Reconstruction of the Botanical garden on Lokrum

For many years, the Botanical Garden on the island of Lokrum has been in a state of stagnation and decay, mainly due to natural processes. Therefore, last year, the Public Institution Lokrum Reserve launched a project to improve the overall condition of the garden as quickly as possible, which is a matter of interest to all our visitors. The Botanical Garden on the island of Lokrum was established in the 1960s with the aim of monitoring the adaptation of exotic plants in the conditions of our climate as a kind of scientific experimental area. Today, the Institute for Marine and Coastal Research of the University of Dubrovnik takes care of this garden in a scientific and professional sense. Unfortunately, the effects of shelling during the Homeland War and the intense adverse weather events in recent years have had a significant negative impact on the garden and plant material, and urgent action was needed to revitalize the garden. The Public Institution Lokrum Reserve has taken the initiative and initiated the process of garden restoration for the purpose of preservation and better interpretation, invested significant resources and work in the preparation of the necessary documentation and provided funds for the renovation. A conceptual and detailed design were developed based on the landscaping of the garden, and all necessary permits and approvals of the competent authorities in the field of nature protection and cultural heritage were obtained. At the end of last year, the project documentation for the design and furnishing of the garden and paths was prepared, with a total value of the construction works of approximately HRK 3.8 million.

The project envisages the equipping of existing paths and the installation of interpretation elements within the garden in order to increase the material standards of the botanical garden and the entire protected area. It also ensures an increase in the number of educated and informed visitors about the role and importance of forest ecosystems, as well as providing information on families and types of plant material in the area of the Botanical Garden and the entire reserve. In 2019, three procurement procedures were conducted. Given that during the first two procedures the amounts were inadequate, this Public Institution conducted the third procedure and finally signed a contract with the company Araucaria d.o.o. from Zagreb in early summer. The anticipated duration of reconstruction is six months starting from 1 September 2019, noting that works in the garden will not start before October. The University of Dubrovnik is familiar with all the facts and actions and its employee, Katija Dolina, is an expert advisor at the Botanical Garden on the island of Lokrum, who actively participated in the preparation of documentation during which her expert opinion and guidelines were respected. This reconstruction project envisages the rehabilitation and refurbishment of existing trails of approximately 725 m length, removal of damaged plant material and planting of 195 new plant species with a total of 1,466 seedlings on 13 fields in the garden. New urban equipment (benches, information and interpretation panels, entrance portal) will also be installed. The Botanical Garden will enter its new season with a whole new look to welcome everyone who chooses Lokrum as their favourite destination during their visit.

Public Institution Lokrum Reserve

Technologies in biology: bats

Exhibition

Opening on Monday, June 24, 2019 at 17:15 on the island of Lokrum in Benedictine monastery

Note:

• arrival at the opening of the exhibition must be confirmed by mail at info@lokrum.hr
• visitors can take a boat of the Public Institution Lokrum Reserve, which departs from the port at 17:00.

Nowadays scientists and experts explore nature with the help of various advanced technologies and reveal the unknown to us. This exhibition was realized under cooperation of the Public Institution Lokrum Reserve and the Technical Museum of Nikola Tesla with the aim of introducing people to the world of bats and technologies used for their research.

The island of Lokrum has been protected as a special reserve of forest vegetation more than 70 years ago due to the unique forest of holm oak populated by various different species. Travelers and researchers have visited Lokrum and recorded the encountered species. However, data on bats were poor until 2016 when researchers from Croatia and Great Britain joined their forces and discovered a total of 11 bat species which is quite a number for such a small island. Lokrum is a very important habitat for the colonies of two types of bats – Kolombatovic’s long-eared bat and a lesser horseshoe bat.

While communicating with each other, bats use sounds that human ear can hear, but the echolocation sounds bats make when flying are in most cases inaudible to humans. A device used to detect the presence of bats by converting their echolocation ultrasound signals to audible frequencies is called a bat detector. On the island of Lokrum, the researchers applied another method of studying bats and discovering their flight paths, their shelters, and activity periods. This method is called telemetry. During the research, a small radio transmitter is attached to the back of the bats which they discard for about 10 days. In this period, the researchers equipped with radio receivers and directional antennas can track bats and determine their position in nature. After that, the collected data is processed and the maps of their movements are made.

The film about Lokrum bat research with modern technologies such as the use of bat detectors and telemetry will be shown within the exhibition, and visitors will be able to hear their calls as recorded on a bat detector. All Lokrum visitors will have the opportunity to see this 14-minute film and get acquainted with the ways of exploring and preserving bats in this area.

Impresum

Technologies in biology: bats

Exhibition organizers

Public Institution Lokrum Reserve

Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

For organizers

Ivica Grilec, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve

Markita Franulić, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

Authors of the exhibition and texts

Katarina Ivanišin–Kardum, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

Marija Crnčević, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve

Daniela Hamidović, Croatian Biospeleological Society

Henry Schofield, Vincent Wildlife Trust, UK

Dina Rnjak, Geonatura d.o.o.

Expert associates

Neda Staklarević, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

Anita Glover, Vincent Wildlife Trust, UK

Boris Krstinić, Petra Žvorc, Damjan Krstinić, Vida Zrnčić

Ozana Domijan, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve

Associates

Fire Protection Service, Nature Guard Service, Technique and Maintenance Department, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve

Art exhibition

Kruno Ivanišin, University of Zagreb Faculty of Architecture

Technical support

Igor Elez, Zvonimir Ambruš, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

Design and illustrations

Narcisa Vukojević

Proofreading

Kate Stijačić

Translation

Martin Paul Mayhew

Photography

Boris Krstinić

Daniela Hamidović (photo of a lesser horseshoe bat)

Film and video material

Boris Krstinić

Audio material

Dina Rnjak, Daniela Hamidović

Public relations

Kristina Ćurčija, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve

Marijo Zrna, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla

The realization of the exhibition was supported by the funds of the City of Dubrovnik.

