Predstavnici NP „Krka“ u uzvratnom posjetu kolegama iz Finske

Mladi u dobi od trinaest do trideset godina aktivnije se uključuju u zaštitu prirode i okoliša preko Erasmus+ projekta „Podizanje ekološke osviještenosti kod mladih iz zaštićenih područja“, koji u potpunosti financira Europska unija.

Od 10. do 14. lipnja 2024. održano je drugo studijsko putovanje u sklopu Erasmus+ projekta „Podizanje ekološke osviještenosti kod mladih iz zaštićenih područja“. Domaćin je bio Kehittämisyhdistys Sepra ry iz Finske. Predstavnici zaštićenih područja iz Latvije i Hrvatske tom su prigodom obišli brojne zaštićene lokalitete uz istočni dio Finskog zaljeva i sudjelovali na radionici uspostave protokola Junior ranger programa.

Prvi radni dan počeo je službenim susretom predstavnika svih partnera i radionicom u Santalahti u blizini povijesnog grada Kotke. Sudionici su se zatim brodom zaputili u arhipelag Nacionalnog parka „Istočni finski zaljev“ čiji je ekološki i biološki morski značaj prepoznat na međunarodnoj razini kroz Konvenciju o bioraznolikosti. Pritom je posebno istaknuta važnost ledenih stijena i grebena, pješčanih staništa, šljunčanih područja i mirnih muljevitih uvala. Na otoku Tammio, najočuvanijem mjestu arhipelaga, u bajkovitom okruženju upoznali su se s ribarskim nasljeđem, bogatom povijesnom i kulturnom baštinom te stoljetnom tradicijom promatranja ptica.

Drugi dan počeo je posjetom muzeju – ribičkoj kolibi u Langinkoski, carskom ljetnikovcu koji je krajem 19. stoljeća redovito pohodio ruski car Aleksandar III. s obitelji. U obližnjem parku prirode sudionici su posjetili i arboretum, uređen s posebnom pažnjom 1959., u kojemu se nalazi šuma koja broji dvadeset i jednu vrstu drveća, od kojim je osam autohtono. Edukativna šetnja pješačkom stazom Katariinanpuisto – Mansikkalahti – Sapokka omogućila je uvid u bogatstvo biljnog svijeta vodenih i morskih staništa parkova Kotke. U poslijepodnevnim satima predstavnici projektnih partnera susreli su se s voditeljima lokalnih skauta.

„Izuzetno nam je drago što smo tom prilikom bolje upoznali aktivnosti preko kojih su mladi uključeni u zaštitu prirode. Njihovo iskustvo pomoglo nam je da shvatimo koliko mlade osobe žele biti angažirane u očuvanju vrijednosti koje nadilaze granice država. Povezivanje nacionalnih parkova za sve nas znači otvaranje novih perspektiva i razmjenu znanja i iskustva u radu s mladima“ istaknula je ravnateljica Javne ustanove „Nacionalni park Krka“ Nella Slavica i dodala: „Vjerujemo da će uspostava protokola mladih čuvara prirode u NP ‘Krka’ potaknuti i druga zaštićena područja u Lijepoj Našoj na aktivnije uključivanje mlade generacije u aktivnosti kojima je cilj očuvanje okoliša.“

Posljednji radni dan studijskog posjeta Finskoj bio je posvećen upoznavanju prirodnih vrijednosti otoka Kaunissaarija, smještenog u Finskom zaljevu jugozapadno od grada Kotke. Kao omiljeno turističko mjesto u obližnjem arhipelagu, Kaunissaari je poznat po ledenim grebenima i pješčanim plažama. Osim snažne ribarske tradicije, odlikuje se i bogatom kulturnom baštinom, što ga čini idealnim vikend-odmorištem lokalnog stanovništva.

Projektne aktivnosti provodit će se od 1. veljače 2024. do 31. siječnja 2026. Ukupna vrijednost projekta je 60.000,00 eura, što u potpunosti financira Europska unija. Nositelj projekta „Podizanje ekološke osviještenosti kod mladih iz zaštićenih područja“ (2023-3-LV02-KA210-YOU-000170610) je Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds iz Latvije, a projektni partneri su Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds iz Latvije, Kehittämisyhdistys Sepra ry iz Finske i Javna ustanova „Nacionalni park Krka“.

