On 25 August 2026, the DANUBEPARKS team took part in a field trip to Slovakia hosted by BROZ. The visit included the Marcelová project site of DANUBEdragonCONSERVATION, where BROZ has acquired additional land and established water buffalo grazing as part of its conservation work.
The grazing system supports the conservation of the Danube crested newt (Triturus dobrogicus) and other amphibians and reptiles. While habitat restoration at many project sites focuses primarily on aquatic habitats, the Marcelová site also improves the terrestrial habitat required by the species. Amphibians depend on suitable water bodies for breeding, but they also need nearby terrestrial areas for feeding, shelter and overwintering.
Water buffalo grazing maintains a structurally diverse landscape of open grassland, wet depressions, vegetation patches and shoreline habitats. By limiting dense vegetation growth and creating small-scale variation in the terrain, grazing helps preserve an interconnected habitat mosaic. The extensive use of land near wetlands also provides a buffer zone from intensive agriculture, helping reduce the potential impacts of nutrient, pesticide and sediment runoff on sensitive water habitats.
During the visit, participants also learned about BROZ’s use of conservation detection dogs. The dogs are trained to follow turtle tracks and locate nesting sites. After a nest is identified, the BROZ team protects it with a mesh cover until hatching to prevent predators from consuming the eggs.
The field trip was also an opportunity to further develop a follow-up project concept focused on grazing as an effective method for enhancing biodiversity. DANUBEPARKS hopes to secure support for applying this approach at additional sites along the Danube.
DANUBEPARKS sincerely thanks BROZ for its hospitality and for sharing its valuable experience and commitment to practical biodiversity conservation.