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ConventiononBiologicalDiversity4thNationalReportonimplementationRepublicofSloveniaLjubljana,2010CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)2INDEXChapterI.
5OverviewofBiodiversityStatus,TrendsandThreats51.
Introduction.
51.
1.
TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity.
51.
1.
1.
SomedataconcerningtheconventionanditsobjectivesinSlovenia:52.
OverviewofbiodiversityinSlovenia.
52.
1.
StatusofbiodiversityinSlovenia.
52.
1.
1.
GeographicalcharacteristicsofSloveniainfluencingbiodiversity52.
1.
2.
Ecosystemicdiversity62.
1.
3.
Habitattypediversity62.
1.
3.
1.
Landscapediversity.
72.
1.
4.
Speciesdiversity.
82.
1.
5.
Geneticdiversity.
92.
2.
Mainthreatsandtrendstobiodiversity.
103.
Biodiversitystatus,trendsandthreatsinmajorecosystemtypes.
103.
1.
Agriculturalecosystems.
103.
1.
1.
Statusandtrends103.
1.
1.
1.
Grasslands113.
1.
1.
2.
Scrubland123.
1.
1.
3.
Orchardsandfields.
123.
1.
1.
4.
Urbanhabitattypes123.
1.
2.
Threats123.
1.
2.
1.
Socioeconomicfactorsinagriculture.
133.
1.
2.
2.
Intensiveagriculturalproduction.
133.
1.
2.
3.
Abandonmentofagriculturallanduse133.
1.
2.
4.
Activitiesaffectingphysicalspace133.
1.
2.
5.
Changestowaterregimes.
133.
1.
2.
6.
Invasivespecies143.
1.
2.
7.
Climatechange.
143.
2.
Forestecosystems143.
2.
1.
Statusandtrends143.
2.
2.
Threats163.
2.
2.
1.
Naturaldisasters,diseases,overpopulationofinsects.
163.
2.
2.
2.
Forestfires.
163.
2.
2.
3.
Herbivorousgameandgrazingofcattleandsmallruminantsinforests.
.
.
163.
2.
2.
4.
Deforestationandfragmentationofforestsandinappropriateactivitiesinforests.
173.
2.
2.
5.
Removalofoldandrottentrees.
173.
2.
2.
6.
Changingthewaterregimeofforestsites173.
2.
2.
7.
Activitiesaffectingphysicalspace173.
2.
2.
8.
Pollutionofairandsoil.
183.
2.
2.
9.
Invasivespecies183.
2.
2.
10.
Climatechange.
183.
3.
Inlandwaterandwetlandecosystems.
183.
3.
1.
Statusandtrends193.
3.
1.
1.
Standing-andrunning-waterecosystems193.
3.
1.
2.
Groundwaterecosystems.
203.
3.
1.
3.
Marshandbogecosystems.
203.
3.
2.
Threats213.
3.
3.
Unsuitablewater-managementmethodsandmodificationsofthewaterregime213.
3.
3.
1.
Pollution.
213.
3.
3.
2.
Urbanisationandotheractivitiesaffectingnature.
22CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)33.
3.
3.
3.
Grazingandovergrowing.
223.
3.
3.
4.
Invasivespecies223.
3.
3.
5.
Climatechange.
233.
4.
Mountainecosystems.
233.
4.
1.
StatusandTrends233.
4.
2.
Threats233.
4.
2.
1.
Unsuitableeconomicactivities.
243.
4.
2.
2.
Tourismandleisureactivities243.
4.
2.
3.
Pollution.
243.
4.
2.
4.
Invasivespecies253.
4.
2.
5.
Climatechange.
253.
5.
Marineandcoastalecosystems253.
5.
1.
Statusandtrends253.
5.
2.
Threats263.
5.
2.
1.
Degradationandfragmentationofhabitats.
263.
5.
2.
2.
Pollution.
273.
5.
2.
3.
Unsustainablefishing.
273.
5.
2.
4.
Tourismandrecreationalactivities273.
5.
2.
5.
Invasivespecies273.
5.
2.
6.
Climatechange.
283.
5.
2.
7.
Illicittraffickinginendangeredspecies283.
6.
Caveecosystems283.
6.
1.
Statusandtrends283.
6.
2.
Threats293.
6.
2.
1.
Pollution.
293.
6.
2.
2.
Activitiesaffectingphysicalspace293.
6.
2.
3.
Tourismandrecreationalactivities293.
6.
2.
4.
Uncontrolledcollectingofcavefauna.
293.
6.
2.
5.
Invasivealienspecies.
303.
7.
Geneticresources303.
7.
1.
Statusandtrends303.
7.
2.
Threats314.
Datasources314.
1.
Informationsourcesanddatabases314.
2.
Monitoringandresearch.
325.
Implicationsofchangesonhumanwell-being.
326.
Sources33ChapterII.
36CurrentStatusofNationalBiodiversityStrategiesandActionPlans367.
OverviewoftheimplementationoftheCBDinSlovenia.
367.
1.
1.
Basicpremises368.
StrategyforBiodiversityConservationinSlovenia.
378.
1.
AchievementofObjectivesofStrategyforBiodiversityConservation.
398.
2.
ConservationofLandscapeDiversity(Annex1)418.
3.
Nationalenvironmentalactionprogramme(NEAP):NatureandBiodiversity438.
3.
1.
NationalEnvironmentalActionProgramme.
438.
3.
2.
UpgradingtheInstitutionalSystemofNatureConservation.
438.
3.
3.
Conservationofbiodiversity–In-situprotection.
468.
3.
3.
1.
OperationalprogrammeandactionplanofbiodiversityconservationwithNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013)468.
3.
3.
2.
Conservationofplantandanimalspecies(speciesconservation)(CH1-2.
1.
3)538.
3.
3.
3.
Operationalprogrammeforprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatures548.
4.
Geneticsources,in-situandex-situprotection.
55CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)48.
5.
Sustainableuseofbiodiversity.
568.
6.
Additionalliterature.
56ChapterIII.
62SectoralandCross-sectoralIntegrationorMainstreamingofBiodiversityConsiderations.
.
.
.
628.
7.
Overviewofindividualactivities.
628.
7.
1.
Agriculture(CH1-3.
1)628.
7.
1.
1.
Sustainableuseofbiodiversityinagriculture.
648.
7.
1.
2.
Supporttobreedersofindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimals.
658.
7.
1.
3.
Geneticresourcesinagriculture.
688.
7.
1.
4.
Internationalcooperationonbiodiversityinlivestockfarming.
728.
7.
2.
Forestry738.
7.
3.
Hunting768.
7.
4.
Fisheries.
778.
7.
5.
Watermanagement.
848.
7.
6.
Industryandenergysector.
888.
7.
7.
Transport888.
7.
7.
1.
Roadtransport.
898.
7.
7.
2.
Greenhouse-gasemissions.
898.
7.
8.
Tourism.
908.
7.
9.
Measurestomitigateclimatechange928.
8.
Supportactivities938.
8.
1.
Legislativeandeconomicmechanisms.
938.
8.
1.
1.
Legislationgoverningconservationofbiodiversityandprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatures938.
8.
1.
2.
Financialresourcesforconservationofbiodiversityandprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatures938.
8.
2.
SpatialManagement.
958.
8.
3.
Monitoring.
978.
8.
4.
Education,trainingandcommunication(partnership)988.
8.
4.
1.
Objectivesforsustainableuseofbiodiversity:communicating(partnership)1038.
9.
Othernationalstrategiesandinitiatives.
1048.
9.
1.
Countdown20101048.
10.
Implementationofinternationalconventionsimportantforconservationofbiodiversity.
1058.
10.
1.
Otherrelevanttreaties.
107CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)5CHAPTERIOVERVIEWOFBIODIVERSITYSTATUS,TRENDSANDTHREATS1.
INTRODUCTION1.
1.
TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity1.
1.
1.
SomedataconcerningtheconventionanditsobjectivesinSlovenia:TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)isoneofthekeyinternationalagreementsinthefieldofnatureconservation.
ThemotiveforitsadoptioninRiodeJaneiroin1992wasarapidlyadvancingdeclineinbiodiversitydue,toagreatextent,tohumanactivity.
Theconvention,whichlinks193parties(2010),providesaframeworkforworkinthefieldofconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity,conservationofnature,andworkingtogetherandmanagingbiodiversitycomponentsatalllevels.
Slovenia,whichascribesspecialimportancetothoseconventionprovisionsthatareaimedattheconservationofnatureandbiosafety,ratifiedtheconventionthroughtheActRatifyingtheConventiononBiologicalDiversityin1996.
Ingeneralterms,biodiversityhasalsobeengainingimportanceasaresultofacommitmenttoimplementtheconventionprovisions.
Inthe2003–2004period,thechapteronnatureconservationwassubjecttoathoroughrevisionofregulationsthatprovideforhigherlegalstandardsinthisfield.
SincetheEuropeanUnionisapartytotheconvention,thetranspositionofEUregulationsintotheSlovenianlegalorderwasaccordinglyfollowedbyasimultaneoustranspositionofrequirements,recommendationsanddirectionsfacilitatingbetterimplementationoftheconventionbySlovenia.
Recently,thefieldofbiotechnologyhasundergonerapiddevelopmentduetoitseconomicimportance.
This,inturn,increasedtheneedforbiologicalsafety.
In2000,theCartagenaProtocolonBiosafetywasadoptedforthispurposewithintheconventionframework.
Theprotocol'sobjectiveistoprotectbiodiversityagainstthepotentialthreatofgeneticallymodifiedorganisms(GMOs)asaresultofmodernbiotechnology.
TheprotocolwasratifiedbySloveniain2002(Ur.
l.
RS,No.
89/02).
Thereportontheimplementationoftheprotocolisavailableontheconventionwebsite:http://www.
cbd.
int/biosafety/parties/reports.
shtmlreport=NR-CPB-01.
2.
OVERVIEWOFBIODIVERSITYINSLOVENIA2.
1.
StatusofbiodiversityinSlovenia2.
1.
1.
GeographicalcharacteristicsofSloveniainfluencingbiodiversitySlovenia(20,254km2)issituatedinthesouthernpartofCentralEuropewheretheAlps,thePannonianplain,DinaricmountainchainandtheMediterraneanmeet[24].
Ithasvariedreliefwithanaltitudespanof0to2,864metres.
Itsgeologicalstructureisdiverse,andincludes44%carbonate-basedbedrock,while16%oftheterritoryiscoveredbyquaternarysediments[24].
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)6MostofSloveniahasamoderatecontinentalclimate.
ItssouthwesternparthasamildMediterraneanclimate,whilesevereAlpineand/orcontinentalclimatecanbefoundinthehighmountainranges,inalpinevalleysandonsomehighDinaricplateaus[24].
Sloveniaaboundswithwatercourses(26,600km)andstandingwaters,whichdividebetweentheBlackSea(83.
2%)andAdriaticSea(16.
8%)drainagesystems.
Undergroundwaterbodiesarenumerousbutareunevenlydistributed.
TheSloveniansea(40km2)with47kmofcoastispartoftherelativelyshallowNorthernAdriatic,whichrarelyexceeds30mindepth[2].
In2008,forestscovered58.
5%ofSlovenia'ssurface;34.
9%wasagriculturallandand2.
7%urbanareas,whiletheremainderconsistedofwetlands,watersandareaswithnovegetationcover[1].
Itsgeographicalposition,diversegeological,orographic,soil,climateandhydrologicalfeatures,andhumanactionshaveresultedinahighdegreeofecosystem-andspecies-relateddiversityinSlovenia.
Sloveniaisasmallcountryaccountingforonly0.
004%ofthetotalandfor0.
014%ofthelandsurfaceoftheEarth.
However,itisaplacewhereatleast1%oftoday'sknownspeciesoforganismsandatleast2%ofallknowncontinentalspecies(continentalandfreshwater)canbefound.
Sofar,around22,000ofplantandanimalspecieshavebeenidentifiedanddocumented;estimationsconcerningthepotentialnumberofspeciesrangebetween50,000and120,000species[10][22][38].
2.
1.
2.
EcosystemicdiversityClimaxvegetationonmorethan90%ofSlovenia'ssurfaceconsistsofforests.
Humanactionhasstronglyinfluencedtheappearanceoftheprimarylandscape.
Forestclearance,useofsoilforagriculturalpurposes,drainageofwetlands,urbanisationandotheractionresultedintheretreatofnaturalecosystemsattheexpenseofnew(agricultural,inparticular)ecosystems,bringinginnewhabitattypes[10].
Forthepurposesofconservationandknowledgeonecosystemicdiversity(includingspecies-relatedandgeneticdiversity)inSlovenia,severalprojectshavebeencarriedoutduringthereportingperiod.
"Renaturation"andmanagementofhabitatsinthekocjanskizatokNatureReservefollowingindustrialdegradationinthe80sweretheprincipalobjectivesoftheLIFEProject"RenaturationandconservationofhabitatsandbirdsinthekocjanskizatokNatureReserve".
Moreinformationaboutthisprojectisavailableat:www.
skocjanski-zatok.
org.
Thepurposeofthe"Project1001Karstponds–1001storiesoflife"wastomaintainthenetworkofwaterbiotopesand,consequently,theconservationofthepopulationofItalianCrestedNewt(Trituruscarnifex)andofYellow-belliedToad(Bombinavariegate)intheNatura2000areaoftheKarst,aswellasinotherareasofWesternSlovenia.
Moreinformationabouttheprojectisavailableat:http://1001kal.
kras-carso.
com/vsebina=prva.
AspartofcooperationbetweenthePrincipalityofMonacoandtheRegionalCentreforprotectedareasundertheBarcelonaConvention,protectionandconservationeffortsarecarriedoutwithaviewtopreservingtheNeptuneGrass(Posidoniaoceanica)marinemeadowlocatedbetweenthetownsofKoperandIzola;inaddition,apublicationwithdescriptionsofendangeredspeciesandhabitattypesintheSlovenianlittoralwaspublished.
Moreinformationavailableat:http://www.
zrsvn.
si/sl/informacija.
aspid_meta_type=63&id_informacija=623.
2.
1.
3.
HabitattypediversitySofar,514naturalandanthropogenichabitattypeshavebeenidentifiedanddocumentedinSlovenia1.
By2008,around15%ofSlovenia'snon-forestgrownsurfaceshadbeenmapped[13][28].
1TheinformationisbasedontheSlovenianhabitattypestypology,havingbasisonpalearcticclassification(Physis)andorganisedhierarchically.
Sevenbasicgroupsaredividedintoseverallevels(Joganetall.
,2004)independenceofecologicalcharacteristicsandofcharacteristicspecies(Joganetall.
,2004).
Thenumberofhabitattypesgivenbelowisindicatedpursuanttolevel3oftheabovementionedtypology.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)7Thenumberofanthropogenichabitattypesincreasedinthepastattheexpenseofdeclineandfragmentationofnaturalhabitats.
Today,theprocesswithregardtosomeagriculturallandsurfaceshasreversed–agriculturallandsurfacesoflittleeconomicconcernarebeingovergrownandtransformedintowoodhabitats.
InthereportonthestatusofconservationofspeciesandhabitattypesunderArticle17oftheHabitatsDirectivefrom2007(thereportdealswiththeDirective'sfeaturedhabitattypesonly),conservationstatushasbeenassessedasmostunfavourableforgrassland,freshwaterandbogsandmarshes(Figure1.
1).
Thesehabitattypeshavebeenmostthreatenedparticularlyforanthropogenicfactors[6][25].
44%35%21%0%an=890%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%ht1Aht1Cht2Aht2Cht3Aht3Cht4Aht4Cht5Aht5Cht6Aht6Cht7Aht7Cbn=12n=0n=8n=6n=15n=9n=9n=8n=6n=5n=6n=3n=1n=1Figure1.
1:Finalevaluationofconservationstatusofhabitattypes(HT)accordingtothereportunderArticle17ofHabitatsDirective.
(Favourablestatusofconservation,insufficientstatusofconservation,poorstatusofconservation,statusofconservationunknown;n=numberofhabitattypesinagroup;ht1–HTcoastalandmarine,ht2–Htfreshwater,ht3–HTscrubsandgrasslands,ht4–HTforests,ht5–HTbogs,fensandmarshes,ht6–HTbarrenland,ht7–HTcaves(HTgroupstransposedfromtheRegulationonHabitatTypes(OfficialJournaloftheRS,No112/2003));A–Alpinebiogeographicalregion,C–continentalbiogeographicalregion)TheBiodiversityConservationStrategyobjectiveinSlovenia(2002)is:conservationofecosystemsthroughmaintaininghabitattypesatafavourablestatus[21].
2.
1.
3.
1.
LandscapediversitySloveniaischaracterisedbyadiverselandscapestructurethatisrelevantforitsbiodiversityandhasaremarkableexperientialvalue.
Slovenia'sfivebasicregionscomprise357listedlandscapepatterns;proposalshavebeenmadefor84areastobeclassifiedasoutstandinglandscapes[17].
Thelandscapestructureanditsbiodiversityarecruciallyinfluencedbysocioeconomicconditions,particularlyinthefieldofagriculture.
Agriculturalactivityaffectsthedistributionoflandscapecomponentsandtheirstructure.
Slovenia'sspecialfeatureisanarticulatedstructureofsmalllandscapeunits.
However,duetochangesinagriculturalpolicy,thisisincreasinglybeinglost[17].
Thelandscape-conservationstrategyhasbeendevisedasanintegralpartofSlovenia'snationalspatialplan.
Itsfundamentalobjectiveisidentificationofthemaininstrumentsformaintenanceandmanagementoftheculturallandscapetobeincludedinthenationalspatialpolicyandspatial-plancomponents[23].
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)8TopreserveSlovenia'slandscapediversity,theBiodiversityConservationStrategysetstwoobjectives:-Conservationoftraditionalextensiveandsustainabletypeofuseofland/spaceaimedatmaintaininghighlevelofbiodiversity,landscapediversityandlandscapeculturalidentityinpartsofprotectedareasandinoutstandinglandscapeareas;-Conservationoftheexistinglandscapediversityandofitsnaturalandculturalvalue[21].
2.
1.
4.
SpeciesdiversityBy2008,around15,000animaland6,000plantspecies,including5,000fungispecieshadbeenidentifiedanddocumented.
Thenumberofbacteriaandarchaeabacteriaisnotknown[3][10][22][38].
Morethan3%(over850)ofallregisteredspeciesinSloveniaareendemic.
Theprevailingcategoriesinanimalspeciesareinsects(over500),millipedes(Myriapoda)(89),crustaceans(Crustacea)(69)andmolluscs(Mollusca)(55).
Around400endemicspeciesliveinkarsticsubterraneancaves.
Amongplants,62areendemic,ofwhich22growonlyinSlovenia[22].
Threatenedspeciesofvertebratescomprise36%ofmammals,49%ofbirds,73%ofamphibiansand48%offishandhagfish.
Threatevaluationfornon-vertebratesisnotavailableduetoinsufficientresearchofthiscategory.
Inaddition,around10%ofvascularplantsaresubjecttothreat[22][26].
20%50%10%20%an=3350%20%40%60%80%100%V1AV1CV2AV2CV3AV3CV4AV4CV5AV5CV6AV6CV7AV7CV8AV8CV9AV9CV10AV10CV11AV11CV12AV12Cbn=36n=41n=2n=1n=5n=10n=3n=3n=6n=2n=17n=15n=11n=10n=19n=30n=11n=14n=10n=15n=26n=26n=13n=12Figure1.
2:Finalevaluationofconservationstatusforspecies(V)accordingtothereportunderArticle17ofHabitatsDirective.
(Favourablestatusofconservation,insufficientstatusofconservation,poorstatusofconservation,statusofconservationunknown;n=numberofspeciesinagroup;V1–plants,V2–leeches,V3–molluscs,V4–crustaceans,V5–dragonflies,V6–butterflies,V7–beetles,V8–fishandhagfish,V9–amphibians,V10–reptiles,V11–bats,V12–mammalsexcl.
bats;A–Alpinebiogeographicalregion,C–continentalbiogeographicalregion)TheBiodiversityConservationStrategyobjectiveinSloveniaistomaintainallindigenousanimalandplantspeciesatfavourablestatus[21].
Duringthelastreportingperiod,severalprojectswerelaunchedand/orfinishedinSloveniathatcontributedtoknowledgeondiversityofspecies.
MostweretargetedattheNatura2000areasandspecies.
Aresearchanddevelopmentprojectentitled"AlistofmacromycetespeciesandtheirspreadinSlovenia"wasconcluded.
Amongotherthings,theprojectresultedinthepreparationofalistofSlovenia'sfungi,establishmentofasystemforcollectingCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)9dataonfungiandanewproposalconcerningtheredlist.
Moreinformationabouttheprojectisavailableat:http://www.
gozdis.
si/departments/forestprotection/boletus/arealnekarte/slo/bi.
htm.
Inaddition,severalprojectssupportedbythePhareandInterreggrantschemeswerecarriedout.
Oneobjectivewasconservationofbiodiversity,includinggeneticresources.
Amongotherthings,theseprojectsincludedestablishmentofaninventoryofspeciesandmappingofhabitattypes,givingprioritytoNatura2000areas.
Someprojectsincludedproposalsformonitoringthesituationandthestartingpointsfordrawingupmanagementplans.
Moreinformationabouttheseprojectsisavailableat:http://www.
mop.
gov.
si/si/delovna_podrocja/direktorat_za_okolje/sektor_za_zavarovana_obmocja/phare/OneoftheobjectivesoftheInterregIIIAproject"Cross-bordercooperationonmanagement,conservationandresearchoftheDinariclynxpopulation(DinaRis)"wasthedraftingofaproposalonamanagementstrategyforthepopulationofDinariclynxanditsmonitoring.
Moreinformationaboutthisprojectisavailableat:http://www.
dinaris.
org/Glavna_stran.
ThepurposeoftheLIFEproject"Establishmentofalong-termprotectionfortheCorncrake(Crexcrex)inSlovenia"wastoputinplacemechanismsforefficientprotectionandlong-termconservationofthisbirdinSlovenia.
Moreinformationaboutthisprojectisavailableat:www.
life-kosec.
org.
Inaddition,severalspecieswerelistedandhabitattypesmappedwithintheLIFEproject"NATURA2000inSlovenia–managementmodelsandinformationsystem".
Moreinformationaboutthisprojectisavailableat:www.
zrsvn.
si/life.
2.
1.
5.
GeneticdiversityConservationofgeneticdiversityisconsideredanintegralpartofbiodiversityconservation2.
Maintainingandputtinginplaceecologicalcorridorscanpreventisolationofparticularpopulationsandthedepletionofgeneticdiversitythatislikelytoleadtoextinctionofspecies.
Incertaincases,processesleadingtoadecreaseingeneticdiversitycanbeestablishedbymonitoringgeneticvariabilityevenbeforetheycanbeperceivedthroughmonitoringothercharacteristics[10].
Geneticdiversityofwildfloraandfaunaspeciesisverypoorlyresearched;muchbetterdataareavailableondomesticanimalbreedsandplantspecies.
EndemicspeciesalsocertainlycontributemuchtoSlovenianandEuropeangeneticdiversity.
Moredataandworkisavailableregardinggeneticdiversityofsomefungi(e.
g.
Hydnum,Tuberandsomeothergeneraofectomicoryticspecies[43][44][45].
Recently,anumberofprojectscontributingtoknowledgeonandconservationofgeneticdiversityofcertainspecieshavebeencarriedoutinSlovenia.
Theproject"Protectivegeneticsofbear,lynxandreindeerinSlovenia"amongotherthingspresentedanestimateofthenumberofbearslivinginSloveniabasedongeneticresearchofexcrement.
Amoredetailedreportonthesubjectisavailableat:http://www.
arso.
gov.
si/narava/%C5%BEivalske%20vrste/ogro%C5%BEene%20in%20zavarovane/genetika_medved_ris_2004_07.
pdfhttp://www.
arso.
gov.
si/narava/%C5%BEivalske%20vrste/ogro%C5%BEene%20in%20zavarovane/genetika_medved_ris_2004_07.
pdfSimilarly,theLIFEproject"Maintainingthepopulationofotter(Lutralutra)inGoriko"determinedthesizeoftheotterpopulationinGorikothroughgeneticresearch.
Moreinformationabouttheprojectisavailableat:http://www.
freeweb.
siol.
net/12darko.
TheobjectivesoftheBiodiversityConservationStrategyinSlovenia(2002)relatingtoconservationofgeneticdiversityarethefollowing:-Preventionofpopulationfragmentationandlinkingtogetherpreviouslylinkedpopulationswithaviewtopreservingcirculationofgenes;in-situconservationofnaturallyisolatedpopulationsand/ortheirincrease,wherenecessary;-Provisionofex-situprotectionofindigenousfloraandfaunainplaceswherepopulationsaretoosmallforsuccessfulin-situprotection[21].
2Thenotionofgeneticdiversityinthisreportappliesparticularlytothatpartofgeneticdiversitydealtwithatthelevelofpopulations,thatiswithinspecies.
Geneticdiversityisconsiderablypreservedthroughtheconservationofdiversityintermsofspeciesandecosystems.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)102.
2.
MainthreatsandtrendstobiodiversityThemainthreatstobiodiversityarelinkedtohumanactivityanditseffectonspace,whichresultsinloss,fragmentationanddegradationofecosystemsandhabitatsintermsofbothspeciesandpopulations.
Mostcritical,inparticular,arethepressurescausedbyurbanisationandnon-sustainabledevelopmentonwetlandsecosystems,inlandwaters,coastalandmarineecosystems,subterraneanecosystemsandonextensivelycultivatedcultural-landscapeecosystems.
Inaddition,globalchanges,inparticular,thespreadofinvasivespecies,newdiseasesandclimatechangehavebeguntoshowanimpactonbiodiversityinsomeofSlovenia'secosystems.
Moredetaileddescriptionofindividualthreatsisgiveninthecontinuationofthischapter(subchapter3).
3.
BIODIVERSITYSTATUS,TRENDSANDTHREATSINMAJORECOSYSTEMTYPES3.
1.
AgriculturalecosystemsTheBiodiversityConservationStrategyinSloveniarelatingtoagriculturallandscapehabitattypeshastwoobjectives:-Conservationofwetanddrygrasslandsandmeadoworchardswithareasinhabitedbythreatenedorendemicanimaland/orplantspeciesprioritised;-Conservationand/orextensionofthelengthofhedgeswithecologicallyrelevantareasprioritised[21].
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StatusandtrendsAround35%ofSlovenia'sterritoryiscoveredbyagriculturalland,ofwhich72%issituatedinlessfavouredareaswithregardtoagriculturalactivity(hilly,mountainandkarsticareas).
Theseareasareofutmostimportancefortheconservationofbiodiversityinagriculturallandscapes.
In2007,oftheagriculturallandinuse,themajorpartwasmeadowsandpastures(56.
5%).
Fieldsaccountedfor28%,andorchardsandvineyardsfor6%,while3%ofagriculturallandwasintheprocessofbeingovergrown.
Inthefive-yearperiodfrom2002to2007,theshareofmeadowsincreasedby6.
9%,ofoliveplantationsby41.
7%andofextensivelycultivatedorchardsby2.
2%.
Fieldsandgardensurfacesdecreasedby15%,hopgardensby16.
3%andvineyardsby12.
4%.
Landcoveredbyurbanareasincreasedby0.
5%[1].
Agricultural-landscapeecosystemsaretheresultofhumanactivities.
Theirrichdiversityinspeciesandhabitattypesistheresultoftraditionaluseofagriculturalland.
SomeareasinSloveniaretainrelativelywellpreservedextensivelycultivatedagriculturalhabitattypes(andrelatedspecies)whosesurvivalinEuropehasbecomeverythreatened[10].
Inthe2003–2007period,inclusionofagriculturallandinNatura2000agriculturalandenvironmentalprogrammesinareaswithanemphasisonsustainableusegrewfrom7,000hato55,000ha.
Thebiodiversity-relevantconservationstatusofagriculturallandscapeCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)11ecosystemsisexpectedtobemaintainedorevenimproved.
Sloveniaaimstoincludeover160,000haofagriculturallandintotheseprogrammesby2013.
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GrasslandsAmongthehabitattypesofgreatestimportanceforconservationofbiodiversityinagricultural-landscapeecosystemsaregrasslandhabitattypes.
NaturalgrasslandsinSloveniaarelimitedtoareasabovetheuppertreelineandsomemarshyareas.
Inagriculturallandscape,grasslandsoriginatedandhaveconsequentlybeenpreservedmostlythroughhumanactivity.
AcomprehensivesurveyofgrasslandhabitattypesforSloveniahasnotyetbeencarriedout.
Vegetationgrasslandtypeshavebeenexaminedbotanically.
However,theirspatialdistributionisknownforonly15%ofSlovenia'sterritory.
Mappingofnon-foresthabitattypeswascarriedoutmainlyfortheNatura2000Europeanecologicalnetwork[10].
By2008,around3,000km2hadbeenmapped;thissurfaceincreaseseveryyearbyadditionaltensofsquarekilometresdependingonfundsavailable.
Grasslandhabitats,whichoriginatedthroughtraditionaluseofagriculturallandandarerichinspecies,continuetodisappearfortworeasons.
Inlowlands,themainreasonisintensiveagriculturalproduction,whichbyalteringtheuseofland(frommeadowsandpasturestofieldsorurbanareas),homogenisationofcultivatedsurfaces,growingapplicationoffertilisersandpesticidesdepletesdiversityintermsofspeciesandlandscape.
Thesecondreasonistheabandonmentoftraditionalagriculturalactivitiesinareasoflittleeconomicconcern(aboveall,hilly,mountainandkarsticareas).
Withthisabandonmentofcultivation,grasslandhabitatsareslowlyovergrownandtransformedviascrublandintoforests[10][20].
InSlovenia,20grasslandhabitattypeshavebeenidentifiedanddocumented.
BasedontheHabitatTypesRegulation,prioritytreatmentaimedatmaintainingfavourablestatuswasgivento13habitattypes[13][28].
In2007,thestatusofconservationof7grasslandhabitattypesofagriculturallandscapeprotectedundertheHabitatsDirectivewasassessed.
Noneofthehabitattypesunderconsiderationwasassessedpositivelyintermsofconservationstatus.
Duetopressuresfromintensivefarmingandurbanisation,thesurfacecoveroflowlanddryandwetextensivelycultivatedgrasslandhabitattypesisonthedecline;forthisreason,theconservationstatusofthesehabitattypeswasassessedasunfavourable.
Abetterevaluationresultwasgiventohighlandgrasslandhabitattypes,whosesurfacecoverisindeclineprimarilyforreasonsofbecomingovergrown[6][25].
Dataontheconcretenumberofspecieslinkedtograsslandhabitattypesarenotavailable.
Insomeareas,moredetailedresearchwascarriedoutforsome(primarilyendangered)groupsofanimalsandplants(floweringplants,birds,butterflies)[10].
TheseresearchactivitieshavebeenundertakeninaccordancewiththefinancialresourcesoftheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning.
In2007,terrainmonitoringofthestatusofbirdsinagriculturallandscapewasstartedfordeterminationofthe"FBI"(FarmlandBirdIndex,agriculturallandscapeindexofbirds)[11].
Theunfavourableconservationstatusofgrasslandhabitattypesisalsoreflectedintheconservationstatusofindividualpopulationsofspecies.
Amongthemostendangeredspeciesarethoseconnectedwithextensivelycultivatedwetand/ordrymeadows.
In2008,duetoinappropriatelanduse,anunfavourableconservationstatusindicatedinthereportunderBirdsDirectivewasestablishedfor13birdspecies.
Mostproblemsareduetointensiveagriculture,inparticular,earlymowingofmeadows,excessivefertilisationandthereductionofthelandcoverofmeadowsandwetlandsresultinginadecreaseintheextentandqualityofrelevanthabitats.
ThisisreflectedinthedecliningpopulationtrendsofCorncrake(CrexCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)12crex),EurasianCurlew(Numeniusarquata),Whinchat(Saxicolarubetra)andLapwing(Vanellusvanellus).
AnadditionalnegativeimpactinconnectionwithScopsOwl(Otusscops),LesserGreyShrike(Laniusminor)andBarredWarbler(Sylvianisoria)canbeseeninthedepletion(disappearanceofhedgesandshrubs)ofthemosaicculturallandscapeandthedisappearanceofmeadoworchards.
EuropeanRoller(Coraciasgarullus)andLesserKestrel(Falconaumanni)areconsideredextinctspecies.
ProblemsalsoariseinconnectionwithovergrowingandabandonmentofdrymeadowsresultingintheshrinkingofhabitatsforRedCrossbill(Loxiacurvirostra),TawnyPipit(Anthuscampestris)andOrtolanBunting(Emberizahortulana)[11].
Duetointensivecultivationand/orabandonmentofagriculturallanduseonextensivelycultivatedwetanddrygrasslands,severalspeciesofbutterflieshavecomeunderthreat.
In2007,conservationstatusofpopulationswasassessedaspoorfortheMaculineagenusbutterflies,MarshFritillary(Euphydryasaurinia)andDanubeCloudedYellow(Coliasmyrmidone).
SimilarobservationsapplytoseveralplantspeciessuchasMeadowGladiolus,MeadowSquill(Scillalitardierei),GreaterPasqueFlower(Pulsatillagrandis),SerratulaLycopifoliaandsomeorchids(Orchidaceae)species[6][10][25],aswellasfungi(Hygrocybe,Entoloma)[41].
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ScrublandInSlovenia,largerareasofscrublandastheclimaxvegetationcanbefoundabovethetreelineandinsomeriparianareas.
Inagriculturallandscapes,scrubisatransitionstageinthedevelopmentfromgrasslandstoforests.
Forthisreason,theirsurfacecoverageissubjecttoincessantchange.
However,thetrendistowardsanincrease.
InSlovenia,sixtypesofscrubhabitathavebeenidentifiedanddocumented.
DataconcerningthedistributionofparticularscrubhabitattypesontheterritoryofSloveniahavenotbeencollected[10].
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OrchardsandfieldsTheimportanceoforchardandfieldhabitattypesislargelyinconservationoflandscapediversity.
Duetotheabandonmentoftraditionalfarming,thesurfacecoveredbyextensivelycultivatedmeadoworchardshasdecreased.
In2003–2007,surfacesincludedintheagriculturalandenvironmentalprogramme"conservationofmeadoworchards"increasedby78%(100ha).
Theincreaseinthesurfacecoveredbymeadoworchardsisexpectedtoimprovediversityinfruittypesandfacilitatetheconservationofoldvarietiesoffruittrees.
By2013,theshareoforchardsincludedinthementionedprogrammeisexpectedtoriseby10timesandthisisexpectedtoreducethedownwardtrendwithregardtolossofsurfacecoverage.
Anotherconsequenceofintensivefarmingisthedisappearanceoftraditionalweedsincerealspecies[1][10][20][33].
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UrbanhabitattypesUrbanhabitatswerecreatedalongwiththedevelopmentofinfrastructureandurbanisation.
Thediversityofsuchhabitattypescanbeveryrich.
However,besidesautochthonousspecies,thisrichnessisveryoftencharacterisedbynon-indigenousspeciesintroducedbypeople.
Inaddition,urbanareascontainhabitatsofseveralendangeredspecies(bats,birds)[10].
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ThreatsBiodiversityandagricultural-landscapediversityarethreatenedinSloveniafirstlybylocalhumanactionexpressedthroughintensivefarmingand/orabandonmentoflanduse.
ToaCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)13lesserdegree,thisdiversityissubjecttoclimatechange.
Inparticular,inconnectionwithextremeweatherconditions[10][21].
ThemostrelevantthreatstoagriculturallandscapeecosystemsinSlovenia,andtheirbiologicalandlandscapediversity,arerelatedtothefollowingfactors:3.
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SocioeconomicfactorsinagricultureSocioeconomicfactorsconstitutethedrivingforceofdevelopmentinagriculture.
Smalleragriculturalholdings,withtheirtraditionalagriculturallanduse,arenotcompetitiveinthemarketeconomy;thishasresultedintwocharacteristicfeaturesofSlovenianagriculture.
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IntensiveagriculturalproductionRationalisationofagriculturalproductionalongwithEuropeanUnionandnationalgrantscanleadtoacombinationofagriculturallandusewithmonoculturalproductionofspecificcultivarsandmoreintensiveagriculturalproduction(increasedapplicationofpesticides,fertilisers,agriculturalmachinery).
Reclamationoflandandapplicationoffertilisersonmeadowsaltersanddepletestheirspeciescomposition.
Thisinturnreducesbiologicaldiversitytoahighdegreeandproducesanegativeimpactonlandscapediversity.
Anotherthreattobiodiversityposedbymoreintensivecultivationofmeadowsistransformationofmeadowsandpasturesintofields.
Thisresultsinthedisappearanceofnumerousspeciesincludingbirds(Corncrake),butterfliesandotherspecies,particularlyinlowlandareas.
Landuseintheperiod2005–2008hasshownadecreaseinthesurfacecoveredbyfieldsofapprox.
15,000haandanincreaseinthesurfacecoveredbymeadowsbyapprox.
28,000ha.
