SLOVENIA

Republic of Slovenia covers 20,256 sq. km with a population of 2,020,00 inhabitants (1992), the population density is about 100/sq. km. Slovenija is situated in the southeastern part of the Alps and on the most nothern part of the Balkan Penninsula, bordering Italy in the west, Austria in the north, Hungary in the east and Croatia in the south.

It can be summarised that Slovenia has a significant value in biodiversity which is due to the following characteristics:

Forests

Originally, mixed forests prevailed and some 70 tree species are indigenous to the Slovenian territory (Brus & Kraigher, 1996). Our forests also increased in the area they cover, from 47 per cent in 1961 to 54 per cent in 1990. While high coverage with forests in 1960s was a result of forestry practices, its increase in surface area since then has mainly been due to the spreading of forests in marginal agricultural land and traditionally sustainable forest management. As a result, 85 per cent of the forests regenerate naturally supporting conservation of native populations of tree species and enhancing genetic diversity. Moreover, in the last 50 years biomass increased for 100 cubic metres per hectare (Golob, per. comm.). Species composition in 87 per cent of the Slovenian forests is close to the potential distribution. Nine per cent of all forests has a significantly modified species composition and 4 per cent of all forests are completely modified by humans (Smolej et al., 1997).

The highly diverse ecological conditions have supported a high biodiversity at the ecosystem, species and gene levels. Common beech is the most naturally widespread tree species in Slovenia. It presents 29 per cent of the current growing stock in the country. Out of the seven native oaks, three species are on the boundary of their distribution and thus occurring in few numbers.

Scrub and grassland ecosystem

Scrublands and grasslands represent a very diverse group of ecosystems in Slovenia. Scrublands prevail as the intermediate phase of the succession development. Scrublands which are a permanent phase include for example dwarf pine and green alder stands as well as willow tree stands on gravels along rivers. Natural grasslands are not very common (temporarily flooded grasslands and alpine grasslands) in Slovenia, however, from biodiversity viewpoint dry, extensively cultivated grasslands mostly on shallow carbonate bedrock are very interesting. The area of these grasslands is decreasing due to abandoning of agriculture on one hand and its intensification on the other. Only trends have been identified so far, while numerical data are not available. Wetland grasslands and reed stands are located partly in water and partly in wetland areas, therefore they are highly endangered due to melioration activities - nevertheless, they are a very important ecosystem for numerous endangered plant and animal species.

Mountain ecosystems

Due to prevailing carbonate bedrock (53 %), appropriate climate and amount of precipitation, karst phenomena are developed in Slovenia. Trieste-Komen karst region attracted attention of researchers early in history since it was located close to important railway route. Therefore, they described karst phenomena and named some of them according to Slovene expressions (classical Kras = Karst).

The number of caves with recorded dumped waste or other damage raises concern; 694 caves - which is more then 10 % of all registered caves - are included in this category.

Wetlands

Agricultural ecosystems and cultural landscape

At present, 36 per cent of Slovenian territory is agricultural land, of which 70 per cent belongs to the upland and mountain farms. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food classified most of this land as "less favoured areas" not being suitable for intensive agricultural production (1992), however, it still needs to be considered important for maintenance of biodiversity. According to the structure of land use in 1996, arable land represented less than 30 per cent, orchards and vineyards almost 7 per cent, meadows over 42 per cent and pastures 21 per cent of all agricultural land (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, 1997).

Structure and biodiversity of a landscape largely depend on socio-economic conditions, one of key sectors being agriculture.

Agricultural activity largely affects landscape appearance, i.e. distribution of landscape elements and their structure. Changes in agricultural policy and introduction of market economy are reflected in abandoning marginal agricultural land and intensification the production on agricultural land of higher quality. These processes cause changes in the appearance of karst and alpine pastures.

Additional peculiarity of Slovene landscape is its fine fragmentation which gives the landscape very interesting appearance, however, it is inconvenient for modern farming. Therefore, the commasation is necessary which is also reflected in landscape.

In the past there was a great agricultural pressure on wetlands and floodplains (i.e. regulation and melioration in the Vipava and Pesnica valleys). In recent years an interest for melioration of larger areas has declined, while smaller areas remain to be endangered.

Disorder in spatial policy (illegal construction, architecturally inappropriate types of buildings) has also extremely negative impact on landscape.

