WITH PROTEUS WE SHARE DEPENDENCE ON GROUNDWATER
Project’s summary
Budget: 34,006.20 EUR (EEA and Norway contribution: 19,985.22 EUR)
Project duration: 12 months (1. 1. 2015 – 31. 12. 2015)
Applicant: Society for Cave Biology
Partners: ZRC SAZU, Municipality of Črnomelj and Municipality of Dobrepolje
INFO, suggestions & complains
Gregor Aljančič, project manager: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +386(0)31804163
Fb: https://www.facebook.com/TularCaveLaboratory; Twitter: @TularCaveLab
1. Current challenges and wider public priorities
Proteus (Proteus anguinus) is world’s famous cave amphibian, a priority species of Natura 2000 with no monitoring scheme. Large part of Slovenia’s drinking water comes from the cave habitat of Proteus – an environment extremely vulnerable to pollution.
2. Long-term protection of Proteus and its groundwater habitat
- constant public promotion;
- innovative monitoring methods;
- NGO networking and advocacy.
3. Outcomes
- high public awareness on vulnerability of Proteus and groundwater;
- methodology for monitoring of Proteus;
- improved conservation practice;
- NGO control over implementation of environmental legislation.
4. Outputs
- 3 innovative monitoring methods ready to use (transect counting, eDNA forensic survey of Proteus distribution, GIS vulnerability analysis);
- media coverage, lectures using innovative education tool e-Proteus (live video stream to classrooms);
- NGO network;
- workshop “SOS Proteus”: salvaging washed-out Proteus after floods;
- request to change conservation practice submitted to the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning.
5. Beneficiaries
School youth (including Roma community youth), research and nature conservation organizations, local communities (municipalities of Črnomelj and Dobrepolje).
The project is supported by the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014.