However,thesechangesaretheresultofabandonmentoflandcultivationinareaswithlessfavourableconditionsforfarming[10][21][27].
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AbandonmentofagriculturallanduseAtthesametime,hilly,karsticandmountainareasoflittleeconomicuseforagriculturalproductionarebecomingempty.
Youngpeopleleavetheseareasinsearchofbettersocialandeconomicconditions,sotheactivepopulationisonthedecrease,traditionalagriculturalactivityisbeingabandonedandagriculturalareasarebecomingovergrown.
In2008,overgrownareas(21,600ha)accountedfor1.
06%ofSlovenia'sterritory.
Duetoovergrowing,grasslandhabitattypesarereplacedbyscrubandforestshabitattypes;biodiversitychangesanddiminishes,andthelandscapelosesitsvarietyandbecomesmoremonotonous[10][21][27].
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ActivitiesaffectingphysicalspaceConstructionofsettlementsandofinfrastructureisoftenplannedinareaswhichareunattractiveforagriculture,butwhichhavehighlevelsofbiodiversity.
Infuture,morepressureisexpectedfromconstructionofholidayandtouristfacilitiesandrelatedrecreationalinfrastructureintraditionallyagriculturalareas,whicharebecomingabandonedbythelocalinhabitants.
Moreover,newsettlementsareexpectedtobeextendedonagriculturallylessattractivewetlowlandareas.
Anever-increasingneedforspaceandtheresultinglandpricesleadtopressureongreenspacesoutsideurbanareas[10][21].
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ChangestowaterregimesRegulationofwatercourses,andreclamationandmergingofland,whichisfrequentlyconnectedwithintensivelanduse,threatenbiodiversityofgrasslandhabitattypes.
Changestowaterregimesresultinchangesinvegetationandhabitattypeand,consequently,affectthetypestructureofmeadows.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)14Moreover,riparianscrubvegetationisthreatenedbyregulationandmaintenanceactivitiesonrelevantwatercourses;inwatermargins,hedgesandrelatedspeciesarefastdisappearing[10][27][21].
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InvasivespeciesInvasivespeciesinagricultural-landscapeecosystemshavenotyetbeensubjecttothoroughresearch,sinceSloveniabegantodealwiththemonlyrecently.
Theincidenceofinvasivespecieshasincreasedsignificantlyandthistrendisexpectedtocontinueinthefuture.
Certainagricultural-landscapehabitattypes(gardens,parks,fields)arethesourceofnumerousinvasivespecies(plants,inparticular)whichlaterspreadtootherecosystems[10][14][21].
Increasinglyfrequently,species(44identifiedanddocumentedtodate)thatfirsttookrootinwastegroundarespreadingtofieldsandotherecosystems[39].
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ClimatechangeTheimpactofdirectclimatechangeonthebiodiversityofagricultural-landscapeecosystemsinSloveniaisnotyetknown.
However,thereareclearindicationsawarmingclimate,forinstancephenologicalsprings,moreturbulentweatherconditionsandlongerdroughtperiods.
Inthelongterm,thesephenomenawillcausechangesrelatingtoagricultural-landscapebiodiversity.
Ratherthansolelygivingrisetochangesinaveragetemperatureandquantityofprecipitation,climatechangeisbelievedtoaffecttheexistenceofmoreturbulentweatherconditions.
Thisislikelytoincreasetheexistingriskstoforestecosystems,suchasdamagecausedbywindandstorms,summerdroughtsandexcessivereproductionofparticulargroupsofinsects[10][21].
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ForestecosystemsTheBiodiversityConservationStrategyinSlovenia(2002)setsthefollowingobjectiverelatedtoforesthabitats:-Maintenanceoftheconservationstatusofallforestshabitattypesatfavourablelevelandanincreaseinareaswiththisstatus[21].
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StatusandtrendsSloveniaisamongEurope'smostforestedcountries.
Forestscover1,185,145ha(58.
5%)ofSlovenia'sterritory(asof2008).
ThemajorpartofSlovenianforestscomprisesbeech,spruce-beechandbeech-oakhabitats(70%)witharelativelywell-preservedcompositionofspecies.
Theforestgrowingstockis300cubicmetresperhectare,whiletheannualincrementamountsto7.
4cubicmetresperhectare[30].
Forestry,alongwithagriculture,istheprincipalformofspatialusethataffectsbiodiversity.
Ithasaverysignificantroleinpreservingnaturalhabitats,aswellasgeneticbiodiversityandspeciesbiodiversity.
Slovenianforestmanagementis:-Sustainable(sustainableconservationofforestsandsustainableexploitationofforestassetsandnon-materialfunctions);CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)15-Closetonature(useofforeststoanextentandinsuchamannertofacilitateconservationofallnaturalcomponentsoftheforest);-Multi-purpose(withequalsignificanceforecological,productiveandsocialforestroles)[30].
Plannedandlong-termmanagementofforestspreservesandcreateslinksbetweenecological,socialandproductivefunctionsofforests.
Duetotheirecologicalandsocialfunctions,privatelyownedforestsalsoconstituteapublicinterest;forthisreason,thestateprovidesfundsforthepublicforestryserviceandco-financesnurseryandmaintenanceactivities(40%),aswellasmaintenanceofforestroadsinprivatelyownedforestsalso,thushelpingtheownerstoachieveappropriatemanagement[10][30].
Asmuchas87%ofSlovenia'sforestshavepreservedtheirnaturalcomponents.
Theprevailingtypeismixedforestcontainingaround70autochthonousvarietiesoftrees.
Theprevailingtreetypesarebeechandfir;spruce,duetoarejuvenationproblem,hasbeensubjecttoaconsiderabledecline.
Inmanagement,considerableattentionhasbeendevotedtolesscommontreespeciessuchasEuropeanYew(Taxusbaccata),ServiceTree(SorbusdomesticaandSorbustorminalis)andElm(Ulmusglabra).
About9%offorestshavebeensubjecttoconsiderablychangedand4%ofthemtototallychangedcompositionoftreespecies.
Thisisdue,inparticular,topastafforestationwithfir[10][30].
InSlovenia,19foresthabitattypeshavebeenidentifiedanddocumented.
Withaviewtomaintainingfavourableconservationstatus,prioritytreatmenthasbeengivento15[13][28].
In2007,theconservationstatus(withassessmentgivenonlyforhabitattypessubjecttoprotectionundertheHabitatsDirective)oftwohabitattypes(Naturacode9340,91F0)wasassessedasunfavourableandforonehabitattype(91E0)asinsufficient.
Conservationstatusoftheremaining9foresthabitattypeswasassessedasfavourable.
Thesurfaceareasofthemajorpartoftheforesthabitattypesareeithergrowingorremainingstable.
Mostthreatenedseemtobethosethatarefragmentedinsmallarea,suchasoak-ash-elmgrovessituatedalonglargerivers;this,however,isconnectedwiththepoorstatusoftherunningwatercoursesintheseareas[6][25].
Ecosystemdiversityandconservationofforestsconstitutethebasisforahighdegreeofspeciesdiversity.
Atotalof950forestplantspecies(Tracheophyta,GymnospermaeandAngiospermae)havebeenidentified,ofwhich47arethreatened.
Othergroupssubjecttomoredetailedexaminationweremammals(70species,25threatened),birds(95species,46threatened),reptiles(10species,10threatened),amphibians(17species,11threatened),butterflies,spiders,chilopodsandearthworms.
Othergroupsarenotwellknown.
Itisthoughtthatsome25,000to30,000animalspeciesliveintheforestsofSlovenia[10][22].
Largecomplexesofclosedforestsprovidehabitattolargecarnivores.
In2007,thepopulationsofbrownbear,wolfandjackalhadafavourableconservationstatus,whilethatoflynxwasassessedaspoor,andthreatenedinthelongterm.
Theconservationstatusofthewildcatwasalsoassessedasinsufficient[6][10][25].
Amongforestbirdspecies,thereareurgentproblemswithregardtoHazelGrouse(Bonasabonasia),WoodGrouse(Tetraourogallus),BlackGrouse(Tetraotetrix),Three-toedWoodpecker(Picoidestrydactylos)andWhite-backedWoodpecker(Dendrocoposleucotos).
Thestatusofthesepopulationsisunfavourableandindecline.
Thedeclineinpopulationsofwildfowlistheresultofovergrowingofpreviouslymowngrasslands,mountainpastures,forestedges,degradationofspecifichabitatsandofdisturbancescausedbymasstourismandleisureactivities.
AdeclineinthepopulationsofThree-toedWoodpecker(Picoidestrydactylos)andWhite-backedWoodpecker(Dendrocoposleucotos)istheresultofareductioninhabitatrichindecayingwoodmass.
Recently,theSlovenianForestServicehastriedtocurbthefallinthesepopulationsbyintroducingeco-cellsandforestreserves[11][30].
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)16In2007,thestatusofsomepopulationsofbutterflieslinkedtoforestsites,suchasWoodWhiteButterfly(Leptideasinapis),ScarceFritillary(Euphydryasmaturna)andComptonTortoiseshell(Nymphalisvaualbum),wasassessedasinsufficient;thesebutterfliesarethreatenedbytheremovalofvegetationonforestedgesandbyafforestationwithconifers.
AmongspeciesprotectedundertheHabitatsDirective,afavourablestatusassessmentwasgivenforJerseyTigerMoth(Callimorphaquadripunctaria)populations[6][25].
Duetoinsufficientknowledgeonthedistributionandecologicalrequirementsofthemajorityofforestspecies,theirpopulationstatusisnotknown.
However,inviewofthegenerallyfavourablestatusofforesthabitats,ourconclusionmaybethatthemajorityofforestpopulationsarenotthreatened.
Followingdifferentclimatechangemodelstherearedifferentprojectionsofthedistributionoftreespecies.
Basicrequirementforthelongtermconservationofforestsissecuringtheadaptationpotentialofparticularspeciesthroughtheconservationofgeneticvariabilityinwellestablished,monitoredandmanagednetworkofgeneticforestreserves.
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ThreatsInfuture,thebiodiversityofSlovenia'sforestscouldbecomethreatenedbyclimatechange,aswellasbyhumanaction.
Climatechangeconstitutesthemostimportantglobalchangealteringthebasicvegetationcomposition.
Humanactivityproducesnegativeimpactsonforestbiodiversitythroughfragmentation,whichaffectsaboveallthespecialisedforestspecies.
MajorthreatstoforestecosystemsandtheirbiodiversityinSloveniaincludethefollowing:3.
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Naturaldisasters,diseases,overpopulationofinsectsInrecentyears,besidesnaturaldisasters(damagecausedbysnow,wind,sleet)Slovenia'sforestshavebeenthreatenedprimarilybyoverpopulationofcertaininsects(inparticular,barkbeetles),whicharethemainreasonofsanitarycuts(54.
7%ofsanitarycuts).
Onaverage,sanitarycutsaccountforathirdofoverallforestcuts.
Thissituationaffectstheshareofnecessarytendingcutsand,consequently,plannedforestmanagement,andweakenstheecologicalstabilityofforests[10][30].
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ForestfiresForestfirescausedbytraintrafficandvisitors,particularlyinWesternSlovenia'skarsticregion,constituteanimportantthreatfactorandhaveimpactonforestbiodiversity.
Inrecentyears,duetoimprovedtechnicalpossibilitiesininformationandrapidresponse,thetotalsurfaceareadamagedbyfirefell[10][30].
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HerbivorousgameandgrazingofcattleandsmallruminantsinforestsOverabundantdeerandreindeergnawthebarkfromyoungtrees;insomeplaces,thismakesitdifficultorevenpreventsnaturalregenerationofforests.
Moreover,duetothevaryingdegreesofbarkremovedinparticulartreespecies,thismayresultinchangestothenaturalcompositionoftheforest.
Inthiscontext,themostthreatenedspeciesisthehighKarstspruce.
InaccordancewiththeForestsAct,itisforbiddentograzecattleandsmallruminantsinforests,sincethese,likegame,affecttheregenerationofforests.
TheproblemofdomesticCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)17animalsgrazinginforestsislimitedtosmallerareasoftheJulianAlpsandtheKamnikandSavinjaAlps[10][30].
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DeforestationandfragmentationofforestsandinappropriateactivitiesinforestsDespitethefactthattheforestcoverofSloveniahasbeenincreasingsincethemid-19thcentury,thereisconsiderablepressureonforestsinsomepredominantlyagriculturalareasandontheedgeofurbanareas.
Deforestation,inparticular,inpursuitoflocalandpersonalinterestsweakensforests'ecologicalandsocialfunctionandreducestheirbiodiversity.
Itresultsindisappearanceofgroupsoftrees,hedges,andripariantreeandscrubvegetation.
Themaindrivingforcebehinddeforestationofthiskind–particularlyinlowlandareas–istheneedfornewagriculturalandurbanareasandaninadequateagriculturalgrantspolicy.
Alongwiththedeforestationprocessitself,negativeimpactonbiodiversityisproducedbyinappropriateworkingmethodsandtimeofworkingactivitiesinforests.
InSlovenia,useofheavymachinery,whichislikelytoleadtoerosionandcompactionofsoil,hasincreasedasforestsaremachinecut.
Equallyproblematicistreefellinginperiodswhenanimalsareparticularlysensitivetodisturbances[10][30].
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RemovalofoldandrottentreesDamagedanddeadtreesaresoonremovedfromforests,particularlyafternaturaldisasters,toatleastpartiallysavetheirmarketvalueortopreventharmfulactionbysomeoftheprobleminsects.
Insomecases,whenselectingtreesforfelling,oldertreesarestillbeingselected.
Althoughtheirmarketvaluemaybelow,theirecologicalvalueisconsiderableandimportant.
Infuture,demandfordamagedordecayingwoodbiomassislikelytogrowonthegroundsofitsuseasarenewableenergysource.
Excessivereductionofdecayingandoldtreesinforestscanbeathreattocavity-nestingbirds,batsandnumerousnon-vertebratespecies,fungiandplants[10][30].
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ChangingthewaterregimeofforestsitesDrainage(hydrologicalimprovements),inadequateregulationofwatercoursesandexcessiveexploitationofwaterforenergypurposesareathreat,inparticular,toflood-plainforests.
Changesinwaterregimeshaveimpactonchangesinvegetationandonthebiodiversityoftheseforests.
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ActivitiesaffectingphysicalspaceConstructionofindustrialzonesandexpansionofsettlementsfrequentlyreachesasfarasforestareas,includingthemostnaturallypreservedones.
Forestspaceisveryoftenburdenedwithillegalactivities,suchassandpitsandquarries.
Thesehaveastrongimpactontheforestlandscapeandadirectandindirectimpactonthefauna.
Inaddition,inadequatelyplannedforestroadscanhaveanadverseeffectonforestbiodiversity.
Theconstructionofroadsonsteepterrainislikelytocauseadditionalerosionofgrounds.
However,theprobabilityofinappropriatelyconstructedroadsinSloveniaisnothigh,sinceallworkingactivitiesinforestsarecarriedoutunderthesupervisionoftheSlovenianForestService.
Moreover,forestroadsfacilitateaccesstoremoteforestpartsbutcreatedisturbanceintheforests,whichtogetherwithforestfruitpickinghasanadverseeffectonseveralbirdsandhighermammalspecies[10].
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PollutionofairandsoilInSlovenia,pollutionofairisdiminishingandislocallylimitedtothesurroundingsofbigindustrialcentres.
However,harmfulsulphurandnitrogenoxidesandozonewithanadverseeffectonthehealthofSlovenia'sforestsarestillfoundintheatmosphere.
Forestssituatedonthefringesofagriculturallandscapesareburdenedwithpesticidesandexcessiveapplicationofnutrientsonagriculturalland.
Stricterenvironmentalandagriculturallegislationisexpectedtoreducetheimpactofindustrialandagriculturalpollutiononforests[10].
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InvasivespeciesAtpresent,invasivespeciesinSlovenia'sforestsdonotconstituteamajorproblem.
Inthisrespect,itisworthmentioningBlackLocust(Robiniapseudoacacia),whichinsomepartsofthePrekmurjeandPrimorskaregionstookrootinpurecomposition.
Throughsuccessfulspreadingofitsseeds,quickgrowthandstump-basedregenerationitbecameaperniciousspeciesthreateningtheautochthonousforestspeciescomposition.
Withclimatechangeandwithintendedorunintentionalintroductionofnon-indigenousspecies,theimpactofinvasivespeciesonforestecosystemsislikelytoincrease[10][14][30].
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ClimatechangeTheimpactofclimatechangeonSlovenia'sforestsisindirect.
Ratherthangivingrisetochangesinaveragetemperatureandquantityofprecipitation,whichaffectthevitalityoftreespeciesattheedgeoftheirareasofdistribution,climatechangeisconsideredtoproduceanimpactbyprovokingmoreturbulentweatherconditions.
Thisimpactislikelytoincreasethealreadyexistingrisksforforestecosystems,abovealldamagecausedbywindandstorms,summerdroughtsandexcessivereproductionofparticulargroupsofinsects.
Overrecentyears,alinkbetweensummerdroughtsandforestfires,andtheexcessivereproductionofcertaingroupsofinsectswasestablished.
Climatechange,inconnectionwithglobaltrade,contributestotheriskofintroducingsomenon-indigenousspeciesoffungiandinsects.
Recently,speciessuchasAsianLonghornedBeetle(Anoplophoraglabripennis),CitrusLonghornedBeetle(Anoplophorachinensis)andChestnutGallWasp(DryocosmuskuriphilusYasumatsu)haveappearedinSlovenia[10][30].
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InlandwaterandwetlandecosystemsTheStrategyofBiodiversityConservationinSloveniasetsthefollowingobjectivesinrelationtoinlandwaters,bogs,fensandmarsheshabitattypes:-Conservationoftheexistingecologicallyimportantwetlandsandtheirhabitattypesatafavourablestatusandrestorationoftheecologicalcharacteristicsofdegradedinlandwaters,bogsandmarshes,wherefeasible;-Comprehensiveexaminationofwatersintermsofasysteminwhichsurfaceandsubterraneanwatersandtheirhabitattypesformanintegralwhole;-Attainmentofwaterqualitystandardssuchthatexceptionallydiverse,withregardtobioticcharacteristics,andwell-preservedhabitattypesandhabitatsofendangeredandendemicplantandanimalspeciesarenotthreatened,inparticularbyreducingindustrial,agriculturalandurbanpollutionofwater;-Preventionofintroductionofnon-indigenousspeciesintotheinlandwatersandofspreadingofalreadyintroducednon-indigenousspeciestoecologicallyimportantareas;-Encouragementoflanduseonriverbanksandinalluvialriverareasthatconserveshabitattypesthatmaintainthewatercycle,andareimportantforconservationofbiodiversityandthereductionandpreventionofdamagecausedbywaters;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)19-Adjustmentoflandusetonaturalwaterregimesandconcentrationofactivitiesoutsideareasofintensivehydrodynamicprocessesandareasofstrategicallyimportantwaterresources[21].
3.
3.
1.
StatusandtrendsSlovenia,intermsofquantityofwaterrunningonandbelowitssurfaceisawater-abundantcountry;consequently,itssurfacewatersinregardtotheirgeographical,hydrological,hydro-chemicalandhydro-biologicalcharacteristicscanbequalifiedasdiverse.
Inlandwaterscoveraround0.
58%ofSlovenia'sterritory,i.
e.
120km2ofwatersurfaces,ofwhich85km2areconstitutedbyrunningand35km2bypermanentstandingwaters[2].
Besiderunning,standingandsubterraneanwater-habitattypes,otherwater-relatedhabitattypesincludewetlandsand,inparticular,bogs,fensandmarshes.
Inaddition,Sloveniahasseveralspecific,generallysmallaquatichabitattypessuchasthermalandkarsticspringsandtufaformations.
Aquatichabitats,togetherwithbogsandfens,areamongtherichestinspecies,andthusmakealargecontributiontoSlovenia'sbiodiversity[2][10].
TheRegulationonHabitatTypesisaimedatprotecting13habitattypes.
3.
3.
1.
1.
Standing-andrunning-waterecosystemsThetotallengthofSlovenia'swatercoursesis26,989kmandtheaveragedrainagedensityofitshydrographicnetworkis1.
33km/km2.
Waterfrom81%oftheSlovenianterritoryisdrainedtotheBlackSeacatchmentarea,i.
e.
theDanuberivercatchmentincludingtheSava,DravaandMurariverbasin;therestisdrainedtowardstheAdriatic,ofwhichthemajorpartconsistsoftheSoariverbasinanditsinflows,theIdrijca,Vipava,Reka,andtheDragonjaandRianariverbasins.
Slovenia'swatercoursesreceive85%ofallwaterrunofffromhillsandmountains;forthisreason,mostofthemaretorrents[2].
Sloveniahasaround1,300permanentandseasonal/intermittentlakeswithatotalsurfaceamountingto68.
93km2or0.
3%ofSlovenia'ssurface.
Theprevailingtypesareartificiallakesandwaterreservoirs.
OurbiggestnaturallakesareLakeBohinjandLakeBled.
Slovenia'slargestwatersurfaceconsistsofkarsticintermittentlakeswhentheyarefilled[2].
Watercourses,lakesandotherwatersurfacesfacilitatedevelopmentofspecificwaterfloraandfaunaspeciesrangingfromalgaeandfloweringvegetationplantstonon-vertebrates,fishandamphibians.
Severalotheranimalspeciesareconnectedwiththeseecosystems,suchasbirds.
Inlandwaterecosystemscontributetothelandscapediversitybyenrichingthemosaiclandscapestructure.
InSlovenia,sixhabitattypesdirectlyrelatedtorunningwatersandsixstandingfreshwaterhabitattypeshavebeenidentifiedanddocumented.
Numerousotherhabitattypesareconnectedwiththemonlyindirectly.
Theissueofdiversityconservationofrunning-waterhabitattypesdependsonthedynamicsofwatercourses.
MorphologicallychangedwatercoursesaretobefoundeverywhereacrossSlovenia;moreover,theyareveryfrequentinitsnortheasternlowlands[2][10][13].
Accordingtotheconservation-statusassessmentofninefreshwaterhabitattypesprotectedundertheHabitatsDirective,only20%ofthesewereconsideredtohavefavourableconservationstatus,while35%ofaquaticandriverinehabitattypeswereassessedashavingpoorconservationstatus.
Includedinthelattercategoryarethestandingfreshwatervegetationhabitats(2.
4)andalpineriverswithriparianvegetationhabitattypes.
AssessmentofinlandwaterandwetlandhabitattypeshasshownthattheseareamongSlovenia'smostCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)20threatenedhabitattypes.
Moreover,thetrendforthesehabitattypeswasassessedasunfavourable[3][25].
Inlandwatersandwetlandsareanimportanthabitatfornumerousspecies,includingsomethatliveinwateralltheirlife,somethatstayinwateronlyduringcertainphase(s)oftheirdevelopment,andothersthatuseinlandwaterecosystemsastheirfeedingareaormigrationcorridor.
Sloveniahas93freshwaterfishspecies,ofwhich77speciesareautochthonous.
Thisnumbermaychangeasnewspeciesarefoundovertheyears.
Asregardsvertebrates,Slovenianinlandwatersarehometotwopermanentspeciesofhagfish;inthespawningperiod,theseprobablygivesheltertotheseahagfishspecies.
In2007,theconservationstatusof30fishandhagfishspeciesprotectedundertheHabitatsDirectivewasassessed.
Theconservationstatusformorethan85%offishandhagfishspecieswasassessedaspoor(Figure1.
2)asaconsequenceofmorphologicalandphysicalandchemicalchangestowatercoursesandstandingwaters.
Moreover,theconservationstatusforallthreeautochthonousspeciesoffreshwatercrayfishwasassessedasinsufficient[6][8][19][29].
Changesinwatercoursesmorphologyalsohadanimpactontheconservationstatusofbirdspecies.
RegulationofriverbanksreducednestingopportunitiesofSandMartin(Ripariariparia)andKingfisher(Alcedoatthis);changestothedynamicsofriversaffectedCommonTern(Sternahirundo),Brown-headedGull(Larusridibundus)andKingfisher;degradationofsandbanksaffectedLittleRingedPlover(Charadriusdublus)andCommonSandpiper(Actitishypoleucos).
Overgrowingofmrtvice(oldrivermeanders)anddrainageofwetlandshadanadverseeffectonSpottedCrake(Porzanaporzana),LittleCrake(Porzanaparva),LittleBittern(Ixobrychusminutus),RiverWarbler(Locustellafluviatilis)andSavi'sWarbler(Locustellaluscinoides).
Somepopulationsofhibernatingbirdsaredisappearing,includingCommonGoldeneye(Bucephalaclangula),EurasianWigeon(Anaspenelope),CommonTeal(Anascrecca),butarebeingreplacedbyothermorecommonspecies,suchasMuteSwan(Cygnusolor),Mallard(Anasplatyrhynchos)andEurasianCoot(Fulicaatra)[9][10][11].
Thepoorstatusofwatercoursesentailsathreattootherspeciesdependentonwaterecosystemsandwetlands.
Severalstudieshavebeenmadeofthegroupofamphibiansanddragonflies.
In2007,theconservationstatusforbothgroups(inparticular,amphibians)wasassessedasinsufficient.
Theconservationstatusofthemajorityofotherspeciescanonlybeguessedatinconnectionwithindirectindicators,duetoalackofconcretedataonhigherspecies[6][25].
3.
3.
1.
2.
GroundwaterecosystemsThestatusofgroundwaterecosystemsisdescribedinsubchapter3.
6onCaveecosystems.
3.
3.
1.
3.
MarshandbogecosystemsThereareonly14preservedraisedbogsinSlovenia,withatotalsurfaceofonly1km2.
TheycoverthemountainareasoftheJulianAlps,thePokljukaandJelovicaplateaux,andtherockypartsofPohorje.
TheylieonthemostsouthernedgeoftheEuropeanbogdistribution.
FensarefoundinthecentralandwesternpartofSlovenia,mostlyinthelowlandsandthelowermountainousareas.
Ithasbeenestimatedthatthereareapproximately70to100sitesoffenswhichcoverfrom3to3.
5km2.
Extensivestudiesofecology,floraandvegetationintheraisedbogshavebeencarriedout,whileonlythetypologicallymostimportantfenshavebeenstudiedsofar[2][7].
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)21InSloveniathereareapproximately91.
5km2ofmarshesandfloodplainforests.
ThemostextensiveforestsareKrakovskigozd,turmovciandtheriparianforestsoftheMurariver.
TheycovertwothirdsofallidentifiedwetlandsinSloveniaandarethelastextensiveremainsofflood-plainforestsinSlovenia[2].
Thereare12habitattypesofbogs,fensandmarshesandSlovenia.
Accordingto2007estimates,ofthe6habitattypesprotectedincompliancewiththeHabitatsDirective,basicfensareamongthemostendangeredhabitattypes.
Theirconservationstatuswasassessedasbad,andthetrendasnegative(thesurfacecoverisexpectedtocontinuetoshrink)[6][25].
3.
3.
2.
ThreatsDuetotheirsmallsurfacearea,waterandwetlandtypesofhabitatsareveryvulnerable.
Inthepasttheirsocialandeconomicvaluehasbeenrathersmall(andisinsomeplacesalsotoday);asaconsequence,therearegreatpressuresfortheirtransformationandelimination.
Thisthreatenstheirbiodiversity.
Themainreasonsbehindthisarethefollowing:3.
3.
3.
Unsuitablewater-managementmethodsandmodificationsofthewaterregimeAmongthemostimportantthreatstothebiodiversityofecosystemsofrunningwatersiscanalisationofriversandstreams,carriedouttorestraintheirtorrentialactivityandflooding,andtoreclaimlandforagricultureandbuilding.
Thismodifiestheiroverallwaterregimeandhasanegativeimpactonbiodiversity[2][10].
Modificationsofthewaterregime,suchashydrologicalimprovementsandwaterstorageactivitieshaveaprofoundimpactalsoonwetlands,inparticularinthelowlandsofSlovenia,wherelandisusedforintensiveagricultureandurbansettlements.
3.
3.
3.
1.
PollutionThemainsourceofsurfaceandgroundwaterspollutionisagriculturewithexcessiveandinappropriateuseoffertilisersandpesticides.
Theconsequencesareincreasedeutrophificationofstillandrunningwaters,modifiedchemicalcharacteristicsofwatersandreducedbiodiversity[9][10].
AnotherimportantsourceofwaterpollutioninSloveniaisuntreateddomesticandindustrialsewagefromurbanareas.
Numeroussettlementsandindustrialplantsarestillnotconnectedtosewage-treatmentplants,andconsequentlywastewatersareoftenreleaseddirectlyintogroundwaterorkarsticaquifers.
Inaddition,periodicreleasesofdangeroussubstances(mostlyoils)fromindustrialplantsareanimportantsourceofpollution.
Suchpollutants(releasedafewtimesayear)greatlyjeopardisebiodiversityinlocallyrestrictedareas[2][10].
BiodiversityisalsothreatenedbydischargesofheatedwaterfromthermalpowerplantsandtheKrkonuclearpowerplant;asaconsequence,downstream,somespecieshavebecomeextinct,whilelocallynewspecieshaveappeared.
Inthissense,themostendangeredwatercourseistheSavainitslowerreaches[2][10].
Unsuitableuseofwater,streambedsandotherelementsofbodiesofwaterBecauseoftheincreasedneedforrenewableenergysources,theburdenongroundwaterisconstantlyincreasingthroughtheconstructionofhydroelectricpowerplantsofvarioussizes.
Theconstructionofapowerplantisaninterventioninabodyofwater,resultinginamodificationofitsstructureandfunction,whichaffectshabitattypesandconsequentlybiodiversity.
OnesuchinterventioninrecentyearswastheconstructionofachainofCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)22hydroelectricpowerplantsontheSava.
Constructionofalargenumberofsmallhydroelectricpowerplantsonsmallriversandstreamsmayalsobecomeaproblem,sinceexcessiveabstractionofwaterfromthenaturalstreambedmayprovedetrimentaltolocalbiodiversity[2][10].
InsomepartsofSlovenia,fishfarmsarebecomingverypopular.
Thesemayadverselyaffectbiodiversitythroughexcessiveabstractionofwater,dischargeofwastewatersandeventualintroductionofforeignspecies.
Thebiodiversityofcertainpondsisthreatenedduetotheintroductionofplant-eatingfish(e.
g.
GrassCarp)[2][10][19].
SomemountainstreamsintheAlpsarethreatenedbyunsuitableanduncontrolledextractionofgravelandsandfromtheirbeds.
Duringperiodsofdrought,ecosystemsofsmallerstreamsarethreatenedbyuncontrolledabstractionofwaterusedforirrigatingagriculturalland.
Inthefuture,groundwaterecosystemswillbeincreasinglyjeopardisedbythegrowingneedfordrinkingwater,unlesslossesintheprocessofpumpingandconveyingofwaterareadequatelyaddressed[2].
3.
3.
3.
2.
UrbanisationandotheractivitiesaffectingnatureUrbanareasandassociatedinfrastructurearestillbeingplannedandconstructedinnaturalflood-waterretentionareasofwatercourseswithaconsequentneedforflood-protectionmeasures,whichinturnaffectthehydrologicalregimeandreducebiodiversity.
Theconstructionofthemotorwaynetworkhasalsohadanegativeeffectonwaterecosystemsandwetlands,astrafficinfrastructureisalmostcompletelylaidinvalleys,basins,alluvialplainsandkarsticdolinas.
Wetlandscontinuetobeconsideredsociallyandeconomicallyinferiorlandandassucharethetargetofdrainageandurbanisationplans[10].
3.
3.
3.
3.
GrazingandovergrowingFenhabitattypesarethreatenedbygrazing,becauseofsoilcompactionandintroductionofnutrients.
Thefringesoffensitesarealsothreatenedbyovergrowing[7][10].
3.
3.
3.
4.
InvasivespeciesIntentionalorunintentionalintroductionofnon-indigenousspecies,whichincludemanythatareextremelyinvasive,changesthestructureandthefunctionofwaterecosystemsandwetlands.
Incertainareas,invasivealienplantspecies(Impatiensglandulifera,Reynoutriajaponica,SolidagoCanadensis)inhydrophilictallherbfringecommunitieshavecompletelyreplacedindigenousplants.
ThespreadingofinvasivealienspeciesisparticularlysignificantalongthebanksoftheSava,MuraandDrava.
ThenumberofinvasivealienspeciesisalsoincreasingonthebanksoftheriverKolpaBiodiversityofwatercoursesinSloveniaisalsothreatenedbytheintroductionofnon-indigenouscrustaceansandfish.
Currently,14speciesoffishand2speciesofcrustaceansthathavebeenintroducedinSlovenianwatercourseseitherintentionallyorunintentionallyhavebeenidentified.
TheyaremostlyofAsianorAmericanorigin.
AmongthespeciesthataremostinvasiveareRainbowTrout(Oncorhynchusmykiss),PumpkinseedSunfish(Lepomisgibbosus),LargemouthBass(Micropterussalmoides),GrassCarp(WhiteAmur)andSignalCrayfish(Pacifastacusleniusculus).
TheSignalCrayfishispresentonlyintheMurabasin.
However,datafromneighbouringregionsindicatethatthiscrustaceanisCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)23extremelyinvasive,andaverysignificantthreattoindigenousspecies(throughdiseasetransmission).
BiodiversityisalsoendangeredbyspeciesthataretransferredbetweentheAdriaticandDanubedrainagebasins[19][29].
3.
3.
3.
5.
ClimatechangeClimatechangeisaffectingecosystemsofinlandwatersandwetlandsinSlovenia.
Changesinthedistributionoffishpopulationsalongwatercourseshavebeennoticed.
Inparticular,duetohighertemperatures,certaincold-lovingfishhavemovedupstreamtohigheraltitudes.
Climaticchangesmayalsoberesponsiblefortheincreasingnumberofnaturaldisastersthathavedisruptedthestructureofwatercourses,andtheincreasingoccurrenceofdroughts.
Bothhaveanegativeimpactonthebiodiversityofinlandwaterecosystems.
3.
4.
MountainecosystemsTheBiodiversityConservationStrategyofSloveniadoesnotsetspecificobjectivesconcerningmountainecosystems.
Mountainecosystemsareconservedthroughmaintenanceoffavourableconservationstatusforrelevanthabitattypes.
3.
4.
1.
StatusandTrendsMountainareasabove1,600mcover11%ofthetotalterritoryofSlovenia.
Thesearemostlylimestonealpineareas.
ThehighestpeakisTriglav,at2,864m,andthereare43morepeaksover2,500m.
Thisalpineworldischaracterisedbythealtitudespanbetweenthebottomofthevalleysandthetopofthesummits,whichresultsinagreatdiversityofecosystemsandawealthofspecies[24].
Overarelativelysmallsurfacetherearenumerousecosystemsrichinspecies.
Thereare11habitattypeswithinmountainecosystemsinSlovenia,themostspecificbeingrockchasms,screesandAlpinegrasslands.
Thezoneabovethetreelineisrelativelypoorlystudiedwithregardtoecosystems.
DataonthestatusofpreservedecosystemscomefromindividualstudiescarriedoutintheareaoftheJulianAlpsandincertainmountainforestsincludingthedwarf-pinezone.
In2007,conservationstatuswasassessedfor6habitattypesprotectedundertheHabitatsDirective.
Thestatusofglaciers,whichareretreatingrapidly,isthecauseofgreatestconcern.
Vegetationgrowinginrockchasmsisalsothreatened[6][10][25][28].
Studiesofplantandanimalspeciesarerare,andresearchislimitedtospecificlocationsortaxonomicgroups.
Furthermore,dataaremostlyobsolete.
Thebestdataareavailableforplantspeciesandcertaintaxonomicgroups,whilefromtheterritorialpointofview,theTriglavNationalParkistheareaforwhichdataonspecieshavebeencollectedinthemostsystematicway[10].
Mountainregionsarerichinendemicspecies.
Upto35–40%ofallendemicspeciesarefoundinrockyhabitatsandscrees.
MountainregionsarealsothehabitatofseveralspeciesofEuropeanconservationconcern,inparticularbirds,reptiles,butterfliesandplants[10][22].
3.
4.
2.
ThreatsMountainecosystemsinSloveniaarenotseverelythreatened.
However,therearepressuresandthreatsthatdohaveanadverseeffectontheirbiodiversity.
Thesecomprise:CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)243.
4.
2.
1.
UnsuitableeconomicactivitiesMountainagriculturehastraditionallybeenorientedtowardsthesustainableexploitationofnaturalresources.
Theseincludegrasslands,which,astheirexploitationisfarfromprofitable,arebeingrapidlyabandoned.
Withregardtotheconservationofbiologicalandlandscapediversity,theproblemofnaturalencroachmentofvegetationonhaymeadowsandpasturesisbecomingincreasinglyserious.
Inareaswhereagriculturalactivitystillcontinues,problemsarisefromthenon-selectiveapplicationofmoderncultivationtechniques(agriculturalimprovementsandapplicationoffertilisersonmountainpastures)[10].
Mountainforestshavetraditionallybeenmanagedinasustainablemanner,andtheirexploitationisnothreattobiodiversity.
However,insomecasestheconstructionofthenetworkofforestroadsmaybeaproblem[10].
