Ecological Research

Mission

Our organisation was established to bridge the gap between science and conservation, in order to conserve and enhance the richness and diversity of Slovakia's natural heritage. Site management and restoration must be based on a clear understanding of ecology and the functions and dynamics of ecosystems, which can only be ascertained through scientific research. Key factors for the development of large-scale research projects are the co-operation and involvement of all relevant institutions and experts. The results of research work carried out by DAPHNE, and its research associates, can be directly applied to the conservation, management and restoration of ecosystems.

Objectives

Management measures for protection of valuable mountyin grasslands in Pieniny National Park
The aim of the project is to organize expert meeting oriented on energetic use of biomass from species-rich grasslands. The meeting should catalyze the preparation of practical demonstration project for energetic biomass use in Pieniny region. The study summarizing current state of grassland biomass use for energetic purposes in Slovakia has been compiled in the frame of the project.

Co-ordinator: Dobromil Galvánek
Period: 2009-2010
Financing: Heidehof Foundation, Germany
Partners: Institute for Biodiversity, Regensburg (Germany)
The results of the project can be found on the page http://biodiv.de/index.php?id=131

 

Building up a central and east European cooperation in nature conservation-orientated grassland use - TRINET
Project is focusing on the conservation of High Nature Value (HNV) grasslands. International partnership will be build up to share experience and knowledge of the project partners.

Aims of the project:

• Building up a partnership among organizations from Central and Eastern Europe dealing with HNV grasslands
• Identification of suitable HNV areas in partners states to start pilot activities
• Preparation of follow-up projects for pilot areas

Project coordinator : Dobromil Galvánek
Period: 2009 - 2010
Funding: German Fund for the Environment (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt - DBU)
Partners: Agrolink (Bulgaria), Central Balkan National Park (Bulgaria), Green Agora (Romania), Nimfea (Hungary), Weideverein Ramsargebiet Lafnitztal (Austria), Latvian Fund for Nature (Latvia), SNCC (Estonia), Association for Traditional Rural Landscapes (Finland), Veeakker (Belgium), Rhön Natur (Germany)

 

Building of Carpathian Biodiversity Information System and design of teh ecological network for the Western Carpathians
The scope of the project is to build up on the regional level the base of biodiversity data (defined plant and animal species and habitats), which will become a part of the Carpathian Biodiversity Information System (CBIS), to identify elements of ecological network in the project area (Western Carpathians) complementing the on-going process in the Eastern Carpathians under the BBI-Matra project and to elaborate a strategic action plan how to bring the created proposal for the ecological network into implementation phase. The project area spreads over the territory of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary.

Project target

• to build Carpathian Biodiversity Information System
• to design the Western Carpathian Ecological Network, as a complement to the ecological network, which is under preparation in Ukrainian, Romanian and Serbian part of the Carpathians
• to elaborate a strategic action plan outlining the future process of its implementation

Project coordinator : Anna Guttova
Period: 2008 - 2010
Funding: DBU
Beneficiaries: IBN - Institut für Biodiversität, Carpathian EcoRegion Initiative (CERI)
Partners: Daphne - Institute of Applied Ecology, Institute of Botany - Slovak Academy of Sciences, Daphne CZ - Institute of Applied Ecology, E-misszió, Institute of Nature Conservation - Polish Academy of Sciences