LIFE FOR SEEDS: Collaboration with the local community

The project carried out in the area of Lake Cerknica and nearby meadows represents an important contribution to nature conservation and the region's sustainable development.

The Notranjski Park actively involves local residents in the implementation of project activities, from seed collection to meadow restoration. These include activities such as revegetating degraded surfaces with seed mixtures produced on the project sites.

Figure 1: Bare surface after removal of accumulations of rotting reeds.

Thus, in February we came to assist representatives of the agricultural community from the Lake Cerknica area, who approached us with a request for local seed mixtures from the lake area. After removing the accumulations of rotting reeds, a bare surface remained, which they wanted to revegetate. Employees of Notranjska Park sowed the surface with an indigenous seed mixture harvested on meadows near Dolenja vas. This type of cooperation is an example of good practice, how to connect local community needs with conservation goals.

Figure 2: Sowing local seed mixtures February 2024.

To gather local knowledge, we conducted interviews with twenty landowners who maintain species-rich meadows. These valuable insights enable a better understanding of how local practices can contribute to the long-term conservation of meadows.

Figure 3: August 2024 situation.

Collaboration with local residents and incorporating their knowledge are crucial for the project's success. Joint events and presentations strengthen community ties and raise awareness of the importance of conservation. Therefore, at the end of August we organized an event where local farmers could learn about the operation of a special machine for harvesting seed mixtures that was developed precisely for the project. The presentation at the Malnšče observation platform familiarized locals with the possibility of using native seed mixtures to enrich degraded meadows.

In October, at the Autumn Seed Fair and Bazaar, we presented the seed bank, shared samples of seed mixtures of locally diverse meadows, and participated in seed exchange. This event provided an opportunity for the broader public to learn about the importance of native plant species and their contribution to sustainable farming.

The restoration of species-rich meadows and the establishment of a seed bank thus contribute not only to biodiversity conservation but also to the preservation of ecosystem services, such as pollination, water purification, and erosion control, and greater resilience of agricultural lands to climate change. The local community has an important role in this, as it actively involves its knowledge and experience in shaping a future based on sustainability and respect for nature.