Thestatusofcertaintypicalmountainspecies,suchaschamois,isaffectedbyhunting,inparticularbecauseitisdifficulttofindtherightbalancebetweennaturalcausesaffectingthegamepopulationandtheeffectofthevolumeofhunting.
Theresultisanunbalancedgenderandagestructureofgameandlossofpopulationviability.
Incertaineasilyaccessibleregions,economicexploitationofscreesandgravelandsanddepositsisbecomingaproblem.
Numerous"illegal"borrowpitsexistfromwhichrelativelysmallamountsofmaterialisexported,alongsideborrowpits,authorisedbylocalauthorities,whereextremelylargeamountsofgravelareextracted(e.
g.
Pinica,Soa,Nadia,Matkovkot)[10].
3.
4.
2.
2.
TourismandleisureactivitiesMountainecosystemsarebecomingincreasinglyvulnerablebecauseofmasstourismandleisureactivities.
Themostthreateningactivitiesinclude:-Mountaineering,whichposesathreattobiodiversitywhenlargenumbersofpeopletakepart;-Climbing,whichincasesofbadlychosenclimbingroutesjeopardiseshabitatsofcertainbirdsorplants;-Increasingthecapacityofmountainhutswithoutadequatetreatmentfacilities,whichincreasespollution,inparticularofmountainlakes;-Creationofnewskicentresandexpansionofexistingonestosensitiveareas;-Modernoutdooractivities(skitouringandhelicopterskiing,ridingmotorcyclesandmotorsledges,mountainbiking,paragliding,rafting,canyoning),whichinvadenaturalecosystemsthatareoftenattheedgeoftheirareasofdistribution.
3.
4.
2.
3.
PollutionNumerousmountainspeciesaremoresensitivetopollutionbecauseoftheextremeconditionsinwhichtheylive.
Locally,mountainhutsandmountainpasturesaregreatsourcesofpollution.
However,theirimpactcanbecontained.
Moreproblematicisnoisepollutioncausedbyaircrafttakingoff,landingandflyingoverthehabitatsofsensitiveanimalspecies,whichmay,insomecases,provokepartialdestructionorevenextinctionofindividualspecies.
Insomeareas,lightpollutionisproblematic,causinginsectsandconsequentlybirdstodisappear[5][10].
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)253.
4.
2.
4.
InvasivespeciesInmountainpartsofSlovenia,inparticulartheAlpsandtheDinaricAlps,invasivespeciesarerare.
However,thesteepincreaseofsuchspeciesalongthewesternedgeoftheDinaricregionisacauseforgreatconcern[10][14].
Particularlyproblematicistheintroductionoffishinthesensitiveecosystemsofmountainlakes.
NoneoftheSlovenianmountainlakeshadindigenousfishpopulations.
Allfishinthesehabitatswereintroducedbypeople,whichdisruptedthenaturalbalanceoftheselakes[5].
3.
4.
2.
5.
ClimatechangeMountainorganismsthatliveinextremeconditionsarerelativelyeffectivebioindicatorsofglobalchange.
Theimpactofclimatechangeisevidentonglaciers,whichareretreating,andonsnowcover,whichislessthickonaverage.
Inthelongterm,climatechangeswillresultindepletionofbiodiversity.
Ithasalreadybeenobservedthatthehabitatofthechamoishaschangedasthedeerhaspusheditshabitatintohigheraltitudesduetotemperaturechanges[10].
3.
5.
MarineandcoastalecosystemsTheBiodiversityConservationStrategyinSlovenia(2002)relatingtomarineandcoastalhabitattypessetsthefollowingobjectives:-Toreducetheindustrial,agriculturalandurbanpollutionofwateronthecoastandinthehinterlandtoattainwaterqualitystandardssuchthatexceptionallydiverse,withregardtobioticcharacteristics,andwell-preservedhabitattypesandhabitatsofendangeredandendemicplantandanimalspeciesarenotthreatened;-Torestoretofavourablestatusdegradedhabitattypes,wherepossible;-Topreventtheintroductionofalienspeciesintothenaturalenvironmentandthespreadofintroducedalienspeciestoecologicallyimportantareas[21].
3.
5.
1.
StatusandtrendsTheSlovenianseaformspartoftheBayofTriesteinthenorth-eastoftheAdriatic.
ItisashallowseawithamarineecosystemcharacteristicofcoastalseasandopenwatersoftheAdriatic.
Itsmaximumdepthis25m,butmostofthebayislessthan10mindepth.
Thereareextensivefluctuationsofsalinityandtemperature,mostlyduetotheinflowoffreshwaterfromseveralwatercourses.
Thecoastis47kminlength,andgeologicallyismostlyofflysch.
Attheestuariesofriversandcreeksarecharacteristicfloodplainsthatformasandyandsilty(muddy)sea-bedunderwater.
Partofthecoastisformedofhighflyschcliffsthatdescendintotheseainstair-likeformations[35].
InrelationtothetotalterritoryofSlovenia,thesurfaceofitsseaandcoastisrathersmall.
However,marineandcoastalecosystemscontributesignificantlytoourcountry'sbiodiversity.
Differentecosystemsarepresent,includingprecoraligen,plantcommunitiesofdifferentCystozeiraspeciesandmeadowsofsea-floweringplants.
Thevegetationofcoastalecosystemsissub-Mediterranean,withcertainspecialfeatures,includingsaltmarshes,sandbanksandlimestoneplains.
Thereare12marineandcoastalhabitattypesinSlovenia.
In2007,theconservationstatusofhabitattypeswasassessed.
Atotalof58%ofmarineCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)26andcoastalhabitattypeswereassessedasgood,whiletheremainingtypeswereassessedasinsufficient.
However,asmosthabitattypesareinareasunderprotectionorinprotectedareas,theshareofpositivelyassessedhabitatishighconsideringthehighdegreeofurbanisationofthecoast.
ThefloraandfaunainthisregionispoorlyresearchedincomparisonwithotherpartsoftheAdriatic.
Moststudiesconcernplanktonorganisms,whilestudiesonbenthicandnektonanimalsarescarce.
Intotal,1,850animalspecieshavebeenidentifiedintheSloveniansea,ofwhich1,600areinvertebratespecies,whichrepresentmorethanonefourthofallknownanimalspecieslivingintheAdriatic.
Thestudy"EndangeredspeciesandhabitatsintheSloveniansea"(Ogroenevrsteinhabitatnitipivslovenskemmorju),publishedin2006,analyses44endangeredplantandanimalspeciesand16endangeredhabitattypes[35].
Itisdifficulttoassesstrendsfromthestandpointofconservationofbiodiversityofmarineandcoastalecosystemswithouttargetedresearch.
Itmaybesaid,however,thatstrategyobjectivesarenotmettoasufficientdegree.
Thisistrueforensuringenforcementofprotectionregimesinprotectedareas(poormanagementandcontrol)andforplanningandcarryingoutinterventionsandactivitiesinprotectedareasandtheirzonesofinfluence.
Furthermore,therearenoprogrammesforrestorationofdegradedhabitattypes.
Conservationoftheintegrityofmarineecosystemsandofprocesseswithintheseecosystemshasnotyetbeengivenitsplaceintheprocessofplanningofinterventionsandactivitiesintheseaanditsdirecthinterland[10][35].
3.
5.
2.
ThreatsThemostthreatenedmarineandcoastalecosystemsaremostlyprotectedbyformalprotectionregimesandarethusinprinciplelessendangeredthaninthepast.
However,biodiversitycontinuestodiminish,duetoaseriesoffactors:3.
5.
2.
1.
DegradationandfragmentationofhabitatsUrbanisationisamongthefactorsthatmostsignificantlyaffectthebiodiversityofcoastalhabitattypes.
Lessthan20%ofthecoast,whichisveryfragmentedandthusextremelysensitive,hasbeenpreservedinitsnaturalstatus.
Thesepartsarecurrentlyundergreatpressureconnectedwiththeconstructionoftrafficinfrastructureandwithtourism;projectsofrehabilitationfordegradedseaareasandcoastrestoringhabitattypestofavourableconservationstatushaveyettobecarriedout.
Someformsoffishing(bottomtrawling,dredging)causemajorphysicalchangesonthesea-bedanddestroyfaunaandflora.
Gatheringofseadatesandothermusselsisnotonlydirectlyharmingpopulationsofthesespecies,butalsocausinglossofhabitatfornumerousmarineinvertebratesandalgae.
Fishstocksarealsoaffected.
Topreventcommercialexploitationseadates,police,customsandinspectionsauthoritiescollaborateintensivelyonpreventionactivities,andawareness-raisingcampaignsarerunforrestaurantownersandtheirclients.
Farmingofmarineorganismsisalteringoriginalhabitats.
Culturesofseabass(Dicentrarchuslabrax)andgiltheadseabeam(Sparusaurata)incagesreducenumbersofthesurroundingindigenouspopulationwithinaradiusof300maroundthecages.
Largequantitiesoffeedchangeecologicalconditions,resultingindepletionofbenthicinvertebratecommunities.
Marineandcoastalecosystemsarefurtherdegradedbylackofoxygen(hypoxiaandanoxia)withinthedemersallayerandbythedisappearanceanddegradationofcoastalwetlandsandofbenthiccommunitiesduetoconstructionandotherinterventions.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)273.
5.
2.
2.
PollutionDataonchangesoffaunaandfloraoftheSlovenianseaduetopollutionarescarce.
Oneofthemostimportantsourcesofanthropogenicpollutionoftheseaisdischargeofurbanwastewatersfromcoastalsettlementsandoutfallsofpollutedwatercourses,whichdramaticallychangethestructureofbenthicinvertebratecommunities.
Thispollutionisexpectedtobereducedby2017withtheconstructionofnewwastetreatmentplants.
However,theconstantincreaseinthecoastaltowns'population,andinparticulartheextensiveconstructionofholidaytouristfacilities,risksnullifyingworkintendedtoimprovethesituation.
Coastalecosystemsarealsothreatenedbypesticidesandfertilisersusedinagriculture[10][35].
3.
5.
2.
3.
UnsustainablefishingUnintentionalfishing,inwhichfishspeciesthatarenotinterestingfromthefishingpointofviewarecaught,ismostdetrimental.
Particularlycriticalarecatchesofsharksandseaturtles.
17seaturtleswereunintentionallycaughtin2004,and25morein2005.
Morethanhalfdied[30][31].
Thenumberofprofessionalfishermenandfishingvesselshasbeenfallinginrecentyears(in2007,174vesselswereregistered,ofwhich81%wereunder10minsize,andonly93vesselswereactivelyused);however,duetoincreasedfishingbytheremainingfishermenthepressureontheecosystemsremainsthesame[37].
3.
5.
2.
4.
TourismandrecreationalactivitiesTourismandrecreationalactivitiesaffectbiodiversitythroughincreasedurbanisationoftheareaandconstructionofrecreationalfacilitiesbothintheseaandontheshore.
Anchoringoftouristvesselsisalsoproblematic,particularlyintheareaoftheseameadows.
Increasednumbersofvesselsresultinanimportantincreaseofunderwaternoise,whichnegativelyaffectstheloggerheadseaturtle(Carettacaretta)anddolphins,aswellasotherspeciesofmarineorganisms.
Increasedtrafficalsoincreasestheriskofoilpollution,andthelikelihoodofcollisionsbetweenvesselsandcertainendangeredspecies(porpoises,loggerheadseaturtles)[35].
3.
5.
2.
5.
InvasivespeciesTodate,12invasivealienspecieshavebeenidentifiedintheSloveniansea–eightanimalspeciesandfourspeciesofalgae.
Moreinvasivealienspeciesareexpectedtobefound,as49alienspecieshavebeenidentifiedoverallintheAdriatic.
Themostimportantfactorinintroductionofalienspeciesisseatraffic,asballastwatersarethemostnon-selectivemethodoftransferoforganisms.
Vesselsalsotransportorganisms(asfoulingcommunities),sowemayconsiderthePortofKoperbaythemostprobableareaforalienspeciestospreadfrominthefuture.
Anotherfactorismariculture,whichofteninvolvescultivationofalienspecies.
Thesealienspeciestypicallyspreadinthenaturalenvironment,wheretheyarelikelytobemorecompetitivethantheirlocalindigenousrelatives.
Togetherwiththem,newspeciesofcommensals,parasitesandillnessesarealsospreading[35].
Inlandcoastalecosystemshavealsobeeninvadedbycertainalienanimalspecies,suchasNutria(Myocastorcoypus)andRed-earedSlider(Trachemysscriptaelegans),andamongtheplants,JapaneseHoneysuckle(Lioncerajaponica).
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)28Duetoabsenceoftargetedresearch,nodataindicatingthedetrimentalimpactofalienspeciesontheSlovenianseaenvironmentareavailable[10].
3.
5.
2.
6.
ClimatechangeClimatechange,andinparticulartemperatureincreases,favourthenorthwardspread(tropicalisation)ofmarinespecies.
TheSlovenianseahasalreadybeencolonisedbyseveralspecies,suchasDrozdLabrusviridisandPelagicStingray(Dasyatisviolacea)inthisway.
Therearenodataontheimpactof"warm-water"speciesontheSloveniansea,andnoconcretestudiesofthishaveyetbeenundertaken[35].
3.
5.
2.
7.
IllicittraffickinginendangeredspeciesSomespecies,suchasPenShell(Pinnanobilis),aretargetedbycollectorsforuseassouvenirs,andarethereforesubjecttoillegalgatheringandtrafficking.
Dataonthevolumeoftradeofthiskindarenotavailable.
3.
6.
CaveecosystemsTheBiodiversityConservationStrategyinSloveniasetsthefollowingobjectiveoncavehabitattypes:-Tomaintainsubterraneanhabitattypesinecologicallyimportantareas,andtheentiresubterraneanfauna,atfavourableconservationstatus.
3.
6.
1.
StatusandtrendsAsubstantialshareofSlovenianterritoryiskarstic(35%oftheterritoryiscarbonatebedrockand8%ofdolomite)withvarioussubterraneanecosystems(cavesandcavesystems).
Subterraneanecosystemsinnon-karsticareasaremostlyinterstitialspaces.
Theseareextremelydelicateecosystemswithhighlyspecialisedpopulations.
Thestatusofbiodiversityincavesdependsonthewaythatcavesareexploited,thecharacteristicsoflanduseandthestatusofsurfacewatersthatrunintotheundergroundareas.
Caveecosystemsarecloselylinkedtoaquifers,ofwhichtherearetwotypes–intergranularaquifersandfracturedkarsticaquifers.
Intergranularaquifersareinthevalleysofmajorwatercourses(Mura,Drava,Sava,Savinja,Soa,Vipava),whilefracturedkarsticaquifersareinareascoveredbylimestoneanddolomite.
In2007,theconservationstatusofcavehabitattypeswasassessedasinsufficientduetoexcessivepollutionofwatersthatrunintotheunderground,pollutionofcaveswithhumanwaste,andunsuitabletouristuse.
Typicalforsubterraneanhabitattypesisextremebiologicaldiversityofaquaticandterrestrialfaunawithahighshareofendemicspecies,.
amongthemthefamousolm(Proteusanguinus).
ThesubterraneanfaunainSloveniaisamongthemostdiversifiedontheplanet.
Oftheterrestrialfauna,mostisknownaboutbeetlesandsnails,andofaquaticfauna,snailsandslugs(Gastropoda),isopods(Isopoda)andamphipods(Amphipoda)havebeenmostthoroughlyresearched.
Otheranimalgroupshavenotyetbeenresearchedindetail.
Becauseofthis,newspeciesareexpectedtobediscoveredinfutureyears,mostofthemendemic.
Incomparisonwithcavehabitattypes,intergranularwatershavebeenmuchlessresearched.
Itisevident,however,thatthediversityofspeciesinthesewatersisextremelyrich[10].
Caveecosystemsareofvitalimportancenotonlyforcavespecies,butalsoforspeciesthatusecavesastheirhome(e.
g.
bats).
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)293.
6.
2.
ThreatsAnimalspeciesofcaveecosystemsarespecialisedfortypicalsubterraneanconditionsandhavealimitedabilitytoadapttonewconditions.
Asaresult,thestatusofbiodiversityincavesisaffectedbothbyinterventionsincaveecosystemsandbygroundactivitiesthathaveanimpactonsubterraneanhabitats.
Themaincausesofthreatstobiodiversityofcaveecosystemsare:3.
6.
2.
1.
PollutionDirectpollutionofcaveecosystemsismostlyduetoillegalwastelandfillsinthekarsticenvironment(bothonthesurfaceandincavesandshafts)andaboveinterstitialaquifers.
Mostendangeredarecavesclosetosettlementsandtrafficinfrastructure.
Asecondimportantsourceofpollutionisurbanwastewater,which,duetoalackofadequateorsufficienttreatmentfacilities,oftenrunsuntreatedorinadequatelytreateddirectlyintotheundergroundandpollutesgroundwaterwithorganicandinorganicnutrientsandothersubstancesharmfultocavefaunaandhabitats.
Agriculturehasasimilareffect,asextensiveapplicationoffertilisersandpesticidespollutesthesoilfromwhichthesesubstancesarewashedintogroundwater.
Groundwater,particularlyintheKarstregion,isalsothreatenedbyoccasionalaccidentalspillagesofhazardoussubstances[10].
3.
6.
2.
2.
ActivitiesaffectingphysicalspaceUrbanisationandconstructionoftransport,utilityandenergyinfrastructuresignificantlyaffectthebiodiversityofcaveecosystemsaswellasthelandscapediversityofthekarsticworld.
Suchinterventionsresultnotonlyinpollution,butofteninphysicaldestructionofcaveecosystems.
Onemajorinterventionofthistypewastheconstructionofthemotorwaynetwork,whichencouragedgrowthofsettlementsinsensitiveareas.
Caveecosystemsarealsoaffectedbyhydro-technicalinterventionsatthesurface,andbyforestfelling,whichchangethegroundwaterregimeandincreaseerosion[3][10].
3.
6.
2.
3.
TourismandrecreationalactivitiesBiodiversityinsubterranean,particularlycave,ecosystemsisalsothreatenedbyvisiting,unsuitablecaveclosuresandmanagementofcavesfortouristpurposes.
Anunsuitablyclosedcavemayhinderthepassageofbatsandaffectthecaveclimate.
Lightingofcavesandorganicsubstancesbroughtbyvisitorsalsotendtomodifytheecologicalcharacteristicsofcaves.
Wintervisitstocaveswherebatshibernatemayendangerbatpopulations.
Uncontrolledtouristvisitstocaveswithconsequentpollutionandphysicaldestructionofcaveresourcesareamajorthreattocaveecosystemsbiodiversity.
3.
6.
2.
4.
UncontrolledcollectingofcavefaunaLocalcavefaunaisseriouslyaffectedby(amateur)collectingofanimals,inparticularbeetles,asnon-selectivetraps,setforalongerperiod,mayhaveadecisiveimpactonthesepopulations.
Thisthreatismostseriousforendemicspecieslivingonlyincertaincaves.
ThemostproblematicincludeVoljajamaonNanos,wherethelocalpopulationofLeptodirushochenwartiiwasexterminated(monitoringinrecentyearshasnotfoundanymorebeetlesinthecave)andthecaveonPucovkucelj,wheremanyillegaltrapshavebeendiscovered.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)303.
6.
2.
5.
InvasivealienspeciesDataoninvasivealienspeciesincaveecosystemsinSloveniaarenotavailable.
Itisknown,however,thatduetopollution,andinparticularduetotheintroductionofnutrientsintoaquifers,groundspeciesdopenetratecavesandthreatenthesubterraneanfauna[10].
3.
7.
GeneticresourcesAlongsidetheobjectivesinChapter2.
1.
4above,theBiodiversityConservationStrategyinSlovenia(2002)relatingtopreservationofgeneticdiversitydefinesafurthertwoobjectives:-Toconservewildanimalsexsituwhenin-situconservationisnotpossibleorisseriouslythreatened;-Toconserveindigenousdomesticbreedsandvarietiesfortheproductionoffood,materialsandmedicines,andtoconservethegeneticresourcesofwildrelativesofdomesticatedbreedsandvarieties[21].
3.
7.
1.
StatusandtrendsOneofthethreelevelsofbiodiversityisgeneticdiversity,whichisthebasisfordiversitybetweenindividualswithinspeciesanddiversitybetweenspecies.
Itisimportantasitallowsadaptationtochangingconditionsintheenvironmentandisthebasisfortheevolutionofspecies.
FormostspeciesinSlovenia,geneticdiversityhasnotyetbeenstudied.
SpecieslivinginSloveniacontributetoglobalgeneticdiversitynotonlywiththeirvariety,butalsobecausemanyspecieshereareendemic.
Geneticdiversityisfednotonlybywildplantandanimalspecies,butalsobydomesticatedvarietiesandbreeds.
Geneticdiversityofcropsandanimalbreeds,andofcertainwoodyforestplantshasbeenthoroughlyresearched.
Atotalof29breedsand169varietiesofindigenousandtraditionalbreedsandvarietiesofdomesticanimalsandplantshavebeenidentified[10][12][34][36].
Themainobjectiveongeneticdiversityisin-situprotectionofgeneticresourcesthroughconservationofadequatesizesofeffectivepopulations.
Ex-situconservationinbotanicalgardens,zoosandgenebanksisafurthermeasuretakeninrelationtospeciesandpopulationsthatarethreatenedtotheextentthatconservationin-situprovesinsufficient[10][36].
Geneticresourcesinagriculture(varieties,breeds,ecotypesandlocalpopulationsandtheirnon-domesticatedrelatives)andforestsinclude:Plantgeneticresources,includingvarietiesinmeadowsandpasturesandforestgeneticresources,Animalgeneticresources,includingfishgeneticresources,Microbegeneticresources(includingrhizobia,fungiandyeast,aswellascollectionoflivingmycorisisfungiattheHerbariumandMycothecaoftheGozdarskiintitutSlovenije).
Thereare177recogniseddomesticanimalbreedsinSlovenia.
Ofthe12indigenousbreedsofdomesticanimals,8arethreatened.
Indigenousbreedswhereadaptationtodemandingbreedingconditionsisparticularlypronounced(Carniolanbee,Jezersko-solavskasheep)showgreaterresistancetoforeignbreeds.
Inaddition,theexistenceof7of17traditionalbreedsisalsothreatened.
Intensiveprofessionalengagementconcerningconservationofdomesticanimalsbreeds,thecreationofagenebankandestablishmentofbreeders'associationshashelpedtoimprovethestatusofthreatenedbreeds.
Conversely,thesituationofmostpopulartraditionalbreedsisworsening,astheyarenotsubjecttospecialprotectionregimes.
Someareunabletoresistthecompetitionofeconomicallymoreproductivebreedsfromdevelopedcountries,sotheirnumbersaredecreasing[12][36].
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)31SloveniabelongstotheMediterraneanandEuropeangenepool.
AsSloveniadoesnothaveasinglegenebank,geneticresourcesaremanagedbyaseriesofscientific-researchinstitutions.
TheSeedbankforforestwoodyplants(partoftheSlovenianForestGeneBank)storesmostlypine,spruce,larchseeds,somedeciduoustreesseeds,whilerecalcitrantseedsofdeciduoustrees,suchasoak,whichisdifficulttostore,arelargelyabsent[10].
IntegralpartoftheSlovenianForestGenebankareForestGeneReserves(36in2010)forinsituconservationpurposes.
SloveniaistakingpartintheEUFORGENprogrammedealingwithgeneticresourcesinforestrs.
TheprogrammeisbasedontheresolutionsoftheministerialprocessForestforEurope.
TheSlovenianForestryInstituteisthekeypartnerfromSloveniainthisprogramme.
In2011theprojectEUFGIS(AGRIGENRES)willbefinished.
ThisprojectestablishestheEuropeaninformationsystemonforestgeneticresources.
Itwillcreateanonlineinformationsystemandadocumentationplatformforforestgeneticresources(FGR)inventoriesinEurope.
Itisbasedondynamicconservationunits–Forestgeneticreservesin33Europeancountries.
InSloveniathereare36unitsfor20offoresttreespecies.
Sloveniahasalreadyadoptedsomemeasuresforin-situconservationofanimalgeneticresources.
Theprogrammehasbeenimplementedforlivestock,andpilotprojectsarebeingcarriedoutforotheranimals.
ConservationofDNAissystematicallycarriedoutforLipizzanerhorses,andanextensivecollectionoftissuesandDNAsamplesismaintainedforsomefishspecies,inparticularsalmonidspecies.
ThegenebankinlivestockbreedingismanagedbytheZootechnicalDepartmentoftheBiotechnicalFacultyoftheUniversityofLjubljanaasapublicservice.
TheSlovenianplantgenebank,establishedmorethan10yearsago,bringstogetheraseriesofinstitutionsharbouringfreelyaccessibleex-situcollectionsofindigenousplantgeneticresources.
TheSlovenianplantgenebankincludestheAgriculturalInstituteofSlovenia,theAgronomyDepartmentoftheBiotechnicalFacultyoftheUniversityofLjubljana,theSlovenianInstituteforHop-growingandBrewing,andtheFacultyofAgricultureandLifeSciencesoftheUniversityofMaribor.
Theseex-situandin-vivocollectionsstoremorethan4,500samplesofindigenousplantgeneticsourcesandmayprovidebasicdataonthem.
Besidesindigenousecotypes,thesecollectionsalsostoresamplesofallindigenousanddomesticatedvarietiesofagriculturalplants.
3.
7.
2.
ThreatsThemainthreattogeneticdiversityofindigenousbreedsistheirgeneticdepletionbecauseofdownsizingofpopulationsandfragmentationofthehabitatsofsmallerpopulations.
Geneticdiversityofdomesticbreedsandvarieties,however,isthreatenedbyglobalisationoftheagriculturalmarket,whichhasintroducedalterationsinagriculturalpractices.
Geneticerosionisincreasingbecauseoftheintroductionofnew,highlyproductivevarieties,whicharemoresuitableforintensiveagriculture[10].
4.
DATASOURCES4.
1.
InformationsourcesanddatabasesDataonthestatusofbiodiversityinSloveniaaretobefoundinmonographs,andinarticlespublishedinjournalsandontheweb.
Thequantityofdataavailableonindividualspeciesorgroupsofspeciesvariesconsiderably.
Atlasesofgeographicextentexistforalimitednumberofgroups.
SpeciesthataresubjecttoCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)32protectionundertheHabitatsDirectiveandtheBirdsDirectiveare,ingeneral,bettercovered,althoughthereisalsoaseverelackofsynthesisdataforthesespecies[10][16].
ThereisnosingledatabaseonbiodiversityinSlovenia;dataarekeptinavarietyofdatabases,someofwhicharenotfreelyaccessible.
Atotalof72ex-situdatabaseshavebeenidentified,ofwhich3aremajordatabases(e.
g.
HerbariumlftheLjubljanaUniversity).
Dataondomestic-animalbreedsareincludedinaspecialinformationtoolcalledDomesticAnimalDiversityInformation(DAD-IS)[12].
Collectionandstorageofdataonbiodiversityhasrecentlybecomemoresystematic,andisexpectedtoproducetangibleandconcreteresultsinafewyears.
TheInstituteoftheRepublicofSloveniaforNatureConservation,workingwiththeEnvironmentalAgencyoftheRepublicofSlovenia,hasestablishedaNatureConservationAtlasthatcontainsdataonbiodiversityinecologicallyimportantareasandinNatura2000sites.
TheCentreforCartographyofFaunaandFloraisaprivatenot-for-profitorganisationestablishedin1996.
Incollaborationwithexternalexperts,thecentremaintainsadatabaseofover25,000plantandanimalspecies(45,000names),whichcontainsmorethan1,100,000itemsconcerning32,000sites.
ThisisprobablycurrentlythelargestsuchdatabaseinSlovenia.
http://www.
natura2000.
gov.
si/4.
2.
MonitoringandresearchAcomprehensivemonitoringsystemforbiodiversityinSloveniaisyettobeestablished.
UndertheNatura2000OperationalProgramme2007,monitoringof8(forest)habitattypeshasbeenestablished,covering61species(inparticularbirds,bats,andbeetles),whileforafurther21species,themethodofmonitoringisindevelopmentandmonitoringisplanned.
ThenationalprogrammeofresearchinSloveniaisnotharmonisedwithnature-conservationrequirements.
Financialandpersonnelresourcesaremainlychannelledintobiotechnologyresearch,andmuchlessintoclassicalbiologyresearch,withtheexceptionofasmallnumberoftargetedprojects[16].
5.
IMPLICATIONSOFCHANGESONHUMANWELL-BEINGThequalityoftheenvironmentinwhichpeopleliveiscertainlyoneelementthathasasignificantimpactontheirwell-being.
Biodiversity,ofwhichpeopleareapart,iscrucialformaintainingthelong-termviabilityofagriculture,forestryandfishing,andisthebasisfornumerousindustrialprocedures,includingproductionofnewdrugs.
Itisspecificallythemodificationofecosystemsandexploitationofnaturalresourcesthatmadedevelopmentandtherapidincreaseinhumanwellbeingpossible.
Anyinterventionthatreducesbiodiversityis,however,likelytohavelong-termconsequencesforecosystemsandforqualityoflife.
Theseconsequencesmaybeeitherdirectorindirect,andhaveanimpacteitherlocallyorglobally.
Fromtheeconomicandsocialpointsofview,biologicalandlandscapediversityimportantlyaffectsoneoftheliveliesteconomicsectorsinSlovenia–tourism.
AverysignificantpartofSlovenia'stouristindustryexploitsthegoodconservationstatusofthenaturalenvironmentwithitsbiodiversityandlandscapevariety.
ThisincreasestheemotionalandrecreationalvalueofthetourismexperienceinSlovenia,helpingpeopletorelaxandthuscontributingtotheirimprovedhealth.
Ingeneral,peopleinSloveniaarestillinsufficientlyawareofhowimportanttheconservationofbiodiversityisfortheirqualityoflife.
Unfortunately,mostpeopleonlybecomeawarethatCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)33depletionofbiodiversityintermsofgenes,speciesandecosystemsmeansanalterationoffoodsources,reducedaccessibilityofnaturalresources(wood,fish,game)andmaterialsnecessaryforindustrialproduction,andconsequently,adegradationofqualityoflife,whenecologicalcatastrophesstrike.
Visibleeventsincludecasesofpollutionofwatercoursesresultingindeadfishandaconsequentdepletionoftheirbiodiversity.
Themediaincreasinglycoverstheissueofaglobalreductionofbiodiversity,inparticularinconnectionwithclimatechangeand–mostrecently–withinvasivealienspecies.
BecauseoftherisingnumberofnaturalcatastrophesinSloveniaandinformationonthespreadingofnewdiseases,increasinglypeopleareconsciousthatdestructionofnatureanditsbiodiversitylowersthequalityoftheirlives.
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CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)36CHAPTERIICURRENTSTATUSOFNATIONALBIODIVERSITYSTRATEGIESANDACTIONPLANS7.
OVERVIEWOFTHEIMPLEMENTATIONOFTHECBDINSLOVENIA7.
1.
1.
BasicpremisesToevaluatetheimplementationoftheCBD,weanalysedpastactivitiesbywhichSloveniafulfilleditsconventionobligations,especiallytheimplementationoftheStrategyforBiodiversityConservationinSloveniaadoptedin2001andthesecondNationalEnvironmentalActionProgramme(NEAP)adoptedin2005,whichincludesachapter("Nationalnatureandbiodiversityconservationprogramme")detailingthetasksandmeasuresfortheperiod2005–2012bywhichSloveniaisindirectlyimplementingCBDobjectives.
ThemeasuresintheNEAPinthefieldofnatureconservationstressespeciallyin-situconservationandeducationinthefieldofnatureconservation.
Muchlessstressisplacedonex-situspeciesconservation,whichisunderstandableinviewoftherelativelyhighlevelofnaturalenvironmentconservationinSlovenia.
NEAPdoesnotforeseeanyspecialmeasuresforcertainareasoftheconvention,butthesearemostlyareasappropriatelyregulatedatthelegislativelevelandtheimplementationofmeasuresisimposedbytheprovisionsthemselves.
TheoverallevaluationisthatofallconventiontasksSloveniaisweakestinimplementationoftheobligationtoaccessgeneticresourcesandsharethebenefitsderivedfromtheiruse(ABS–thethirdobjectiveoftheconvention),whileslightprogresshasbeennotedinthefieldsofmonitoringofthecomponentsofbiodiversity,taxonomyandalienspeciesinthelastfewyears.
Accordingly,legislativeactsandprogrammedocumentsfortheconservationofindividualspecieshavebeenpreparedandadopted.
In2004,SloveniabecameaMemberStateoftheEUandthusundertookcommitmentsfortheconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversityinaccordancewithEUregulations.
ThereforeactivitieswereaimedprimarilyatharmonisationoflegislationwithEUregulations.
Theimplementationtasksintheperiod,too,focusedespeciallyonEUrequirements(e.
g.
establishmentoftheNatura2000network,emphasisonspeciesandhabitattypesofEUdirectives).
2005sawthepublicationoftheresultsofTheNationalCapacitySelf-AssessmentforGlobalEnvironmentalManagement(NCSA)projectforthreeRioconventions.
ThethematicprofileoftheimplementationoftheCBDsummarisedtheshortcomingsandrequirementsofthecountryforimplementationoftheCBD(KusVeenvliet,2005).
Itstressedtheneedtoimprovetheefficiencyoftheimplementationoftheadoptedprovisionsatthesystemiclevelandtosupplementtheprovisionsinforcewithplannedprogrammedocuments.
ManyproblemsintheimplementationoftheCBDalsoderivedfromweakcross-sectoralharmonisation.
Thiswasespeciallyprominentinthefieldofbiodiversityconservationstrategy,becausebiodiversitycomponentsareusedandmanagedbyseveralsectors.
Emphasiswasthereforeplacedontheneedforastandingcross-sectoralgroupmonitoringthesituationinthefieldofnatureconservationandthereforetheCBD.
Inthe1990s,theattentiondevotedtonatureconservationundoubtedlyincreased,whichledtoanincreasednumberofprescribedtasks.
ThusNEAPplannednumerousactivitiesinthefieldofeducation,targetingespeciallyraisingtheawarenessofthegeneralpublic,butunfortunatelynotofemployeesinsectorsinfieldsaffectingbiodiversity.
Whatwasalsostressedwastheneedtobuildcapacityinthefieldofnatureconservation,provisionoffinancialresourcesandimplementationofnewfiscalandincome-taxincentives.
ThesethreedocumentsarethebasisoftheoverviewoftheimplementationoftheconventionobjectivesinSloveniaandachievementsofobjectivesfor2005–2009assummarisedbytheFourthReportontheImplementationoftheConvention.
Inaddition,theCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)37reportcoverscommunicationsinaccordancewiththeEUHabitatsDirectiveandtheimplementationoftheEUBiodiversityActionPlan(BAPCommunication,2006).
Thereportisalsoanupgradeofthereportspreparedin1997,2002and2005.
8.
STRATEGYFORBIODIVERSITYCONSERVATIONINSLOVENIAAttheendof2001,theGovernmentofSloveniaadoptedtheStrategyforBiodiversityConservation,3whichsummarisesthethreemainCBDobjectives:biodiversityconservation,sustainableuseofitscomponents,andaccesstoandsharingofadvantagesderivedfromtheuseofgeneticresources.
Thestrategyoutlinesobjectivesanddirectionsfortheconservationofecosystemsthroughtheconservationoffavourablestatusbyaspecialstressonendangeredhabitattypes(marine,coastalandinlandwaters,fensandmarshes,wetanddrygrasslands,cavesandforests),landscape-diversityconservation,speciesconservation,genetic-diversityconservationandex-situbiodiversityconservation.
Biodiversityconservationaffectsthefieldsofagriculture,forestry,huntingandfishing,watermanagement,industryandenergy,transportandtourism,significantlyaffectingthesustainableuseofbiodiversitycomponents.
Thusthestrategyalsoprovidesplansfortheseactivitiesforaten-yearperiod(2002–2012).
Theseactivitiesaredefinedinaspecialchapterofthestrategy.
Successfulconservationofbiodiversityandsustainableuserequiresupportactivitiesincludinglegislativeandeconomicmechanisms,directivesinthefieldofspatialplanningandregionaldevelopment.
Importantcomponentsincludemonitoringofbiodiversityanditscomponents,andresearchanddevelopmentandtechnologies;therighttouseknowledgeisspecifictothislattercomponent.
Theobjectivesofbiodiversityconservationandsustainableusemustbeintegratedinprogrammesofeducationandawareness-raising,andexchangeofinformationandcooperationatthenationallevelmustbeenabled.
Thestrategydeterminesthatmonitoringofeffectiveachievingofobjectiveswillbeprovidedbytheworkinggroupforbiodiversity,whichisintendedtooperatewithintheSustainableDevelopmentCouncil.
ThecouncilnowoperatesundertheauspicesoftheGovernmentOfficeforDevelopmentandEuropeanAffairsandoccasionallyaddressesissuesconcerningnatureprotectionandsustainabledevelopment.
Theworkinggroup,however,hasnotbeenestablished.
