WORLD OF CARPATHIANS

Awareness Raising About Carpathian Biodiversity

Slovakia, Bratislava, 28. 1. 2009

PROJECT AIMTo increase the level of environmental knowledge and awareness of local communities in the Carpathians and visitors about the natural values, threats and protection of this region.

PROJECT DURATIONDecember 2007 until December 2009

TARGET GROUPSPrimary school teachers University students in teacher educationEnvironmental educatorsRepresentatives of CERI environmental education organisations Visitors to the CarpathiansLocal communities

in 7 Carpathian countries – Slovakia, Czech republic, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia

Arching across 7 countries, the Carpathians are Europe's last great wilderness area - a bastion for large carnivores, with over half of the continent's population of bears, wolves and lynx, and home to the greatest remaining reserve of old growth forests outside of Russia.Covering an area of 209,256 km2 - the Carpathian Mountains are home to 18 million people.

SOURCE OF EXPERIENCES

Forest ecosystemsWater and wetland ecosystems

Grassland ecosystems

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The project is focused on building awareness and promoting Carpathian mountain curricula throughout the region.

It supports the preparation of guideline and resource handbook for teachers and other educators World of Carpathians and information material for public Carpathian Biodiversity. Both materials will be published in three language versions: in English, Slovak and Polish

Publications will be distributed in seven Carpathian countries and in other EU states.

Their distribution will be linked with the media promotion and their presentation at various international events.

To transfer also know-how, the main form of distribution of the teaching handbook will be training session for teachers and other educators (in Slovakia and possebly Poland).

A set of teaching tools prepared on the basis of the handbook will be presented together with possibilities of the use of handbook during the classes.

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE HANDBOOK

1. Introduction to the Carpathians

2. Abiotic conditions of Carpathians

3. Diversity of life in the Carpathians General overview

3.1 Forest biotopes

3.2 Grassland biotopes

3.3 Water and wetland biotopes

3.4 Extreme habitats – caves, deep water, highest peaks

4. Men in the Carpathians

5. Biodiversity protection in the Carpathians

6. Concrete positive examples of sustainable/wise use of biodiversity in favour of nature and people

Support and encouragement of Carpathian biodiversity-oriented education throughout all Carpathian countries. Methodical teaching handbook – World of Carpathians – English, Slovak, Polish versions (500 copies each)

Set of teaching tools based on the handbook – English, Slovak, Polish version)

Training seminar for teachers

Teachers and environmental educators trained in using the handbook in their teaching

BENEFITS OF PROJECT TO THE REGION – Contribution to Carpathian Convention

Increased knowledge and awareness of local people and visitors to the Carpathians about their natural values, threats and about possibilities of Carpathian protection.Brochure about Carpathians for public – English, Slovak, Polish versions (500 copies each)

Enhanced conservation of mountain ecosystems

Strengthened co-operation and information sharing among environmental educators in all Carpathian countries

CURRENT PROJECT STATUS

The texts of the chapters of the handbook in English language are finalised. The author team comprises 25 experts.

Each chapter was commented by editor-in-chief.

Expert review by expert from the given field - review team has 16 members.

Improvement of the text according to reviewers’ comments.

Translation into Slovak language.

The English versions will go for language editing that will be done by a native English speaker.

Preparation of activity plans based on the information given in the chapters.

Development of concepts of worksheets and creating simple cartoon proposals.

Drawings of every species named in the text.

Foreword

1. Introduction to the Carpathians (Andrea Královičová)

2. Abiotic conditions of Carpathians (Mária Bizubová)

3. Diversity of life in the Carpathians General overview on species and habitat diversity (Erik Baláž, Dobromil

Galvánek, Michal Hájek, Marcel Uhrín, Lydia Tasenkevich, Dan Turtureanu, Katarína Mišíková, Anna Guttová, Soňa Ripková, Michal Noga, Marek Brinzík, Tibor Sos, Biljana Macura, Peter Fedor, Jana Fedorová, Vít Zavadil, Jan Dušek)

3.1 Forest biotopes3.2 Grassland biotopes 3.3 Water and wetland biotopes 3.4 Extreme biotopes – caves, deep water, highest peaks

Content of the guideline and resource handbook for techers

3.1 Forest biotopes

Importance and functions, forest biotope types (Erik Baláž) / Iovu-Adrian Biris

Vascular plants of forest biotopes (Lydia Tasenkevich, Dan Turtureanu)

Mosses of forest biotopes (Katarína Mišíková) / Svatava Kubešová

Lichens of forest biotopes (Anna Guttová) / Zdeněk Palice

Fungi of forest biotopes (Soňa Ripková) / Anna Ronikier

Mammals of forest biotopes (Marcel Uhrín) / Milan Janák

Birds of forest biotopes (Marek Brinzík) / Tomáš Brinke

Reptiles of forest biotopes (Tibor Sos, Biljana Macura) / Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic

Invertebrates of forest biotopes (Peter Fedor, Jana Fedorová) / Wojciech Sierka

4. Men in the Carpathians (Miroslav Tadic) / Zbigniew WitkowskiLife, settlementCulture and traditionsModern day impacts on environment and current responses

5. Biodiversity protection in the Carpathians (Monika Chrenková) / Mircea Verghelet

Global importance of the Carpathian biodiversityEU influence on the Carpathian biodiversityCarpathian-wide initiatives for the conservation of biodiversityBiodiversity conservation within the Carpathian countriesLocal level – role of NGOs/local people in nature conservation

6. Concrete positive examples of sustainable/wise use of biodiversity in favour of nature and people

(Monika Ochwat Marcinkiewicz, Józef Michałek, Czaba Botos, Martina Badidová, Alexander Seyboth) to show benefits and bring motivation to maintain the richness of biodiversity – green tourism, traditional orchards, traditional grazing and local sheep products etc.

To learn more click on:

www.carpates.org/ongoing.html

www.daphne.sk/dbu-project08/index.htm (project webpage)