national workshops which are taking place in each country involved.

© Rastislav Stanik / WWF

Development of the draf methodology in November 2018

Project partners exchanged their experience and knowledge and firstly reviewed the situation on ecological connectivity in their countries  during the transnational meeting in Bucharest on the 21st November 2018. Due to this intensive exchange enhanced desktop reviews have lead to the successful development of the 1st draft methodology for identifying ecological corridors in the Carpathians.

First experts meeting was held in Slovakia

On 22nd January 2019, the national workshop for experts in Slovakia was held in Banská Bystrica with more than 50 specialists from different sectors, including representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Construction, nature protection managers, spatial planners, representatives from universities, NGOs as well as project partners from the Czech Republic.

To get a better insight into the topic of ecological connectivity the opening session started with the presentation of the ConnectGREEN project. This was followed by an introduction to the draft methodology which provided information on purpose, structure and content of the proposed methodology. During an integrated moderated session the participants had the opportunity to discuss different aspects of the methodology. Among others, the topics of defining the biotope layer, barriers or terminology used in relation to connectivity within the Carpathians were discussed. As experts from the Czech Republic (project partners NCA and VUKOZ) with experience in the field of defining ecological corridors were present, the level of expertise shared at the meeting could be raised effectively.

© Rastislav Stanik / WWF

Outcomes and further steps

Participants of the meeting were invited to contribute to the development of the methodology in the next few weeks. The experience gained from the meeting will be further shared among project partners from other participating countries in order to contribute to successful organization of similar workshops within the ConnectGREEN project.

ConnectGREEN project aims to contribute to maintaining and improving ecological connectivity between natural habitats, especially between Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas of transnational relevance in the Carpathian ecoregion, namely in Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia. Partners from various fields of activity - spatial planning, research, government, nature conservation - joined forces to increase capacity for the identification and management of ecological corridors and to minimize conflicts between infrastructure development and wildlife conservation.