In2006,theECadoptedBAP,onthebasisofwhichtheMemberStatesreportonthesituationandimplementationoftheEUlegislationandstrategicdirectionsinthefieldofnatureandbiodiversityconservation(see…).
TheanalysisofBAPmeasuresproducedforSloveniain2006(Kus2006)wasprimarilyintendedforthepreparationoftheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013)[4].
Theinter-ministerialactionplanforbiodiversityconservation,whichprovidedaspatiotemporalplanfortheimplementationofthestrategy,wasnotadopted.
Thestrategyalsodeterminesmaterialdirectlyorindirectlyreferringtothereleaseofgeneticallymodifiedorganisms(GMOs).
ThemostimportantamongtheseisthedeclarationandconservationofareaswhereGMOarenotreleasedintotheenvironment.
Inviewofthisstrategicdirection,SloveniashouldpreventthecultivationofGMOsinprotectedareasandareasincludedintheNatura2000network.
ThelatestactsontheestablishmentofprotectedareasdefinetheprohibitionofintroducingGMO.
Thepreconditionsforeffectiveachievementofthestrategyobjectivesareorientedtothelongtermandthusstillprovidestrategicdirectionfortheachievementofobjectives.
3StrategyforBiodiversityConservationinSlovenia.
MinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanningoftheRepublicofSlovenia,2002.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)38TableofpreconditionsforeffectiveimplementationofstrategyobjectivesGovernmenttoprovidereciprocity,partnershipandparticipationinbiodiversityconservationatdifferentlevels.
Examplesofgoodcooperationinindividualcases,suchastheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013),managementoflargecarnivores,establishmentandmanagementofprotectedareas,agri-environmentalprogrammesandsimilar.
PARTLYWillingnessofpublicandsectorstointegratebiodiversitystrategyobjectivesintheirstrategies,programmesandprojects.
Sectoralplanningdocumentsincluderequirementsforbiodiversityconservation,especiallythroughnature-conservationguidelines.
ForNatura2000sites,integrationisdefinedintheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013)andbindingonplanninginstitutions.
Ourexperienceisgoodintheintegrationinforest-managementplans,andpartlyalsoinhunting-andfishing-managementplans.
Assessmentsystemsincludingbiodiversityareofkeyimportanceinplanningandimplementationofinterventions.
Intermsoflaw,thesituationissatisfactory,butimplementationmaystillbeproblematic,especiallyduetoincompleteandnon-systematicdataavailableonbiodiversity.
PARTLYParticipationofallprincipalstakeholdersofgovernmentsectors,localcommunities,non-governmentalorganisations,landownersandbroadestpublicinintegrationofstrategyobjectivesandimplementationofaimsofbiodiversityconservation,followingthesamestrategicprinciplesinachievingobjectivesandthusprovidingmutualassistance.
Seeabove.
PARTLYStateserviceslargelyusetheexistinglegal,financialandothersocioeconomicmechanismsatinternational,national,regionalandlocallevelstoachievestrategyobjectivesintheframeworkoftheiractivities.
Legislationissomewhatappropriate;problemslieinimplementation,withsomepossibilitiesunexploitedandinspectionservicesinefficient.
PARTLYWillingnessofresponsibleauthoritiesforimplementationoflegislationandadoptionofsuitablesecondarylegislation.
Secondarylegislationhasbeenlargelyadopted,implementationdependsonavailablefinancialandhumanresources.
PARTLYCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)39Appropriatemonitoringandsupervisionoflegislationimplementation.
Systematicmonitoringofbiodiversityhasnotbeenestablished,exceptforcertainspeciesandhabitattypes(long-termresourceshavenotbeenearmarkedinthesecases).
Thesystemisgraduallydeveloping.
Supervisionoflegislationimplementationisinefficient.
PARTLYTimelyimplementationofprovisionsfromthefieldofnatureconservationandspatialintervention,includingthosepartsrelatedtoimplementationoftherequirementsofEUDirectivesontheconservationofwildbirdsandontheconservationofnaturalhabitatsandwildfaunaandflora.
EUprovisionshavebeenappropriatelytransferredtonationallegislationandarebeingimplementedinthisframework.
YESTimelyimplementationofprovisionsfromthefieldofGMOmanagement.
ImplementationofprovisionsiscoveredbytheReportontheImplementationoftheCartagenaProtocolonBiosafety.
Appropriatemonitoringandsupervisionofstrategyimplementation.
Nosystematicmonitoringofstrategyimplementation.
NOByadoptingthestrategy,SloveniasetobjectivesanddirectionsfortheachievementofthreebasicobjectivesoftheCBDatthenationallevel.
Thestrategywasnotsupplementedanddidnotincludeanyadditionaldirectionsadoptedatindividualsessionsofcontractingparties;instead,additionaldocumentswereadoptedasanindirectresponsetotheserequirements.
Theten-yearstrategywillberevisedandamendedin2010inaccordancewithnewstrategicdirectionsatregional(EU)andinternationallevels.
8.
1.
AchievementofObjectivesofStrategyforBiodiversityConservationThegeneralobjectiveoftheStrategyforBiodiversityConservationinSloveniaisconservationofecosystemsthroughmaintainingfavourablestatusofhabitattypes.
Moredetailedobjectivesanddirectionsshouldcontributetoachievementofthisobjective.
Attheecosystemlevel,detailedobjectivesweredeterminedforthebiodiversityofcoastal,marineandinlandwaters,foragriculturalandforestbiodiversity,andforlandscapediversity.
Undergroundbiodiversitywasincludedasaspecialfeature.
Inaddition,objectivesforspeciesandgeneticbiodiversitywereincluded.
ThebasicmeasurestoachievetheobjectiveofconservationrelatetoestablishmentandmanagementofthenetworkofNatura2000sitesandestablishmentofprotectedandinternationallyimportantareas,ecologicallyimportantareas(EIA)andvaluablenaturalfeaturesatnationalandlocallevels.
Thedifferencesshowinindividualtypesofecosystems,securingoftheirvitality,acquisition/provisionoffinancialresources,jointimplementationofinternationalagreements,andintegrationoftheRioconventions(1992).
Theoverallobjectiveofthestrategyisalong-termvisiongraduallyachievedbyimplementationofarangeofmeasuresatalllevelsofoperation.
Regardlessoftheadoptedmeasures,especiallytheextendedscopeofprotectedareasandestablishmentoftheNatura2000sitenetwork,thegeneralconditionofbiodiversityisstillnotsatisfactory.
SinceCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)40appropriatesystematicmonitoringoftheconditionofspeciesorhabitattypeshasnotbeenestablished,itisdifficulttoevaluatetheachievementofindividualgoalsofthestrategy.
Fromthedataavailablein2007,Sloveniapreparedareportin2008onthestatusofconservationofspeciesandhabitattypesfromtheannexesoftheHabitatsDirective.
Despitedeficientdata,thisisthesignificantasthefirstoverviewoftheconservationstatusofcertainspeciesandhabitattypesinSlovenia,showingtoacertainextentthestatusofconservationofbiodiversityaswellasthestatusofknowledgeaboutit.
Figure2.
1:Assessmentofconservationstatusbybiogeographicalregion(in%).
Source:http://circa.
europa.
eu/Public/irc/env/monnat/libraryl=/habitats_reporting/reporting_2001-2007/ms-reports_summaries&vm=detailed&sb=TitleThedataindicateanincreasedlevelofhazardinthecontinentalpartofthecountry,whichisexpectedsincethisareahasagreaterpopulationdensityandhigherlevelofhumanactivity.
Figure2.
2:Assessmentofconservationstatusbyhabitat/species(in%).
Source:http://circa.
europa.
eu/Public/irc/env/monnat/libraryl=/habitats_reporting/reporting_2001-2007/ms-reports_summaries&vm=detailed&sb=TitleCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)41Theresultsofthereportsshowthattheleastconservedhabitattypesweregrasslandsandwetlands,whiletheleastconservedspeciesparticularlyincludedfishandamphibians.
Thelevelofknowledgeofthespeciessituationisdeficientinsomegroups,andriskevaluationsreflectthis(seeChapter1).
Inviewofthesituation,thesupplementedbasicprinciplesprovidedinthestrategyarestillrelevantfortheachievementoftheCBDobjectivesinSlovenia:-Furtherprotectionandconservationofareasofkeyimportanceformaintainingoffavourablestatusforhabitattypes:inthereportingperiod,activitiesfortheprotectionofnewsiteswereunderway(e.
g.
RadenskopoljeLandscapePark,Kamniko-SavinjskiRegionalPark).
2008sawtheestablishmentoftheLjubljanskobarjeLandscapeParkandtheestablishmentofmanagementinKolpaLandscapePark(2006)andStrunjanskesolineLandscapePark(2008),aswellastheadoptionoftheamendedTriglavNationalParkAct(2010).
Duetocloserintegrationofthepublic,proceduresaremoreextended,whilebettercooperationmaybethebasisofmoreefficientconservationoftheseareas;-ProvisionofappropriatemechanismsforconservationandsustainableuseofprotectedareaswithregardstotheNatura2000network:theadoptionoftheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013),hasestablishedobligationsforintegrationofcompetentsectoralpoliciesintheimplementationofmeasuresforconservationandsustainableuserelevanttospecificrequirementsofindividualNatura2000sites;-Provisionofsufficientfinancialsourcesandmechanisms:financialsourcesareinsufficient,andexploitationoftheexistingfinancialinstrumentsistooinefficient;-Efficientmanagementoftheecologicalnetworktoimprovethestatusofendangeredandkeyspeciesandtheirhabitatsandecosystems:theecologicalnetworkhasbeenestablishedandconsistsofprotectedandecologicallyimportantareas(includingNatura2000sites).
Stressisplacedonexistingareasandtransitions;onlyinindividualcasesareactivitiesfocusedonthereconstructionoftransitions(e.
g.
"renaturation"ofriversystems).
Itmustbestressedthatthereisnocomprehensivemanagementoftheecologicalnetworkbutthatimplementationislargelylefttoindividualsectors(e.
g.
agriculture,forestry,watermanagement),whiletheintegrityofthenetworkisthreatenedbytheconstructionofinfrastructureandurbanisation;-Theestablishmentofappropriatecoordinationbetweendifferentinitiativesformitigationofandadaptationtoclimatechangetoachievesynergeticeffectsinaccordancewithrelevantinternationalenvironmentalagreements(especiallyCBD,Ramsar,UNFCCCandUNCCC);-Coordinationofactivitiesandincentivesofvariousinternationalenvironmental-protectionandnature-conservationagreementsandtheCBDConventiontoachievemaximumefficiencyofactivitiesandresults.
Theprincipallegislativeandothermeasuresfortheconservationofbiodiversityadoptedonthebasisofthestrategy(especiallyNEAP)arepresentedinthetableattheendofthischapter.
Thesemeasureshavecontributedtoimprovedidentificationandmonitoringofbiodiversitystatus,cooperationwithothersectors,especiallyinthefieldofagriculture,forestryandwatermanagement.
Improvedcooperationwithothersectorsisalsoevident.
8.
2.
ConservationofLandscapeDiversity(Annex1)InEurope,awarenessofthevalueoflandscapehasreceivedagreatdealofattentioninthepastdecade.
ThisisdemonstratedbythefactthattheEuropeanLandscapeConventionhasbeenratifiedby30countries,includingSlovenia.
Inaccordancewithitsprinciplesandobjectives,landscapehasanimportantroleinthequalityoflifeofindividualsandsocietyinCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)42general,incultural,ecological,environmentalandsocialaspects.
Landscapesarethekeyelementofbiodiversityandvaluablenaturalfeatures,representing,andstrengtheningtheEuropeanidentity,formingthelocalcultureandaffectingthedevelopmentofeconomicactivities,especiallyrecreationandtourism.
Theirprotection,managementandplanningaretherightanddutyofeveryone.
Slovenianlandscapeshavenotundergoneanymodernlarge-scalereorganisationthatwouldsignificantlychangetheirappearance.
Theyarecharacterisedbyrelativelyhighdiversity,ahighlevelofnaturalconservationandtheconservationofculturalelementsofthelandscape.
Inthelastdecade,Slovenianlandscapeshavebeenaffectedbymajorinfrastructuredevelopments,suchastheconstructionofroads,gaspipelinesandtransmissionlines;theconstructionofrailwaycorridorsisalsoenvisaged.
Majorinfrastructuredevelopmentshaveaconsiderableeffectonthestructuralcharacteristicsofthelandscapeandthequalityofexperiencingit.
Aconsiderablenumberofsmallerdegradationscanbeobserved,suchasunregulatedorpoorlyregulatedquarriesandgravelpits,claypits,over-regulatedwatercourses,insomeplacesinadequatelydesignedinfrastructure(majorcuttingsanddams),inappropriatelandreclamationanddispersedsettlements.
LandscapesinthevalleysofSloveniaareheavilyinfluencedbyintensivehumanactivityandinterventions.
Threeministriesareinvolvedinthedevelopment,protectionandmanagementoflandscapes:theMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,theMinistryofCulture,andtheMinistryofAgriculture,ForestryandFood.
"Landscape"isdefinedintheSpatialPlanningAct(2007)intermsofspatialplanningandintheNatureConservationAct(2004)intermsoftheimportanceoflandscapesforbiodiversityconservation.
CulturalaspectsoflandscapesthatareimportantforpreservingculturalheritagearedefinedintheCulturalHeritageProtectionAct(2008).
Protectedareasfornatureconservationhaveincreasedinrecentyearsandnowcover12.
6%ofSlovenianterritory.
Oneconservationobjectiveinthefoundingactsforprotectedareasisconservationoflandscapediversity.
TheadoptedNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013)providesnumerousmeasures(e.
g.
conservationofhedges,grasslands,meadoworchards)contributingtotheconservationoflandscapediversity.
Inthefieldofspatialdevelopment,aSpatialDevelopmentStrategyofSloveniahasbeenadopted,determining,interalia,theareasofnationalrecognisabilityandnaturalqualityofthelandscape(source:SPRS,Ur.
l.
RS,No.
76/04).
Intermsofreductionofimpactofplansandinterventionsontheenvironment,thekeyroleisplayedbytheprocedureofcomprehensiveenvironmental-impactassessmentandenvironmentalreport,whichdefines,describesandevaluatespotentiallyimportantenvironmentalimpactsoftheimplementationofaplanorprogramme.
Itevaluatesimpactsonbiodiversity,population,humanhealth,fauna,flora,soil,water,air,climaticfactors,materialattributes,culturalheritage,includingarchitecturalandarchaeologicalheritage,landscape,andthelinksbetweenthesefactors.
DIRECTIONSToachievesustainabledevelopmentbasedonabalancedandharmoniousrelationshipbetweensocialneeds,economicactivityandtheenvironment;Todefinethecharacteristicsoflandscapeandlandscapediversityimportantforconservationofbiodiversity(Article35ofNCA);Todefine,intheelaborationofmanagementplansforprotectedareas,objectives,tasksandmeasuresfortheconservationofthoselandscapeelementsthatcontributetotheconservationofbiodiversity;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)43Toconsider,inplanningspatialarrangementsandconstruction,thecharacteristicsoflandscapeimportantfortheconservationofbiodiversity;Toensure,inplanningdevelopment,theimplementationofenvironmental-impactassessmentfromtheaspectofimpactonlandscapediversity;Tosupportthoseusesofspacethatareeconomicallyefficient,whileenablingthemaintenanceoflandscapecharacteristics,especiallyinconnectionwithagri-environmentalprogrammesandresponsiblespatialdevelopment.
8.
3.
Nationalenvironmentalactionprogramme(NEAP):NatureandBiodiversityTheobjectivessetbythestrategyarealsoachievedthroughtheimplementationofNEAP,whichhasasintegralpartsthenationalprogrammeofvaluablenaturalfeaturesandbiodiversityconservation,monitoringofforesthabitatstatus,protectionofsoilandGMOs[40].
8.
3.
1.
NationalEnvironmentalActionProgrammeParagraph1ofArticle35oftheEnvironmentalProtectionActdeterminesthattheNationalAssemblyoftheRepublicofSloveniashalladopt,followingtheproposaloftheGovernment,aplan(NEAP)thatincludeslong-termobjectives,directionsandtasksinthefieldofenvironmentalprotection.
Paragraph3ofthesameArticleprovidesthatNEAPshallalsocontainthenationalnature-conservationprogramme(NNCP)undertheprovisionsonnatureconservation.
Inaddition,Article94oftheNatureConservationActprovidesthatNNCPasadoptedwithinNEAPin2005shallcoverbiodiversityconservationandprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatures,anddeterminethescopeofpublicinterestintheconservationofbiodiversityandprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeaturesforatleast10years.
ThecontentsofNNCPareobjectivesandstrategicdirectionsforthefollowing:-Biodiversityconservationthroughaprogrammeofmeasuresfortheprotectionofplantandanimalspecies,theirhabitatsandecosystems;-Protectionofvaluablenaturalfeaturesthroughaprogrammefortheestablishmentofprotectedareasandtherestorationofvaluablenaturalfeatures;-Themanneroffulfillinginternationalobligations;-Educationinthefieldofnatureconservation;-Publicawarenessoftheimportanceofnatureconservation;-Provisionoffinancialresourcesfornatureprotection.
TheNatureConservationActalsoprovidesthatthiscontent(tasks)shallbedetailedinoperationalprogrammesadoptedbytheGovernment.
Thecontentsofsomeoperationalprogrammesarealsodeterminedindetailbyotheracts.
TheBiodiversityConservationStrategyinSloveniaforeseesasaformofoperationalprogrammethepreparationandimplementationofaninter-ministerialfour-yearactionplanofconservationofbiodiversity(species,ecosystemsorhabitattypesandgeneticsources)forthedevelopmentpoliciesofprincipalsectors.
8.
3.
2.
UpgradingtheInstitutionalSystemofNatureConservationTheorganisationalframeworkforinstitutionaloperationinnatureconservationisbasedonfiveinstitutions:NatureConservationDivisionwithintheEnvironmentDirectorateattheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning;NatureConservationDivisionwithintheEnvironmentOfficeattheEnvironmentalAgencyoftheRepublicofSlovenia;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)44InspectorsfornatureconservationwithintheInspectorateoftheRepublicofSloveniafortheEnvironment,SpatialPlanningandEnergy;InstituteoftheRepublicofSloveniaforNatureConservation;Managersofprotectedareas.
OBJECTIVE:Establishmentofacomprehensivesystemofnatureconservationandefficientimplementationby2008.
Theupdatedenvironmentallegislationandadoptionofsecondarylegislationhasestablishedasystemofnatureconservation,butitseffectiveoperationhasnotyetbeenachieved.
Deficienciesareapparentespeciallyintheoperationofinspectionservicesand,generallyspeaking,thestillinsufficientcross-sectoralcooperation.
Thenature-conservationsystemsetupbytheNatureConservationActaswellasbymanyotherprovisionsisextremelycomplex.
Itislinkedtoandintertwinedwithmanyothersectoralsystemswithintheenvironmentalfield,aswellasthoseoutsideit.
Thedailyapplicationoftheseprovisions,theoperationofindividualpartsofthesystem,fromprofessionalservicestosupervisionandotherservices,andlastlytheoperationofsomedivisionswithintheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanningopennumerousissuesofoperationalimplementationoftasksinnatureconservation.
Thisobservationismadewithoutanyintentionofcommentingonindividualsolutionsorbroadlyclarifyingtheirintentionsandreasonability;itismerelytheresultofthelong-termambitiontoprovideamaximallyclearandcompletesystemicoverviewandtopointoutthemeaningofcomprehensivenessinsuchasystem,itsareasofinterventionandwaysofunderstandingandusingittoachievethekeyintention–efficientnatureconservation.
Thecomprehensivesystemoflegalnormsencompassingthenature-conservationsystemconsistsoftheConstitutionoftheRepublicofSlovenia,internationallaw,EuropeanUnionlaw,administrativelaw(ofenvironmentprotectionandnatureconservation),andcivil,criminalandmisdemeanourlaw.
Thecomprehensivesystemofnatureconservationwithallitselementsisregulatedbynature-conservationlawconsistingofthefollowinglegalsources:–ConstitutionoftheRepublicofSlovenia;–Internationalconventions;–EnvironmentalProtectionAct,NatureConservationAct;–CaveProtectionActandactsestablishingprotectedareas(designatingnaturalmonuments);–Decreesissuedbyself-governinglocalcommunitiesestablishingprotectedareas(designatingnaturalmonuments);–SecondarylegislationasexecutiveprovisionsofGovernmentandministers;–Decisions,permitsandconsents.
NatureconservationisdirectlyregulatedbytheNatureConservationAct,whichconstitutesasystemicprovisionestablishingacomprehensivesystemoflegalprotectionofnature,andbysecondarylegislationbasedonit.
TheActestablishesitsownmechanismsofprotection,withthefieldremainingintegratedinthesystemofenvironmentalprotectionwiththefollowinglegalinstitutes:–Jointplanningandprogramming;–Jointproceduresforenvironmentalassessments;–Jointlyarrangedenvironmentalmonitoringandenvironmentalinformationsystem;–Publicinformationonenvironmentaldataandaccesstoenvironmentaldata;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)45–Environmentaltaxesontheuseofnaturalresources;–Non-governmentalorganisationsinthefieldofenvironmentprotectionoperatinginthepublicinterest;–Arrangementofconcessionsfornaturalgoods.
ChartofauthoritiesandorganisationsimplementingconservationtasksatthenationallevelAdoptedafter:MinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,2006,p.
103(http://www.
mop.
gov.
si/fileadmin/mop.
gov.
si/pageuploads/publikacije/drugo/sistem_varstva.
pdf)CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)46Inaddition,theNatureConservationActprovides,asthebasicprincipleofnatureprotection,theobligationofintegrationofnature-protectionmeasuresinothersectoralfields.
Thusitdeterminesthatmeasuresforbiodiversityconservationandthesystemofprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeaturesshallbeintegratedinsectoralfieldsthatregulatetheuseofnaturalassets,measuresofculturalheritageprotection,spatialplanningandconstructionofbuildings.
TheNatureConservationActstipulatesthatactivitiesaffectingnatureshallbeplannedandcarriedoutinsuchawaythatnatureisnotdegraded.
Furthermore,intheplanningoftheuseorexploitationofnaturalassetsandinspatialplanning,thecompetentstateorlocalbodyshallchoosetheoptionwhichmeetsthecriteriaoftheminimumpossibleinterventioninnaturewhileachievingnearlythesameeffects,andwhichdoesnotdegradenaturewhenalternativetechnicalpossibilitiesforcarryingouttheactivityexist.
Apersonresponsibleforcarryingouttheactivityaffectingnatureshallactinsuchawaythathis/herinterventioninnatureisminimalandshallreturnthenaturalenvironmenttoacloseapproximationofitsoriginalstateaftertheactivityhasbeenconcluded.
Whenanactivityaffectingnatureresultsinthedegradationofnature,thepersonresponsiblefortheactivityshallimmediatelyeliminatetheadverseeffectsofhisactivityandcoverallthecostsofthiselimination.
8.
3.
3.
Conservationofbiodiversity–In-situprotection8.
3.
3.
1.
OperationalprogrammeandactionplanofbiodiversityconservationwithNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013)OBJECTIVE:Conservationofhighlevelofbiodiversity:-Conservationorachievementoffavourablestatusofendangeredspeciesandhabitattypes;-Conservationorachievementoffavourablestatus(scopeandquality)ofhabitatsofspeciesandhabitattypesforwhichareasimportantfortheconservationofbiodiversity(ecologicallyimportantareas,Natura2000sites)aredefined;-Efficientandharmonisedconservationofnatureinprotectedareasbymanagementplansandothermeasures;-Improvedstandardsofanytreatmentofwildanimalspecies.
Theimplementationoftheoperationalprogrammetakesplacethroughtheimplementationoftheagri-environmentalprogrammeandforestmanagementplans(seeChapterIII).
Inthefieldofwatermanagement,thesystemisestablishedintheframeworkoftheimplementationoftheWaterFrameworkDirective(preparationofWMPs).
a)NATURA2000On29April2004,theGovernmentoftheRepublicofSloveniadeterminedtheNatura2000sitesinSloveniabytheDecreeonspecialprotectionareas(Natura2000sites);thesesitesareapartoftheecologicalnetworkoftheEuropeanUnion.
BymeansofNatura2000sites,Sloveniamustprovideafavourablestatusof111plantandanimalspeciesundertheHabitatsDirective.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)47SCI(HABITATSDIRECTIVE)SPA(BIRDSDIRECTIVE)Numberofareas:260Numberofareas:2631.
6%ofnationalterritory22.
8%ofnationalterritoryTOTAL:286areas–35.
5%ofnationalterritorySource:MinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,2004http://www.
natura2000.
gov.
si/Mostoftheseareasarecoveredinforests,alargeshareiswithoutvegetation(mostlyrocks),9%ofareasareabovethetreeline,whiletheshareofgrasslandsisalsosignificant.
Atotalof25%oftheareaofSlovenianNatura2000sitesliesinprotectedareas(Triglavnationalpark,regionalandlandscapeparks,andreservesandnaturalmonuments).
Theseareasmostlyoverlapbecause60%ofareasproposedonthebasisoftheHabitatsDirectivearelocatedwithintheproposedspecial-protectionareasundertheBirdsDirective.
TheEuropeanCommissionconfirmedtheareasproposedbySloveniaundertheHabitatsDirective;inaddition,theindexofadequacyoftheSlovenianproposalwasassessedattheexpertverificationattheAlpine(2005)andcontinental(2006)bio-geographicalseminars.
Withtheproposednetwork,Sloveniafulfilledtheobligationsfor73%ofspeciesandhabitattypesfromthelistintheHabitatsDirectiveandmostrequirementsundertheBirdsDirective(theEuropeanCommissioninitiatedapre-litigationprocedureforthedisputablepartin2007).
AreamanagementissetbytheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013),adoptedbytheGovernmentin2007,whichsetsthefollowingforeachNatura2000site:protectionobjective,strategicdirectionsandmannerofmanagement.
Thisprogrammeprescribescompulsorycontentsintegratedupontheadoptionofnewplansforindividualsectoralplans(e.
g.
forestry,hunting,fishing,watermanagement).
Animportantmechanisminconsiderationofbiodiversityconservationisthesystemofassessmentofallplansandsomeimplementingregulations.
NEAPObjective:"EstablishmentofmanagementofNatura2000sites,adoptionofmanagementplansandappointmentofmanagers"hasgenerallybeenachieved,whiletheupgradingofthenetwork,statusmonitoringandmanagementarestandingtasksrequiringimplementation.
ApositivesideoftheNatura2000sitenetworkisthatthesesites,speciesandhabitattypesreceivemoreattention,notleastforthepurposesoftheclearlydefinedlegalobligations,whichtheEuropeanCommissionmonitorsandforthenon-implementationofwhichitmayinitiatepre-litigiousorlitigiousprocedures.
ThisisanimportantfactorinconservingaconsiderablepartofbiodiversityotherwisenotcoveredbyEUlegislation;themeasuresmayalsobepositivefortheconservationofcertainspeciesandhabitattypes.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)48Conversely,thepriorityconsiderationoftheimplementationoftheEUlegislationreducestheemphasisoncontentnotincludedinthisframework.
b)ProtectedareasProtectedareasinSlovenia(statusin2009)aredeterminedassmallandlargeprotectedareas,andencompassalmost13%ofSlovenianterritory.
-LargeprotectedareasProtectiongroupNumberArea(km2)%ofnationalterritoryNationalpark183,8085.
68Regionalpark343,4434.
13Landscapepark44115,1112.
14Total46242,46211.
95Source:MinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,EnvironmentalAgencyoftheRepublicofSlovenia,2009-SmallprotectedareasProtectiongroupNumberStrictnaturereserve1Naturereserve56Naturalmonument1191Source:MESP-EARS,2009http://www.
arso.
gov.
si/narava/zavarovana%20obmo%C4%8Dja/karta/CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)49(Tableinscriptions:-nationalpark-regionalpark-landscapepark-strictnaturalreserve-naturalreserve-naturalmonument-monumentofdesignedlandscape)ThefollowingtableslistonlythoseobjectivesanddirectionsofNEAPthataredirectlyrelatedtoprotectedareas.
Objectives,measuresanddirections(NEAP)EvaluationofimplementationEfficientandharmonisedconservationofnatureinprotectedareasthroughmanagementplansandothermeasures.
TheonlyprotectedareastoadoptmanagementplanswerekocjanCavesRegionalParkandkocjanskizatokNatureReserve.
Thepreparationofmanagementplans(GorièkoLandscapePark,SeèovljeSaltpansLandscapePark,KolpaLandscapePark)andministryinstructionsforpreparationofmanagementplansforprotectedareasatthenationallevelisbeingcarriedout.
Pendingtheadoptionofmanagementplans,managersshallimplementtheirtasksonthebasisofprovisionalmanagementguidelinesandannualworkprogrammes.
Attheendof2009,theGovernmentadoptedthedraftTriglavNationalParkAct,harmonisedwiththeNCAandestablishingappropriatefoundationsfortheimplementationofmanagementtasks.
TheActrequiresadoptionbytheNationalAssembly,whichisforeseenforearly2010.
In2009,preparationofafinancialandbusinessplanfortheSeèovljeSaltpansLandscapeParkwasinitiatedwithintheDinaricArcEcoregionprojectledbyWWF.
Thisplanwillserveasamodelforotherprotectedareas,whichmustpreparefinancialplansasapartofdraftingmanagementplans.
Provisionofmanagementofexistingprotectedareas–twoby2008,fiveintotalby2014.
Theobjectivewasachievedby2008.
InStrunjanLandscapePark,establishedatthemunicipallevelin1990andatthenationallevelin2004,managementbytheInstituteoftheRepublicofSloveniaforNatureConservationwasinstitutedin2007and2008;sincetheendof2008,managementhasbeencarriedoutbytheStrunjanLandscapeParkPublicInstitution.
ManagementbyapublicinstitutionhasbeenalsoprovidedinKolpaLandscapePark,whichwasestablishedatthemunicipallevelin1998andatthenationallevelin2006.
Establishmentofacentralunitforprotectedareas.
Theobjectivehasnotbeenachievedbecausefinancialresourceshavenotbeenprovided.
IncreaseshareofprotectedareaswithintheterritoryofSloveniaby5%by2008.
Theobjectivehasnotbeenachieved;theshareincreasedfrom11.
98%in2005toonly12.
6%.
EstablishmentoftheKolpaLandscapePark(2006)andLjubljanskobarjeLandscapePark(2008).
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)50Objectives,measuresanddirections(NEAP)EvaluationofimplementationIncreaseshareofprotectedareaswithintheterritoryofSloveniaby10%by2014.
Weestimatethatthisobjectivecouldbereachedwithconsensusatthenationalandlocallevelsfortheprotectionofextensiveareas(e.
g.
Koèevska,Notranjska,Kras).
Kamniko-SavinjskeAlpsRegionalParkandRadenskopoljeLandscapeParkarecurrentlyintheprocessofestablishment.
Furtherdevelopmentofconcessionmanagementofparks.
TheestablishmentofRadenskopoljeLandscapePark,forwhichconcessionmanagementisforeseen,isunderway.
Increaseinvestmentsinparkandsimilarinfrastructure.
Inprotectedareasatthenationallevel,resourcesareearmarkedforinvestmentsininfrastructureofthistype.
WithinthebudgetresourcesoftheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,investmentresourcesarelimitedfortheimplementationofpublicserviceofprotectedareamanagement.
Investmentsinthisinfrastructurethusmostlycomefromothersources.
Programmeandoperationalintegrationofprovidersinthesenseofrationalisationandoperationalefficiency.
Thisareaisprogressing.
EvaluationofefficiencyofmanagementundertheRAPPAMmethodologyhasbeenimplemented.
EvaluationofmanagementwithintheCRPresearchprojectundertheIUCN-WCPAmethodologyisunderway.
Therearenumerousincentivesatthenationallevelforintegrationofmanagersofprotectedareas(training,exchangeofexperience,unificationofapproaches).
Gradualstrengtheningofpersonnel.
Partlyobserved.
Slovenia'scontributiontotheimplementationoftheProgrammeofWorkonProtectedAreaswithintheCBDisevidentfromthefollowingtable:ObjectiveEvaluationofSlovenia'scontributionbyactivitiesEstablishmentandstrengtheningofnationalandregionalsystemsofprotectedareas.
NEAPsetmeasurableobjectives;Shareofprotectedareasisgrowing,newprotectedareasarebeingestablished;Threeprotectedareasrelatedtomarineecosystems(StrunjanLandscapePark,SeovljeSaltpansLandscapeParkandkocjanskizatokNatureReserve);EvaluationofefficiencyofmanagementofprotectedareasinSloveniaisunderway;NEAPdefinedpriorityareasforfurtherprotection;Localcommunitiesactivelycooperateintheestablishmentofnewprotectedareas.
Integrationofprotectedareasinbroaderspatialsystemsandsectors.
ThesystemofprotectedareasoverlapswithNatura2000sitesasframeworksforbiodiversityconservation,asobservedinnewprotections.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)51ObjectiveEvaluationofSlovenia'scontributionbyactivitiesCross-bordercooperationMostprotectedareasaresituatedbytheborder,socross-bordercooperationisintense,especiallyinjointprojects,aswellasthroughotherformsofcooperation(e.
g.
GorièkoLandscapeParkasapartofthethree-landparkandasapartoftheIUCNGreenbeltinitiative).
Considerableimprovementofplanningandmanagementofindividualprotectedareas.
Activepreparationofmanagementplansisunderwayinmostprotectedareas;Activitiestargetingimprovementofmanagementefficiencyareunderway(concretetaskswithholdersandtermsofimplementationweredefinedaspartofRAPPAManalysisattheendof2008).
Preventionandreductionofnegativeimpactsofkeythreats.
ThreatsandpressuresonprotectedareasweredefinedwithinRAPPAManalysis;Manyactivitiesarenowbeingimplemented,e.
g.
actionstopreventthespreadingofinvasivealienspecies;In2008,theMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanningorganisedthefirsttrainingforprofessionalandvolunteersupervisors.
ApermitinaccordancewithNCAwasgrantedto186supervisors(36inpublicinstitutionsforprotectedareasand150intheForestryService).
Nevertheless,nature-conservationsupervisioninprotectedareasisnotsufficient.
Mostareasfacelimitedcapacityofprofessionalsupervisors,whichdoesnotallowcomprehensivesupervisioninprotectedareas.
c)EcologicallyimportantareasUndertheNatureConservationAct,anecologicallyimportantareashallbetheareaofahabitattype,itspartoralargeecosystemunitthatsignificantlycontributestobiodiversityconservation.
Ecologicallyimportantareasareoneofthestartingpointsforelaborationofnature-conservationguidelinesandacompulsorystartingpointinspatialplanninganduseofnaturalresources.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)52Source:EARS,2007(http://www.
arso.
gov.
si/narava/)(Figureinscriptions:-otherecologicallyimportantareas-centralareaoflivingspaceoflargecarnivores-seaandcoast-caves)Ecologicallyimportantareasarethelegalbasisformeasuresforconservationofhabitatsofendangeredplantandanimalspecies.
TheimplementationstressestheattainmentoffavourablestatusofspeciesofEuropeanconcern,whilethedataforthedeterminationandimplementationofmeasures(e.
g.
inintegrationinnature-protectionguidelines)forotherspeciesareofteninsufficient,andlegalpowerislimitedtothelevelofrecommendation.
d)InternationallyimportantareasSomeareasinSloveniahavealreadygainedinternationalimportance.
Thatsomeoftheseareasareenteredindifferentlistsadditionallyconfirmstheirinternationalimportanceandstrengthenstheneedforharmonisedandcomprehensiveconservationandprotection.
Thestatusofinternationallyimportantareasfortheconservationofbiodiversityaswellaslandscapeidentityhasbeengrantedtothefollowingareas:–kocjanCavesPark:UNESCOWorldHeritageList(1986),MAB(2004),(Ramsarlist,1999);–TriglavNationalParkencompassingabroaderareaoftheJulianAlps:MAB(2003),(DiplomaofCouncilofEurope,2004);–SeovljeSaltpans:(Ramsarlist,1993);–LakeCerknicaanditssurroundingsincludingKrinaCaveandRakovkocjan:(Ramsarlist,2006);–KozjanskoNaturePark:MAB(confirmedin2010).
Alloftheseareasaresubjecttomeasuresforconservationofstatuswithinnationallegislation.
DespitetheidentificationofpotentialareasfornewRamsar-listlocations,thepreparationofdocumentationfortheirlistinghasbeendelayedinviewoftheadoptedNEAP2005programme.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)53Areasmeetingtheconditionsforthelistofinternationallyimportantwetlandsandselectedaspotentiallocationsarethefollowing:–theDravafromMaribortoSredieobDravi;–theMurafloodplain;–Ljubljanskobarje;–Krakovskigozd;–WetlandsbythelowerSavawithDobravaandJovsi;–KarstriverbasinoftheLjubljanica;–HinterlandofLakeBohinj;–ezsokiprodiandVrbulje.
