Solidarity for Natural Heritage in the wetland Nature park
Javna ustanova Park prirode Vransko jezero
BIOGRAD NA MORU, Croatia
Description
Get involved in the "Solidarity for Natural Heritage" volunteer program through the restoration of the dry walls of the largest olive grove in Dalmatia and the restoration of flooded meadows, in the Ornithological Reserve. Help educate and raise awareness about Nature restoration to the community.The needs of the project is the practice of environmental protection, sustainable development, and climate action with its goal to protect, conserve and enhance biodiversity, as well as digital transformation since the participants will be using digital tools needed to share their experience. This objective showcases the importance of the preservation and restoration of flooded meadow habitats, the related wealth of ornithofauna, and other endangered and/or rare plant and animal species in a favourable state of conservation. Besides the importance of flooded meadows as a scarce habitat type on the European level, restoration of flooded meadows is especially important as these habitats have a significant function in regulating the water regime, as well as in the purification of water that flows from agricultural land surrounding the ornithological reserve into the lake. It is important to keep the flooded meadow ecosystems in balance in order to achieve their resistance to climate change and extreme weather events.
The volunteer restores dry-stone walls that were built by a traditional technique without the use of mortar or binder and clears the areas covered by vegetation that has overgrown the dry-stone walls and the flooded meadows, restores the wooden educational trail of Park by painting it, helps collect the mowed hay from the meadow and hand picks invasive plant species, informs the public about the project activities, contributes to the preservation of traditional knowledge, as well as the cultural and natural heritage of the Park . The workhours optimally 6 hours a day, during 33 days of the program, during the weekdays, and 2 days off duirng the weekend (including 4 possible days of travel to and from the activity). Participation is mandatory for the entire duration of the program.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
The volunteers will work in several location In the Vransko lake Nature Park. Accommodation will be organised in Biograd na moru in shared bedrooms. Park will procure and deliver groceries for the volunteers. The volunteers will prepare their meals independently in the accommodation.
Training during the activity
Learn traditional knowledge, master the technique of drystone walling, and help enrich the cultural and biological diversity of the Nature Park Vransko jezero in Croatia, while informing the public (Park visitors) about volunteer activities by ocasionally creating short dissemination texts and photos. Volunteers will learn the traditional knowledge of the drystone walling technique, needed for restoration and building of the dry-stone walls, which are a non-material heritage, declared by UNESCO. They will get to know the Mediterranean wetland and its biodiversity, the importance of wet meadows for the protection of numerous bird species. Volunteers will be shown how to hand-pick invasive species, collect hay, clear unnecessary woody (shrub) vegetation covering rare and endangered flooded meadows, and will also have the opportunitiy to help out painting the wooden infrastructure.
Participant profile
Due to the specificity of the planned activitiese, we are looking for volunteers with the following characteristics: • readiness for demanding physical work and being in the sun/wind/ outdoor conditions for up to 6 hours per day • hiking and willingness to spend the whole day in the outdoors • ability to work independently but also to act as a part of the team (equally sharing the duties around the accomodation, cooking ,cleaning, and organising free time) • patience and dedication • desire for informal learning and intercultural exchange • good will and flexibility IMPORTANT NOTE: potential candidates will have an online interview as a part of the selection process. We strongly encourage applications from young people with fewer opportunities. All applications must be submitted exclusively via the European Youth Portal.
Activity dates
From 02/11/2026 to 04/12/2026
Activity location
Kralja Petra Svačića 2, BIOGRAD NA MORU, Croatia
Activity type
Volunteering teams
Looking for participants from
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Activity topics
Environment and natural protection
Education and training
Creativity and culture
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 05/10/2026 12:00
Project code
2026-1-HR01-ESC51-VTJ-000401404