Preliminary Report of the Neretva Science Week 2023

Neretva Science Week 2023 took place from May 30th to June 7th. A diverse team of 62 scientists from 17 countries gathered in small town Ulog, to contribute to the conservation of the Neretva river system. They were accompanied by journalists, photographers, activists, and artists. Various independent teams explored different areas on and around the river, to get a deeper understanding of specific habitats, point to threatened places and integrate across terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Scientists studied over 15 groups of animals and plants. They explored fish, aquatic macroinvertebrates, birds, amphibians, reptiles, large mammals, bats, subterranean fauna, soil invertebrates, dragonflies, spiders, aquatic beetles, moths, butterflies, grasshoppers and crickets. We also had a strong team of botanists, dendrochronologists and specialists for mosses and fungi. Finally, a socio-cultural team studied the social values of the Neretva, what the river means to locals and also to scientists: they explored the motivation and drivers behind our conservation efforts.

Here, we gathered the preliminary results of Neretva Science Week 2023, covering 19 studies or fields of expertise. They reflect the enthusiasm of involved scientists as well as convey an impression of the extraordinary value of the Upper Neretva River and Valley.

Neretva Science Week – Preliminary Report