Diversity of Life - strenthening of environmental education in primary schools and kindergardens

Project came out from two important needs: from the need to increase environmental awareness and from the need to inspire teachers to develop and to use effective environmental education in their teaching process.

Several activities were conducted within the project:

1. A handbook for primary school teachers "Diversity of Life" was prepared and published;
2. Training sessions for teachers were prepared and carried out within Slovakia and the handbook was distributed in this way;
3. Sets of the teaching tools on the base of the worksheets in the handbook were produced. One served during the training sessions for teachers and second one during the educational programmes for primary schools;
4. An educational programme for primary school students on biodiversity topic was prepared and conducted;
5. A set of worksheets for kindergardens "Magical biodiversity" was prepared. It will be later used during the DAPHNE activities for kindergardens.

Co-ordinator: Andrea Vicenikova
Period: 2007
Funding: Environmental fund

Reconstruction of the Morava Floodplain Nature Trail
The aim of the project is to increase attractiveness of the Morava Floodplain region for local people and visitors through the propagation of nature values of the area. This Role plays an existing Morava Floodplain Nature Trail, however the information boards of this nature trail are rather damaged due to vandalism.

The Morava Floodplain Nature Trail was build gradually from 1996 to 2004 and nowadays, it is the longest educational path in Slovakia. The nature trail stretches 79 km along the Morava River and contains 39 information boards and 2 entrance boards - under the Devín castle and on the border to Austria in Moravský Sv. Ján - Hohenau. The nature trail connects the capital city of Slovakia - Bratislava with the region of Záhorie. The number of visitors to the area is approximately 50 000 - 70 000 per year; the trail is also used for environmental education of pupils from Bratislava, Záhorie and Danube Region.

Main activities of the project are concentrated on reconstruction and renovation of the information boards. Other activities include raising of public awareness about the importance of the educational path and about devastation of the boards. This can contribute to reducing the vandalism.

Co-ordinator: Viera Chrenková
Period: October 2005 - May 2006
Funding: Konto Orange, www.kontoorange.sk


Nature Education in the Centrope Area (NECA)
NECA was part of the Interreg III A project: Nature Pedagogics Danube Floodplain Forest. The project was developed by Municipal Department of Forestry and Urban Agriculture of the City Vienna (MA49). It aimed to contribute to networking and further education in the field of forest and nature education among the partners in Central Europe. There were organised many interesting workshops and meeting for teachers and students and also several materials and teaching tools were produced to improve forest education. The main goal of the Interreg project was development of Information and Education Centre in Lobau National Park in Vienna city (The nationalparkhaus wien-lobAU). It is the 'gateway' to the Viennese section of the National Park. A multi-functional information and environmental centre for nature-lovers and those in search of recreation is designed to inspire a keen interest among the public, and especially children and young people, for the fascinating National Park concept. It also supports a trilateral cross-border co-operation among Austria, Slovakia and the Czech republic.

Co-ordinator: Monika Chrenkova, Viera Chrenkova
Period: April 2005 - June 2006
Funding: Interreg III A
Partners: Municipal Department of Forestry and Urban Agriculture of the City Vienna (MA49, Austria), Lipka - school institution for environmental education (Czech Republic)


Environmental Communication in Schools and Villages of the Lower Morava Region
This project aimed to achieve an increased level of environmental information, awareness and action by strengthening co-operation, and by supporting communication between local schools and communities in the Lower Morava region in Slovakia. 10 settlements and schools of the Lower Morava region were involved to this project: Moravsky Svaty Jan, Sekule, Lab, Velke Levare, Zavod, Malacky, Zahorska Ves, Zohor, Stupava, Devinska Nova Ves. The target groups involved students aged 10 - 15 from local schools, their teachers, the local citizens, other local stakeholders (businessmen, NGOs).

The project contributed to the real improvement of some area of the environment in 10 settlements. It showed that small changes are start in making bigger changes. A very important message of the project is that the iniciation of the changes comed out from students and it was transferred to adults.

