From October 24 to 28, 2025, together with the JARO Conservation Group, the Administration of the White Carpathians Protected Landscape Area, the local NGO Pre Prírodu, and the Faculty of Science of Charles University, we organized the volunteer Mission APOLLO 25. This event continued the well-established tradition of joint work for nature in the unique area beneath the Vršatec Cliffs. In total, more than 40 volunteers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia dedicated their free time and energy to restoring precious non-forest rocky habitats that are (or once were) home to the iconic Mountain Apollo (Parnassius apollo) butterfly, after which the event is named.
During the three working days, we gradually carried out restoration work at Vršatec Cliffs, in the Krivoklát Gorge, and on Mokrá Skala near Mikušovce. The goal was to clear overgrown rocky slopes, remove self-seeded and non-native trees, and thus create space for light-loving plant species that are an inseparable part of these valuable sites. Such interventions therefore help not only the Mountain Apollo itself, but also many other endangered plant and animal species tied to open rocky habitats. On the final day of the event, we joined forces with the Administration of the White Carpathians PLA and helped with raking rare orchid meadows in the Brezovská Valley.
Mission APOLLO 25 was once again part of the LIFE Endemic PANALP project, focused on the protection and restoration of endemic species and non-forest habitats. Just like last year, the entire event also had a special symbolic meaning – it took place on October 28, the day when we (and our western neighbors, for whom it is a national holiday) commemorate the founding of Czechoslovakia. Thanks to this, many Czech volunteers took part in the event, and we can truly say that for a few days, Slovaks and Czechs once again joined forces to help nature, which knows no borders.
We were also very pleased that several renowned naturalists and conservationists joined us once again, including Ondřej Sedláček from the Faculty of Science, Charles University; Zdeněk Faltýnek Frič from the Czech Academy of Sciences; David Číp from the JARO Group; Standa Lhota from the Coalition Against Palm Oil; and Artur Sniegon from the Save Elephants movement.
We sincerely thank all participants for their dedication, hard work in challenging terrain, and the wonderful atmosphere!