Aqua_forensic science+art caffe

Saturday, 07.07.2018.   from 11 to 13:15 h

Aqua_forensic science+art caffe is based on the presentation of aqua_forensic science-art project and opening of public dialoge between scientists, artists, citizens and public policy makers on contemporary underwater pollution with new invisible pollutants.

In causal atmosphere, over coffee the program will include a series of short presentation and a round table where we can discuss together new invisible pollutants (like pharmaceuticals and noise pollution) that we can’t see and thous we are not aware of, and that are being released into underwater habitats, ruining delicate equilibrium of this delicate global ecosystem.
Possibilities of pollution prevention and protection of valuable resources that Croatian economy depends upon – local biodiversity will also be discussed, as well as the role of contemporary art in development of sustainable  society.

PROGRAM:

11:00-11:30
presentation of aqua_forensic international science+art project
by Robertina Šebjanič and Gjino Šutić

Partners presentation:

11:30-11:45
presentation Ars Electronica organisation (AT), Festival & Prix awards

by Veronika Liebl, Head of Organization/Finance Ars Electronica

https://www.aec.at/
11:45-12:00
presentation of EU international network EMAP & EMARE residency program

by Jessica Galirow (project manager Ars Electronica)

http://www.emare.eu/member/ars-electronica-center 

12:00 – 12:15
presentation of UR Institute (HR) non-profit institute for applied scientific research
by Gjino Šutić (director)
http://ur-institute.org

12:15 – 12:30
presentation of ATOL institute (SI) – non-profit culturological institute
by Uroš Veber (project manager)
http://www.projekt-atol.si/

12:30 – 13:15
Round table – discussion of related topics over a coffee

Call to interested professional and non-professional artists from foreign countries visiting Dubrovnik.

On october 1^st.  2016 art colony with the participation of artists from Dubrovnik and its surroundings will be held on the island of Lokrum in front of the old town of Dubrovnik. We are inviting all professional and non-professional artists from the Croatia and abroad who are in Dubrovnik on october 1^st 2016. to engage in interesting meeting of art lovers at ART COLONY LOKRUM 2016 to paint with us on island Lokrum. Topic of colony is island Lokrum.

Transport to the island, painting supplies, brunch, lunch and good company is guaranteed. Number of artists is limited, so please contact us as soon as possible. If you are interested in participating in this art colony and if you are a tourist visiting at the time of the colony please send us 1-2 photos of your artwork. Contact email address is: dulu.dubrovnik@gmail.com, where you can get additional information.

The most beautiful Croatian butterflies flying on Lokrum Island

Biologists from Croatian Society for Biological Research, Zagreb conduct field work on Lokrum Island in the frame of the project Preliminary investigation of the fauna of butterfly on the Lokrum Island, approved by the City of Dubrovnik.
On the Lokrum Island, there are several important habitats for fauna of butterflies such as underwood vegetation (maquis), open forest areas and eumediterreanean grassland.
During the fieldwork the most beautiful Croatian butterflies were seen, like two-tailed pasha Charaxes jasius, red admiral Vanessa atalanta and cabbage butterfly Pieris brassicae. One of the most common species on the island is  southern white admiral Limenitis reducta.

Slika 1 i 2: Southern white admiral Limenitis reducta

Slika 3: vještica Charaxes jasius

Dahl’s whip snake – strictly protected and non-poisonous species

As HYLA continues the research of reptiles on Lokrum Island (project „Reptiles of Lokrum“, approved by the City of Dubrovnik), a total of 4 species of reptiles has been recorded on Lokrum island so far, among which is one species of snake –  known commonly as Dahl’s whip snake or „Šilac“ in Croatian (Platyceps najadum (Eichwald, 1831).

It is widespread in the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea and it can be found in the entire Croatian coast as one of the fastest snake in Croatia.

It  occurs around the stone walls, overgrown gardens, rocky river banks, on the path edges and open areas in forests (http://www.hhdhyla.hr/vrste/gmazovi)

It is a strictly protected species according to the Law on nature protection therefore it is not allowed to kill, capture or harass the snake.

Pictre 1. Dahl’s whip snake  (http://www.hhdhyla.hr/vrste/gmazovi)

Picture 2. Dahl’s whip snake on the Lokrum Island

Legends of Lokrum’ is the name of the exhibition that has been opened this weekend as a part of British week on the beautiful island of Lokrum that is situated just 600 meters away from Dubrovnik.

Templars have been a real attraction on Saturday, while they were walking to Old Port where they took a boat with the visitors and went to the exibition opening. There, everybody got a real treat: journey to the past at the multimedia exibition by Ivana Dabrovic. Exhibition brings the story of Richard the Lionheart, as well as Benedictines, their life, costumes and also the curse.

Exhibition is located at the basement of the Benedictian monestery and it’s opened every day from 9 am to 8 pm. Entrance is free.

“Every year European day of Parks takes place around 24th of May. It aims to bring people closer to nature and raise public awarenes on the importance of the natural beauty preserved in Protected areas.” (http://www.europarc.org/)

“A taste of Lokrum” will be the main theme in the restaurants in the area of the Reserve during all three days with their special menus and cooking shows. Besides, all community is invited to the exciting activities held in the Park: an educational presentations about the historical saltworks in the Reserve, the value of nature and the agricultural tradition in the Reserve.

It is all about the power of a day when we are all speaking with one voice, using our local, regional, national and European media to show who we are and what we do. So celebrate and support European Day of Parks.