Co-ordinator: Andrea Vicenikova
Period: January 2005 - December 2006
Funding: German Fund for the Environment (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt - DBU)
Partners: Institute for biodiversity (Regensburg) - lead organisation
Webpage of the Project


Addressing Nutrient and Toxic Pollution in the Sub-Basins of the Morava, Mura and Ogosta Rivers
3 NGOs in Slovakia, Slovenia and Bulgaria dedicated the period from September 2004 to July 2006 to 3 of their environmentally threatened rivers, the Morava, the Mura and the Ogosta respectively. They were focusing on increasing the awareness of local communities about the water quality in relation to the health and survival of not only surrounding flora and fauna, but also of the local people. By approaching both the scientific and public perspectives of nature, this project aimed to create a mutually positive and advantageous relationship for all stakeholders while improving the natural state of the rivers. It also served as a model example of co-operation among NGOs, when knowledge was being transferred mutually, in that each partner had both capacity building input into a project, but also benefits from it.

Co-ordinator: Andrea Vicenikova
Period: September 2004 - June 2006
Funding: UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project
Partners: Ecological Centre of Pomurje - Murska Sobota, Slovenia, Centre for Environmental Information and Education - Sofia, Bulgaria
Webpage of the Project


The Green Debate
Bratislava High Schools' Environmental Issues Discussions
The aim of the project was to develop environmental issues, foreign languages, communication and community work abilities and skills of high schools' students. There were five member teams from 10 high schools in Bratislava. Part I of the project involved students familiarising themselves with selected socio-environmental issues (animals in the city, renewable energy sources, energy saving in the city, bird crime, bike paths, urbanisation, municipal forest of Bratislava, river Danube, environmental education, public awareness in protected areas) at the global level, and subsequently presenting their findings and concerns at "The School Discussion".

Part II of the project focused upon researching the socio-environmental issues in a local context. The students' task was to help create and organise a small campaign, together with the partner NGO specialised in their particular issue. The campaigns were aimed to confront the problems surrounding, and potential solutions to, their respective environmental issues. Students subsequently presented their results to fellow project members, city representatives and the judging committee at "The Bratislava Discussion". The committee, following an evaluation of the course of research, deliberation and presentation, awarded the three best teams at the close of the project.

Co-ordinator: Martin Menkyna
Period: February - June 2004
Funding: Siemens, Ltd.
Partners: Freedom of Animals, Association for the Protection of Birds in Slovakia, Architecture for Sustainable Development/Bicyba, Regional Association for Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development (BROZ), Centre Rio 29, Danube Environmental Forum


Nature Protection in Transboundary Natura 2000 Sites in Czech Republic and Neighbouring Countries through Network of NGOs
The main goal of this project was to demonstrate the effective co-operation of NGOs in the process of forming the Natura 2000 Network in cross-border areas with the Czech Republic. Environmental NGOs can play an important role in the process of informing and consulting with local inhabitants and stakeholders about the proposed sites.

The project was co-ordinated by the Czech NGO Arnika and was conducted in three transboundary pilot areas: the River Morava floodplain (Czech-Slovak), the River Odra meanders (Czech-Polish) and the River Elbe (Czech-German). Activities included policy evaluation and monitoring of regional development plans and strategies, a bilingual travelling exhibition, publishing leaflets and brochures and conducting seminars for stakeholders and NGOs. One of the main goals of the project was to build up the network of environmental NGOs in cross-border regions, which will contribute to preserving these valuable sites for the future.

Co-ordinator: Vladimir Kocvara
Period: July 2002 - June 2003
Funding: Civil Society Development Foundation (NROS, Czech Republic), Program Phare Access of European Union
Partners: Arnika, Veronica (Czech Republic), Danish Society for Nature Conservation (Denmark), Dolnoslaska Fundacja Ekorozwoju (Poland), Protected Landscape Area Zahorie


Supporting Community Involvement in Nature Protection of Devínska Kobyla and Morava River Floodplain
The aim of this project was to further encourage the participation of volunteers in nature conservation activities in both protected areas. Every week from May until September 2002 DAPHNE organised an information kiosk below Devín Castle. The purpose of the kiosk was to inform the public about the importance of both the protected areas as well as the activities of DAPHNE in the region, with a special focus on volunteering. With the involvement of volunteers two information panels in the Geological Museum were repaired and a new entry panel was installed.

