It’s Time for Eco!

Open-air classroom with weather station and aromatic garden in Milan Sorga Elementary School, Oprtalj. The project contributes to the realisation of the SDG 4 Quality education, target 4.7. Education for sustainable development and global citizenship

About organisation:

BIO ISTRA has been active in the community for the last 23 years and is recognised as one of the main stakeholders of sharing know-how in organic and sustainable production in Istria County. More than 5000 locals have been involved in the activities through BIO ISTRA’s Advisory Office, Expert Council and numerous local projects to raise awareness of sustainable development and improve the quality of life. BIO ISTRA has a long history of organising joint agricultural events and is well-known as a successful coordinator of volunteers and has achieved significant success with the ECOSPHERE (EKOSFERA) programme, which sensitises the environment and is in its third year of implementation. The association has also organised numerous workshops, lectures, seminars and training and has always been reported positively in the media. The activities are funded transparently from membership fees, local and county government support, and donations.

BIO ISTRA has three branch offices - Porec, Rovinj, Livade/Oprtalj. With 40 active members and 20 volunteers, the association ensures sustainable engagement and represents a crucial civic society stakeholder in sustainable rural development.

Project description:

Creating an open-air classroom with a weather station and aromatic garden in Milan Sorga Elementary School, Oprtalj, will promote environmental and sustainability awareness by engaging students, parents, and teachers. The project will strengthen the links between different actors on the local map; some students might develop a passion for environmentally related studies or activism in the future. The aromatic garden scents can be valorised as an unforgettable memory that gives added value to the tourists’ destination experience.

The project also aims to increase public awareness of the importance of organic farming for a healthier modern lifestyle. In addition, it points out the climate change issue through the impact of agrometeorological conditions on plants cultivation.

For the project purposes, a weather station will be purchased and installed so that students can monitor the weather conditions of the area. The data will be posted on the Internet to be available to farmers and citizens.

In the open-air classroom, lectures on ecology,  aromatic plants, organic farming, the impact of agrometeorological conditions and reading the weather parameters will be organised.