Autumn 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Supporters,

How has the change of seasons been treating you? 🍂

Life in Dalmatia has entered a new phase: one of slowing down, harvesting, and looking inward.

We’ve just opened a new round of project proposals. Have a project in mind that fits into one of our three Areas of Interest? Check out our latest blog post and apply!

Thank you for your trust and support – we couldn’t do it without you.

Bianka took us around the Jelsa municipality to see all the water fountains they’ve set up during the Refill Hvar project, along with an upcoming one. The community embraced us with open arms, hosting us in their homes and their stunning natural environment.

We explored some of the trails that have come to life thanks to Inntravel‘s support for Revival of Historical Paths. Learning first-hand about the history of these once-essential paths put Hvar’s rich heritage in yet another perspective.

Spending time on the island with the tourist season slowly behind everyone was as rewarding as the autumn sun (and a refreshing dip in the sea!).

Projects should focus on habitat conservation, regenerative land use, and/or sustainable resource management. The goal is to create measurable, long-lasting positive impacts that involve local communities and use local expertise.

Interested or know someone who is? ✉️ Send a brief concept note with your budget to Inga, our Executive Director at inga@dalmatianenvironment.org.

Roots of Resilience

In early October, the Samotvorac Association held an inspiring lecture on Silba: “Bio Garden and Agroecology – How the Garden Works for Us”. It explored how agroecological methods turn gardens into vibrant ecosystems that benefit both people and nature.

🪏 Attendees learned simple ways to boost soil health, support local wildlife, and promote food security in their own gardens. The session highlighted how working with natural processes helps build resilience and ecological balance.

Small Island Repairs

Last weekend at the Vanđela Božiković kindergarten in Hvar, Permakultura Dalmacija spent a morning with preschoolers exploring the idea of fixing instead of throwing away. They learned the 5R principles; simple steps to live with less waste and more responsibility. ♻️

The children shared their own experiences and understood how small changes can make a difference. After the chat, the kids and volunteers opened a tiny Toy Hospital.

🧸 In the Toy Hospital, they carefully examined plush and plastic patients, thinking of solutions and repairing them with care. The children followed every step with excitement, celebrating every toy’s recovery.

Conservation of Water Resources and Biodiversity of Zlarin

During the first weekend of October, the dry wall restoration workshop marked the official start of our latest water conservation and biodiversity restoration project.

This event brought together members of the local community who joined forces to advance the restoration of Gnjilovača, a valuable heritage site linked to traditional water systems on the island. The workshop was led by the experienced team from the association Dragodid, known for their expertise in dry-stone building techniques and community-led heritage preservation.

🧱 Throughout the weekend, participants learned about traditional construction methods, contributed to hands-on restoration work, and shared ideas about future steps in sustainable management of Zlarin’s natural resources.

We truly believe that by supporting real grassroots movements, we support one another. Without our community, we wouldn’t be where we are today. You drive everything we do. 💚

Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, too!

Here’s to an amazing autumn,
The DIEF Team

Copyright (C) 2025 Dalmatian Islands Environment Foundation – Zaklada za zaštitu dalmatinskih otoka. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:

Zaklada za zaštitu dalmatinskih otoka

Marina Držića 4,

23000 Zadar,

Hrvatska

Want to change how you receive these emails?

You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.