The colourful brochure "The Morava River Floodplain" was updated and reprinted and the leaflet on the activities of the Ecocentre DAPHNE was prepared and printed. The brochure introduced different types of floodplain biotopes and acted as easy guide for school children and visitors during their trips to this area.

Co-ordinator: Vladimir Kocvara
Period: May 2002 - March 2003
Funding: British Embassy - Department for International Development
Partners: Protected Landscape Area Male Karpaty, Protected Landscape Area Zahorie, Municipalitiy of Devin and Municipality of Devinska Nova Ves


Enforcement of Environmental Education in Primary Schools
The goal of this project was to raise the motivation and inspiration of teachers in primary schools through training, through the provision of methodical materials and teaching aids. By means of carrying out educational programs for children the aim was to support the effectiveness, quality and attractiveness of environmental education in the area of biodiversity protection.

During the project 11 training sessions for teachers were held. The training sessions were based on the handbooks for primary school teachers that were produced by DAPHNE, namely World of Wetlands, World of Grasslands, and World of Peatlands. This included eight sessions on peatland topic, two sessions on grassland topic and one session on wetland topic. Altogether 180 teachers took part in those training sessions. Apart from this, four demonstrations and model examples were presented using the methodological teaching aids i.e. 'envirobox', with participation of 83 teachers.
A total of 49 educational programs were generated for pupils in the first and second levels of primary school, 1052 pupils having taken part. A total of 500 copies of the third edition of 'The World of Wetlands' was published.

Co-ordinator: Andrea Vicenikova
Period: January 2002 - October 2002
Funding: Civil Society Development Foundation - Phare Programme
References:
Vicenikova, A. (ed.), 2002: 'The World of Wetlands' - Handbook for Primary School Teachers. 3rd edition, DAPHNE - Institute of Applied Ecology, Bratislava, 243 p.

Developing Skills International - Liaison Officer
The overall aim of this project in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) was to encourage members of the public to become more involved in protected area management through community consultation, stakeholder dialogue and conservation volunteering.

The project was run in seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe: Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia.

One of the main activities in Slovakia was the preparation and co-ordination of international conservation holidays with the involvement of Slovak and British volunteers. The holidays were prepared in co-operation with DAPHNE, the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic and with local communities. Since start of the project there were two conservation holidays organised in Slovakia: the first in Devinska Kobyla National Nature Reserve (2001) and the second in Belianske luky (2002).

DAPHNE played an important role in the final evaluation of the project in four selected countries: Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia.

Co-ordinator: Vladimir Kocvara
Period: December 2001 - September 2002
Funding: British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
Partners: British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Protected Landscape Area Male Karpaty, Protected Landscape Area Zahorie, Municipality of Devin and Municipality of Devinska Nova Ves

Involving the Community in Voluntary Conservation Work
The aim of the project was to increase the public's environmental awareness and to encourage local inhabitants to get involved with nature conservation activities in Devinska Kobyla mountain and Morava River floodplain. Both areas suffer from massive tourism and a disrespect for the rules of nature protection in the region (vandalism, lighting of fires, walking outside of marked areas etc.).

In the framework of the project the first conservation holiday was organised in Devinska Kobyla with the involvement of seven Slovak and seven British volunteers. The project also helped to strengthen the co-operation between DAPHNE and the Protected Landscape Area of the Male Karpaty by establishing regular weekend conservation activities. A material for visitors about Devinska Kobyla was published with the goal of informing the public about its uniqueness, and of environmental threats to the area. One important part of the project was the reconstruction of the nature trail along the Morava River, which starts under Devin Castle and since 2004 ends in Moravsky Svaty Jan - Hohenau border crossing. Under the project reconstruction was the part of nature trail from Devin castle up to Vysoka pri Morave.