InDecember2007,theGovernmentoftheRepublicofSloveniaadoptedastrategyfortheprotectionofculturalheritageandvaluablenaturalfeaturesintheRepublicofSloveniainaccordancewithinternationallegalinstrumentsandactivitiespreliminarilyproposingareastobeincludedinMABandpotentiallocationsfortheRamsarlist.
PreliminaryproposalofprioritiesforclassificationinMAB:–NotranjskaRegionalPark(inpreparation);–KamnikoSavinjskeAlpeRegionalPark;–Mura-Drava-DanubeasaninternationalMABarea.
Aninterministerialworkinggrouphasbeenappointedtoprepareathree-yearactionplanfortheimplementationofthestrategy.
8.
3.
3.
2.
Conservationofplantandanimalspecies(speciesconservation)(CH1-2.
1.
3)Besidesareaprotectionintendedtoconserveplantandanimalhabitats,somespeciesarespeciallyprotectedrightacrossnationalterritoryratherthansolelyinareaswithspecialnature-conservationstatus.
a)EndangeredplantandanimalspeciesEndangeredspeciesstatusisthebasisforactions,monitoringofspeciesstatusandeffectivenessofmeasures.
Thebasisforthedeterminationofthestatusofendangeredspeciesisthe"redlist"ofendangeredspecies,whichhasnotbeenupdatedinthelastdecade,althoughthisupdatingwasenvisagedbyNEAP.
ThistaskhasnotbeencompletedintimebecauseprioritiesinthisperiodwerefocusedonaccessiontotheEU.
Inthisfield,too,wenotethelackofcoordinationofresearchprogrammeswithneedsintheconservationofbiodiversityandthelackoffinancialresourcesandtrainedexperts.
b)ProtectedplantandanimalspeciesWithharmonisationwithEUlegislation,thelistsofprotectedplantandanimalspeciesweresupplementedin2004.
Allinternationallyimportantspecieshavenowbeencovered.
DIRECTIONSPreparationandimplementationofactionprogrammesforimprovedstatusofthemostendangeredspecies;Tomitigatethepressureonendangeredspecies(inparticular,pressurecausedbyrecreationalactivitiesandtheexploitationofspecies)incriticalperiods(nesting,spawning,wintering)tothelevelwhichallowsthemaintenanceofpopulations;Toconservestructuresinhabitatsthatarenecessaryfortheconservationofpopulationsofendangeredspecies;Toconserveand,whereappropriate,establishecologicallinksthatfacilitategeneexchangeamongpopulations;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)54Tocoordinatein-situandex-situmeasuresfortheconservationofendangeredspecies,inparticularthebreedingofspeciesforreintroductionintothewildandestablishmentofsuitableconditionsfortheirreproductioninnature;Topreventintroductionofalienspeciesintothenaturalenvironment.
c)StrategyofmanagementofpopulationsoflargecarnivoresandactionplansOBJECTIVE:Maintenanceoffavourablestatusofendangeredspeciesoflargecarnivoresandreducedconflicts.
Thepopulationoflargecarnivores(brownbear,wolfandlynx)inSloveniaisinafavourablestatusofconservation.
Atthesametime,theacceptanceofthelocalpopulationofcoexistencewithlargecarnivoresmustbeensured.
LargecarnivoresinSloveniadonothavethestatusofgamebutofprotectedspecies,sointerferencewiththepopulationiswithinthecompetenceoftheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning.
ManagementofbrownbearsiscarriedoutinaccordancewiththeBrownBearManagementStrategyinSlovenia(adoptedbytheGovernmentin2002),thelynxisnotsubjecttomanagement,whileamanagementstrategyforwolvesisintheprocessofadoption.
Inthereportingperiod,SloveniawasactiveinpreparationofaEuropeanstrategyforlargecarnivoresatthepopulationlevel(EuropeanCommissionandtheCouncilofEurope),withthefinalconsultationontheprojecttakingplaceinPostojnain2008.
SloveniaworkstogethertoexchangeexperienceandinformationwithitsneighbourCroatia.
d)StrategyformanagementofalieninvasivespeciesOBJECTIVE:Conservationofmaximallynaturalcompositionofbiocenosis.
Sloveniadidnotprepareastrategyformanagementofalieninvasivespeciesinthisreportingperiod,althoughitsadoptionwasforeseenbyNEAP.
Sloveniaparticipatedinanumberofinternationalprojectsinthisfield(e.
g.
DAISIE),aswellasinthepreparationofEuropeanstrategicdocuments(e.
g.
CouncilofEurope,EuropeanCommission).
FromJuly2008toDecember2009,thenon-governmentalorganisationThujaranaproject(Alieninvasivespecies–anoverlookedthreat)withtheintentionofraisingawarenessofthegravityoftheproblemofinvasivealienspecies.
Inpreparationforthenationalstrategyofmanagementofalienspecies,linksbetweensectors(especiallyagricultureandhealth)havebeenestablished.
8.
3.
3.
3.
OperationalprogrammeforprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeaturesOBJECTIVES:-Conservationofcharacteristicsforwhichnaturalareasaredefinedasvaluablenaturalfeaturesofacertaintypeandofallothercharacteristicstothegreatestpossibleextent;-Restorationofdamagedordestroyedvaluablenaturalfeatures;-Provisionofuseofnaturalresourcesinanon-threateningmanner;-Provisionofex-situprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatureswhoseconservationinnature,onthesite,isnotpossible.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)55ConservationofcharacteristicsforwhichnaturalareasaredefinedasvaluablenaturalfeaturesofacertaintypeandofallothercharacteristicstothegreatestpossibleextentNaturalareasthatacquirethestatusofavaluablenaturalfeatureareprotectedareaswithprescribedprotectiondirectionsandproceduresandmethodsinthecaseofinterventionsandactivities.
Protectiondirectionsforprotectedareasareintegratedinnature-protectionguidelines,throughwhichthecontentofnatureprotectionareenteredinplansofuseofnaturalresourcesandspatialplanning.
UndertheRulesonthedesignationandprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatures,thestatusofvaluablenaturalfeaturewasgrantedto6,519areasin2004andadditionallyto8,382cavesin2006.
Thetotalnumberofvaluablenaturalfeaturesis14,901.
In2009,theprofessionalservicemadeaproposalforapartialrevisionofvaluablenaturalfeaturesandforthegrantingofthestatustoaround600caves.
Atotalof5to15valuablenaturalfeaturesinthereportingperiodwereannuallymarkedandprovidedwithboardscontaininginformation,andguidingandwarningsignsandmessages.
RestorationofdamagedordestroyedvaluablenaturalfeaturesIn2009,thechallengingrestorationofthewetlandinkocjanskizatoknearKoperwasstarted.
Therestorationentereditsfinalstageofimplementationin2009withtheconstructionoftheparkinfrastructure.
Eachyear,somerestorationandrehabilitationactivitieshavebeenimplementedaspartofnature-protectionactionsandinterventions;theseincluderehabilitationofarborealvaluablenaturalfeatures,rehabilitationofindividualriverbanksandstreambeds,restorationofpondsandotherstillwaters,removalofwastefromcaves,andrehabilitationofnestingareasforwhitestorks.
Somevaluablenaturalfeatureswerephysicallyprotectedbyfences,whilesomecaveswereclosedbymeshdoorssotoallowbatflights.
ProvidinguseofnaturalresourceswithoutrisktoconservationstatusIn2003andagainin2008,aconcessionforuseofthedesignatedvaluablenaturalfeaturethePostojnaandPredjamacavesystemwasgrantedforaperiodof20years,withlong-termandshort-termprogrammesofusedeterminingthenature-protectionrequirementsandrestrictionsonuse.
Theprogrammeoutlinesthetasksofthe"cavemanager",continuousmonitoringofimpactofuseonthecaveandimmediateactionsintheeventofnegativeimpacts.
Aprojectwasstartedin2009todeterminetypesofconcessionusefor23cavesthatwouldrecognisenature-protectionimportanceandsensitivityofcaves.
InAjdovskajama,whereendangeredbatspeciesbreed,visitswereforbiddeninthebreedingseason.
8.
4.
Geneticsources,in-situandex-situprotectionOBJECTIVE:-Topreventfragmentationofpopulationsandtopromotere-establishmentofformerlyexistingconnectionsbetweenpopulationstoconservegeneflow;toensurein-situconservationofnaturallyisolatedpopulationsand,wherepossible,increasethenumberofspecimensinthesepopulations.
-Toguaranteeex-situprotectionofindigenousfloraandfaunawhenpopulationsaresosmallthatin-situconservationdoesnotsuffice.
In-situprotectionisprovidedbytheconservationoflivingenvironmentandspeciesthroughtheimplementationofNEAP.
TopreventpopulationfragmentationofspeciessubjecttoareaprotectionunderNatura2000,detailedruleshavebeendefinedaspartoftheimplementationofassessmentofacceptabilityregardingfragmentationofpopulationofthesespecies.
Ex-situprotectionofindigenouswildplantandanimalspeciesisimplementedinbotanicalandzoologicalgardens,butthesituationisnotregulatedsystemically.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)56Ex-situprotectionofgeneticsourcesinagricultureandforestryhasbeenregulated(seeChapterIII).
Ex-situProtectionObjective(2001)ImplementationModification/Status2009DirectionsToconservewildanimalsex-situwhenin-situconservationisnotpossibleorisseriouslythreatened.
Toconserveindigenousdomesticbreedsandvarietiesfortheproductionoffood,materialsandmedicines,andtoconservethegeneticresourcesofwildrelativesofdomesticatedbreedsandvarieties.
Breedingofindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimalsisencouragedinsomeprotectedareas.
Preparationofmanagementplansforallprotectedareasatnationallevel.
DIRECTIONSToencouragezoosandbotanicalgardens,genebanksandcollectionstomaintainspeciestoreintroducethemintothewildwhenthisactionleadstosatisfactoryin-situconservationstatusforaspecies;Maintenanceofanimalsshouldtakeplaceaccordingtosatisfactorystandardstoguaranteeviablespecimens;Topromotethebreedingofindigenousvarietiesofagriculturalplantsandbreedsofdomesticanimals.
8.
5.
SustainableuseofbiodiversityTheNatureConservationActdeterminesthatmeasuresofbiodiversityconservationandthesystemofprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeaturesshallbeintegratedinsectoralfieldsthatregulatetheuseofnaturalassets,measuresofcultural-heritageprotection,spatialplanningandconstructionofbuildings.
Theconservationofbiodiversityconcerns,inparticularagriculture,forestry,hunting,fishingandwatermanagementisdetailedinthefollowingchapter(Chapter3).
8.
6.
AdditionalliteratureBerginc,M.
,Kremesec-Jevenak,J.
,Vidic,J.
2006.
SistemvarstvanaravevSloveniji.
MinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,Ljubljana.
(http://www.
mop.
gov.
si/fileadmin/mop.
gov.
si/pageuploads/publikacije/drugo/sistem_varstva.
pdf)Okoljenadlani,MESP-EARS,2008http://nfp-si.
eionet.
europa.
eu/News/NEWS1203675146CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)57Annex1:ObjectivesforConservationofLandscapeDiversityObjective(2001)ImplementationModification/Status2009DirectionsConservationoftraditionalextensiveandsustainabletypeofuseofland/space,maintaininghighlevelofbiodiversity,landscapediversityandlandscapeculturalidentityinpartsofprotectedareasandinoutstandinglandscapeareas.
Conservationofhighbiodiversitylevelclarifiedundertheobjectiveon"conservationofbiodiversityinagriculturallandscape".
RecentfoundingactsofprotectedareaslistedundercategoryVofIUCNemphasisetheconservationoflandscapediversityastheobjectiveofprotection.
ImplementationofCEIA.
Preparationofmanagementplansforallprotectedareasatnationallevel.
Determinationoflandscapeareaasarecognisableareaatnationalorlocallevels.
(SPRS;PRS2004)–issueofimplementationatlocallevel.
Conservationoftheexistinglandscapediversityandofitsnaturalandculturalvalues.
Promotionofconservationoftypicallandscapepatternsandfeaturesinprotectedareas.
Promotionofsustainabledevelopmentbypromotingnature-friendlyuseofnaturalresources,handicraftsandtouristguidinginallprotectedareasatthenationallevelonthebasisoftheimplementationofmanagementplansandannualworkprogrammes.
ImplementationofCEIA.
Preparationofmanagementplansforallprotectedareasatnationallevel.
Definitionofcharacteristicsoflandscapeandlandscapediversityimportantforconservationofbiodiversity(Article35ofNCA).
Designationofareasofoutstandinglandscapeaslandscapevaluablefeatures(NCA).
Designationofareasofculturallandscapeasimmovableculturalheritage(CulturalHeritageProtectionAct).
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)58Annex2:ObjectivesforConservationofCoastalandMarineBiodiversityObjective(2001)ImplementationModification/Status2009DirectionsToreduceindustrial,agriculturalandurbanpollutionofwateronthecoastandinthehinterlandsoastoattainsuchwater-qualitystandardsthatexceptionallydiverse(withregardtobioticcharacteristics)andwell-preservedhabitattypesandhabitatsofendangeredandendemicplantandanimalspeciesarenotthreatened.
Determinationofhighbiodiversityofhabitattypesorwell-preservedhabitattypesandhabitatsofendangeredplantoranimalspeciesthroughtheRegulationonSpecialProtectionAreas(Natura2000Sites)andtheamendedWatersAct(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
67/02and57/08).
AdoptedMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective(2008/56/ES).
+ReferencetoChapter1.
Provisionalprogrammeofimplementation,preparationofmethodologiesandprovisionsonenvironmentalstatusofthesea,andfirstassessmentsofstatusofthemarineenvironment.
Torestoretofavourablestatusdegradedhabitattypes,wherepossible.
RestorationofkocjanskizatokandSeovljeSaltpans.
InitiationofStrunjanLandscapeParkmanagementin2007.
Removalofexcessmaterial.
Formedrelief.
Arrangedwaterregime.
Conditionsre-establishedfortypicalplantandanimalspecies.
Constructedinterpretationinfrastructure.
Constructionofaninformationcentre.
Topreventintroductionofalienspeciesintothenaturalenvironmentandspreadingofintroducedalienspeciesintoecologicallyimportantareas.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)59Annex3ObjectivesforConservationofUndergroundBiodiversityObjective(2001)ImplementationModification/Status2009DirectionsTomaintainsubterraneanhabitattypesinecologicallyimportantareas,andtheentiresubterraneanfauna,atafavourableconservationstatus.
AdoptionoftheCaveProtectionAct.
AdoptionofkeysecondarylegislationonthebasisoftheCaveProtectionAct:Rulesonreportingofinformationonundergroundcaves,Rulesonqualificationsforautonomouslyoperatingincaves,Rulesonqualificationsofcaveguidesforguidingincaveswhichareopentopublicandarrangedfortouristvisits,Decreeonspecialprotectionareas(Natura2000sites)determinesareasoutstandingforconservationoffavourablestatusofundergroundhabitattypes.
AdoptionoftheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013),whichdetailsobjectivesinthesesites.
AdoptionofthemanagementplanforkocjanCavesRegionalPark.
AdoptionoftheRulesprohibitingactivitiesthreateningprotectedbatspeciesinAjdovskajamanearNemkavas.
DeterminationoftheprogrammeofuseofvaluablenaturalfeaturesinPostojnaandPredjamacavesystemby2028withintegratednature-protectionconditionsClosureofentrancestosomecavesimportantandsensitiveintermsofnaturalprotectionInitiationofprojectgrantingsupervisionovercavesthatareimportantintermsofnatureprotectionandconcessionsfortheuseofcavespreventingriskstocaves.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)60Annex4ObjectivesforConservationofAgriculturalBiodiversityObjective(2001)ImplementationModification/Status2009DirectionsToconservethesurfaceareaofwetanddrygrasslandsandmeadoworchards,inparticularinareasofendangeredorendemicplantoranimalspeciesDeterminationofhighbiodiversityofhabitattypesorwell-preservedhabitattypesandhabitatsofendangeredplantoranimalspeciesthroughRegulationonSpecialProtectionAreas(Natura2000Sites).
TheRuralDevelopmentProgrammeenablestheconservationofgrasslandsandmeadoworchardsbyagri-environmentalmeasures.
AdoptionoftheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013),whichdeterminesthetargetscopeofagri-environmentalmeasures.
Implementationofactsonprotectedareas.
Preparationofmanagementplansforallprotectedareasatnationallevel,whichwillcontributetoimplementationoftheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013).
Establishmentofnewprotectedareas.
Toconserve,andevenincrease,thecurrentlengthofhedges,inparticularinecologicallyimportantareasDeterminationofhighbiodiversityofhabitattypesorwell-preservedhabitattypesandhabitatsofendangeredplantoranimalspeciesthroughRegulationonSpecialProtectionAreas(Natura2000Sites).
TheRuralDevelopmentProgrammeenablestheconservationofhedgesbyagri-environmentalmeasures.
AdoptionoftheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013),whichdeterminesthetargetscopeofhedges.
Implementationofmeasuresinprotectedareasthroughadoptedmanagementplansandannualworkplans.
Establishmentofnewprotectedareas.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)61Annex5ObjectivesfortheConservationofDiversityofSpeciesObjective(2001)ImplementationModification/Status2009DirectionsTomaintainallindigenousanimalandplantspeciesatfavourablestatus.
ConservationoffavourablestatusofthreatenedindigenousanimalandplantspeciesresultingintheadoptionoftheDecreeonprotectedwildanimalspecies,theDecreeonprotectedwildanimalspeciesandtheDecreeonspecialprotectionareas(Natura2000areas),providingalegalbasisfortheimplementationofdirections.
ActionprogrammespreparedattheEUlevel(forSlovenia)forendangeredbirdspecies,theirimplementationsummarisedintheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013).
TemporaryprotectionadoptedtoreducepressuresonendangeredspeciesintheKarstregionresultingfromincreasedrecreation.
Implementationofmeasuresinprotectedareasthroughadoptedmanagementplansandannualworkplans.
PreparationofmanagementplansforallprotectedareasatnationallevelwillcontributetoimplementationoftheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013)inthenextfewyears.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)62CHAPTERIIISECTORALANDCROSS-SECTORALINTEGRATIONORMAINSTREAMINGOFBIODIVERSITYCONSIDERATIONS8.
7.
Overviewofindividualactivities8.
7.
1.
Agriculture(CH1-3.
1)Becauseofthehighlevelofconservationofbiodiversity,thevarietyandextentofhabitatsandthespeciallandscapefeaturesinSlovenia,thereisaneedtofurtherconservethesefeatures.
Responsibilityfortheconservationoftheseelementsisreflectedintheproportionoftheterritoryoccupiedbynatureprotectedareasandprotectedareas.
Asmuchas47.
7%ofthenationalterritoryisdesignatedasecologicallyimportantarea,comprising202,000haofagriculturalland.
Thebestmethodtoachieveconservationoftheseareasisbymaintainingthecultivationofagriculturallandinanenvironmentallyfriendlymanner,andbymaintainingagriculturalactivityinmarginalandagriculturallylessfavouredareas,whichareatriskofbeingabandonedandovergrown.
Agricultureplaysanimportantroleintheconservationofhabitats,biodiversityandlandscapediversity.
Areascoveredbygrasslands,areaswithlow-intensityproductionandamosaicstructure,andareaswithendangeredspeciesandrichbiodiversity,representingagriculturallandofhighnaturalvalue,cover300,000haofSlovenia'sterritory.
Thisisaroundhalfofallagriculturalland,whichismainlylocatedinmarginalareasandinagriculturallylessfavouredareas.
Abandonmentoffarmingintheseareasandreductionintheareaofopenspacewouldchangethestructureofbiodiversityandleadtopotentiallossoftheculturallandscape.
Thusthereisaneedtomaintainagriculturalactivityintheseareas,ensuringconservationofbiodiversityofanimalsandplantscharacteristicofagriculturalland,andmaintainingthediversityandvisibilityoftheSlovenelandscape.
Onefactorthatcontributestoahighlevelofbiodiversity,conservationofhabitatsanddiversityofnatureandlandscapeisthefragmentedstructureofagriculturalland.
Fragmentedparcelsoflandandagriculturalparcelsmaintainthemosaicstructureofthelandscape,inwhichsemi-naturalareasareinterspersedwithcultivatedareas.
Inareasofhighnaturevalue,thefragmentedstructureoflandshouldbemaintainedandfarmersshouldbegivenfinancialsupporttohelpthembalancetheeconomicdeficitarisingfromsuchstructuralconditions.
WithNatura2000sitescoveringasmuchas36%ofitsterritory(ofwhich71%areforestsand30%agriculturalland),SloveniaranksasoneoftheEuropeancountrieswiththehighestproportionofitslandmadeupofNatura2000sites.
Thefavourablestatusofnatureandthehighlevelofhabitatandbiodiversityconservationshouldbemaintainedthroughappropriatestrategicguidelinesandmeasures.
However,thisshouldnotpresentanymajorobstaclestooptimumexploitationoftheeconomicpotentialofagricultureintheseareas.
Numerousrural-developmentmeasures,withparticularemphasisonagri-environmentalmeasures,whichhavebeenimplementedsuccessfullyformanyyearswithintheSlovenianAgriculturalandEnvironmentalProgramme(2001–2004),theRuralDevelopmentProgramme2004–2006(RDP04–06)andtheRuralDevelopmentProgramme2007–2013(RDP07–13),representanimportantcontributiontoachievingfavourablestatusoffarmlandbirdpopulations.
VariousmeasureswereimplementedwithinthetwoprioritytaskssetoutintheRuralDevelopmentProgramme2004–2006(sustainabledevelopmentofagricultureandruralareas,andeconomicandsocialrestructuringofagriculture),includingthemeasureregardingcompensatorypaymentsforagriculturallylessfavouredareas,whichhascontributedtotheprotectionandconservationofcultivatedagriculturallandandhashadapositiveimpactonmaintainingpopulationdensityinsparselypopulatedareas,andagri-environmentalCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)63measuresaimedatreducingthenegativeeffectsofagricultureontheenvironmentandatmaintainingitscurrentstate,whichhavecontributedtoalong-termimprovementofnaturalresourcesinSlovenia.
Thesemeasureshavealsohadapositiveimpactonraisingthelevelofeducationandskillsforimplementingsustainablefarmingmethods,whichsupportconservationofthefavourablestatusofhabitatsandbiodiversity.
Becauseofthewell-conservedanddiverseenvironment,thefavourablestatusofspeciesandhabitats,environmentalconditionsfavourabletoorganicfarmingandthelowdensityofpopulationinruralareas,SloveniahasplacedatthetopofitsprioritiesimplementationofthemeasuresproposedunderAxis2oftheRuralDevelopmentProgramme2007–2013,whichwillcontributetosustainableuseandmaintenanceoftheseconditions.
Thesemeasureswillalsoreducethreatstotheenvironmentposedbypoint-sourceintensivefarming,maintainagriculturalactivityinagriculturallylessfavouredareas,andpreventsoilerosionincertainareas.
Tothisend,Sloveniahasearmarkedalmost53%ofitsfundingfromtheEuropeanAgriculturalFundforRuralDevelopment(EAFRD).
TheprogrammedoesnotenvisageanydirectmeasuresunderAxis2toachievetheobjectivesofNatura2000,theWaterFrameworkDirectiveandclimate-changemitigation;objectiveswillbeimplementedthroughmeasureswithanindirectspecificeffect.
ThehabitatandbiodiversitystatusoftheNatura2000sitesinSloveniaindicatesgoodconservationandfunctionality.
Favourablestatusisalsoindicatedbythefactthatalargepercentageofnationalterritoryisprotectedinspecialconservationareas.
Inthemostimportantpartsoftheagriculturalareas(permanentgrassland,meadoworchards,andstructuralelementsoftheagriculturallandscape)locatedintheNatura2000sites,maintenanceofthefavourablestatusofspeciesandhabitattypesisensuredthroughpermanentcultivationoftheseareas.
ThemajorityoftheNatura2000sites(94%)overlapagriculturallylessfavouredareas,wherecultivationofagriculturallandcanbemaintainedthroughspecialmeasures.
TheregionalmodeloftheSinglePaymentScheme,introducedin2007,alsocoverspaymentsforgrassland,thusprovidingadditionalmotivationforcultivatinglandintheseareas.
Todate,nospecificrequirementsforfarmingintheNatura2000siteshavebeensetinSloveniathatwouldspecifylandmanagementforindividualsites.
Accordingly,nomeasurehasbeenintroducedtoprovidecompensationallowancesforextracostsandlossofincomeincurredinperformingagriculturalactivityintheseareas.
TheobjectivesofNatura2000willbeachievedthroughmaintainingcultivationinagriculturalareas.
Thestatusofhabitatsandbiodiversityismonitoredbyvariousindicators.
Thesystemformonitoringgeneraltrendsinchangesinspeciespopulationsandhabitatconservationenablesmonitoringoffarmlandbirdpopulations.
Thesystemwillalsoenablemonitoringofpopulationsinspecificareas(e.
g.
inareaswherecertainagri-environmentalsubmeasuresareimplemented).
Forseveralyears,populationsofendangeredbirdspeciesinspecialconservationareasofNatura2000sites,andwater-birdpopulationshavealsobeenmonitored.
Thefarmlandbirdpopulationindex(FarmBirdIndex–FBI),oneofthekeyindicatorsofbiodiversitystatusatEUlevel,hasshownadownwardtrend(Figure7)inthepastdecadeasithasdecreasedbymorethan10%comparedwith1996levels.
Thedatashowthatthedeclineinfarmlandbirdpopulationsisduetothespecialisationofagriculture,andchangesinprocessesandtechnologiesinagriculture.
Themostimportantchangesaffectingbirdsaretheremovalofhedges,landreclamation,increaseduseofmechanisation,fertilisersandpesticides,simplificationofcroprotation,andadeclineinthediversityoffarming.
RuralareascoveralargepartofSlovenia'sterritory(accordingtotheOECD).
Oftheseareas,85%aredesignatedlessfavouredareas,36%areNatura2000sites,andaconsiderablepartoftheagriculturalareameetsthecriteriaforareasofhighnaturevalue.
Alltheseareashavecertainkeyissuesincommon.
Thismeansthatbyapplyingindividualmeasurestocertainareas,wemaycontributetotheachievementofobjectivesandtoaCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)64favourablestateinanumberofotherareasandatdifferentlevelsatthesametime.
Thelessfavouredareameasurehasahorizontalpositiveimpactonmaintainingpopulationdensityandagriculturalactivityinalargepartoftheseareas.
Itcontributestoconservationofhabitatsandecosystemsthathaveevolvedasaresultofperformanceofagriculturalactivity,andwhichwoulddisappearifthisactivitywasabandoned.
Severalotheragri-environmentalsubmeasuresaimedatpromotingextensiveproductionandbiodiversityconservationalsocontributetotheconservationofthestatusoftheseareas.
DOPPS–BirdLifeSlovenia,incooperationwiththeBirdLifeInternational,aglobalallianceofbird-conservationorganisations,hasdrawnupguidelinesonmaintainingfavourablestatusofpopulationsofqualifyingandotherendangeredfarmlandandforestbirdspeciesinspecialconservationareasinSlovenia.
Theseguidelinesrepresentstartingpointsforpreparationofappropriateinstrumentsatthenationallevel,inparticular,withintheopportunitiesofferedbytheEUframeworkprogrammefor2007–2013,whichprovidesforfundingfortheNatura2000programmefromtheStructuralFunds,ruraldevelopmentprogrammesandLIFE+,aspecialfinancialinstrumentfortheenvironment.
SpecialemphasisisplacedonmeasuressetoutintheRuralDevelopmentProgramme2007–2013,includingmeasuresthatareofparticularimportancetoconservationoffarmlandbirds,suchasconservationofextensivegrassland,specialgrasslandhabitats,humidextensivemeadows,high-trunkorchards,andtheentiregroupofmeasureswithinorganicfarming.
SinceSloveniahasnotyetestablishedajointsystemformonitoringbiodiversity,theinformationonstatusisonlyqualitative.
Indicationsofthestatusofindicatorspeciesorhabitattypesshowthat,inareaswhereagri-environmentalmeasuresareappliedtothemajorpartoftheterritory,populationsarenotdeclining,andremainwithinthelimitsofnaturalfluctuation.
8.
7.
1.
1.
SustainableuseofbiodiversityinagricultureOBJECTIVE:1.
Toimplementactivitiesthatcontributetothecultivationofruralareasand,throughtheadaptationoftechnologies,reducethenegativeimpactofagricultureonwater,airandbiodiversity;2.
Tocontinuetoencouragefarmerstousesustainablefarmingmethods,whichareenvironmentallyfriendlyandhavealong-termpositiveimpactonenvironmentalconditions;3.
Tosustaintheecologicalandsocialfunctionsofagriculture,whichcontributetomaintainingpopulationdensityandhighbiodiversityinruralareas,andarebasedonmeasuresaimedatpromotingsustainabledevelopmentoftheseareasandatmitigatingtheeffectsofclimatechange.
MeasuresandactivitiesMeasurescontributetotheconservationandimprovementofthestatusoftheenvironment(soil,water,andair),andconservationofbiodiversityandtheculturallandscape,thusdirectlycontributingtotheachievementofobjectivesinNatura2000sitesandareaswithhighnaturevalue,whichareofparticularimportancetobiodiversityconservation.
Thesemeasuresarehorizontalandarepromotedbyagri-environmentalpayments.
Specificmeasuresthatarepromotedwithinagri-environmentalpaymentsandcontributetoachievingthegeneralobjectiveslistedinthetablebelowincludethefollowing:-Organicfarming;-Mountainpasture;-Mowingofsteepmeadows;-Mowingofbumpymeadows;-Meadoworchards;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)65-Breedingofindigenousandtraditionalbreedsofdomesticanimals;-Productionofindigenousandtraditionalvarietiesofagriculturalplants;-Sustainablebreedingofdomesticanimals;-Maintainingextensivegrasslands-Breedingofdomesticanimalsinthecentralareasofappearanceoflargecarnivores;-Conservationofspecialgrasslandhabitats;-Conservationofgrasslandhabitatsofbutterflies;-Conservationofmeadowsovergrownwithbirchtreesandfernundergrowth;-BirdconservationinhumidextensivemeadowsinNatura2000sites.
GeneralobjectivesandindicatorsVALUESOBJECTIVESBASELINEINDICATORSBaselineTarget(2013)HaltingbiodiversitylossPopulationofindicatorbirdspecies*(index,2007=100)100ConservationofsystemswithhighnaturevalueAgriculturalareaswithhighnaturevalue444,658haConservationofNatura2000sitesOvergrownagriculturallandinNatura2000sites10,500ha9,000haApplicationofnutrientstoland129kg/ha115kg/haImprovementinwaterqualityGrossnutrientbalance–surplusofnitrogen40kg/ha≤40kg/haShareofutilisedagriculturalarea(UAA)inthetotalarea29.
5%30%Eliminatingmarginalisationandland-useabandonmentOvergrownagriculturalland25,200ha20,000haReductionofsoilerosionAnnualamountofsoileroded0.
874t/ha0.
825t/haMaintainingsoilqualityAgriculturalareasdevotedtoorganicproduction26,831ha64,000ha**Areasdevotedtorenewableenergyproduction2,100ha3,000haRenewableenergyproductionfromforestry449kToeIncreaseRenewableenergyproductionfromagriculture9.
9kToeIncreaseGreenhouse-gasemissionsfromagriculture1,996,000t(CO2eq)1,850,000t(CO2eq)Climate-changemitigationAmmoniareleases20,600t/year20,400t/year*Sloveniahasbeenmonitoringfarmlandbirdpopulationssince2007.
**Utilisedagriculturalareasincludedinthecontroloforganicfarming8.
7.
1.
2.
SupporttobreedersofindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimalsFrom1999to2005,whengrantingsubsidiestobreedersofindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimalswaswithinthecompetenceoftheAgencyoftheRepublicofSloveniaforAgriculturalMarketsandRuralDevelopment,breedersofSloveneindigenousbreedshadacontractwiththeDepartmentofZootechnologyoftheBiotechnicalFacultyunderwhichtheywereentitledtocompensationforlossofincome.
Eachbreederwhoseanimalswereincludedintheconservationprogrammehadacontractforaspecificnumberofanimalsinthegenebankwiththelistofanimals.
BreedersofSloveneindigenousbreedsofcattle,sheepandgoatcouldobtaininvestmentgrantstosetupinfrastructureforbreedingindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimals.
Datafromtheagencyshowsthefollowingnumberofapplicationsforbreedingindigenousandtraditionalbreedsofdomesticanimalsgrantedin2008:CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)66Numberofapplicationsforbreedingindigenousandtraditionalbreedsofdomesticanimalsin2008TypeCattleHorsesPigsGoatsSheepHensNo.
ofholdings/No.
ofanimals226/829860/320763/56617/288183/76932/360In2008,one-offsupportwasallocatedtobreedersofCikabreedingbullsfromthefundsofthegenebank.
Breedersofeachselectedandapprovedbreedingbullwereentitledtothissupport,whichwasintendedtoenableinclusionofCikabreedingbullsinthenewlyestablishedgenebankforCikacattle.
From30breeders',32breedingbullswereselected.
ObjectivesforsustainableuseofbiodiversityinagricultureObjective(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsApplicationofecologicalandsocialfunctionsofagriculture,whichcontributetoconservationofruralareasandhighbiodiversityintheseareas,andarebasedonsustainableformsofagricultureandsustainabledevelopmentoftheseareas.
Supporttobreedersofindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimals.
Numberofanimalsforwhichbreedershavereceivedsupport.
Conservationofbreedingofindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimals.
Offeringfinancialincentivestopromotethebreedingofindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimals,inparticularbreedscategorisedascriticallyendangered,endangeredandlowrisk.
STRATEGICDIRECTIONS:-Tomeetobjectivesconcerningconservationofbiologicalandlandscapediversitythroughapplicationofappropriateagriculturalpolicyinstruments;-Topromotetargetedagri-environmentalmeasuresthatemphasisetheprinciplesofconservationofplantandanimalspeciesinagriculturalactivitiesandensuresustainableagriculture;toregularlymonitortheeffectivenessofthesemeasuresthroughspecificbiodiversityindicators;-Toenforcecross-compliancerequirementswiththeaimofreducingthethreatofpollutioncausedbychemicalandmineralsubstances,andotheradverseeffectsonbiodiversityandlandscapediversity;-Toraisetheawarenessofallfarmersandturnthemintostewardsoftheenvironmentandbiologicalandlandscapediversity,withemphasisonappropriatepesticidemanagement;-Tointroduce,throughlegislation,andpromotelabellingandmarketingofagriculturalproductsproducedinamanner,andinareas,significantlycontributingtoconservationofbiodiversity;-Toreduceemissionsfrompointsources(e.
g.
livestockfarms)anddiffusesources(e.
g.
intensiveagriculture);-Topromoteandensuretheviabilityofsustainableplantcultivationandanimalbreedingthroughselectionofvarietiesandbreedsthatareadaptedtothenaturalconditions,andconservetheecosystemsofendangeredwildspecies;tosupportthebreeding/cultivationoflessproductiveindigenousplantspeciesandbreedsofdomesticanimals;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)67-Tocoordinateagriculturalpolicywitheffortstoconserveorimprovethestatusofendangeredplantandanimalspeciesandtheirhabitats;-Topromoteandsupportlessintensiveagriculturalpracticesinareasofhighnaturevalue,especiallyinprotectedareas;-Tolimitallactivitiesthatareunfavourableforconservationofbiodiversity(agriculturalreclamation,agriculturalhydraulics,landconsolidation,etc.
)anddonotcontributetoachievingtheobjectivesofagriculturalpolicy.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)688.
7.
1.
3.
GeneticresourcesinagricultureObjective(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsExpansionofsustainableagriculturalpracticebasedonindigenousgeneticresourcesofplantvarietiesanddomesticanimalbreeds.
Supporttoproductionofindigenousagriculturalplantvarietiesandrearingofdomesticanimalbreeds.
MonitoringofindigenousandtraditionalbreedsofdomesticanimalsinSlovenia.
-RegisterofBreedswithZootechnicalAssessment(introducedin2003);-Numberofagriculturalholdingsapplyingthemeasure;-Surfaceareaforproductionofindigenousvarieties;-Numberofanimalsforwhichbreedersreceivedsupport;-Numberofusers(farmers)producingindigenousvarietiesorrearingdomesticbreeds;-Numberofregisteredanimalsbybreed(indigenousandtraditionalbreeds);Draftingofannualreportsonallindigenousandtraditionalbreeds.
Numberofregistered-Datafromrecordofmeasuresinagri-environmentalprogramme;-Conservationofbreedingofindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimals;-Lackofindigenousvarietiesofcertainagriculturalplantgroups(cereals),whichadverselyaffectsprogrammeimplementation;-Expertreportsfor12indigenousand10traditionalbreedsofdomesticanimals;-Zootechnicalreviewfor48domesticanimalbreeds;Draftedexpertreportsfor12indigenousand10traditionalbreedsof-Increaseinconservationofplantgeneticresourcesonagriculturalholdings(onfarmconservation);-Increaseinnumberofindigenousvarietieseligibleforsupport;-Adequatefinancialincentivesforrearingindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimals,inparticularbreedscategorisedascriticallyendangered,endangeredandlowrisk;-Gradualinclusionofallindigenousandtraditionalbreedsofdomesticanimalsinexpertreports;-Detailedzootechnicalreviewofalreadyregisteredbreedsofdomesticanimalsandadditionofnewbreeds;Gradualinclusionofallindigenousandtraditionalbreedsofdomesticanimalsinexpertreports.
DetailedzootechnicalCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)69Objective(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsanimalsbybreed.
domesticanimals.
-Zootechnicalreviewfor48domesticanimalbreeds;reviewofalreadyregisteredbreedsofdomesticanimalsandadditionofnewbreeds;Conservationofthegeneticpotentialofindigenousplantvarietiesanddomesticanimalbreeds,Expeditionsanddevelopmentofinventoryofgeneticresources,evaluationandpropagationofseedmaterialofaccessionsundergene-bankprogramme.
Settinguptissuedepository.
Numberofcollectedgeneticresources,numberofrestoredaccessions,numberofevaluated(characterisationandevaluation)accessions.
Numberofsamplesbydomesticanimalbreed.
DatafromtheSlovenianPlantGeneBank.
Tissuedepositoryfor27domesticanimalbreeds.
Supportofgenebankforcharacterisationandevaluation,propagationandconservationofaccessionsofgeneticresources.
Tissuedepositorysupplementedwithnewsamples.
Sustainableuseofindigenousgeneticresourcesforfoodandagriculture.
Programmeforcultivatingvarietiesorpropagatinglocalpopulationsfromgeneticresourcesinex-situcollections.
Numberofcultivatedorpropagatedlocalpopulationsfromresourcesinthegenebank.
Currentlythereisnoprogrammeofthiskind;theplantgenebanklacksfundsforpromotionofuseofplantgeneticresources.
Multi-year(permanent)programmesupportinguseofplantgeneticresourcesforcultivatingplantvarietiesandassistinginpreparationofanadequatequantityofseedmaterialofaccessionsfromex-situandin-vivocollectionsofgeneticresources.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)70Anewzootechnicaldocumentformonitoringbiodiversityinlivestockfarmingwasintroducedin2003:theRegisterofBreedswithZootechnicalAssessment.
ItisupdatedeveryDecember.
Theregistercomprisesthefollowingdataondomesticanimalsbyspeciesandbreed:-Nameofbreed;-Basicdata(stock,herdbook);-In-situgenebank;-Ex-situgenebank;-Datafrominternationaldatabases;-Breedingprogramme;-Assessmentofspecialgeneticvalueforconservationofanimalgeneticresources;-Zootechnicalassessmentandaction.
Toconservebiodiversityinlivestockfarming,proposalsforexpertandothermeasuresbybreedaredrawnupeveryyear(inthelastfourmonthsofayear)onthebasisofinformationfromtheRegisterofBreeds,thezootechnicalassessmentofthebreed,useandriskstatus.
In2003,dataoncattle(6breeds),sheep(6breeds),goat(4breeds)andpigs(7breeds)werecollectedandenteredintotheregister.
Overtheyears,theregisterhasbeensupplementedwithdataonnewbreeds.
In2008,thefollowingdatawereincludedintheregister:11breedsofcattle,11breedsofhorses,7breedsofpigs,6breedsofsheep,4breedsofgoat,7breedsofhens,1dogbreedand1breedofbee–intotal48breeds(13indigenous,16traditionaland19non-indigenousbreeds).
Theregisterhasalsobeensupplementedwithcompletelynewinformationstemmingfromexpertworkwithindividualspeciesandbreedsofdomesticanimals.
Since2006,sampleshavebeencollectedforthetissuedepository,inparticularsamplesofindigenousandtraditionalbreeds;in2004and2005breedingprogrammeswereapprovedandsincetheintroductionofEFABIS,entryofindividualspeciesandbreedsofdomesticanimalsinthisinternationaldatabasehasbeenspecifiedintheregister.
Detailedinformationavailableforeachbreedupto2008ispresentedinindividualon-lineregisterswithzootechnicalassessments:http://www.
bfro.
uni-lj.
si/Kat_center/genska_banka/pasme.
htm.
AssessmentofstockofpurebredSlovenianindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimalsin2003and2008Breed/Year20032008Lipizzanhorse630782Sloveniancold-bloodedhorse1,1202,500Posavjehorse700800Cikacattle6861890Krkopoljepig350599Jezersko-Solavasheep19,20017,000Bovecsheep3,6003,500Belakrajinapramenka680850Istrianpramenka–Istrijanka1,2001,150Drenicagoat550600Styrianhen–tajerka1,2001,000Carniolanbee(no.
ofhoneybeefamilies)157,000133,983Karstshepherd-600ThedatashowthatallSlovenianindigenousbreedshavebeenconservedandthestockofthemajorityofbreedshasincreased.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)71ReviewofmostimportantzootechnicalassessmentsbybreedgroupsinSlovenia'sagriculturein2008BreedgroupNo.
ofbreedsBreedingprogrammeBasiczootechnicalcharacteris.
GenebankTissuedepositoryBreedingvalueZootechnicalassessmentandactionIndigenous131292.
3%13100%969.
213100%538.
5%13100%Traditional1616100%16100%-743.
8%1381.
25%16100%Non-indigenous191368.
4%19100%-736.
8%631.
6%19100%Total484185.
4%48100%918.
8%2756.
3%2450%48100%AnalysisofthemostimportantzootechnicalassessmentsofbreedsrearedinSloveniaandenteredintheRegisterofBreedswithZootechnicalAssessmentrevealedasatisfactorysituation.
Basiczootechnicalcharacterisationisknownforallbreeds,thoughbreedingprogrammesforsevenbreedshavenotyetbeenapprovedandadopted.
Theuseofbreedsandimplementationofbreedingmeasuresaretwokeyrequirementsforeffectiveconservationofanimalgeneticresources.
Thein-situgenebankcomprises9indigenousbreedsandthetissuedepository27breeds.
Breedingvalueisregularlycalculatedfor24breeds(50.
0%).
Zootechnicalassessmentsandmeasuresareadoptedfor48breeds.
PursuanttotheCouncilRegulation(EC)No510/2006,fourtraditionalcheesesareprotectedonthetransitionalnationallevelinSlovenia(Nanokisir–Nanoscheese,Bovkisir–Boveccheese,Mohant–MohantcheeseandTolminc–Tolmincheese).
However,onlytwoareavailableonthewiderSlovenianmarket(NanokisirandTolminc).
BovkisirismadefromthemilkoftheBovecsheep,anindigenousbreedofdomesticanimal,whiletheotherthreearemadefrommilkoftraditionalbreeds:NanokisirandTolmincaremadefromthemilkofbrownbreedcowsandMohantismadefromthemilkoftheSimmentalbreed.
AsmallquantityofMohantismadefromthemilkoftheCikabreed,whichisalsoindigenous.
Prekmurskaunka,Prlekatünka,ebreljskielodecandZgornjesavinjskielodecaretypicallocalprotectedmeatproductsmadefromthemeatoftraditionalpigbreeds.
SurveysandstudieshaveshownthatSlovenianconsumersstilllackknowledgeoffoodsymbols.
Sincedemandfortheseproductsisakeyelementforthefunctioningofqualityschemesandincreasingtheinterestofproducersofprotectedagriculturalproducts,morewillhavetobeinvestedinthefutureinpublicity,promotionandmarketingoftheseprotectedproductsorfoodstuffs.
TheselectionofprotectedSloveniantraditionalfoodstuffsonthemarketisstillmodest.
ProductsinsupermarketsthathavebeengrantedprotectioninSloveniaandthoseforwhichapplicationsforprotectionontheEuropeanUnionmarketarebeingprocessedincludeKrakiprut(Karstprosciutto),Nanokisirandtajerskoprekmurskobunoolje(tajerskaPrekmurjepumpkinseedoil).
Unfortunately,retailersdonotrecognisethespecialcharacteristicsandhighervalueoftheseproducts,andplacethemonshelvesnexttosimilarproductsfromotherbrands.
Productswithguaranteedorigin,relatedtoSlovenianculturalheritage,tradition,andtypicallocalproductionandprocessing,aredefinitelyofhighervalueforbuyersthansimilarproductsfrommassindustrialproduction.
AreaswhereGMOsarenotreleasedintotheenvironmentincludeallNatura2000sites.
Inaddition,cultivationofGMOsisbannedinnewlyestablishedprotectedareas.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)728.
7.
1.
4.
InternationalcooperationonbiodiversityinlivestockfarmingInthefieldofbiodiversityconservationinlivestockfarming,Sloveniaprimarilycooperateswiththefollowinginternationalorganisations:FAO(FoodandAgricultureOrganization),ERFP(EuropeanRegionalFocalPoint),EAAP(EuropeanAssociationforAnimalProduction),DAGENE(InternationalAssociationfortheConservationofAnimalBreedsintheDanubianRegion),SAVE(SafeguardforAgriculturalVarietiesinEurope).
AreportonthecurrentsituationandactivitieswithrespecttoanimalgeneticresourcesinSlovenianagricultureisannuallysubmittedtoERFPandpublishedonitswebsite.
(http://www.
rfp-europe.
org/template02.
phplang=EN&id=1703).
Until2006,dataonindigenousandotherdomesticanimalsinSloveniawerepresentedinDADIS,aninternationaldatabase.
Pursuanttotheglobalreportonthestateofanimalgeneticresources,thesedatawerelatertransferredtoanewglobaldatabaseEFABIS.
Eachcountryisresponsibleforupdatingitsowninformation:(http://efabis_si.
bfro.
uni-lj.
si/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.
cgisid=1335516a322494443f39d644d9e2bec0,reportsreport12_50000218).
InterlakenDeclaration:AttheFirstInternationalTechnicalConferenceonAnimalGeneticResourcesforFoodandAgriculture,organisedinInterlakenbetween1and7September2007bytheFAOCommissiononGeneticResourcesforFoodandAgriculture(CGRFA),countriesadoptedbindingdocumentsthatareatthesametimeaglobalagreement,recommendationsandguidelinesforfutureconservationofanimalgeneticresourcesinagriculture.
TheInterlakenDeclarationwasadoptedattheconference.
OnthewebsiteoftheAnimalScienceDepartment,BiotechnicalFacultyoftheUniversityofLjubljana,thekeyissuesoftheInterlakenDeclarationarehighlightedandexplainedprimarilywithrelevancetoSlovenia.
TheGlobalPlanofActionforAnimalGeneticResourcesservedasabasisforassessmentandevaluationofSlovenia'scompliancewithstrategicpriorities.
Thisdocumentisaguidetoconservationofanimalgeneticresourcesinagriculture(http://www.
bfro.
uni-lj.
si/Kat_center/genska_banka/pub/porocilo/2007_Interlaken_deklaracija_pot.
pdf).
STRATEGICDIRECTIONS-Tocharacterise(includingtaxonomicidentification),evaluateanddocumentgeneticresourcesofplantvarietiesandanimalbreeds.
Inadditiontobiologicalcharacteristics,thisevaluationshouldincludeagronomiccharacterisationofagriculturalplantsandtheirrelatedwildspecies,aswellasphysiologicalandnutritionalcharacterisationofrespectiveanimalbreeds;-ToeffectivelymanagetheinventoryandcentralregisterofSloveniangeneticresources(insitu,exsitu);-Todraftandimplementanationalprogrammeonconservationandsustainableuseofgeneticresourcesundertheumbrellaofbiodiversityconservation,andforthepotentialuseofgeneticresourcesforfood,climate(adaptationofplantstoclimatechange)andotherpurposes;-Toprepareprogrammesfortheoperationofagriculturalgenebanksusedtoconservegeneticresourcesexsitu,insituandinvivoforfoodandagriculture;-Tointegrateplantgeneticresourcesfrompublicrecordsintoamultifacetedexchangesystemtofacilitateaccessanddedicateduseoftheseresources;-Topromotebreeding/cultivationandagriculturaluseofcommerciallyeffectiveindigenousplantvarietiesanddomesticanimalbreeds;-Topromotethedevelopmentoftrademarksforagriculturalproductsofindigenousdomesticanimalbreedsandplantvarieties,andsalesorganisationfortheseproducts;-Tostrengthencooperation,includingexchangeofinformationbetweenscientists,experts,competentministries,farmersandconsumers,inthemanagementofthepolicyongeneticresourcesforfoodandagriculture(establishmentofacouncilforgeneticresources);-ToprovidesuitablelegislationforintroductionofcontrolmechanismsfortheuseofGMOsandtheirreleaseintotheenvironment,fortheirgradualintroductiononacase-by-casebasis,takingintoconsiderationtheprecautionaryprinciple;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)73-ToguaranteetransparentproceduresforgrantingconsentorauthorisationtouseandreleaseGMOssupportedbysuitableinstitutionalinfrastructureatnationallevelandbycompetentprofessionalstaff;-Tostrengtheninternationalcooperation,includingexchangeofinformationandgeneticmaterial,accordingtotheprincipleofnationalpowersandnationalresponsibilityfortheprotectionofnaturalgeneticresources.
8.
7.
2.
ForestryConservationofbiodiversityisoneofthemaintargetsofsustainableandclose-to-naturemanagementofforestsinSlovenia.
Forestryisagoodexampleofsectoralmainstreamingofbiodiversityconsiderations.
InadditiontotheForestAct,whichamongotherthingsstipulatesthatforesthabitatsofindigenousplantsandanimalsmustbepreservedorrestoredinaccordancewithforest-managementplans,theResolutionontheNationalForestProgramme(NFP),whichwasadoptedbytheNationalAssemblyoftheRepublicofSloveniain2007,definesthekeyobjectivesfortheconservationofbiodiversityinforests.
Biodiversityissueswere,ofcourse,alsotackledintheNFPof1996.
Inforestry,theBiodiversityConservationStrategyofSloveniatoasignificantextenttookintotoaccountguidelinesfromtheNFPandviceversa,directionsfromthestrategyweretakenintoaccountintherevisedNFP.
TheNFPdefinestheobjectivesofbiodiversityconservationatthelevelofecosystems,speciesandgenes.
Themainguidelinesforachievingtheseobjectivesinclude:1.
Ecosystemlevel:Forestsmustbemanagedinasustainableandclose-to-naturemannertopreserveorpromotethenaturalcompositionofplantandanimalspecies;Thenaturalcompositionoftreespeciesmustbeprovidedbynaturalregenerationofstands,andspecialattentionmustbepaidtocontinuousharmonisationofplantandanimalcomponentsinforests;Incaseoftherenewalofstandswithplanting,preferencemustbegiventodomesticspeciesandlocalprovenancesadaptedtoasite;Favourableconservationstatusofrareandvulnerablehabitattypesinforests,includinghabitattypesandspeciesinNatura2000sites,mustbemaintainedonthebasisofsuitableguidelinesinforest-managementplansorbysuitablemanagementfocusingon:Diverseforeststructureindifferentagephases,Anadequatequantityofdecayingwoodmass,Typicalcompositionofbiocenosiswithoutnon-indigenousspeciesandGMOs,Thesurfaceareaof11foresthabitattypesofEuropeanimportance;Thenetworkofforestreservesmustbepreservedandsuitablyexpanded;Theforestclassificationsystemmustberevisedandharmonisedtobeusefulformanagingandmonitoringforestdevelopmentandforinternationalcomparisonatthelevelofhabitattypes;monitoringoftheconservationstatusofforesthabitattypesmustbeprovided;Publicityandawarenessraisingonthesignificanceofbiodiversityinforestsmustbeimproved;Surfaceareacoveredbyforestsandsmallforestcomponents,includingindividualtrees,wherethereisalackoftheminthelandscape,mustbeenlargedexclusivelyforthepurposeofincreasingbiodiversity.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)742.
Specieslevel:Withinforestplanningandmanagement,specialattentionmustbepaidtoindigenoustreespecies–keyspecies,inparticularaccompanyingspeciesandminorityspeciesofforestcommunitiesthatareendangeredduetotheenvironmentortheirspecificecologicalcharacteristics,suchasWildServiceTree(Sorbustorminalis),TrueServiceTree(Sorbusdomestica),Yew(Taxusbaccata),Whitebeam(Sorbusaria),Rowan(Sorbusaucuparia),Elm,Maple,Ash);Whereforestsarehabitatsofendangeredplantandanimalspecies,emphasismustbeplacedprimarilyontheconservationof:thesizeofasuitableforesthabitatinareaswherespeciesoccur,thespecificforeststructuresashabitatsofspeciesbyplanningforest-tendingmeasuresinlinewiththeecologicalrequirementsofspecies,naturalcompositionofbiocenosiswithoutnon-indigenousplantandanimalspeciesorsubspeciesandbiotechnologicallymodifiedorganisms,unpollutedair,waterandsoil,and,incaseofpollution,theirimprovement,unfragmentedhabitatsofspeciesorconnectingfragmentedpartsofhabitatsofspeciesandeliminatingfactorswithanadverseeffectonthefavourablestatusofspecies;Forconservationofaspecificforeststructure,specialattentionmustbepaidtoforestedges,wetlandsandsmallprovisionalbutkeyhabitatsorhabitattrees,includingdecayingwood,andco-financingofsuitablemeasuresmustbeprovidedInhabitatsofendangeredanimalspeciessensitivetodisturbances,quietzonesmustbesetupormovementofvisitorslimitedtopaths;Inallforests,recreationalactivitiesmustbedirectedtoareaswheretheydonotsubstantiallydisturbforestanimals,andforestworksmustbeadjustedtothelivesofforestanimals.
DirectionsfortheconservationofbiodiversityinforestsbasedontheGovernment'sspecialprogramme,theNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013),andmeasuresforachievingafavourableconservationstatusofspeciestargetedbyNatura2000sitesareincludedinforest-managementplanspreparedforallforests,irrespectiveofownership,withpublicfundsonaregularbasis.
Nature-conservationguidelinesdraftedbytheInstituteoftheRepublicofSloveniaforNatureConservationandregulationsonforestconservation,wherebiodiversityiskeytomaintainingthebioticbalanceofforests,aretakenintoconsideration.
Regulationsonforestsstipulatethatforestownersmustmanagetheirforestsinaccordancewithforest-managementplans,andthestateassiststhembycofinancinginvestment.
Thestatusofforestsisperiodicallyreviewedforthepurposeofforest-managementplans,orbasicdataimportantforbiodiversityofforestsattheecosystemlevelaremonitored.
Biodiversityatthespecieslevelismonitoredbyspecialisedorganisationsassistedbythestate.
WhenSloveniajoinedtheEuropeanUnion,theshareofforestsinareasunderprotectionincreasedto50%,becauselargeforestareasmetthecriteriaforhabitattypesofCommunityinterest.
Strategicdirectionsforbiodiversityconservationareimplementedintheseforestswithspecialcare.
Treecomposition,structure,developmentphases,younggrowth,volumeofdecayingwood,browsingandotherdamagecausedbygame,quietzonesandnumberofspecieswithafavourablestatusinNatura2000sitesarethemainconservationindicatorssystematicallymonitored.
Datafromthesystemforstatusmonitoringandforestdevelopmentshowthatthetreecompositionisslowlyapproachingthenaturalcompositionandthatthevolumeofdecayingwoodinforestsisingeneraladequatewiththeexceptionofareasinhabitedbyspeciesrequiringlargervolumesofdecayingwood.
DuetorelativelylessintensivefellinginthepastCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)75twodecades,theshareofyounggrowthisverysmallbuttheshareofolderdevelopmentphasesisbig.
Insomeparts,herbivorouscloven-hoofedgamebrowsesonyounggrowthtoanextentthatpreventsnaturalregenerationofstandswithanaturalcompositionoftreespecies.
Forestryandhuntinghavebeenlinkedtotacklethisproblem,butmeasuresarestillnotadequate.
Progresshasbeenachievedindefiningquietzonesinforestswheremotorvehiclesareprohibitedduetowildanimals.
WithrespecttomaintainingafavourableconservationstatusinNatura2000sites,forestownerstodatehavenotexperiencedanymajorrestrictionsinforestmanagementwiththeexceptionofdecayingwoodandhabitattrees,anddifficultieswiththeconstructionofforestroads.
Todate,theyhavenotoftenrequestedcompensationonthegroundsofrestrictionsinareasunderprotection,buttheseclaimscanbeexpectedinthefuturewhenmoreintensivemanagementofforestsisforeseen.
TheForestActprescribesmeasuresforbiodiversityconservation,ofwhichthefollowingtwoareofspecialimportance:abanonlarge-scaleclearcuttingandabanontheuseofnon-indigenousspeciesforreforestation.
STRATEGICDIRECTIONSToeffectivelyimplementallguidelinesoftheProgrammefortheDevelopmentofForestsinSloveniathatcontributetotheconservationofbiodiversity,inparticular:-Toconserveandrestoreplantandanimaldiversity,andtoprotectrareorendangeredforestspeciesandecosystems;toconserveandestablishasuitablelivingenvironmentforallindigenousspeciesofwildanimals;-Tobringthetreecompositionandstructureevenclosertothenaturalstatus;tocarryoutagradualbiologicalstabilisation(bytheintroductionofnaturaltreespecies)inbiologicallyandecologicallylabilestands(forexample,infir-dominatedstands);-Toregenerateforestsnaturallyandoversmallareas;renewalbyplantingisanexceptionalmeasuretakenwhenitisimpossibletoregenerateforestsnaturally;whenstandsarerenewedbyplanting,itisvitalthatthepropagatingmaterialisofaspeciessuitablefortheselectedsiteandofsuitableprovenance;-Todesignatehabitatsofparticularimportanceforanimalsorareasimportantforconservationofbiodiversityinaforestandlandscape;toadaptforestmanagementtotheirrole;-Toguaranteetheconservationanddevelopmentofaquaticecosystemsintheforestenvironment;-Toensurecompleteprotectionofforestreserves(legalprotectionandpurchaseifnecessary);-ToensurecompleteprotectionofforestsinIUCNProtectedAreaCategoriesI,II;-Tosurrenderecologicallyveryvulnerablestands,growinginextremeconditions,tonaturaldevelopment(exceptforurgentsustainablerestorationmeasures);-Toexcludesmallforestareas(eco-cells)andindividualtreestoconserveandincreasebiodiversityofforests;-Toconserve,establishandcreateforestedgesandtreegroups,individualtrees,riparianforestvegetation,windshelterbeltsandtreeboundariesoutsideforests;-Toapplyexclusivelyecologicallysoundtechnologiesintreefelling(skiddingofwood)andtoonlybuildabsolutelynecessaryandenvironmentallyfriendlyforestroads;-Topreventexploitationofforeststhatwouldthreatentheirsustainabledevelopmentandfunctions;Totakeintoaccountforestfunctions,inparticularecologicalfunctions,inspatialplanning,planningofactivitiesthataffectthephysicalenvironmentandindevelopmentofactivitiesinareasdefinedinforest-managementplans;Toestablish,aspartoftheSlovenianforestgenebank,anetworkofforestgenereservesbasedonexpertcriteriaandonappropriatecharacterisationofanddocumentationonindigenouspopulationsofforestgeneticresources.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)768.
7.
3.
HuntingPursuanttotheActamendingtheGameandHuntingAct(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
17/2008),certainmeasuresspecifiedinthetablebelowhavealreadybeenadopted.
In2007,theRulesontheadoptionoflong-termplansofhunting-managementareasintheRepublicofSlovenia2007–2016(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
99/2007)wereadopted.
InagreementwiththeMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,onthebasisoftheseRules,theMinistryofAgriculture,ForestryandFoodadoptedlong-termhuntingmanagementplansforhunting-managementareas2007–2016.
Giventheobjectivedefinedin2001,furthereffortswillbenecessarytoachievetheobjectiveofconservingfavourablestatusofgamespeciesandtheirhabitatsand,wherenecessary,improvingthisstatusbyapplyingdirectionsregardingthedevelopmentofgamepopulations.
ObjectivesforSustainableUseofBiodiversityinHuntingObjective(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsTomaintainspeciesandhabitattypesatafavourablestatusand,wherenecessary,toimprovetheirstatusbydirectingthedevelopmentofgamepopulations.
Concessionawardforsustainablegamemanagement.
Three-stageplanningofgamemanagement(long-termstrategicplanningatthelevelofhunting-managementplanning,annualplanningatthelevelofhunting-managementareaandimplementingannualplanningatthehunting-groundlevel.
Numericalstatus.
Frequencyofdamagecausedbygameinhuntingandnon-huntingareas.
Favourablenumericalstatus.
Noticeableover-populationincertainspecies.
Numberofdamageeventsisslightlyincreasing.
Huntinginformationsystem.
Tomonitordevelopmenttrendsingamepopulation.
Toreducetheoccurrenceofdamageevents.
STRATEGICDIRECTIONSToaddresstheissueofgameanditslivingenvironmentinanintegratedmanner;Todrawupgame-managementplanswithregardtothestatusofgame,itshabitats,theload-bearingcapacityoftheenvironmentandecologicalprocessesinecosystems,inlinewithsustainableuseanddevelopmentofforests;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)77Toincorporatenature-protectionobjectivesintogame-managementplansandtoguaranteetheirharmonisationwithguidelinesforconservationofendangeredspeciesandthreatenedhabitattypes;Topromotetheparticipationofpublicforestryservicesandhuntingorganisationsinthespatial-planningprocessandtheimplementationofactivitiesinruralareas,inparticularduringconstructionofinfrastructure,toensureconservationofhabitatsofgameandotherwildanimals;Todrawupdirectionsforallactivities,inparticularinthefieldofagriculture,forestryandwatermanagement,toconservethehabitatsofgameandotherwildanimals;Toperformactivitiesatatimeofyearwhengameisnotoverlydisturbed;Toimplementgamebreedingandhuntingmeasurestoconserveandimprovehabitatsofgameandotherwildanimals,whilegraduallyreducingtheintensityofgamefeeding;Tograduallyceaserepopulationofhuntedspeciesinecologicallyimportantareasandtotakeintoaccountlocalgeneticoriginintherepopulationofgameinotherareas;Toreducebreedingofhuntedbirdspeciesforthepurposeofsporthunting;Toreducethesizeofpenssetupforhuntingpurposes.
8.
7.
4.
FisheriesConservationandsustainablemanagementoffisheryresourcesareamongthekeyobjectivesoffisheriespolicyinSlovenia.
Theseobjectivesarepursuedonthebasisoftwoumbrellaactsregulatingmarinefisheriesandfreshwaterfisheriesrespectively(MarineFisheriesActof2006andFreshwaterFisheriesActof2006).
TheCommonFisheriesPolicy(CFP)oftheEuropeanUnioninindividualfieldsendorsestheattainmentoftheobjectivesofSlovenia'sfisheriespolicy.
TheCFPcomprehensivelyregulatesonlymarinefisheries,whereasfreshwaterfisheriesandaquaculturearetoalargeextentinthehandsofMemberStates(attheEUlevel,thereisonlytheobligationtosubmitdataonaquaculture).
ThemostimportantdocumentfortheconservationofbiodiversityinthefieldofmarinefisheriesisCouncilRegulation(EC)No1967/2006concerningmanagementmeasuresforthesustainableexploitationoffisheryresourcesintheMediterraneanSeawhichdefinestheminimumsizesofmarineorganisms,requirementsrelatingtothecharacteristicsoffishinggearandconditionsforattachmentstoandriggingoftrawlnets.
TheregulationisdirectlyandfullyapplicableinSlovenia.
IntheMarineFisheriesManagementPlanforwatersunderitsjurisdiction,Sloveniadefinedtwopotentialderogationsfromtheprovisionsofthisregulation(inrelationtothedropofsurroundingnetsandatransitionalderogationregardingthemeshsizeofbottomtrawlnets).
Thesubjectmatterofthisregulationispartofanexamthatmustbepassedbyfishermeniftheywishtoobtainanauthorisationorlicenceforcommercialseafishing.
Toconservebiodiversityofmarinefisheryresources,theMarineFisheriesManagementPlanforWatersundertheJurisdictionoftheRepublicofSlovenia,whichwasdraftedinlinewithCouncilRegulation(EC)No1967/2006,playsanimportantrole.
Thisplandefinesproposalsformanagementwithtrawlnets,boatseines,shoreseines,surroundingnetsanddredgesasfishinggear.
Thefollowingpoliciesandmeasuresfromnumerousotherfieldsalsocontributetoconservationofbiodiversityofmarinefisheries:datacollectiononfisheries(includingbiologicaldata),recordkeepingonvesselsauthorisedforcommercialseafishinginaccordancewiththegrosstonnageandengine-powerreferencelevels,equippingvesselsexceeding15minoveralllengthwiththeVesselMonitoringSystem(VMS),provisionofCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)78traceability(obligationtosubmitlogbookscontaininganentryforeachcatchregardlessofthespeciesandquantityofmarineorganismscaught),andmeasuresgoverningleisurefishingatsea.
TheFisheriesResearchInstituteofSloveniaisaninstitutionprovidinganexpertbasisfordecision-makingonthemanagementofmarinefisheries,freshwaterfisheriesandaquaculture.
ExpertiseforplanningtheimplementationoffreshwaterfisheriesmanagementinfisheriesdistrictsisprovidedbytheFisheriesResearchInstituteofSloveniaonthebasisoffish-populationmonitoring,annualreportsoncatchesbyconcessionaires,aswellasichthyologicalandbiologicalinventoriesoffisheriesdistricts.
Afisheries-managementplancoveringaperiodofsixyearsisanobligatoryexpertbasisforintegratedfisheriesmanagementofanindividualfisherieszone.
Managementinindividualfisheriesdistrictsisbasedonsix-yearfish-breedingplans.
Theseplansincludefishingregimes(numberoffishingdays,fishingmethod,minimumsizes,closedseasons,maximumnumberoffishcaught),sustainablebreedingofindigenousfishspeciesinfish-breedingparts,stockingandotheractivitiesassociatedwithconservationofstocksofindigenousfishpopulations.
Annualplansarepreparedbyconcessionairespursuanttofish-breedingplans.
IncooperationwiththeInstituteoftheRepublicofSloveniaforNatureConservation,theFisheriesResearchInstituteofSloveniadraftsplanswhichareapprovedbytheMinisterofAgriculture,ForestryandFoodinagreementwiththeministerresponsiblefornatureandwaterprotection.
Theseplansenablesustainableuseoffisheryresources,compliancewithallnature-protectionguidelines,conservationofbiodiversityandprotectionofprotectedfishspecies.
Draftingofalong-term(12-year)managementprogrammeforfisheryresourcesininlandwatersisnowenvisaged.
Fisheriesmanagementinfisheriesdistrictsisperformedbyconcessionaires.
Onthebasisofapubliccall,concessionsweregrantedin2008fortheimplementationoffisheriesmanagementindistricts(inlandwatersinSloveniaaredividedinto12fisherieszonesand67fisheriesdistricts).
Alongwithfishing,aconcessionairemustalsoperformcertainpublictasksinhisdistrict(keeping,restockingwithindigenousfishspecies,andothermeasuresaimedatimprovingfishpopulationandbiodiversity).
Commercialfishingisprohibitedinfreshwaterfisheries;leisurefishingwithhooksisallowedbutfishermenmustreporttheirdailycatch.
ConcessionairesreportontheannualcatchintheirdistrictstothefisheriescadastrekeptbytheFisheriesResearchInstituteofSlovenia.
Withrespecttomeasuresforsustainablemanagementoffreshwaterfishstocks,localgeneticoriginistakenintoconsiderationinrepopulationwithindigenousfishspeciesaspartoffish-breedingplans(eachplanmustbeapprovedbytheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning).
Electrofishingisbannedingeneral,butmaybeusedforindigenousfishonlyforthepurposeofsustainablebreedingforrestocking.
Sportfishingisalsopracticedincommercialponds,whichmaybestagnantwatersandforwhichawaterrightmustbegranted.
Withtheexceptionofsustainablebreedinginfish-breedingparts,fishbreedingisperformedsolelyonthebasisofagrantedwaterrightforbreedingofaquaticorganisms.
STRATEGICDIRECTIONSTodrawupfish-breedingplansonthebasisoftheabundanceandspeciescompositionoffishpopulationswithininternationallyrecognisedmethodologies;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)79Touseinasustainablemannerspeciesthataresubjecttomarinefishingandharvestingofmarineorganismswhilesimultaneouslyreducingbycatchandnegativeimpactoffishingonthebenthic,pelagicandothercommunitiesofwildanimalsandplants;Tograduallyceasestockingallfishspeciesintoopenwatersintheecologicallyimportantareasandtoincreasinglytakeintoaccountlocalgeneticorigininthestockingofindigenousfishspecies;Tofishinsuchawaythatthenaturalagestructureofanimalpopulationsisnotalteredandtostopthefishingofindigenousspeciesbyelectrifyingdevices;Tophysicallyencloseandseparatecommercialfishfarmsfromnaturalwatercoursestopreventescapeoffishandorganicpollution;Topromotethebreedingofindigenousfishspeciesincommercialfishfarms.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)80ObjectivesforSustainableUseofBiodiversityinFisheriesObjectives(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsTomanagefreshwater-fishpopulationsonthebasisofanexpertandtransparentdefinitionoffishpopulationsizes,whiletakingintoaccountecologicalprocessesinwaterecosystems,thenaturalload-bearingcapacityoftheenvironmentandnature-protectionguidelinestoconservebiodiversity.
Grantingconcessionsforfisheriesmanagementinfisheriesdistrictsofinlandwaters.
Draftingofa12-yearmanagementprogrammeforfisheryresourcesininlandwaters.
Preparationof6-yearmanagementplansfor12fisherieszonesand6-yearfish-breedingplansfor67fisheriesdistricts(theFisheriesResearchInstituteofSloveniadraftsmanagementplansforfisherieszonesandfish-breedingplans,whichareapprovedbytheministerofagriculture,forestryandfoodinagreementwiththeministerresponsiblefornatureandwaterprotection).
Fishingisallowedsolelyonthebasisofavalidfishinglicenceinwhichthefishermanmustrecordhiscatch;onlyfishingwithpole,linesandhooksispermitted;minimumConcessionsgranted.
Managementandfish-breedingplansdefinevolumeofcatchforrespectivefishingdistricts,numberoffishingdaysandmaximumcatch;fish-breedingplansenablesustainableuseoffishwhilepreservingthestockofindigenousfishspeciesandprotectingprotectedfishspecies.
Catchofindividualfishingspecies.
Numberofconcessionsgrantedin2008;67(concessionsweregrantedforaperiodof30years).
-Programmeisunderpreparation;Fisheries-managementplansmustbemadeby2010andthefish-breedingplanby2011.
Changestofishingregimes.
Managementoffisheriesdistrictsinlinewcontractsbetweenconcessionairesandthgrantor(RepublicofSlovenia.
ManagementoffisheryresourcesininlanwatersinlinewithadoptedmanagementpFisheriesmanagementinlinewithfisheriemanagementplansinfisherieszonesandbreedingplans.
Useoffisheryresourcesinascopeenablconservationofindigenousfishspeciesaprotectionofprotectedspecies.
PotentialupgradingofthefisheriescadasCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)81ObjectivesforSustainableUseofBiodiversityinFisheriesObjectives(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionssizesoffishcaughtandclosedseasonsareprescribedtoguaranteesustainableuseoffishingspecies.
Settingupafisheriescadastrecomposedofdatabasesthatareimportantforfisheriesplanning,preparationofexpertbasisandopinions,measuresandregulationsconcerningfreshwaterfishing.
MonitoringonthebasisofbiologicalandichthyologicalinventoriesinlinewiththeworkprogrammeoftheFisheriesResearchInstituteofSlovenia.
Tosuperviseimplementationoflegislationonfreshwaterfisheries.
Fisheriescadastre.
-Changestomonitoringresults;Modernisationandupgradingofthefisheriescadastreinacomputerapplicationin2009.
takingintoaccountnewrequirements(prigeographiclayers).
Toensuresustainableuseofbioticresources,subjecttomarinefishingandharvestingofmarineorganisms,FisheriesmanagementinlinewiththeEUCommonFisheriesPolicy.
FisheriesmanagementinlinewiththeEUCommonFisheriesPolicy.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)82ObjectivesforSustainableUseofBiodiversityinFisheriesObjectives(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsandtoconservebiodiversityinmarineandcoastalhabitattypes.
Collectionoffisheriesdata(biological,technical,environmentalandsocioeconomicdata)inlinewithEUregulationsandintroductionofcross-checkingofdataintheInfoRibsystem.
TosetuprecordsofvesselsauthorisedforcommercialseafishinginlinewithEUregulations(InfoRibinformationsystem).
CoordinationoffishingeffortwithactivefishinggearinlinewiththeMarineFisheriesManagementPlaninthewatersunderthejurisdictionoftheRepublicofSlovenia.
Allvesselsexceeding15minoveralllengthwereequippedCurrentnationalprogrammeforfisheriesdatacollection.
Referencelevelsforgrosstonnage(GT)andenginepower(kW)forSloveniainlinewithEUregulations:1,057GTand10,974kW.
Coordinationoffishingeffortwithsurroundingnets,shoreseines,boatseines,trawlnets,pelagictrawlnetsanddredges.
NumberofvesselsequippedwithVMS.
