Last week we co-organized and hosted the Study Tour 2026 of the European nature conservation network Eurosite at our sites. This week-long study visit was attended by representatives of Eurosite member organizations as well as individual supporters — 21 participants in total from ten organizations across Europe.
Just across our border lies the unique region of Hortobágy, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In April, we travelled there together with farmers and mayors from southern western and eastern Slovakia, to see firsthand what a successful integration of agriculture and nature conservation looks like in this iconic steppe landscape.
This spring, one of the most encouraging signs of success has appeared on sites we have been restoring within the LIFE Sub-pannonic project – pasque flowers have started to bloom. These iconic species of dry grasslands are among the first to respond to improved habitat conditions.
On 4-5 March 2026, our partners from the Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre SAS (PSBCSAS) had the opportunity to present the LIFE Resistance project at an important international gathering, the conference Invasive Alien Species in the Danube Region: IAS of Regional Concern, held in Hungary.
As part of the LIFE Resistance project, an exceptional collaboration was created, bringing together honest craftsmanship, nature conservation, and a social dimension. The result is a product that warms not only your head, but also your heart.
In the open landscape of Slovakia’s lowlands, where the LIFE Steppe Birds project operates, rows of ancient pollarded willows are truly irreplaceable. To us they are a beautiful part of the scenery, but for the European roller and the red-footed falcon, they are strategic sites for life itself. To ensure these trees continue to serve their purpose in 2026 and beyond, we need to give them their characteristic “crown”.
Last week we celebrated World Wetlands Day! On February 2, we celebrate the crucial role wetlands play for both our planet and its people.
The results of the 2025 breeding season came as a very welcome surprise. This year we recorded 38 territories and 36 breeding pairs, the highest number in the past quarter century! Thanks to systematic monitoring, we have now confirmed a positive trend in the number of breeding pairs for the fifth consecutive season. One of the most colourful birds in our landscape is making a remarkable comeback.
A new chapter has begun in the wetland near Čiližská Radvaň – since the beginning of August, cows have been grazing on an area of 107 hectares, playing an important role in the restoration and protection of one of the most valuable wetland habitats in southern Slovakia. This site was only recently saved – thanks to the financial support of the public, who contributed to its purchase. Since then, it has officially become part of the Natura 2000 site Čiližské močiare. However, buying the land was only the first step – what matters most is its active management.
We successfully completed the Annual activity report for the year 2024. Our ambition in creating it is to provide a comprehensive overview to our supporters, benefactors, and the general public about our activities throughout the year 2023.