Co-ordinator: Vladimir Kocvara
Period: April 2001 - March 2002
Funding: British Embassy - Department for International Development
Partners: British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Protected Landscape Area Male Karpaty, Protected Landscape Area Zahorie, Municipality of Devín and Municipality of Devinska Nová Ves

Mainline/Leonardo Project - Managing Nature & Electronic Information Exchange
The project focused on transforming of the existing European network website from an information tool to a training and capacity building tool (development of Intranet) and on improving natural site managers' ability to learn through innovative methods (Virtual Working Groups). By means of virtual meetings as well as face-to-face meetings (Paris, Ireland, Colioure, Poland) methods for virtual training have been designed and tested. As a result INTRANET - the private part of the EUROSITE website was established. INTRANET allows the sharing of ideas, experiences and information in an easy, cheap and dynamic way. As a part of INTRANET three virtual working groups - management planning, ecosystem management and species management - were developed and these form an interactive forum for communication, co-operation and co-ordination.

Co-ordinator: Andrea Vicenikova
Period: January 2000 - May 2001
Funding: EUROSITE
Partners: 13 European organisations
Website: www.eurosite-nature.org

Translation of Management Handbooks
This project, managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), aimed to translate and supply key practical habitat and species management handbooks primarily for use in Central/Eastern European countries, namely in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. DAPHNE was responsible for translation and printing of the UK Wet Grassland Guide: Managing floodplain and coastal wet grasslands for wildlife, which was published by the RSPB in 1997. The main chapters are Wet grasslands, Site Evaluation and Management Planning, Ecological Requirements, Management Techniques and Survey and Monitoring of Flora and Fauna of Wet Grasslands.

Co-ordinator: Andrea Vicenikova
Period: June 1999 - April 2001
Funding: EUROSITE CEEC Multi-Country Programme
Partners: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK)
References:
Treweek, J., Jose, P., Benstead, P., (eds.), 2001: Mokre luky - prirucka ochrany a manazmentu aluvialnych a primorskych mokrych luk. DAPHNE - Institut aplikovanej ekologie, Bratislava, 172 p.
Translated from: The Wet Grassland Guide: Managing floodplain and coastal wet grasslands for wildlife. RSPB, English Nature, ITE, The Lodge.


World of Grasslands - Manual for Teachers
This project followed previous education activities, in particular the project "World of Wetlands", which resulted in the publication of World of Wetlands - a manual for teachers presented at a series of training programmes for teachers. The aim of the project "World of Grasslands" was to provide teachers with the necessary tools to inform, educate and inspire their students to realise the importance of the conservation of the environment, particularly grassland ecosystems. As a result a teacher's manual World of Grasslands was developed and a series of 5 training sessions attended by 120 teachers was conducted. Ecocentre DAPHNE has included teacher training on grasslands into the regular annual Ecocentre education programme.

Co-ordinator: Andrea Vicenikova
Period: March 2000 - January 2001
Funding: Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe - REC Slovakia, EU Phare CBC Small Project Fund, Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
References:
Vicenikova, A. (ed.), 2000: World of Grasslands - Manual for Teachers, DAPHNE - Institute of Applied Ecology, Bratislava.

Learn about Nature around Bratislava
The main goal of the project was to contribute to educational leisure activities for elementary and secondary school children and raise their environmental awareness. The project supported environmental education activities of the Ecocentre. The staff of Ecocentre organised 5 excursions to Devinska Kobyla and Morava River Floodplain for children from Bratislava.

In the framework of the project 10 publications about nature protection were purchased. These publications will help to improve educational programs for children. The project also supported the activities of environmental Club for children from Devinska Nova Ves.

Co-ordinator: Monika Kovacova
Period: May 2001 - November 2001
Funding: City Hall of Bratislava


Environmental Education by Game
The lack of educational materials contributes to the low effectiveness of environmental education in Slovakia. To improve the situation 3 kid boxes with various tools (slides, pictures, samples of plants etc.) and methodology were purchased. The boxes are used in the Ecocentre to support the educational programs but they are also available for school groups and teachers.

In April - June 2001, Ecocentre DAPHNE staff organised 10 educational teaching sessions in schools from Zahorie region. During the classes new educational materials were used and gave the opportunity for teachers to experience new tools. During the project 1974 children and 110 teachers took part in the programs.

Co-ordinator: Martina Kurthyova
Period: January 2001 - July 2001
Funding: Jacobs Suchard Figaro


Nature without Boundaries II.
This project follows DAPHNE's priorities to increase the environmental awareness of local inhabitants and tourists and to encourage eco-tourism, with the purpose of contributing to nature conservation as well as strengthening international co-operation in the Morava floodplain region. As a part of this project the outdoor geological exhibition was opened.