Damage on trees as well as considerable changes in forest soil appear during timber cutting and logging (especially on erodible terrains) and during the construction of forest roads.

Landscape diversity is a result of natural characteristics and long history of human colonisation and various land-use in the territory of Slovenia. Its main attribute is a small mosaic structure and changing appearance on short distances. Farming adopted to the natural conditions by application of different methods and thus became the main factor in development of Slovenian countryside which contributed considerably to the changing face of the Slovenian landscape.

The main bio-regions are shown also in the diversity of Slovenian landscapes, yet the transition between the Alps and the other regions is particularly outlined as "the pre-alpine landscapes" (Marusic et all., 1995). Within these regions micro-factors build up the mosaic of small characteristics and diverse landscape structures.

Slovenia belongs to the Mediterranean and European gene centres of cultivars. Slovenia can be considered a gene centre for certain species, for example, Brassicaceae (cabbage, turnip), Alliaceae (onion, garlic), Asteraceae (lettuce, chicory), Valerianaceae (corn lettuce) and some fruits and vines, as well as grasses, clovers, medicinal and aromatic plants. In the wild we can find relatives of crop plants such as, Mycelis muralis, Lactuca serriola and Cichorium intybus. Due to extensive grassland area in Slovenia, there are many different ecotypes of grasses and clovers.

There is also a considerable number of landraces among those crops that were introduced to Slovenia more than a century ago from the other parts of the world. Maize, beans and potatoes were introduced from America during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Due to different ecological conditions in Slovenia farmers selected many different populations adapted to the less favourable growing conditions. For example, two populations of corn named 'Bohinjska' and 'Koroska' can be cultivated for grain in the Alpine region. Many of the autochthonous populations and old cultivars got their names after their place of origin. For example, lettuce 'Ljubljanska ledenka' (also included in the European cultivar register under the name 'Laibacher Eis'), garlic 'Ptujski turnip', 'Kranjska okrogla', buckwheat 'Siva dolenjska', to mention just a few.

Additionally, Dept. of Zootechnology at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana studies the autochthounous Slovenian breeds of cattle, sheep, poultry, pigs and horses in the framework of the European Zootechnologic Federation (FEZ) and FAO.

Economic growth based on industrial, urban and agricultural development contributed to pollution of surface and ground water, soil and air and to decrease in biological and landscape diversity. While critical loads in air and soil pollution could be restricted to industrial and urban or intensive agricultural areas (i.e. Ljubljana, Celje and Maribor basins and Pannonian plain), water pollution is more widely spread and is critical in the lower reaches of many water courses (Ministry of the Enivironment and Spatial planning, 1996). As a result, the main threats to biodiversity are:

The most critical direct consequences on biodiversity occur at the ecosystem, species and gene levels and include:

In spite of the increase in surface area, the quality of forests has been jeopardised due to air pollution as well as promotion of monoculture stands of conifers. Further more, some forestry practices did affect forest ecosystems due to the way forest roads were constructed and exploitation carried out.

Agricultural development caused tremendous changes in the agricultural areas. The impacts have mainly occurred after the WW2 and are twofold:

While fauna of karst ecosystems (including caves) are mainly threatened through water pollution and tourism development, wetlands are mostly altered due to intensification of agriculture in the last decades, and currently dry grasslands are under threat due to increasing interest in livestock production (uncontrolled grazing, fertilisers) on the one hand and abandonment of economically less attractive areas on the other (vegetation succession). Coastal and marine ecosystem are declining due to industrial and urban pressures, rivers and adjacent wetlands through soil and water pollution and construction works. Mountain ecosystems are threatened through tourism development and long-distance air pollution.

Many threats to biodiversity are due to sectoral policy directions of economic sectors. Forestry, agriculture and tourism are the key sectors when conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Slovenia are considered. Additionally, Slovenia is the smallest of the countries with economies in transition. To date, close to 80 per cent of forests (until 1990 62 per cent, according to the Forest Development Programme, 1995) and 89 per cent of agricultural land (in 1990, 83 per cent) are privately owned (Statistical Yearbook, 1995).

As first protection acts concerning particular forests or plants are dating back to the end of 19^th century, more comprehensive legislation was adopted after WWII.