Ciljevi su projekta informiranje mladih o klimatskim promjenama, jačanje svijesti mladih o potrebi očuvanja prirode i okoliša, te sudjelovanje i razmjena iskustva mladih u dobi od trinaest do trideset godina preko zajedničkih platformi zaštićenih područja u zemljama partnerima projekta, razvoj sistema motivacije za sudjelovanje mladih u očuvanju okoliša, njihovo umrežavanje i razmjena ideja.

Projekt je sufinancirala Europska unija. Sadržaj ovog materijala isključiva je odgovornost JU „NP Krka“.

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Representatives of the Krka National Park in a return visit to colleagues from Finland
Young people between the ages of thirteen and thirty are being more actively involved in the protection of nature and the environment through the Erasmus+ project “Raising environmental awareness among young people from protected areas”, which is fully financed by the European Union. From June 10 to 14, 2024, a second study trip was held as part of the Erasmus+ project “Raising environmental awareness among young people from protected areas”. The host was Kehittämisyhdistys Sepra Ry from Finland. On that occasion, representatives of protected areas from Latvia and Croatia visited numerous protected sites along the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland and participated in a workshop on the establishment of protocols for the Junior Ranger program. The first working day began with an official meeting of representatives of all partners and a workshop in Santalahti near the historic town of Kotka. The participants then went by boat to the archipelago of the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, whose ecological and biological marine significance has been recognized at the international level through the Convention on Biodiversity. While doing so, the importance of ice rocks and reefs, sandy habitats, gravel areas, and quiet muddy bays was particularly emphasized. On the island of Tammio, the most preserved place in the archipelago, in a fairytale environment, they were introduced to the fishing heritage, the rich historical and cultural heritage, and the centuries-old tradition of bird watching. The second day began with a visit to a museum – the Imperial Fishing Lodge in Langinkoski, a summer residence that was regularly visited by the Russian Emperor Alexander III and his family at the end of the 19th century. In the nearby nature park, the participants also visited the arboretum, organized with special care in 1959, in which there is a grove with twenty-one species of trees, eight of them endemic. An educational walk along the Katariinanpuisto – Mansikkalahti – Sapokka footpath provided an insight into the richness of the flora of the aquatic and marine habitats of the Kotka parks. In the afternoon, representatives of the project partners met with the leaders of local scout groups. “We are extremely glad that on this occasion we were able to be better acquainted with the activities through which young people become involved in nature protection. Their experience has helped us understand how much young people want to be engaged in preserving values ​​that transcend national borders. Connecting national parks for all of us means opening up new perspectives and exchanging knowledge and experience in working with young people”, emphasized the director of the Krka National Park,  Nella Slavica, who added: “We believe that the establishment of a protocol for Junior Rangers in the Krka National Park will encourage other protected areas in Croatia to more actively involve younger generations in activities aimed at preserving the environment.” The last working day of the study visit to Finland was dedicated to getting to know the natural features ​​of the island of Kaunissaari, located in the Gulf of Finland southwest of the city of Kotka. As a favorite tourist spot in the nearby archipelago, Kaunissaari is known for its ice ridges and sandy beaches. In addition to a strong fishing tradition, it is also characterized by a rich cultural heritage, which makes it an ideal weekend retreat for the local residents.

The total value of the project is EUR 60,000.00, which is entirely financed by the European Union. The holder of the project “Raising ecological awareness among young people in protected areas” (2023-3-LV02-KA210-YOU-000170610) is the Ķemeru National Park Fund (Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds) from Latvia, while the project partners are the Gaujas National Park Fund (Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds) from Latvia, the Kehittämisyhdistys Sepra ry from Finland, and the Krka National Park from Croatia. The goals of the project are to inform young people about climate change, to strengthen the awareness of young people about the need to preserve nature and the environment, as well as the participation and exchange of experience of young people between the ages of thirteen and thirty through common platforms of protected areas in the project’s partner countries, the development of a system of motivation for young people’s participation in environmental protection, and the development of networking and the exchange of ideas.
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