On April 10, 2026, the fourth workshop was held at the premises of Vodice Elementary School as part of the "Kornati – It's Important to Know 10 About the Sea" project, which is carried out as part of the Argonauta Association's Eco-Patrol program. 

At the beginning of the workshop, students recalled the concepts of biodiversity and ecosystems, emphasizing their key role in maintaining balance in nature. It was emphasized that healthy ecosystems sustain life through services such as air and water purification, climate regulation, and plant pollination, while their disruption leads to serious consequences for all organisms. The reduction of biodiversity weakens ecosystems and increases their sensitivity to climate change and pollution, which in the long run also affects humans.

First activity: Build an ecosystem

The students were divided into three groups, each representing an ecosystem – the ocean, the meadow, and the forest. Through teamwork and using available materials, they created 3D models of their ecosystems.

After completing their work, each group presented its ecosystem, describing food chains and webs and the potential threats that jeopardize its stability. A group discussion on the topic followed: Which ecosystem is the most endangered and why?

The students presented various arguments:

• Meadows They are disappearing due to urbanization and the conversion of land into building sites, which destroys the habitats of pollinators like bees.
• Forests are threatened by logging, fires, and a long recovery period that can last more than a hundred years.
• More is exposed to pollution, wastewater, oil spills, rising temperatures, and other global impacts.

Second activity: Ecosystem services

Students researched information about the decline in biodiversity within their ecosystems and, through group work, discussed key problems and possible solutions.

After the analysis, they concluded that all ecosystems are severely threatened, but most agreed that the ocean is the most vulnerable due to its connection to the global system and the rapid spread of changes. The importance of phytoplankton as a key oxygen producer on Earth was particularly emphasized.

In the final part of the workshop, the students answered evaluation questions and concluded that they particularly enjoyed the workshop because of the hands-on work and the opportunity for active participation. They emphasized that they realized even small changes in everyday life can contribute to preserving ecosystems.