FROM WRYNECK TO APPLE JUICE

Project summary

The objective of the project was to connect the protected areas of Kozjanski Park, Kolpa Regional Park and National Park Risnjak in terms of technical support, management, and implementation in their endeavor to preserve high-trunk meadow orchards as habitats of Natura 2000 project species, which are an indispensable element of quality cultural landscape and a rediscovered and revalued developmental opportunity, we have revitalized numerous meadow orchards, planted new trees of high-trunk varieties, provided for the orchards with the machinery bought for the project. We have completed the studies of biodiversity in meadow orchards, the study on the possibilities of promotion and marketing of the product from the orchards and the study on the quality of fruit from the meadow orchards. All these contributed to the creation of our long-term meadow orchard management strategy. We have frequently informed the public about the activities of the project; not only with the means of public informing and press conferences, but also with various promotional materials. We have equipped collective orchards with info points for tourists. An international conference on multifunctional orchards was organized. There were shared workshops with the demonstrations of the cuts and fruit processing. With the activities we have motivated the owners of the orchards for the sustainable maintenance of these areas and their long-term economization.