Eachcatchmustberecordedinlogbooksaccordingtospeciesandquantity,logbooksareenteredintotheInfoRibCurrentnationalprogrammeforfisheriesdatacollection2009/2010.
SlovenianfleetforcommercialseafishingintermsofGTandkWasof31December2008:983GTand10,653kW.
-Registeredasauthorisedforcommercialseafishing:5vesselswithsurroundingnets,0vesselswithshoreseine,0vesselswithboatseine,27vesselswithtrawlnets,13vesselswithpelagictrawlnets,9vesselswithdredges(Note:Avesselcanhaveseveralfishinggearsregisteredinitsauthorisationforcommercialseafishing).
FurthercollectionoffisheriesdatainlinewEUregulations.
Fleetmanagementwithrespecttothereferencelevel.
EquippingfishingvesselswithVMSinlineEUCommonFisheriesPolicy.
UpgradingoftraceabilitysystemforfisherproductsinlinewithEUregulations.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)83ObjectivesforSustainableUseofBiodiversityinFisheriesObjectives(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionswiththeVesselMonitoringSystem(VMS)inlinewithEUregulations.
SettingupasystemfortraceabilityoffisheriesproductsinlinewithEUregulations.
Noauthorisationsarerequiredforleisurefishingfromthecoast,butafishinglicenceisrequiredforleisurefishingfromaboat.
Biologicalsamplingofthecatchinmarinefisheries.
informationsystem.
Recordsofannuallicencesforsportfishing,annuallicencesforsportfishingwithaspeargunandfishinglicences.
SamplingisannuallyperformedbytheFisheriesResearchInstituteofSlovenia.
8vesselswithoveralllengthexceeding15mareequippedwithVMS.
Allowabledailycatchinleisurefishingatseaismaximum5kgoffish.
Pilchardsandanchovies,bycatchanddiscardsaresampled.
ManagementofleisurefishingatseainlinwithexistingsystemandEUregulations.
Continuationandpotentialexpansionofbiologicalsampling.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)848.
7.
5.
WatermanagementTheamendedWatersAct,theResolutionontheNationalEnvironmentalActionProgramme2005–2012(ReNPVO),(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
2/06),regulations,reportsonimplementationandtheWaterManagementPlan(WMP)constitutetheregulatorybasisforwatermanagement.
Themainenvironmentalobjectivescoveringsurfacewaterbodies(SWB)aretoachievefavourableecologicalandchemicalstatusby2015.
Achievementoftheseobjectivesisalsocloselylinkedwithobjectivestoreducepollutionfromprioritysubstancesandeliminationofemissionsofprioritysubstancestoattainconcentrationsthatareclosetothevaluesofthenaturalbackground.
Detailedenvironmentalobjectivesforwaterbodieshavebeendefinedasfollows:–TheobjectiveforSWBforwhichfavourablechemicalstatusisexpectedtobeachievedby2015(probabilityassessment2015=1,2and3),iscoveredby"Preventingstatusdeterioration",withtheprotectionandconservationoffavourablestatusofthesewaterbodiestobeensuredinthefuture;–Theobjective"Achievementoffavourablestatus",i.
e.
favourablechemicalandecologicalstatusofsurfacewaters,concernsSWBforwhichthe2015probabilityassessmentshowsthatwithoutappropriatesupplementarymeasures,environmentalobjectiveswillnotbeattainedby2015;–Theobjectives"Progressivereductionofpollutionfromprioritysubstances"and"Ceasingorphasingoutemissions,dischargesandlossesofpriorityhazardoussubstances"concernSWBwhere,accordingtodatacollectedbytheEnvironmentalAgencyoftheRepublicofSlovenia,emissionsofpriorityand/orpriorityhazardoussubstancesfrompointsourcesofpollutiontookplacein2007.
Heavilymodifiedandartificialwaterbodiesaresubjecttosomewhatdifferentcriteria.
By2015,favourablechemicalstatusandecologicalpotentialarerequiredtobeachievedinthesewaterbodies.
Sincetheecologicalpotentialhassofarnotyetbeendefined,thesewaterbodies(WB)fallunder"Preventingstatusdeterioration".
Theaimofthisobjectiveistokeeptheloadstatusatthecurrentlevel,untiltheecologicalpotentialhasbeendefined.
STRATEGICDIRECTIONSTointegratebiodiversityconservationobjectivesintoallaspectsofwatermanagementandtotakeintoaccountnature-protectionguidelinesfortheWaterManagementPlancoveringtheDanubeandtheAdriaticSeaaquaticarea;Toensurenature-friendlymanagementofwatercoursesasintegralsystemsandtomanagetheminawaythatguaranteesconservationorrestorationofthenaturaldynamicsofwaters;tothisend,themaintasksaretheconservationandrestorationoftheembankmentareaandthefloodzone,whichfunctionsasthehabitat,orpartofit,ofmanyplantandanimalspecies,inparticularendangeredspecies;Toconserveand,wherepossible,restorethepassagesbetweenparticularwaterbodiestoensuremigrationroutesforanimals;Tocarryoutactivitiesatatimeofyearthatdoesnotcoincidewiththebreedingseasonofanimalsandplants;Tomanagewatersandthewaterinfrastructurenetwork,includingtheremovalofdepositsandvegetation,inamannerthatdoesnotreducebiodiversity;Toremovegravelinanamountandmannerthatdoesnotreducebiodiversity;Toguaranteethefulfilmentofwater-managementobjectivesthroughreactivationofpotentialretentionzonesandcreationofnewones;Toensureecologicallyacceptablewaterflowratesinallseasons,inparticularduringtheperiodofnaturallowflowrates.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)85ObjectivesforConservationofInlandWaterBiodiversityandWater-managementObjectivesObjective(2001)ImplementationModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsToconserveexistingecologicallyimportantwetlandsandtheirhabitattypesatafavourablestatusandtorestoretheecologicalcharacteristicsofdegradedinlandwaters,bogsandmarshes,wherefeasible.
Determinationofbioticallyhighlydiverseorwell-preservedhabitattypesandhabitatsofendangeredplantoranimalspeciesthroughDecreeonSpecialProtectionAreas(Natura2000Sites),WatersAct(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
67/02,110/02)andActAmendingtheWatersAct(ZV-1A)(Ur.
l.
RSno.
57/08).
EstablishmentofLjubljanskoBarjeLandscapePark.
EstablishmentofRadenskoPoljeLandscapeParkisunderway.
Toconsiderwatersasasysteminwhichgroundwaterandsurfacewatersandtheirhabitattypesformanintegralwhole.
DecreeonProvisionalWaterManagementPlan(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
4/09);GroundwaterDirective(2006/118/EC)*;RulesonDeterminationofGroundwaterBodies(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
63/05);RulesonDeterminationofSurfaceWaterBodies(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
63/05).
WMP(2009).
Toattainsuchwaterqualitystandardsthatexceptionallydiverse,withregardtobioticcharacteristics,andwell-DirectiveonEnvironmentalQualityStandardsintheFieldofWaterPolicy(2008/105/EC),BathingWaterCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)86ObjectivesforConservationofInlandWaterBiodiversityandWater-managementObjectivesObjective(2001)ImplementationModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionspreservedhabitattypesandhabitatsofendangeredandendemicplantandanimalspeciesarenotthreatened,inparticularbyreducingindustrial,agriculturalandurbanpollutionofwater.
Directive(2006/7/EC),76/160/EEC),NitratesDirective(91/676/EEC)andOperationalProgramme;Waterscarcityanddroughts(ECCommunication),Adaptationtoclimatechange(ECCommunication),WhitePaperonAdaptingtoClimateChange.
OrdinanceonEstablishmentofGovernmentOfficeforClimateChange(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
49/09).
Topreventintroductionofalienspeciesintoinlandwatersandthespreadofalreadyintroducedalienspeciestoecologicallyimportantareas.
TheFreshwaterFisheryAct(2006)providesthatre-stockingmayonlytakeplacewithfishfromthesamewaterbasinandoriginatingfromsustainablebreeding,whileprohibitingtransferoflivefishintootherwaters.
InWMP,alien,invasivespeciesaretreatedasload.
Toencouragelanduseonriverbanksandinalluvialriverareastoconservehabitattypesthatmaintainthewatercycle,andareimportantforconservationofbiodiversityandreductionandpreventionofdamagecausedbywaters.
Directive2007/60/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof23October2007onassessmentandmanagementoffloodrisks(FloodsDirective)–transpositionatthenationallevel:WatersActUr.
l.
RS,nos.
67/02,110/02)andActAmendingtheWatersAct(ZV-1A)(Ur.
l.
RSno.
57/08);DecreesonconditionsandrestrictionsregardingtheperformanceofCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)87ObjectivesforConservationofInlandWaterBiodiversityandWater-managementObjectivesObjective(2001)ImplementationModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsactivities,includingspatialplanningactivities,inareasendangeredbyfloodsandtheassociatederosionofinlandwatersandsea(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
89/08).
Toadjustlandusetonaturalwaterregimesandtoconcentraterelatedactivitiesoutsideofareasofintensivehydrodynamicprocessesandareasofstrategicallyimportantwaterresources.
DecreeonProvisionalWaterManagementPlan(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
4/09),WMP.
Tomanageandprotectwatersinamannerthatconservesbiodiversityandensuressustainableuseofwaters.
DecreeonProvisionalWaterManagementPlan(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
4/09).
WMP.
Tomanagewatersinacomprehensivemannerbytakingintoaccounttheirdynamicsandnaturalprocesses,aswellasinterconnectionandinterdependenceoftherelevanthabitattypes.
DecreeonProvisionalWaterManagementPlan(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
4/09;DecreeonSurfaceWaterStatus(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
14/09).
DecreeamendingtheDecreeondetailedcontentandthemannerofdraftingwatermanagementplans(Ur.
l.
RS,no.
5/09).
WMP.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)888.
7.
6.
IndustryandenergysectorWithintheindustryandenergysectorthereistoolittlecooperationwiththefieldofbiodiversityconservation,whichisparticularlyduetoplanningpoliciesandprogrammesoffurtherdevelopmentthatdonotconsiderbiodiversity-conservationobjectives.
Furtherdevelopmentofenergysourcesalsodoesnotsufficientlyconsidertheprincipleofreducingtheiruseandimprovingthesituation.
Moreover,planninganduseofrenewableenergysourcesarequiteofteninconflictwithnatureconservation.
Considerationofnewprinciplesofthevaluationofnatureandecosystemservicesdemonstratestheurgentnatureofnatureconservationandtheincorporationofthevalueofecosystemservicesandbiodiversityintosustainabledevelopmentplanning.
Bothobjectivesfromthe2001Strategy(toensurethecompetitivepositionofindustrythroughsustainabledevelopmentthatconservesbiodiversity,andtoguaranteeareliableandsufficientlong-termenergysupplythatisenvironmentallyfriendlyandconservesbiodiversity,whileencouragingefficientenergyuse)requirespecificmeasuresandconsiderationofstrategicdirectionsfortheirrealisation.
STRATEGICDIRECTIONSTouseenergyandnaturalresourcesmoreefficientlyandtotakeintoaccountenergy-intensitytrendsinenergysupply;Toreducegreenhouse-gasemissions;Topromoteinvestmentsincleanindustrialtechnologiesandreduceemissionsofharmfulsubstances;Topromoteindustrialactivitiesinareaswheresuitableinfrastructureisinplace,whereitispossibletopreventenvironmentaldisasters,andwherebiodiversityisnotthreatened;Toavoidconstructionofnewenergy-supplyfacilitiesinecologicallyimportantareasorareaswhicharepartoftheecologicalnetwork.
8.
7.
7.
TransportOBJECTIVE:-Toguaranteemobilityofpeopleandcargothatconservesbiodiversity.
Slovenia,likethemajorityofdevelopedcountries,isfacinganimportantdevelopmentdilemma.
Thereisastrongambitiontoensureahighlevelofaccessibilityandmobility,whileatthesametimetoavoidanynegativeimpacts.
Giventhecurrentlifestyleofthepopulation,accesstoareliabletransportsystemisfundamental,sinceforthemajorityofpeople,mobilityconstitutesapreconditionfortheirqualityoflife.
Peopleareneverthelessawareofthenegativeimpactofthetransportsystemonqualityoflifeandshowconsiderableconcern.
Transportcanthusbeconsideredbothhelpfulandharmful.
Resolvingthisconflictbetweenthepositiveandnegativeeffectsoftransportrequiresmuchmorethanjusttherecognitionofitsexistence.
Thegrowthrateandthestructureoftransportsuggestthesame(andincertainaspectsevenmoreserious)environmentalproblems.
Sloveniaischaracterisedbyanabove-averageincreaseinroadtransportandareductioninrailwayandpublicpassengertransport,whicharebecomingincreasinglyuncompetitive.
InSlovenia,comprehensiveconsiderationofthetransportsystemisonlyinthepreparatoryphase,whilethenationaltransportpolicydoesnotessentiallyinfluencedevelopmentsinindividualtransportsub-systems.
Thisleadstoenhancedenvironmentalproblemscausedbytransport.
Climatechangeisthemostrelevantenvironmentalconsequenceascribedtotransport.
Slovenia,likeotherEUMemberStates,has,inaccordancewiththeKyotoProtocol,committeditselftoreducinggreenhouse-gasCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)89emissions.
Inspiteofthiscommitment,emissionshavedoubledoverthelast20yearsinSlovenia.
Althoughemissionsfromtransporthaveinrecentyearsbeenreducedtoacertaindegree,thefocusoftransport-relatedenvironmentalproblemsremainsairpollution.
Technologicalimprovements,asaresponsetoEUemissionlegislation,havecontributedtoanoticeablereductionofthedischargeofpollutantsintotheair.
Standardsarebeingtightenedandoldvehiclesreplacedwithnew,cleanerones.
Transportisalsocharacterisedbyothernegativeimpacts,suchasuseofnon-renewableenergysources,irreversiblelanduse,noise,accidents,vehiclewaste,inlandwaterandseapollution,fragmentationoflandandnaturalhabitats,andlossofbiodiversity.
Theseenvironmentalproblemsfrustratetheobjectiveofsustainabledevelopmentthatwearestrivingfor.
Theirresolutionwillrequirelengthyandcoordinatedeffortsinseveralareas.
Demandmanagementandintroductionofnewtechnologiesmustbecomecentralareasoftheimplementationoftransportandspatialpolicies.
8.
7.
7.
1.
RoadtransportGrowingtrafficcongestionisaresultoftheincreaseincarandfreighttransport,whichcausethemajorityofenvironmentalproblemsinthisarea.
Duetoalackofcompetitiveness,theshareofrailwayandpublicpassengertransportisdecreasing,whilenon-motorisedformsoftransportarealsobeingneglected.
Sloveniaandthemajorityofitstownshavetodatefavouredthedevelopmentofroadtransportinspiteofitsnumerousnegativeenvironmental,economicandsocialimpacts.
Thisattitudeisdemonstratedbyacceleratedinvestmentsinroadinfrastructure,andsimultaneousneglectofpublicpassengertransport(PPT)andthedevelopmentofothersustainablemodesoftransport,includingnon-motorisedforms.
ThisunbalanceddevelopmentofthetransportsystemisfurtheremphasisedbythechangeinSlovenia'sspatialstructure,whichisincreasinglybasedonaccessibilitybycarsandlorries.
Themajorityofthepopulationthereforesatisfiestheirneedsformobilitybyusingcars,whilethemajorityoffreightisalsotransportedbyroad.
Anincreaseintheshareofmoresustainabletransportmodes(railway,PPTandvessels)attheexpenseofroadtransportisabasicobjectiveofEUtransportpolicy,whichenvisagestheintroductionofamoresustainabletransportsystemby2010.
8.
7.
7.
2.
Greenhouse-gasemissionsGreenhouse-gasemissionsfromtransport,whicharetheresultoffossil-fuelcombustion,havemorethandoubledinSloveniaoverthelast20years.
Duringthelastdecade,transporthasbeenrankedsecondamongsectorsbyenergyconsumption,behindenergy.
Thisconsumptionisalmostexclusivelybasedonfossilfuelsandgreenhouse-gasemissionshavethusincreasedinproportiontotheirgrowinguse.
Thevastmajorityofemissionsaretheresultofroadtransport.
Therestrictionofemissionsthatcontributetotheglobaltemperatureandsea-levelrisewasgivenalegalbasisthroughadoptionoftheKyotoProtocol.
ThroughtheobligationsimposedbytheProtocol,thecontrolofthegrowthinfossil-fueluseintransportbecameamajorpoliticalandenvironmentalissue.
However,inspiteofthis,EUandSloveniantransportpoliciesdonotincludespecificobjectivestoreducetheuseofenergyintransport.
Airpollutionanditsimpactonbiodiversitycanbeeffectivelyreducedthroughintroductionofenvironmentalzones,wheredrivingenvironmentallyburdeningvehicles,e.
g.
cargovehicles,isrestricted.
Sinceolderlorriesandpassengercarscontributeagreatdealofthistypeofemissions,restrictingtheirusecanbeveryeffective.
STRATEGICDIRECTIONSTotransfertransporttothemoreenvironmentallyacceptablemodesthathavenotyetbeensufficientlyexploited(e.
g.
railwaytransport);Tocontrolpollutioncausedbytransportbyavoidingunnecessaryorredundanttransportandbylesstransport-intensivedevelopmentintheindustrialandurbansectors;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)90Totechnicallyimprovevehiclesandfuelstoreduceemissionsandenergyconsumption;todevelopnewdrivemodesandpromotethecollectionandrecyclingofusedvehicles;Toincorporatebiodiversity-conservationprinciplesintotransportpolicyandthedevelopmentofinfrastructure,i.
e.
toavoidasmuchaspossibleareasofhighnaturevalue.
Topreventorlimitnegativeimpactsonlandscapeandecosystemsofconstructionofinfrastructureandrelevantactivitiesandtooptimallyusetheexistinginfrastructure;Tostopfragmentationofecosystemscausedbytheconstructionofnewinfrastructurefacilitiesandtoguaranteesuitablepassagesforanimals.
8.
7.
8.
TourismOBJECTIVE:-Toformulatebalancedandsustainabletouristproductsandservicesbyincorporatingoutstandingnaturalfeaturesandbytakingintoaccountthepotentialoftheentirestateandtherisktoparticularoutstandingfeatures.
InSlovenia'sDevelopmentStrategyto2013,theSlovenianGovernmentidentifiedsustainabledevelopmentasoneoffundamentalprinciplesofthecountry'sdevelopment.
SustainabledevelopmentoftourismisalsodefinedasafundamentalprincipleinthePromotionofTourismDevelopmentAct(Ur.
l.
,no.
2/04).
ThisprincipleisaccordinglyconsideredakeyparadigmofSlovenetourismdevelopmentintheDevelopmentPlanandPoliciesofSloveneTourism(DPPST)2007–2011,whichalsoimplementsitdirectlybypromotingsustainabledevelopmentattouristdestinationsand,indirectly,byintegratedelementsofencouragingsustainabledevelopmentwithintheenvisagedactivitiesandorientationsofotherbasicpolicies,notablyspatialandinvestmentpolicy.
Tourismisanimportantuserofspaceand,byinfluencinglocalcommunitiesandthequalityoflife,andasauserofculturalandnaturalresources,playsanimportantenvironmentalroleinabroadersense.
Sincetourismalsomarketsspace,DPPSTpaysparticularattentiontosustainabledevelopment.
Throughbalancedeconomic,socialandenvironmentaldevelopment,Sloveniawishestoachieveasignificantcontributionbythetouristsectortotheeconomicandsocialwelfareofcitizensandtothesatisfaction(andwell-being)oftourists.
Inthiscontext,tourismpolicymustassurethatthreekeyconditionsforsustainabledevelopmentinthetourismsectoraremet:-Protectionofthenaturalenvironmentandsustainableuseofavailableresources(inparticular,resourcesofvitalimportanceornon-renewableresources);-Overallconservationandsustainableuseofculturalheritage;-Considerationofsociety,respectforitsculturalvalues(identity)andpreventionofanynegativeimpactsofmasstourism.
Thepolicyofspatialdevelopmentoftourismpaysspecialattentiontorationalsitingandbuildingoftouristfacilitiesand,indirectly,tocareforthepreservationofnaturalassetsandculturalheritageasthemainresourcesoftourism.
Forthedevelopmentoftourism,itisofutmostimportancethatthesystemic,institutionalandinstrumentalbasesofspatialdevelopmentandenvironmental-protectionpolicybecomefriendlytowardstourisminvestmentsandactivities,andtowardstouriststhemselvesasthesourceoftourismconsumption.
Thisappliesparticularlytoprotectedareas,inwhichitisnecessarytoassureabalancebetweenenvironmentalprotectionanddevelopment.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)91DPPSTmeasuresspecificallyintendedtopromotesustainabledevelopmentoftourisminclude:-Developmentofindicatorsforsustainabletourism:OBJECTIVE–Encouragingthedevelopmentandmonitoringoftheimplementationofsustainabledevelopment,Definingkeyindicatorsforsustainabledevelopmentoftourismattouristdestination;-Spatialplanningfordevelopmentoftourism:OBJECTIVE–Assuringfavourablespatialconditionsforthedevelopmentoftourism,inaccordancewiththeprinciplesofsustainabledevelopment;-Creatingconditionsforthedevelopmentoftourisminprotectedareas:OBJECTIVE–Assuringfavourablespatialconditionsforthedevelopmentoftourisminprotectedareas(emphasisonNatura2000areas).
Withinannualtourismpolicy,sustainableandregionaldevelopmentoftourismiscoveredbyspecificmeasures.
TheMinistryoftheEconomyhascarriedoutseveralactivitiesrelatedtoimplementationofmeasuresunderAgenda21andsupportedthesemeasuresduringSlovenia'sPresidencyoftheEUCouncil.
DuringitsEUPresidencyin2008,SloveniaorganisedthefirstseminarinaseriesofEUpublic-awarenesscampaignssupportedbytheEuropeanCommissionandrelatedtothepossibilitiesofferedbyvariousEUfundsfortheimplementationoftheobjectivesoftheAgendaforTourism.
Fornationalstakeholdersintheareaoftourism,theMinistryoftheEconomyorganisedaconferenceentitled"PresentationofactivitiesforsustainableEuropeantourism".
AmongthekeynationalmeasuresinimplementingEUpoliciesoftheAgendaforsustainableandcompetitiveEuropeanTourismisSlovenia'sintegrationintopriorityEuropeanCommissionmeasuresonrealisingthesustainableconceptofEuropeantourism,i.
e.
Slovenia'sparticipationintheEC'sEDENecotourismproject.
TheprojectisbasedonannualnationalcompetitionsandselectionofaEuropeandestinationofexcellence.
TheMinistryoftheEconomyco-financesimplementationofthefollowingprogramme:Developmentofexistingprogrammesofecologicalmanagementofbeachesandmarinas(BlueFlag)andupgradingthedevelopmentofotherprogrammestopromotethequalityoftheenvironmentintourismandprovisionofenvironmentalinformation.
Theministryisco-financingthecostsoftheintroductionoftheEUecolabel(EUflower)fortouristaccommodationbywayofapublictender.
Specialattentionisbeingpaidtothepromotionofqualitytourism,basedonsustainable-developmentprinciplestoencouragetheintroductionofecologicalmanagementinSlovenetouristcompaniesandtheintroductionofthehotelservicequalitysystem(bothprogrammesormanualsareavailableonMinistryoftheEconomywebsites).
Onthebasisofthesemanuals,in2007and2008theministryorganisedfreeworkshopsforrepresentativesoftheSloveniantourismeconomythatwereexceptionallywellattended.
AninterestingexampleoftheinterconnectionbetweentourismandbiodiversityconservationisthetraditionalBohinjFlowerFestivalorganisedbythelocaltouristorganisationwiththeassistanceofseveralpartners.
Thepurposeoftheeventistodemonstratetheimportanceandusefulnessofplantsinallfields,fromnutritiontoculture.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)92STRATEGICDIRECTIONSToincludebiodiversitycomponentsintouristproductsandservicesandthusdevelopnewtouristproductsandservicesthatincreaseprofitandcreatenewjobs;Toreduceburdeningoftheenvironmentbytourismthroughpromotionofenvironmentallyacceptableactivitiessuitableforthelocaltouristeconomy;Todevelopandconstructtouristandrecreationalinfrastructuresuitableforspecificprotectedareas,inparticularinandnearnational,regionalandlandscapeparks,todirectpublicaccesstoareas,includingrecreationalzones,withintheprotectedarea;Tointroducezoninginprotectedareastodirectpublicaccessbyclassifyingareasintoseveralcategories,fromareaswhereaccessisprohibitedtoareaswhereconstructionoftouristinfrastructureiswelcome;Topromoteenvironmentallyfriendlyandbalancedgrowthoftourismandotheractivities,whilesimultaneouslyreducingpressureonbiodiversity;Tocoordinatespatialdistributionandtimingofactivitiestoavoiddisturbinganimalsandplants,andpreventtheirdestruction;Toraiseawarenessofemployeesoftouristfacilitiesandtouristsabouttheimportanceofbiodiversityforhigh-qualitytouristproductsandservices(e.
g.
competitionsfornatureprotectionorenvironmental-protectionawards).
8.
7.
9.
MeasurestomitigateclimatechangeTheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)isoneofthethreeconventionsderivingdirectlyfromtheEarthSummitheldin1992inRiodeJaneiro,alongwiththeUNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC)andtheUNConventiontoCombatDesertification(UNCCD).
Whileclimatechangehasbecomeoneofthehottesttopicsandhashadasignificantimpactonpoliticaldecision-makersandthegeneralpublic,theothertwoagreementshaveremainedintheshadowsinrelevantdiscussions.
Theyare,nevertheless,equallyimportantinthecurrentrapidlychangingglobalenvironment.
SloveniaemphasisestheurgencyofthesynergyoftheRioconventionstoachievesustainabledevelopment.
Withinmeasurestoachievethe2010EUobjective,Sloveniaaimsatdemonstratingconcreteresultsthrough:EstablishmentofenhancedcollaborativeworkontheUNFCCCandtheCBDatthenationallevel,emphasisedbytheEUtoachievesynergybetweenRioconventions;Intersectoralcooperationinachievingthe2010biodiversityobjectivebyconsideringforestbiodiversity;Conclusionofthepreparationoftheactionplanforbiodiversityconservationanditsimplementation,andtheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013).
Inthiscontext,itshouldbehighlightedthatSloveniawillparticularlycallforearlyintroductionofsecond-generationbiofuelswithintheEU,withwoodbiomassasthebasicsourceofproduction.
Thus,theissueofbiofuelsisdirectlyrelatedtoforestbiodiversity.
Duetotherelevanceofthistopic,aninformalmeetingonsecond-generationbiofuelsandtheimpactoftheirproductiononforestbiodiversityinSloveniawasheldbetweenEUministersoftheenvironmentduringSlovenia'sPresidencyoftheEUCouncil.
TheGovernmentOfficeforClimateChangewasestablishedin2009,whiletheClimateChangeAct,whichalsocoversbiodiversity,iscurrentlybeingdrafted.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)938.
8.
Supportactivities8.
8.
1.
LegislativeandeconomicmechanismsOBJECTIVES:-ToenforcebiodiversityconservationmeasuresprovidedforintheNatureConservationAct;-ToenforcemeasuresforconservationofbiodiversityandsustainableuseofitscomponentsprovidedforintheNationalEnvironmentalActionPlan.
8.
8.
1.
1.
Legislationgoverningconservationofbiodiversityandprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatures(SeeChapterII)8.
8.
1.
2.
FinancialresourcesforconservationofbiodiversityandprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeaturesTheprogrammepolicyofnatureconservationisapriorityintheNationalEnvironmentalActionPlan(NEAP),whileitsimplementationisfullywithinthedomainoftheRepublicofSlovenia.
Intheperiod2006–2010,relevantfundsfromthenationalbudgetwereearmarkedfortheconservationofbiodiversityandnaturalassets.
Preservationofahighlevelofbiodiversitywasalsofullyfinancedfrombudgetaryfunds.
GiventheobjectivesoftheEUBirdsDirective(79/409/EEC)andtheHabitatsDirective(92/43/EEC),measuresonthepreparationandimplementationofprogrammesrelatedtomanagementofspecialprotectedareasandintegrationofNatura2000objectivesintootherplans,suchasforest-management,game-breedingandhuntingandfisheryplans,havebeenfinancedasamatterofpriority.
Appropriateattentionshouldalsobepaidtotrainingteamsforcommunicationandawareness-raising,aswellastopromotionintendedforthevisitorsofNatura2000areas.
Toimprovetheeffectivenessofprotectionmeasuresandpromptassessmentofconservationstatus,monitoringofbiodiversityandnaturalvalueisrequired,alongwithmonitoringofimplementationofprioritynature-conservationpolicieswithinNatura2000sitesandwithinplantandanimalhabitatstheconservationofwhichisintheinterestoftheEuropeanUnion.
Inthiscontext,itisessentialtoestablishorupgradetheinformationsysteminthefieldofnatureconservation.
Nationalbudgetaryfundsarealsoearmarkedfortheimplementationof"renaturation"projectsintermsofhabitatrehabilitationandimprovement,purchaseofasmuchlandaspossiblethatisrelevanttobiodiversityconservation,aswellasforcompensationduetolossofdevelopmentrightsandreimbursementfordamagecausedbyprotectedanimalspecies.
CurrentmanagementmeasuresrelatedtoNatura2000agriculturalandforestareasfinancedbytheMinistryofAgriculture,ForestryandFoodasamatterofprioritybymeansofEUfunds(theRuralDevelopmentProgrammeandEuropeanAgriculturalGuidanceandGuaranteeFund).
Investmentand"renaturation"measuresareadditionallyfundedthroughstructuralfunds,whileprogrammesforthepromotionofsustainabledevelopmentarefinanciallysupportedbytheCohesionFund(includingLeaderandInterreg).
ToimplementmanagementprogrammesforNatura2000areas,ithasbeennecessarytoupgradetheexistingstructureofmanagementinchargeofareasunderprotection(publicinstitutionsandconcessionaires).
Alongwiththecompletionoftheentirepersonnelandorganisationalstructureintheareaofnatureconservation,theintegrationofNGOsinconservationeffortsandtheimprovementofharmonisationofscientificandresearchprogrammeswithnature-conservationrequirements,itwasalsonecessarytoensureimplementationofothertasksintheareaofbiodiversityconservationandprotectionofnaturalassets.
Dataonnationalbudgetaryfundsfor2006–2010areindicatedinthetablebelow.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)94Table:Budgetaryresourcesearmarkedfortheconservationofnatureinthe2006–2010period(inEUR):ACTIVITIESYEAR20062007200820092010Protectedareas3,175,4943,374,0004,223,0034,212,7064,640,380Natura2000303,6002,888,000530,000691,989656,411ZRSVN2,007,7572,036,0002,036,4912,784,1612,710,290ARSO(nature)503,343650,977595,563955,704953,916ImplementationofmeasuresofZoN(NatureConservationAct)775,486800,977732,6221,091,492115,779*PublicSectorSalarySystemAct–PublicInstitutionsFund14,22715,000---LIFEinternationalprojects415,180416,000550,000316,850310,929International/EUactivities21,60222,00021,67021,67021,168Biotechnology169,245170,000159,771177,476146,523Donations(DinaricArc)---18,10322,081TF-EU-communicationintheNatura2000areas–donation449,280225,000---Ownfunding149,760150,000---PHARECFCU-Programmeofcross-bordercooperationwithAustria995,941----Ownfunding336,140----TOTAL8,977,2097,498,9778,253,5579,314,4479,577,477MinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning–fundsfornatureprotection0.
12%0.
09%0.
09%0.
10%0.
09%ShareofnationalbudgetallocatedtotheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning2.
14%3.
24%2.
53%2.
86%2.
82%Natureconservationis,asarule,mainlyanon-profitactivitybyitsnature,whichmustbeprovidedbythestateandlocalcommunitiesinlinewiththeirresponsibilities.
Thisdefinitionplacesnatureconservationactivitieswithinthepublicfinancingsystemthatisgenerallyimplementedthroughthenationalbudget.
Thusitisdeterminedbylawthatthestateandlocalcommunitiesbearthepubliccostsofnatureconservation.
Thestateguaranteesfundsformeasuresaimedatbiodiversityconservationandattheprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatures,fortheimplementationofthepublicserviceofnatureconservationandforcompensationsundertheprovisionsoftheNatureConservationAct.
Localcommunitiesguaranteefundsformeasuresaimedatprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeatures,fortheimplementationofthepublicserviceofnatureconservationandforcompensationwhenitisrelatedtoprotectionofvaluablenaturalfeaturesoflocalrelevance.
Thelawalsoforeseesothersourcesoffinancingforthepublicserviceofnatureconservation,whichareregulatedthroughthefinancingofinstitutionsasentitiesthatperformapublic-serviceactivity.
Thisincludespaymentsforperformedservices,grants,donationsandothersourcesallowedbythestatute.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)95TheFarmlandandForestFund,which,onbehalfofthestate,managesfarmlandandforeststhatarepropertyofthestateandlocatedinprotectedareasestablishedbythestate,remitsmanagersoftheseareasapartoftheexcessofrevenueoverexpenditureofthefunddefinedannuallybytheGovernment.
Thesefundsmustbeusedfortheintendedpurpose:executionofmeasuresforconservationofbiologicaldiversityoffarmlandandforestsincompliancewiththeannualprogrammepreparedbythemanager.
Alongwiththesystemofpublic,directandpurpose-basedfinancingofnatureconservationdeterminedbytheNatureConservationAct,thefinancingofnatureconservationbyfundsprovidedthroughothersources,inparticularinternationalfinancialsources,foreignordomesticdonationsandsponsorships,isofequalimportance.
Thesefundscanbeusedbypublicinstitutions,localcommunities,non-governmentalorganisations,companiesorindividuals.
INTERNATIONALFINANCIALSOURCESaresourcesavailabletointernationalgovernmentalandnon-governmentalorganisation,conventionsecretariatsandtheEuropeanUnion.
Thesefundsareearmarkedforsupportofdifferentnature-conservationmeasuresandactivitiesworkingwithindividualstatesthroughpublictendersorimplementationofprogrammes.
TheEUhasseveralfinancinginstrumentsatitsdisposal,suchasstructuralandcohesionfunds,pre-accessionprogrammes,thematicprogrammes,etc.
LIFEIII–NatureistheEU'sfinancialinstrumentdesignedforthenatureconservationandprovidingfinancingofnature-conservationprojectsrelatedtoconservationofNatura2000areasandhabitatsofprotectedplantandanimalspecies.
Publictenderswithinthisprogrammewereconcludedin2005.
LIFE+isanewmethodoffinancingenvironmentalprogrammes,includingthenatureconservationandbiodiversityprogramme.
TheEuropeanUnionalsoco-financesagri-environmentalmeasures(AEM),whosepurposeis,inadditiontopopularisationofagriculturalproductionthatmeetstheneedsofcustomersandprotectstheirhealth,toprovidesustainableuseofnaturalresources,toreducenegativeimpactsofagricultureontheenvironmentandtoconservebiologicaldiversityandprotectedareas.
Agri-environmentalprogrammes,aimedatenhancingtheconservationofendangeredplantandanimalspeciesandatincreasingconcernforthelandscape,begantobeimplementedin2003withintheworkoftheMinistryofAgriculture,ForestryandFood.
Themostimportantmeasuresare:mountainpasture,mowingsteepmeadowsandbumpymeadows,preservingmeadoworchards,preservingextensivegrassland,preservingcultivatedandinhabitedlandscapeinprotectedareas,breedingdomesticanimalsinthecentralareaoflargecarnivores,preservingspecificgrasslandhabitats.
MeasuresforconservationofbiodiversityareimplementedinecologicallyimportantareasthatalsoincludeNatura2000areas.
8.
8.
2.
SpatialManagementOBJECTIVES:-Properintegrationofconcernforconservationofbiodiversityinspatial-planningdocumentsandintoproceduresofpreparingspatial-planningandimplementingacts(e.
g.
vulnerabilitystudies,comprehensiveenvironmental-impactassessmentandenvironmentalimpactassessment),inparticularinprotectedandinternationallyimportantareas;-Supportinginclusionofthepublicinprocedurestoprepareandadoptspatial-planningdocuments.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)96GUIDELINESUpgradingthelegislativebasisforensuringhigh-qualityimpactassessmentthatwillincludeassessmentofbiodiversitylossandlossoflandscapediversity;Improvingtherevisionofcontentofspatial-planningdocuments.
Spatialdevelopmentisplannedatthenationalandlocallevels.
Atthestatelevel,theministryresponsibleforspatialdevelopmentisresponsibleforpreparationofstrategicspatial-planningdocuments(theSpatialDevelopmentStrategyofSlovenia,2004)andforleadingthepreparationofstatespatialplansforspatialarrangementsofnationalimportancethatincludestatetraffic,energy,environmentalandotherinfrastructure.
Atthelocallevel,municipalitiesthatpreparemunicipalspatial-planningdocumentsandmunicipaldetailedplanningdocumentsareresponsibleforspatialplanning.
Iftheyagreesowithothermunicipalities,theymayalsoprepareinter-municipalplanningdocumentsforimplementingprojectsfromtherelevantregionalprogramme.
