MVP TAKE CARE OF STORKS AND MARSHY AREA ALONG THE ČRNEC STREAM

The Municipality of Velika Polana (MVP) is aware of the importance of protecting the environment and taking care of protecting natural heritage in various actions. Together with associations and organizations from the local environment, the MVP take care of the stork nests and put-up new poles. They also take care of the overgrown area by the Črnec stream and populated it with buffaloes, following an example of the good practice of Ormož lagoons. In all activities they involved volunteers, presented them their intensions and together with them they got many new ideas for further care for the natural environment and natural heritage of the municipality.

During Open days at Copek's mill and farm MVP presented to visitors how to take care of the marshy area along the Črnec stream, in the theme center Copek’s Mill with a farm, which MVP populated with buffaloes, following the example of the Ormož Basins Nature Reserve (so-called Ormož lagoons) us a model example. The area along the Črnec stream was overgrown with grass and bushes in the past. Due to the humidity, it was difficult to maintain and became overgrown, it could become even inaccessible. That's why they were looking for alternative forms of maintaining this area.

Visitors were enthusiastic about the idea of preserving vegetation in its natural state by grazing water buffalo. As part of the campaign with the volunteers, they received important feedback and some quality ideas that MVP can add to their activities in the future. It also showed that people from the local environment are ready to cooperate and care about sustainable environmental protection.

Since 1999, the MVP has been proud of the title "European Village of Storks". In the past, there were a total of nine stork nests in the Municipality of Velika Polana. However, stork habitat is shrinking. Due to climate change, the conditions for stork nesting in this area are decreasing and affecting the smaller number of storks that return every year. MVP is working to increase the number of nests. They began to inspect the already existing nests and restored them depending on their condition. They also invited the interested local population to participate and informed them about the findings and the condition of the nests and discussed with them.

Photos by: Municipality of Velika Polana