First results of the changing policies from classical nature conservation approach towards more integrative appeared in the early 1990s in the Environmental Protection Act (1993), which was followed by environmental by-laws mainly on air quality standards. The Forest Act was also issued in 1993, while all other related legislation is still in preparation.

This environmental framework legislation passed in 1993, was to create a regulatory system for both, environmental protection and nature conservation. A special Nature Conservation Act , adopted in 1999 established legal basis for integration of nature conservation principles into other sectors as foresees the Nature Conservation Strategy. To make this law fully operative, about 40 by-laws have to be prepared and adopted on ministerial or governmental level.

In addition to the Forest Act, which also regulates the management of forest genetic resources the Act on Plant Protection was adopted in 1994, while all regulations on seed testing, seed stands and seedlings developed since the 19960s. The Act on Seeds and Seedlings was adopted in 1973. Currently it has been revised according to the relevant Directives of the European Commission as well as including the OECD scheme. A Decree on financing and co-financing investments in forests (1994) and the Forest Development Programme for Slovenia (1996) are also relevant to biodiversity conservation and use providing some practical guidelines for the purpose (Kraigher, 1997).

Agricultural Law (1996) and the Agriculture Development Programme (1993) are both development and consumption oriented and need a considerable change in order to incorporate CBD principles and goals. Altogether, Slovenian agriculture has still to consider how to incorporate the biodiversity principles into its implementation policy.

The Slovenian Programme for Plant Gene Banks intends to promote sustainable use of germplasm through its plan of action and Slovenian agricultural strategy is considering sustainable agriculture as an inevitable part of Slovenian agriculture.

The tourism development strategy was drafted in early 1990s. The Resolution on Strategic Aims in Tourism Development (1995) stresses on the importance of biodiversity rich areas, yet it still has to include CBD principles.

Slovenia ratified all biodiversity related international treaties:

Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention, 1972): In Slovenia, there is one World Heritage Convention site listed in 1986, the Skocjan Caves. In 1996, the surface area of 413 hectares was designated a regional park and the management authority was established.

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention, 1971): Two wetlands, Secoveljske soline (1993) and Skocjanske jame (1999) are listed as Ramsar sites.

In the field of nature conservation Slovenia is taking an active role in different international organisations (e.g. UNESCO, UNEP, IUCN, Council of Europe) and processes (e.g. chairing the Council of Pan-European Biodiversity and Landscape Diversity Strategy, Sophia Biodiversity Initiative).

Aproximation process to the European Union has a high priority at national level. The goal is to harmonise national legislation to the Aquis Communitaire of the European Community and to be able to implement it. In the field of nature conservation efforts are concentrated in implementation of NATURA 2000 network and controlling the wild life trade. Emerald network of the Bern Convention is one of very useful tools we are using in the process of identification of potential Areas of Community Interest, wheraes EIONET information structure is used to interlink all partners in the process.

According to the existing legislation system of the protected areas the following management categories are included:

In 1995, the Slovenian parliament endorsed a programme for designation of protected areas in Slovenia which provided basis for a new concept of protected areas. Consequently, in 1996 a proposal was prepared which introduced changes to the National land-use plan. According to this proposal up to 30 per cent of the Slovenian territory will be included in different protected areas management categories. Since 1995, international donors are financing projects and preparation of management plans for the three largest protected areas to be established. Currently, the management plan for the Triglav National Park is in preparation. Parallel to these activities studies on particular issues are carried out.

Protected areas very often coincide with agriculturally less favoured areas where framers can get financial support for maintaining biodiversity and applying traditional farming methods. The support can be provided for either maintenance of certain conditions in areas rich in biodiversity or for maintenance of traditional landscape diversity. Assistance can be in different forms and financial support is usually as subventions (in PAs), incentives (sustainable - traditional use) or compensation (damage caused by wildlife). For example, in 1995, support was provided for traditional mowing in the Triglav National Park as well as for set-aside area in the Eastern part of the country in the breeding area of grey herons. In 1997, subventions were meant for maintenance of dry grasslands in the karst areas.

