Inside perspective on the Third MAG Meeting in Croatia

The third meeting of the Medvednica Nature Park stakeholders (3. MAG meeting) on the SINCERE project (Spurring INnovations for forest eCosystem sERvices in Europe), in which the Public Institution “Nature Park Medvednica” participates in the evaluation of the health function of the Medvednica’s forests was held on, December 18^th, 2019. The meeting was attended by a diverse society members: athletes, hunters, foresters, mountaineers, city employees, employees of the Institute for Development of International Relations, Mountain Rescue Service, associations of initiators of recreational activities, etc.

The participants were shown the progress of the research, implementation of the mechanisms selected at the 2^nd stakeholder meeting,  with challenges in the implementation of the activities,  and instructed in the steps that follow in the coming period as well as the way of communication and dissemination of the results. Participants actively discussed and revealed their views.

Mario Kasović as the President of the Maksimir Triathlon Club and the most competent person for the topic and one of the stakeholders presented our pilot study results, mainly those considering the assessment of the energy capacity of the hiking trails (Bikčević and Leustek trail). The results were especially interesting for the attending public.
From the Faculty of Forestry as a guest lecturer, Stjepan Posavec, delivered a lecture on the topic of green economy – bio-economy – forestry, which definitely fits into the wider picture of the SINCERE project.

At the end of the official part of the meeting, upon the discussion, everyone was invited to help organize an event for visitors, following their own ideas and participation in activities which should spread and raise public awareness about the importance of FES and the practice of sports and recreation in nature.