The project contributed to the development of Ecocentre DAPHNE's environmental education activities by providing additional education materials such as kid boxes and funding the reprinting of the teacher's manual World of Grasslands. Each kid box is focused on a certain topic (forests, water etc.) and includes materials and methodology, which enable teachers to support the curriculum of their lessons.

Co-ordinator: Katarina Zlochova
Period: October 2000 - October 2001
Funding: EU Phare CBC
Partners: Municipality of Devin, Municipylity of Devinska Nova Ves, Ecocentre Lipka (Czech Republic)
References:
Vicenikova, A. (ed.), 2000: World of Grasslands - Manual for Teachers, DAPHNE - Institute of Applied Ecology, Bratislava.

Nature without Boundaries
The aim of this project was to encourage environmental awareness and stimulate eco-tourism as a wise use of natural resources and to encourage sustainable development in the Morava floodplain region. In the framework of the project two information and education centres were established, one on each side of the river: an information center in Durnkrut (Austria) and Ecocentre DAPHNE in Devin (Slovakia), and training of nature guides took place.

An Iron Curtain Museum was opened and the second part of the information pathway by the River Morava was built, making a significant contribution to raising the public's environmental awareness.

Co-ordinator: Katarina Zlochova
Period: April 1999 - September 2000
Funding: EU Phare Partnership
Partners: Distelverein (Austria), Municipalities of: Devin, Devinska Nova Ves, Male Levare, Velke Levare, Protected Landscape Area Zahorie Administration and Protected Landscape Area Male Karpaty Administration
References:
Farkasovska, M. (ed.), 2000: Morava River Floodplain - Manual for Guides. DAPHNE - Institute of Applied Ecology and Distelverein, Bratislava (in Slovak, German, English).
Excursion Calendar for Nature and Culture Lovers. Morava - Dyje Floodplains. Distelverein and DAPHNE, 2000 (in Slovak, German, English).


Encouraging Participation and Support for Nature Conservation by Increasing the Public Understanding and Knowledge of the Environment
The Eco Centre, among other activities, contributes to the development of regional eco-tourism and increasing public understanding of environmental issues. Most of the activities undertaken under this project aimed to attract visitors, increase the knowledge of inhabitants and involve local communities. The Eco Centre organised events for the public such as bird and bat watching, lectures, various exhibitions of local artists (books, pictures and hand crafts) and outdoor excursions.

Co-ordinator: Michaela Farkasovska
Period: January 2000 - December 2000
Funding: MATRA-KAP
Partners: Municipality of Devin, Municipality of Devinska Nova Ves, Protected Landscape Area Zahorie, and Protected Landscape Area Male Karpaty


Saving the River Morava Floodplain
DAPHNE´s everyday work is to minimise the negative economic activities in the Morava River floodplain, which threaten the natural value. The purpose of this project was to increase public awareness about the possible environmental impact caused by building a harbour in the River Morava floodplains. A new construction plan, proposed by a Czech company, is considered one of the main, long term threats for the region. DAPHNE therefore took the initiative to organise several lectures for local inhabitants and established a new NGO "The River Morava in Danger" with the co-operation of local people. The purpose of the NGO is to be an active partner in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for the harbour.

Co-ordinator: Vladimir Kocvara
Period: October 2000 - November 2000
Funding: Milieukontakt Oosteuropa, the Netherlands
Partners: NGO "River Morava in Danger"


Ecocentre DAPHNE - Information-Education Activities
This project was concentrated on the activities of Eco Centre Daphne related to the encouragement and improvement of environmental education in Slovakia. Special attention was given to environmental education in kindergartens and elementary schools, as well as for interest groups such as Scouts and school clubs. The Eco Centre team has developed a new set of teaching aids and organised seminars for students of Universities to present alternative methods of environmental education.

Co-ordinator: Michaela Farkasovska
Period: November 1999 - October 2000
Funding: Civil Society Development Foundation (NPOA) - EU Phare Program
Partners: Slovak Environmental Agency, Municipal authority of Devin and Devinska Nova Ves

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