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. Their return clearly shows that the restoration measures we implement – especially the removal of encroaching shrubs and trees, reintroduction of grazing, and regular mowing – are helping these habitats recover. The abandonment of traditional land use was one of the main reasons for their decline in the past.

The LIFE Sub-pannonic project focuses on the restoration of valuable dry grassland habitats across dozens of sites in Slovakia and Moravia. These habitats are exceptionally rich in species, but also highly sensitive to changes in management – without regular care, they quickly become overgrown and lose their biodiversity.

The blooming pasque flowers are therefore more than just a beautiful sight. They are a symbol of ecological recovery and a reminder that even long-neglected landscapes can return to life when given the right care.

We would like to thank all partners, land managers, and volunteers involved in the restoration efforts. Thanks to this cooperation, species that have been disappearing from our landscape are slowly returning.

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.

The event brought together competent ministries, the European Commission, international organisations, nature conservation authorities, research institutes and NGOs from across the Danube region. Our partners took to the floor to introduce LIFE Resistance to an audience of regional and European decision-makers and experts. They presented the project’s core objectives, reducing the spread and impact of invasive alien species in border areas, and walked attendees through the innovative methods and approaches that set our project apart. Early findings from the field were also shared, offering a first glimpse into the real-world results our teams are achieving on the ground. Invasive species don’t respect borders, and neither should the solutions. Being part of this conversation helps amplify our work, connect us with potential future partners, and contribute to the broader EU strategy for managing biological invasions.

We’re proud of our partners at the Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre SAS for representing the project so effectively, and we look forward to more opportunities to share our progress on the regional and European stage.

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.

Grazing is one of the key management measures we use in the project to suppress invasive plant species and preserve the natural biodiversity of protected areas. Years of experience have shown us that traditional land management has an irreplaceable role in the landscape. Sheep and goats help keep meadows open, prevent them from becoming overgrown, and create conditions for the return of rare plant and animal species. Their presence supports blooming grasslands, orchids, insects, and birds that depend on this type of habitat.

Our herd, grazing in Podunajské Biskupice, contributes to maintaining valuable meadows along the Danube River. They function as natural lawnmowers and, quietly yet systematically, help ensure that this area remains full of life and natural diversity. The wool from their winter shearing is therefore not just a raw material, but part of the story of a landscape they help protect.

From this idea came the decision to use the wool of our “conservation sheep” in a meaningful way. The wool was sent to a Slovak wool manufactory, a family-run business specializing in wool processing, where it was carefully sorted, cleaned, and spun into yarn. Since our primary goal is nature conservation rather than the production of perfectly refined wool, its processing requires considerable patience and expertise. We are therefore especially grateful for the precise work of the people who transformed it into high-quality yarn ready for the next stage. The finished yarn was then delivered to the sheltered workshop Dom svitania in Jakubov. This workshop provides employment opportunities, support, and space for personal development to people with disabilities. Each hat is created through careful handcrafting, with attention to detail and quality. Every piece is unique and carries the story of the people who made it.

This collaboration holds special meaning for us because it connects nature conservation with the social dimension. It shows that sustainability is not only about landscapes and biodiversity, but also about people and mutual support within a community.

Last week we celebrated World Wetlands Day! On February 2, we celebrate the crucial role wetlands play for both our planet and its people. These incredible ecosystems are among the most productive on Earth, offering essential services like water regulation, flood protection, carbon storage, and support for biodiversity. They also provide livelihoods for millions.

Our partners from the Plant Science and Biodiversity Center study wetlands from many different perspectives—from the bottom of the waterbody, through dense riparian vegetation, to the hidden diversity of wetland sounds. Using in situ data collection, eDNA analysis, vegetation research, bioacoustics, and remote sensing techniques, we aim to deepen our understanding of wetlands. The results of this research provide a valuable foundation for wetland restoration, which they are actively involved in through the LIFE Resistance project.

Let’s raise awareness and protect these vital habitats!

A key part of our LIFE Endemic PANALP project, focused on restoring thermophilous and xerothermic grassland habitats, is cooperation with local farmers. Thanks mainly to this collaboration, we have so far managed to reintroduce or expand grazing on more than 240 hectares across 28 sites, stretching from Devín to Súľov. Our goal, of course, is for these restored areas to provide long-term benefits to the farmers, which will undoubtedly also bring significant gains for nature.

Agricultural subsidies are today an important tool in this regard. Therefore, on Monday, November 3, we organized a seminar for our cooperating farmers with our colleague who had worked for several years at the Agricultural Paying Agency. In an informal and friendly atmosphere, he explained to beginning farmers the basics of the Common Agricultural Policy rules, while the more experienced participants had the opportunity to discuss their experiences and challenges.

The venue – the Pub in Višňové – was chosen deliberately. We would like to start restoring goat grazing on the overgrown steppes directly below Čachtice Castle together with the locals here in the near future!

Coincidentally, we continued our education activities aimed at the same target group the very next day. At the Uhliská Farm near Nemšová, in cooperation with the Institute of Knowledge-based Agriculture and Innovation, we co-organized a seminar focused on grassland restoration, environmentally friendly deworming of livestock, and smart technologies in animal husbandry.

Our colleague Jakub Cíbik presented to the participants that restoring flowering meadows is an opportunity not only for biodiversity but also for building cooperation between conservationists and farmers. His lecture also included inspiring examples of such partnerships that have emerged thanks to the LIFE Endemic PANALP project.