Thespatial-planningdocumentslistedareinahierarchicalrelationship,whichmeansthatadocumentfromaninferiorlevelmustcomplywithahigher-rankingspatialplanningdocument(i.
e.
itmustnotbeinconflictwithit).
Complianceischeckedduringthepreparationprocedureofaspatial-planningact.
Thepreparationprocessisprescribedbytherelevantstatute(theSpatialPlanningAct,2007).
Underthisact,thefollowingentitiesareinvolvedinthepreparationprocess:theresponsiblebody(theministryorthemunicipality,dependingonthetypeofspatial-planningdocument),thedeveloper(outsideinstitution),theresponsiblebodiesregulatingspatialdevelopment(ministriesvestedwithpublicauthority)andthepublic.
Theinitialstageofeveryspatial-planningdocumentinvolvesdecision-makingincompliancewiththeEnvironmentalProtectionAct,todeterminewhetheracomprehensiveenvironmental-impactassessmentandassessmentoftheacceptabilityofimpactsonthenaturalenvironmentneedstobeimplementedornotwithintheprocedureofpreparingthespatial-planningact,whichisheadedbytheministryresponsiblefortheenvironment.
Whennationalspatial-planningdocumentsarebeingprepared,acomprehensiveenvironmental-impactassessmentiscarriedoutinthestageofelaborationofastudyofalternatives,whichinadditiontotheenvironmentalpart(comprehensiveenvironmental-impactassessmentofaparticularalternative)alsoencompassesimpactassessmentfromtechnicalandeconomicaspects.
Biodiversityassessmentispartoftheacceptabilityassessmentofthespatial-planningdocumentforthenaturalenvironment,ifthelatterisrequired,whichisdecidedbytheresponsiblebodyonthebasisofanopinionsubmittedbythepublicserviceresponsiblefornatureconservation.
Thedecisionisadoptedonthebasisofspatialarrangementsregulatedbyaspecificspatial-planningdocument,andthecharacteristicfeaturesoftheareatowhichitrefers.
Ingeneral,anassessmentisundertakenifthespatial-planningdocumentinquestioncontainsNatura2000areas;however,itmayalsobeundertakeniftheforeseenspatialarrangementsintheNatura2000impactareamayinfluenceNatura2000areas.
Ifthedecisionisaffirmative,anenvironmentalreportontheimpactoftheplannedspatialarrangementsisrequired.
Theenvironmentalreportisalsotabled,normallytogetherwiththespatial-planningdocument,afterthedeveloperhasobtainedanaffirmativeopinionfromtheserviceresponsibleforcomprehensiveassessment.
Thepublicisalsoincludedinpreparationproceduresforaspatial-planningdocumentduringthestageofitspreparation(supplementeddraft).
Thedeveloperisobligedtoorganisethetablingofthespatial-planningdocument,whichmustbeforaperiodofatleast30days,anditsreadinginalocalcommunity.
Duringthistime,thepubliccansubmitwrittenororalcomments.
Thedevelopertakesapositiononparticularcommentsandproposals,whichisapprovedbyanappropriatebody(theGovernmentormunicipalcouncil).
Theseapprovedproposalsaredulytakenintoaccountwhenpreparingadraftspatial-planningdocument.
TheSpatialPlanningActdeterminesthatbodiesresponsibleforspatialplanningmustsubmittheiropinioninthefinalstageofpreparationofaspatial-planningdocument,whereintheyCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)97checkadherencetopreliminaryguidelinesonpreparingaspatial-planningdocument.
Preparationofspatial-planningactiscompletedbyapprovalofcomplianceonthepartoftheministeroftheenvironmentandspatialplanning,andbyitsadoptiononthepartoftherelevantadministrative-levelauthorityheadingthepreparationprocess(nationalspatial-planningdocumentsareadoptedbythenationalparliamentandmunicipalspatial-planningdocumentsareadoptedbythemunicipalcouncil),andbypublicationintheofficialgazette.
Intheprocessofmonitoringpreparationofmunicipalspatial-planningdocuments,theministryresponsiblefortheareaofthedevelopment(thelocalcommunity)drawsattentiontoanypotentialnon-complianceintermsofsubstanceorconflictswiththeadoptedspatial-planningstrategy.
Localcommunitiesorspatialplannerswhopreparethespatial-developmentplanareobligedtoobservetheprovisionsofimplementingregulationsthatdeterminethecontentsofaparticularspatial-developmentplanandalsotheSpatialOrderofSlovenia(2004),whichdeterminesgeneralandspecialrulesfordevelopmentplanning.
ComprehensiveassessmentandacceptabilityassessmentareimplementedonthebasisofimplementingregulationsinpartnershipwiththeComprehensiveAssessmentsectionandtheNaturesectionoftheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning.
8.
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3.
MonitoringOBJECTIVES:-UpgradingthelistofspeciesandpopulationsforSlovenia-Monitoringtheimpactsofthemostimportantpressuresonbiodiversityonthebasisofasetofindicators;-Monitoringreactionstoreductionofpressuresandalsosociety'swillingnesstochangeestablishedbehaviouralpatterns;-Providingaccesstointerpretationsofcollecteddataanddatathemselves,ifappropriate.
Article11oftheHabitatsDirectiveandArticles4and12oftheBirdsDirectiveimposeonEUMemberStatesadutytoimplementthemonitoringofthestatusofspeciesconservationandtoreportontheresultsatregularintervals.
Article108oftheNatureConservationActalsoregulatesthismonitoring.
Monitoringimplementationfurtherincreasesthevolumeofdataservingasthebasisforimpactassessmentonthenaturalenvironmentaspartofacceptabilityassessmentofplans,andincertaincases,thedatacollectedalreadypermittheselectionofalternatives.
UnderArticle17oftheHabitatsDirective,EUMemberStatesmustmakeareportonimplementationofmeasureslaiddownbythisDirectiveeverysixyears.
Inparticular,thisreportincludesinformationonpreservationmeasuresfromArticle6(1),evaluationoftheimpactsofthesemeasuresonthestateofpreservationofnaturalhabitattypesfromAnnexIandspeciesfromAnnexIIandthemainresultsofmonitoringthisstatefromArticle11.
Themajorpartofthereportconsistsofevaluationofconservation-statusindicatorsforspeciesandhabitattypesfromallAnnexesacrossthewholenationalterritory.
InSlovenia,theMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanningisresponsibleforreporting,andtheInstituteoftheRepublicofSloveniaforNatureConservation,inpartnershipwiththeSloveniaForestryServiceandtheFisheriesResearchInstituteofSlovenia,isthecoordinatingbodyforreportingforspeciesandhabitattypes.
Sloveniareportedon203speciesand60habitattypesintwobio-geographicalregionsfortheperiod2004–2006.
ThefinalsummarytablewiththecontentsofthereportforspeciesandhabitattypesispublishedonCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)98http://www.
zrsvn.
si/dokumenti/65/2/2008/hd_porocanje_1216.
xlsThecollecteddataarenotcompletebecausetheyarenotaresultofasystematicapproach;however,theyarethebestassessmentoftheoriginalstatussofar.
FollowingarequestplacedbytheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanningandtheEnvironmentalAgencyoftheRepublicofSlovenia,anumberofstudieshavebeenpreparedandpublishedonthewebsite:http://www.
natura2000.
gov.
si/index.
phpid=211Moreover,monitoringisalsopartofthesectoralprogrammesandisincludedintheprecedingchapters.
STRATEGICDIRECTIONSAdoptionoflegalprovisionsontheinternationallycomparablemonitoringofbiodiversityindicatorsattheecosystem,speciesandgeneticlevels;Furtherimplementationofthenationalbiodiversitymonitoringprogramme;Centralcoordinationandrecordkeepingonlisting(inventory-making)andmonitoringofbiodiversity;Transparentpresentationofmethodsforestablishingthestatusofbiodiversityandencouragingresponsestonegativetrends;Definingindicatorsforimpactassessmentofinterventionsandactivitiesonthecomponentsofbiodiversityandforprogressassessmentinstrategyimplementation;Monitoringindicatorsofinterventionsandactivitiescausingdegradationofhabitats,unsustainableactivities,emissionsofpollutantsandreleaseorspreadofalienspeciesandGMOsintotheenvironment;Monitoringpublicopiniononissuesofbiodiversityandsociety'swillingnesstochangetheestablishedbehaviouralpatterns.
8.
8.
4.
Education,trainingandcommunication(partnership)Emphasisinthefieldofeducationandtrainingisoneducatingtrainersandteacherswho,throughtheeducationalprocessandpartnershipbetweenschoolsandpublicandprofessionalinstitutions,spreadknowledgeandraiseawarenessamongyoungpeopleandtherestofthepublicontherelevanceofbiodiversityforthefunctioningoftheecospherewhoseproductsrepresentthelivingconditionsforoursurvival,bymeansofdifferentprojectsandactivities.
Thisisalsothebasisforunderstandingthenecessityofsustainableuseofnaturalresourcesandofthecross-curricularfieldofenvironmentaleducation.
Inthefieldofeducationandtraining,theNationalEducationInstitute,workingwiththeMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanningandalsoindependently,organisedseminarsforteachersontopicsrelatedtounderstandingtheoperationoflivingsystemsandtheirdevelopment(fromanorganism'scelltothepopulationofanecosystemandtheecosphereasawhole).
Thisknowledgewasupgradedbyunderstandingthemechanismsofevolutionthatproducebiodiversity.
Inthisway,wecontributedtoadvancingknowledgethatfacilitatesunderstandingofconservationofthebiodiversitythatcreatesconditionsforoursurvival.
Understandingsustainableuseofnaturalresources(includingbiodiversity)andsustainabledevelopmenthasbeenincorporatedintotheupdatedcurricula,fromtheperspectiveofparticulardisciplinesorsubjects.
Wehavebeenencouragingschoolstoworkwithprofessionalinstitutionsinnatureconservation(theMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,parks,regionalinstitutionsfornatureandotherinstitutes)throughprojectactivities,natural-sciencedaysandotheractivities.
Everyyearsince2000,theMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanningandtheNationalEducationInstitutehavepreparedproposalsforawarenessrisingofyoungpeopleandthewiderpublicandinvitedallschoolstotakepart.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)99In2008,theNationalEducationInstituteorganisedaninternationalconferenceentitled"BiologicalScienceandSociety,Ecosystems–InteractionofLivingSystems",dealingwithbiodiversityatalllevelsoforganisationinthelivingenvironment.
Thepaperspresentedattheconferencemadeupapublicationentitled"InternationalConferenceonBiodiversity".
Inthisway,eachyearwehaveincreasedawarenessof300to400interestededucatorsontherelevanceofbiologicaldiversity,andacquaintedthemwithpotentialactivitiesforassistinginconservationofbiodiversityanditsfunctions.
Theyhavebeenpassingthisknowledgetoyoungpeoplethroughtheirwork.
Inthefieldofeducation,curriculaforbiologyhavebeenupdatedsothatagreateremphasisisnowplacedonanintegratedapproachtotreatinglivingsystemsatalllevelsoforganisationinthelivingenvironment,ontheirinteractionandmechanismsthatgeneratebiodiversity,whichfacilitatesmoresuccessfulunderstandingoftherelevanceofbiodiversityandthesearchforappropriateactivitiestoassistinconservationofbiodiversityanditsfunctions.
Thecurriculumcoveringthecross-curricularfieldofenvironmentaleducationhasbeenupdatedandnowalsocoverssustainabledevelopment.
Educationandtrainingforallprofessionshavebeenorganisedwithinenvironmentaleducation.
Thusknowledgeofhowtocontributetoconservationofbiodiversitywithinprofessionsaffectingthenaturalenvironmenthasbeenimproved.
Organisededucationandtrainingseminarsandcourses,supportingmaterialforparticipants(e.
g.
thepreviouslymentionedpublicationofconferencepapers),seminarsforteachersandmentors,activitiescarriedoutatschoolsandreportsofmentorsonawareness-raisingactivitiesserveasindicatorsforperformanceassessment.
Besidespursuingtheplannedactivitiesaimedattrainingeducationprovidersinthesystemicapproachtothelivingenvironmentandconservingbiodiversitywithintheinternationalconferenceandaspartoftheintroductionoftheupdatedcurricula,trainingforteachersonthetopicofbiodiversitywillbecarriedoutonalllevelsoforganisationinthenaturalenvironment.
Thiswillcontributetopursuingandupgradingawarenessoftherelevanceofbiodiversityandtheselectionofappropriateactivitiesforitsconservation.
TheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanning,protectedareasandparticularsectoralfieldshavebeenparticipatingsuccessfullyinawareness-raisingactivities.
Thus,forexample,theresultsofinvestigationsonthestatusofanimalgeneticresourcesinSloveniahavebeenpublishedinexpertpublications,andsomearealsopublishedonthewebsiteoftheDepartmentofZootechnologyoftheBiotechnicalFacultyoftheUniversityofLjubljana.
Everyyear,aone-daypublicexpertworkshopisorganisedonthetopicofanimalgeneticresources.
In2003,PotaSlovenijeincludedintheprogrammeofcommemorativepostagestampsfortheyearasetofstampsfromtheFaunaseriesfeaturingSlovenianindigenousbreedsofdomesticanimals:Cikacattle,Jezersko-Solavasheep,Krkopoljepig,Styrianhen–tajerka.
TheDepartmentofZootechnologyoftheBiotechnicalFacultyoftheUniversityofLjubljanapreparedadescriptionandpictureforeach.
Since2005,when,ontheinitiativeoftheSAVEorganisation,theEuropeandayofAgrobiodiversitywasfirstcelebrated,anumberofexpertcontributionshavebeenprepared,andhavenowbeenpublishedathttp://www.
bfro.
uni-lj.
si/Kat_center/genska_banka/gradiva.
htm.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)100SustainableUseofBiodiversity:Awareness-raisingandCommunicatingwiththePublicinAgricultureObjective(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsToincreasethenumberofenvironmentallyawareinterestgroupsthatunderstandtheimportanceofbiodiversityandarefamiliarwithactivitiesthatconserve,orpotentiallythreaten,biodiversity.
Effectiveinformingofthepublictoincreasethepublic'sgeneralawarenessandtransparencyofRDPoperation,andtoincreaseinterestinusingfinancialassistanceforspecificmeasures.
Effectsaremeasuredthroughthecomputerdatabase.
Awareness-raising,informingthepublicontherelevanceandstatusofconservationandpromotingconservationofbiodiversityinlivestockfarming.
Designingthewebsiteontheactivitiesofthegenebankinlivestockfarming.
Expertassistanceinorganisationofexhibitionsofindigenousandtraditionalbreedsofdomesticanimals.
Expertlectures–ruraldevelopmentprogrammeandmeasures(rearinglocalbreeds,well-beingoflivestock,etc.
).
Effectivenessofinformingandpublicreactionsaremonitoredthroughthenumberof:instructionsforpartnersinthesystem,pressreleases,pressconferences,clippings,publications(leaflets,brochures,etc.
)websitevisits,seminarsandworkshops,enquiries(visits,calls,e-mail)atINFOpoints.
Publisheddataonthestatusofbiodiversityoflivestock,numberofexpertcontributionsontherelevanceofconservingbiodiversityinlivestockbreeding,quantityofpreparedexpertandinformationmaterial.
Regularandpromptsupplementingoftheexistingwebsitewithmaterialofcurrentinterestanduseofnewtools.
Numerousarticlesandreportsonthestatusofanimalgeneticresourcesindifferentpublicationsandwebsites.
Effortstoincreasethenumberofpeawareoftherelevanceofconservinbiodiversityinagriculturethroughfuimplementationofdescribedmethomeasures.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)101STRATEGICDIRECTIONSToenforcestatepolicyinthefieldofawarenessraisingandpromotingeducationonallaspectsofbiodiversity;Todevelopprogrammesforinforming,educatingandraisingtheawarenessofthepublicabouttheconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity,andtocoordinatetheseactivities;Tosetupanappropriatesystemforinformingandsupportingparticipationofindividualsinbiodiversity-conservationactivities,andforencouragingwiseandsounduseofnaturalresources;Toincorporatepurposefulcommunicationinactivitiesinvolvedinconservationofbiodiversityandsustainableuseofitscomponents;consequently,intersectoralcommunicationandcommunicationwithlocalpopulationsshouldimprove;Toorganisecampaignsandotherawareness-raisingactivitieswithinallsectorsconcernedwithbiodiversity;Totrainstaffinvolvedintheimplementationofthebiodiversity-conservationstrategyatthelocal,nationalorinternationallevel;Torewardeconomicandsocialactorsforachievementsinthefieldofbiodiversityconservation.
Objectivesforsustainableuseofbiodiversity:educationandtrainingThemainobjectiveineducationandtrainingrelatedtosustainableuseofbiodiversityistoguaranteethespecifictechnicalknowledgerequiredforconservationofbiodiversityamongallactorswhoprofessionallyinterveneinoraffectbiodiversity.
Theneedtodevelopintegratedknowledgeonthelivingenvironmentandapproachestothisareaissignificant.
Consequently,activitieshavebeendirectedintoprovidingexpertknowledgeofsystemicbiologythatoffersexpertknowledgeforseekingsolutionsaimedatconservingbiodiversity.
Thisknowledgewasintegratedintheupdatedcurriculaandeducationalactivities.
Moreover,opportunitiesforfinancingprojectstobeimplementedbytheNationalEducationInstituteinpartnershipwiththerespectivedisciplinefromtheuniversityandteachersweresought.
Unfortunately,wedidnotsucceedinsecuringthesefunds.
Asafurtherstep,professionaltrainingofkeyactorsineducation(teachers)willrequireenhancingtoguaranteeasatisfactorylevelofgeneralbiologyeducationthatprovidesknowledgeontheenvironment,biologyandbiodiversityatallstagesoftheeducationprocess.
Duringthelast20years,thevolumeandstatusofknowledgeonthelivingenvironmentandevolutionhasbeenconsiderablycurtailedinbothprimaryschoolsandinsecondaryeducation.
Thus,furtherpursuitofactivitiesaimedatguaranteeingtherightofaccessofallcitizenstogeneralknowledgeonthelivingenvironment,withemphasisonknowledgefacilitatingappropriateunderstandingofconservationofbiodiversityanditsfunctions,isrequired.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)102ObjectivesforSustainableUseofBiodiversity:EducationandTrainingObjective(2001)MeasureIndicatorModification/Status2009StrategicDirectionsToguaranteespecifictechnicalknowledgerequiredforconservationofbiodiversityforallactorswhoprofessionallyaffectbiodiversity.
Updatingcurriculaforthesubjectofbiologyandeducationalactivities.
Allthoseparticipatingintheprogrammeofagri-environmentalpaymentshavetopass,withinaperiodoffiveyears,aspecifictrainingprogrammeinvolvingadeterminednumberofhours.
Training(300–400participants)carriedoutforthepurposeofdevelopingandattainingcomprehensiveunderstandingofthewaythelivingenvironmentfunctionsandraisingawarenessontheintegrationofpeopleintheweboflifeonearth,onwhichtheydepend.
Afterattendingtraining,participantsobtainacertificateonthecontent,trainerandnumberofhoursspentinthetrainingprocess.
Improvedunderstandingofexpertknowledgeinthefieldofbiodiversityandadvancedmaterialtoaidtrainingandawareness-raising.
Conditionsapplytoallinvolvedinagri-environmentalmeasuresby2013.
Effortsaimedatreinstatingopportunitytodevelopappropriategeneralknowledgeonthelivingenvironmentandspecificbiologicalknowledgeonconservationofbiodiversityatalllevelsofeducation.
Conditionsapplytoallthoseinvolvedinagri-environmentalmeasuresby2013.
Toguaranteeasatisfactorylevelofgeneralbiologyeducationprovidingknowledgeontheenvironment,biologyandbiodiversityatallstagesoftheeducationprocess.
Activitiesaimedatassertingthenecessityofsettingupproperaccesstoadvancedgeneralbiologicaleducationorreinstatingthevolumeofbiologythatexistedbeforethereformandintroductionofnine-yearprimaryschooling.
Updatedcurriculumshouldre-introducefunctionalmechanismsoforganisms,ecosystems,geneticsandotherknowledgeonthefunctioningoflivingorganismsortheircells,population,ecosystemsandecosphere.
Onlypartofthetaskofachievingsystematicregulationofaccesstofullbiologicaleducationinprimaryschooling,vocationaltrainingandotherlevelsofeducationhasbeenimplemented.
Inhigh-schooleducation,trainingofbiologyteachersforintegratedteachingofunderstandingofthelivingenvironmentandtheimportanceoftheconservationofbiodiversitygeneratedbyevolutionhasbeencarriedout.
Guaranteeingtherightofaccessofallcitizenstogeneralknowledgeonthelivingenvironmentwithemphasisonknowledgefacilitatingappropriateunderstandingandconservationofbiodiversityanditsfunctions.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)103STRATEGICDIRECTIONSToimprovethecurrentlevelofqualityandextentofnatural-scienceprogrammesthatcontributetounderstandingofthefunctioningofbiodiversity,inparticularbiologyprogrammes,inallschools;Todefinetheminimumrangeofcommoncurriculumthemesandintegrateintothemnature-protectionorbiodiversityissuesatalllevelsoftheformaleducationprocess;Tomonitorimplementationofenvironmentalandnature-protectioneducationprogrammesandtoevaluatetheireffects;Toincludeconventionissuesingraduateandpost-graduatetheses;Toprepareandsupportprogrammesofinterdisciplinarytrainingandspecialisttrainingofnature-conservationstaff,inparticularforprojectmanagement,managementtasksandoncommunicatingwiththepublicandotherrelevanttargetgroups.
Todrawupprogrammesforinterdisciplinarytrainingofdisseminatorsofknowledgeonnature-protection,inparticularteachers,agriculturaladvisers,non-governmentalorganisations,publicwatermanagementandforestryservicesandemployeesoftouristcompaniesandorganisations,toeducateinterestedgroups(e.
g.
ownersandmanagers)andraisetheirawareness;Topromotecontinuousadulteducationinnatureconservationandenvironmentalprotection;Toestablishandpromotedevelopmentofresearchandinterdisciplinaryenvironmental-educationcentres;Tosupportcooperationwithandbetweencompaniesandnon-governmentalorganisationsinawareness-raising,education,trainingandotherformsofcommunication.
8.
8.
4.
1.
Objectivesforsustainableuseofbiodiversity:communicating(partnership)Themainobjectivesetin2001waspromotingdecision-makingbasedonavailableinformation,comparinginformationandknowledge,upgradingandintegratingknowledge,andpreventingunnecessaryduplicationofwork.
Intheeducationprocessbelowuniversitylevel,projectswereimplementedthatencouragedcross-curricularintegrationoftopicstoimprovecommunication(aninterdisciplinaryapproach)anddevelopmentofcriticalthinking,independentjudgmentanddecision-makingatthepersonalandsociallevels.
Theindicatorinthisfieldincludedpublishededucationalmaterialsandadvancedtrainingandeducationofferedonthelivingenvironment,considerationofevolution,andthefunctioningandinteractionoftheweboflifeinapproachingandplanningsustainabledevelopment.
Theresultisimprovedcooperationbetweensubjectdisciplinesandacultureofprofessionalcoordinationinthecommonareassupplementedbytheiraspects.
Wenowaimtofacilitatebetteraccesstoeducation,trainingandlearning,andcoordinationofaspectsofdifferentdisciplinesrelatedtosustainabledevelopmentamongtrainers.
STRATEGICDIRECTIONS-Topromoteparticipationofallsectors,governmental,non-governmental,expertandscientificorganisations,individuals,localcommunities,publicmediaandotherCHMusersasinformationsuppliersorusers;-Toestablishcontroloverlegislation,strategicdocuments,projects,databasesandmechanismsconcerningbiodiversity;-Tocoordinatedatabaseswithinformationonbiodiversity;-Tosetprioritiesconcerningresearchandeducationinthefieldofbiodiversityonthebasisofavailableandrequestedinformation;-Tolinkknowledgewithinformationandtoensurethenecessarydataforinquiriesrelatedtoenforcementoftheconventionatthenationalandinternationallevel;-Toguaranteeinformingofthepublicandpublicparticipationindecision-makingproceduresconcerningenvironmental-impactassessmentsbyestablishinganCBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)104internationallycomparableandpubliclyaccessibleinformationsystem;-Toestablishaclearing-housemechanismtoimplementtheProtocolonBiosafetypursuanttothemandatoryprovisionsoftheconvention.
8.
9.
OthernationalstrategiesandinitiativesIn2006,theEuropeanCommissionadoptedtheCommunicationonHaltingthelossofbiodiversityby2010andbeyond,andtheEUActionPlan,whichcallsuponEUMemberStatestomeetthebiodiversityobjective.
Sloveniahasnotadoptedanyplanningactformeetingthe2010objective,butinOctober2007,theMinistryofAgriculture,ForestryandFoodandtheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandSpatialPlanningsignedtheCountdown2010Declaration.
Withthis,theministriesaccededtotheIUCNGreenbeltinitiative,highlightedseveralconcretetasksandobjectives,andcommittedthemselvesto"haltorsignificantlyreducethecurrentrateofbiodiversitylossby2010"atthenationallevel.
8.
9.
1.
Countdown2010Slovenia'scommitmentsintheCountdown2010Declaration:LaunchtheSlovenianCountdown2010initiativeon16October2007tofurtherpositionandstrengthenthecontributionofSloveniatothe2010biodiversitytarget;Strengthenunderstandingandmanagementofbiodiversity,inparticularfocusingonendemicandendangeredspecies,whichareanessentialfeatureforhaltingthelossofbiodiversitygiventherichnessofbiodiversityinSlovenia;EstablishnewandefficientlymanageexistingprotectedareastocontributetotheEuropeanandglobalnetworkofprotectedareasby:oexpandingexistingtransboundarycollaborationinordertoensureacoherenttransboundarynetworkofprotectedareas,ofurtherdevelopingandimplementingnature-conservationmeasuresoftheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013)onexistingandplannedprotectedareas;EnsureimplementationoftheSlovenianNationalBiodiversityStrategyandespeciallytheNatura2000SiteManagementProgramme(OperationalProgramme2007–2013),themajorSloveniancontributiontothe2010biodiversitytarget,andreportonconcreteactionsandindicatorsshowingprogresstowardshaltingthelossofbiodiversityby2010,forinstance:oachievingthesettargetsinrelationtosurfaceareaunderagri-environmentalmeasures,ofullyincludingactionsinsectoralmanagementplans,oachievingsettargetsonnature-protectionmeasures,oestablishingtheplannedmonitoringsystem;Establishamonitoringsystemthatwillallowforcontinuousreviewofthestatusofbiodiversityandprogressintheimplementationofinternationalcommitments;Ensureinvolvementofrelevantlocalauthorities,non-governmentalorganisationsandotherstakeholdersinrelationtoimplementationandraisingawarenessofthe2010biodiversitytarget;Promotetoothercountriesclose-to-natureforestmanagementasameansofachievingthe2010biodiversitytarget,basedontheSlovenianexperience,includingprofilingthisduringCBDCoP9andotherrelevantfora;Prepareexamplesofgoodpracticeonuseofwoodbiomassonbiodiversitywithparticularattentiontoclose-to-natureforestmanagement;ConnectbiodiversityandforestissuesduringtheSlovenianPresidencyinearly2008toensurecoherenceattheEuropeanandinternationallevelsbetweentheseissuesandtheirrelationtoclimatechange,sustainableuseandothermatters;CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)105Ensurethatthe2010targetisontheagendaoftheEUForestDirectorsandtheEUNatureDirectorsmeetingtoensurecoordinatedeffortsinlinkingforestandbiodiversityagendas;IntensifytheengagementofbusinessinthebiodiversityagendaandfollowupontheoutcomesofthePortuguesePresidencyinrelationtoaEuropeanbusinessandbiodiversityinitiative;SustainexistingCountdown2010processesatinternational,Europeanandnationallevels,inareassuchasthemarineenvironment,forestprotectionanddevelopmentcooperation,toensureimplementationoftheEuropeanCommissionBiodiversityCommunicationandotherinternationalcommitments;StrivetoattendtheWorldConservationCongressinBarcelonainOctober2008withaCountdown2010commitmentonamarineprotectedarea;OrganiseaninternationalconferenceinSloveniain2010onkarstbiodiversityandensurethatbiodiversityaspectsandthe2010targethaveahighprofileattheconference;EnsuretopassresponsibilityforCountdown2010andpreviousEuropeancommitmentsonthe2010biodiversitytargettotheupcomingtriplePresidencyofFrance,CzechRepublicandSweden;ProfileandreporttotheCountdown2010Secretariatonthestatusofimplementationofthesecommitmentson22Mayofeachyear.
Ljubljana,16October2007TheresultsoftheobjectivessetintheCountdown2010Declarationshowthatthelatterhavebeenimplementedonlypartially.
Althoughtheyhavecontributedtotheconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity,Sloveniahasnotattainedthetargetofhaltingthedeclineofbiodiversity.
However,implementationofthesecommitmentshastobecontinuedtoattainlong-termobjectives.
8.
10.
ImplementationofinternationalconventionsimportantforconservationofbiodiversityOBJECTIVE:-Tostrengtheninternationalcooperationandimproveresultsatparticularlevelsandbetweenthem.
3.
3.
1Biodiversity-relatedconventionsTheSlovenianConstitutiondeterminesthatlawsandotherregulationsmustcomplywithgenerallyacceptedprinciplesofinternationallawandwithinternationaltreatiesandconventionsratifiedbytheSlovenianNationalAssemblythatarebindingonSlovenia.
ThisestablishesaninternalhierarchyoflegalactsinSlovenianlegislationthatgenerallyacceptedprinciplesofinternationallawandratifiedinternationalconventionsprevailoverlawsandotherregulationsandthelattermustcomplywiththeformer.
TheSlovenianConstitutionalsodeterminesthatratifiedandpublishedtreatiesshallbeapplieddirectly.
Sloveniaratifiedallrelevanttreatiesandconventionsreferringtoconservationofnature.
ThustheyhavebecomepartoftheSlovenianlegalorder.
TheNatureConservationActthustransposedintoSlovenianlegislationthesubstanceoftheratifiedinternationaltreaties.
Someoftheserefertotheregulationofsubjectmatterinthelaworintheimplementingregulations.
Themostimportantratifiedinternationaltreatiesregulatingconservationofnatureanddefiningbasicnature-conservationprinciplesarethefollowing:CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)106GLOBALLEVELTheConventiononWetlandsofInternationalImportance,especiallyaswaterfowlhabitat–RamsarConvention(Ramsar,1971).
Notifiedin1992(OfficialGazetteRS,no.
15/92).
TheConventionConcerningtheProtectionoftheWorldCulturalandNaturalHeritage–theWorldHeritageConvention(Paris,1972).
Notifiedin1992(OfficialGazetteRS,no.
15/92).
TheConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora–CITES(Washington,1973).
Ratifiedin1999(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
31/99,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
110/99).
TheConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimalsCMS–BonnConvention(Bonn,1979).
Ratifiedin1998(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
18/98,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
72/98).
AgreementoftheConservationofAfrican-EurasianMigratoryWaterbirds–AEWA(1995).
Ratifiedin2003(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
16/03,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
16/03).
AgreementontheConservationofBatsinEurope–EUROBATS(1991).
Ratifiedin2003(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
22/03,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
102/03).
AgreementontheConservationofCetaceansoftheBlackSea,MediterraneanSeaandcontiguousAtlanticArea–ACCOBAMS(1996).
Ratifiedin2006(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
16/06,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
82/06).
TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(RiodeJaneiro,1992).
Ratifiedin1996(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
7/96,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
30/96).
ConventionfortheProtectionoftheMarineEnvironmentandtheCoastalRegionoftheMediterranean–BarcelonaConvention(Barcelona,1976).
Ratifiedin1993(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
13/93,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
44/93).
ProtocolConcerningSpeciallyProtectedAreasandBiologicalDiversityintheMediterranean(Barcelona,1995).
Ratifiedin2002(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
26/02,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
102/02).
InternationalConventionfortheRegulationofWhalingRatifiedin2006(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
15/06,CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)107(Washington,1946).
OfficialGazetteRS,no.
73/06).
InternationalDolphinConservationProgram(IDCP)(Washington,1998).
Ratifiedin2006(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
20/06,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
114/06).
EUROPEANLEVELTheConventionontheConservationofEuropeanWildlifeandNaturalHabitats–BernConvention(Bern,1979).
Ratifiedin1999(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
17/99–OfficialGazetteRS,no.
55/99).
ConventionontheProtectionoftheAlps–AlpineConvention(Salzburg,1991).
Ratifiedin1995(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
5/95,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
19/95).
ProtocolsoftheAlpineConventiononspatialplanningandsustainabledevelopment,conservationofnatureandlandscapeprotection,mountainfarming,mountainforests,tourism,energy,soilconservation,transportandsettlementofdisputes.
Ratifiedin2003(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
28/03,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
123/03).
EuropeanLandscapeConvention–FlorenceConvention(Florence,2000).
Ratifiedin2003(OfficialGazetteRS-MP,no.
19/03,OfficialGazetteRS,no.
74/03).
Themajorityoftheseconventionsrefertotheconservationofwildplantandanimalspeciesandtheirhabitats.
Theseconventionsinclude,inadditiontotheConventiononBiologicalDiversity,alsotheRamsarConvention,theBernConvention,theBonnConventionandtheInternationalConventionfortheRegulationofWhaling.
TheAlpineConventionalsohasasimilarindirecteffect,althoughitisverygeneralinnature.
However,itsimplementingactsandprotocolsforparticularfieldsaremoreconcrete.
TheWorldHeritageConventionregulatesthetraditionalconservationofnatureasconservationofdesignatedpartsofnature.
AlsorelevantattheregionallevelaretheBarcelonaConventionanditsprotocolconcerningspeciallyProtectedAreasandBiologicalDiversityintheMediterranean,andtheDanubeRiverProtectionConvention(DanubeConvention)thatconnectsthestatesaroundtheDanubeandofferslegislativegroundsforimplementationofnationalhydrologicalactivity.
8.
10.
1.
OtherrelevanttreatiesStrengtheningofinternationalcooperationandimprovingresultsatparticularlevelsandbetweenthemisreflectedinindividualareas,inparticularinagricultureandforestry(FAO,CBD,CSD,etc.
).
Itisreflectedinpartnershipswithinternationalorganisationsintheareaofconservingbiodiversity,thenumberofinternationalprojectsandparticipationininternationalmeetingsintheareaofconservingbiodiversityinagricultureandforestry.
Inthefieldofbiodiversityconservationinlivestockfarming,Sloveniaprimarilyworksalongsidethefollowinginternationalorganisations:FAO,ERFP,EAAP,DAGENEandSAVE.
AreportonthecurrentsituationandactivitieswithrespecttoanimalgeneticresourcesinSlovenianagricultureisannuallysubmittedtoERFPandpublishedonitswebsite:(http://www.
rfp-europe.
org/template02.
phplang=EN&id=1703).
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)108STRATEGICDIRECTIONSTostrengthencooperationwithinternationalinstitutionsandindividualprojectsbyexchanginginformationandgoodpractice;Topresentsuccessfulexamplesofbiodiversityconservationandsustainableuseofitscomponentstotheinternationalpublic;Todeveloppriorityfieldsofinternationalcooperation(ConventionThematicAreas):forestecosystems,inlandwatersandwetlands,invasivealienspecies,tourism,geneticallymodifiedorganisms.
CBD–4thNationalReport(Slovenia)109DatacompiledandeditedbyGordanaBeltram,PhD(Ministrstvozaokoljeinprostor)inco-operationwith:MinkaViar,MSc(ZavodRSzaolstvo),IrenaMilinkovi,MSc(Ministrstvozagospodarstvo),MartinaKainik-Janar,MSc(ZavodRSzavarstvonarave),NataaSmolar-vanut,PhD(IntitutzavodeRS),JoefJura,MSc(Ministrstvozaobrambo),InesDakskoblerSavek(UpravaRSzazaitoinreevanje,Ministrstvozaobrambo),ivanVeseli,MSc(Zavodzagozdove),HojkaKraigher,PhDandTineGrebenc,PhD(GozdarskiintitutSlovenije),mag.
AndrejokertandTeaPirih(SlubaVladezalokalnosamoupravoinregionalnopolitiko),ivaBogatajvajger(Ministrstvozapromet),TomaDuban,AleksanderGolob,MScandPolonaBuni(Ministrstvozakmetijstvo,gozdarstvoinprehrano),Aleksanderierov(Ministrstvozazunanjezadeve),JanaKusVeenvliet(ZavodSymbiosis),PeterSkoberne,PhD,AndrejBibi,KatarinaZeiler-Groznik,PhD,BrankaTavzes,PhD,IrenaRejec-Brancelj,PhD,BlankaBartol(Ministrstvozaokoljeinprostor).
Citation:Beltram,G.
(ed.
),2010:ConventiononBiologicalDiversity-4thNationalReportoftheRepublicofSlovenia.
Ministrstvozaokoljeinprostor,Ljubljana.
MinistrstvozaokoljeinprostorLjubljana,March2011