In 1995, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food nominated a Commission for ‘Preparation and Operation of the Programme for National Plant Genetic Resources'. Members of this commission are specialists working at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, Institute for Hop and Brewery Zalec, Forestry Institute of Slovenia and the Ministry. Its first task was to establish the National Programme and to reassess ongoing projects. The commission presented activities of the National Programme through the Directory of European Institutions Holding Crop Genetic Resources Collection (FAO/IPGRI, 1995), Country Report for the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources (Leipzig, 1996) and Eucarpia Genetic resources section meeting in Budapest (1996). The activities were also presented to the Slovenian Ministry of the Environment which is responsible for the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The main objectives of the programme include collection, characterisation, evaluation, regeneration and conservation of autochthonous germplasm, Slovenian cultivars and endangered, vulnerable or rare native tree species.

The Slovenian Plant Gene Bank holds ex-situ accessions and conducts research on lettuce, onion, cabbage, beans, potato, buckwheat, wheat, corn, grasses, clovers, small fruits, fruit trees, grapevine, medicinal and aromatic plants and hops, mention should be made of approximately 120 apple, 40 pear and 10 walnut varieties.

Out of three botanical gardens in Slovenia used for ex-situ conservation of native plant species, the most important is the botanical garden in Ljubljana. It was established in 1810 to keep plant species indigenous to Slovenia with particular reference to endemic and threatened species. Since 1889 Index seminum has been issued including also information on seeds collected at the Alpine botanical garden Juliana (established in late 1920s and managed by the Slovenian Natural History Museum). In 1997, the collection held seeds of 795 plant species. Additionally, it plays an important role in raising public awareness as, for example, in autumn 1997 the number of visitors exceeded 2500. University in Maribor has also established a botanical garden to encourage conservation of locally threatened plants. Both botanical gardens are members of the Botanical Gardens Conservation International.

A culture collection of Microbial Genetic Resources in Slovenia in preparation.

Slovenian Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning is responsible for nature conservation issues. Its administrative and technical advisory body is the State Nature Protection Authority consisting of three sub-sectors (nature conservation, environment, water management). Seven regional Institutes for conservation of natural and cultural heritage act as technical supervisory bodies at local level.

A special environmental board within the Slovenian Parliament is dealing with environment, nature conservation and infrastructure. In 1997, Slovenia government established the Council for Sustainable Development.

At the local level, communities have responsibilities in nature conservation issues, as well.

In 1994, the first draft of the Nature Conservation Strategy was prepared as a long term vision for activities at international, national and local levels based on European and global strategic documents. Focus of the Strategy is on organisation of nature conservation, in-situ conservation (setting a system of protected areas and management, species and habitat conservation), and integration of nature conservation principles into other policies. Its main objectives thus include:

The main sectors requiring priority integration and co-operation are agriculture, forestry and tourism. Water management is changing but implementation legislation is lagging. Additionally, transport, traffic and private sector are important sectors, particularly because their main goal has been economic development regardless the impact on biodiversity.

In forestry, there has traditionally been good co-operation between nature conservation and foresters with the exception of some management practices. There have always been discrepancies, as for example, in hunting issues, exploitation practices, management of forests for timber production. However, in Slovenia the first protected areas were virgin forests, many laws prepared in co-operation of the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MAFF) were related to forest issues.

Nevertheless, forestry developed quite sustainable and currently Slovenian forest management sets a good example for managing the European forests (Helsinki Operational Level Guidelines for Sustainable Forestry, 1997).

The Nature research institutes in Slovenia or independent scientists are currently caring out several projects on basic research related to biodiversity and are supported by the Slovenian Ministry of Science and Technology. The results of these projects can contribute to increase in knowledge on biological diversity and can be applicable for nature conservation purposes.

NGOs form an important agent in implementation of the CBD. Their main advantage is direct implementation at local level, thus assistance in rising public awareness of biodiversity. Co-operation and integration of relevant NGOs started only recently and needs to be strengthen.

The most prominent NGO is the Natural History Society of Slovenia (Prirodoslovno drustvo Slovenije - PDS), with the longest tradition of activities in the field of nature conservation and with first private foundation (Slovenski sklad za naravo - SSN). The Slovenian Ornithological Society (Drustvo za opazovanje in proucevanje pticev Slovenije - DOPPS) and the Union of Societies for Environmental Protection (Zveza drustev za varstvo okolja) should also be mentioned. The importance of the Slovenian office of the Regional Environment Centre (REC) is growing. In addition to its regular activities, REC acts as a point in Slovenia where numerous and different NGO’s come together. New NGOs are emerging and some developing into powerful organisations which influence public opinion and act as a control mechanism in decision making.

GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL

Decision making level

Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor (Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning)

Dunajska 48

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Slovenia

Tel.: +386 (0)61/1787 400

Fax: +386 (0)61/1787 422

E-mail: general rule: name.surname@gov.si;

Administrative/technical level

Uprava RS za varstvo narave (State Authority for Nature Conservation)

Vojkova 1B

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Tel.: +386 (0)61/1784 000

Fax: +386 (0)61/1784 051

E-mail: name.surname@gov.si (e.g.: peter.skoberne@gov.si)

Protected Areas Authorities

Triglavski narodni park (Triglav National Park)

Kidriceva 2

SI-4260 Bled

Tel: ++386 (0)64/741-188, 741-079

Fax: ++386 (0)64/77-408

Regijski park Kozjansko (Kozjansko Regional Park)

3256 Bistrica ob Sotli

tel: ++386 (0)63/781-355, 781-3++386 (0)6

fax: ++386 (0)63/781-255

Skocjanske jame (Skocjan Caves; The World Heritage and Ramsar Site)

Javni zavod park Skocjanske jame

Skocjan 2

SI-6215 Divaca

Tel.: ++386 (0)67/60 090

Fax: ++386 (0)67/60 173

Scientific Institutions

Bioloski institut Jovana Hadzija (The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute of Biology)

ZRC SAZU

Novi trg 5

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Tel.: ++386 (0)61/125 6068

Fax: ++386 (0)61/125 5253

Institut za raziskovanje krasa (The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Karst Research)

ZRC SAZU

Titov trg 2

SI-6230 Postojna

Slovenija

Tel.: ++386 (0)67/24 781; ++386 (0)67/224 571

Fax: ++386 (0)67/23 965

Institut za biologijo (Institut of Biology, Marine Research Station)

Morska bioloska postaja

Fornace 41

SI-6330 Piran/Pirano

Slovenija

Tel.: ++386 (0)66/73 073; ++386 (0)66/73 740

Fax: ++386 (0)66/746 367

Bioloski oddelek Biotehniske fakultete (Biological Dept. of the Ljubljana University)

Univerza v Ljubljani

Vecna pot 111

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Tel.: ++386 (0)61/123 33 88

Fax: ++386 (0)61/273 390

Pedagoska fakulteta Univerze v Mariboru (Pedagocial Faculty of the Maribor University)

Koroska c. 160

SI-2000 Maribor

Tel.: ++386 (0)62/229 37++386 (0)6; ++386 (0)62/225 611; ++386 (0)62/211 297

Fax: ++386 (0)62/28 180

Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije (The Natural History Museum)

Presernova 20

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Tel.: ++386 (0)61/126 40 98; ++386 (0)61/218 886; ++386 (0)61/211 036; ++386 (0)61/211 670; ++386 (0)61/1264 098

Fax: ++386 (0)61/218 846

Leading NGO's in the field of nature conservation

Prirodoslovno drustvo Slovenije/(The Natural History Society)

Novi trg 2

p.p. 238

SI-1001 Ljubljana

tel./fax: ++386 (0)61 221 914

Drustvo za opazovanje in preucevanje ptic Slovenije (DOPPS)

(Slovenian Ornithological Society; BirdLife partner)

Langusova 10

SI-1000 Ljubljana,

Tel: ++386 (0)61/133-95-15

Fax: ++386 (0)62/761-000

Societas Herpetologica Slovenica

Presernova 20

SI-1000 Ljubljana

Slovenija

tel: (+386 61) 218-886, fax: (+386 61) 218-846,

Slovensko odonatolosko drustvo (The Slovene Dragonfly Society)

Vosnjakova 4/a, SI-1000 Ljubljana

Ornithological Association IXOBRYCHUS Koper

Gasilska 8, SI-6000 Koper

GSM:++386041738926

Slovensko botanicno drustvo (Slovenian Botanical Society)

Izanska 15

SI-1000 Ljubljana

REC - Local Office

Slovenska 5

1000 Ljubljana

tel./fax: ++386 (0)61/125-70-65