Ivana Kodajová from the Vlčí Vrch goat farm, with whom we have been closely collaborating since the earlier LIFE Butterflies project, introduced her well-developed system of gentle goat deworming. Conventional methods, which rely on the widespread use of ivermectin-based substances, lead to parasite resistance and simultaneously kill coprophagous insects. These organisms, which decompose animal dung, are an important part of biodiversity and help farmers improve soil condition, fertility, and even reduce the occurrence of undesirable parasites.

For these reasons, at BROZ we have decided to promote awareness of practices that are more considerate of both livestock and the grassland ecosystems — ecosystems that, in our country, survive today largely thanks to them.

After more than a year of effort and work, the technical documentation for the revitalization project in Klížska Nemá is complete. In cooperation with designers from SVP and experts from the Water Research Institute (VÚVH), we have managed to design a series of measures that will help create “wild” islands on the main channel of the Danube in Klížska Nemá.
This will be the first revitalization of its kind in Slovakia, where we will lower and disconnect the groynes – guide embankments that direct water into the navigation channel (“výhony”) from the riverbank. This will create a parallel river branch within the main channel and provide a refuge for Danube fish species.

Our plans are ambitious and gradual — in the future, we would like to modify the entire groyne system in Klížska Nemá, consisting of a total of eight groynes, implemented in three construction phases.

We have now entered the permitting process and held numerous meetings with the relevant stakeholders, including the Slovak-Hungarian Commission for Boundary Waters and the Ministry of Transport — all with positive outcomes. So let’s get started!

These activities are being carried out as part of the #LIFEWILDisland project.

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. 

The wetland at Čiližská Radvaň has been particularly threatened by the spread of invasive plant species, such as Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). Within the LIFE Microtus II project, we therefore restored the water regime even before the cows arrived – water was brought into the wetland from a nearby drainage canal with the help of a newly built sluice. Long-term flooding brought an immediate effect: the coverage of goldenrod started to decline and was gradually replaced by native species such as sedges and reeds. This step was primarily aimed at supporting the endemic Pannonian root vole, but it also brought an important additional benefit – the effective suppression of invasive vegetation. To make the process even more effective, the goldenrod was also mowed. Now comes the next phase – grazing, which complements and strengthens this natural management.

That is why, within the LIFE Resistance project, we decided to introduce cattle grazing in the area. Grazing represents not only a return to traditional forms of land use but also a modern tool of close-to-nature management of protected areas. In the case of Čiližská Radvaň, grazing is an effective way to support biodiversity and control invasive plants. Cows not only weaken the expansion of invasive species but also prevent vegetation from building up, which would otherwise lead to the gradual infilling and drying out of the wetland. Grazing, in combination with the restored water regime, creates favourable conditions for the long-term preservation of this wonderful habitat.

The uniqueness of this wetland lies in its mosaic of wet and dry patches, which makes grazing even more important. The cows naturally move between these environments – grazing on dry meadows while also enjoying flooded parts, where they cool down in between feeding. This way, they create a diverse landscape structure that benefits many species of birds, amphibians, and insects.

Even after just a few days of grazing, positive changes are already visible. Flocks of herons fly around the cows, and the whole area feels alive again. This is clear proof that the cooperation between livestock and nature works. To allow visitors to enjoy this unique view, an observation tower will soon be built in the area. From there, people will be able to watch not only the herd of cows but also birds and other wildlife that are returning to the wetland thanks to our care.

This year, we have once again successfully completed the BROZ Activity Report for 2024. Our goal in preparing it is to clearly and comprehensibly inform our supporters, partners, and the general public about all the activities we carried out over the past year. As you will see, it was not an easy task this time either – we had more than enough work once again. However, we believe you will enjoy reading the report and that it will encourage you to continue following and supporting us.

Happy reading,
Your BROZ Team

Colorful meadows and pastures were not always a given. Their emergence was linked to the development of agriculture in the Neolithic period. People needed to create areas without forests for raising livestock and growing crops.

The great boom in meadow farming occurred during the Wallachian and Kopaničiar colonization in the Middle Ages and peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the demand for feed for stabled farm animals increased. Regular mowing and grazing kept the flower-filled meadows full of life.

Nowadays, however, interest in traditional land management is declining. Society has changed, and colorful meadows and pastures are facing abandonment, overgrowth with invasive trees, and loss of species diversity. But that’s not the only problem facing these rare habitats—intensive farming, monoculture, large-scale mowing at one time, mulching, and sowing non-native seed mixtures (in this project, we’re working on producing our own original regional seed mixture!).

Centuries of slow land formation by farmers have been replaced by a period of rapid change, where maximum yield and economic profit have become the main measures of success.

One of the projects that aims to reverse this unfavorable development is LIFE DIVERSEED. It focuses on areas with so-called priority grassland habitats. The goal is to restore selected sites covering an area of at least 920 ha, restore wetlands and other small-scale habitats, plant several thousand of the 10 most endangered plant species, ensure long-term management of the areas with local farmers, and create unique regional seed mixtures that will be the first of their kind in Slovakia and Romania.

Regional meadow seed mixtures will be officially registered and designated for the restoration of grassland habitats in the Western Carpathians up to an altitude of 1,000 m. This will be a practical tool for restoring species diversity to the landscape – the mixtures will also be available to landowners, local authorities, and farmers who want to restore flowering meadows. All under the patronage of experts and scientists from renowned organizations.