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photo 1: © WWF

Slovenia from to Adriatic packs an impressive diversity distinctive peaks, is a symbol of Slov- larly disappears in May or June, before of landscapes and biological diversity ene identity and the focal point for the re-appearing during heavy autumn into an astonishingly small territory. In National Park. rains and spring melt. an area half the size of Switzerland are The Pannonian hills and plains, found the eastern tip of the Alps, part of the on the lower reaches of the Drava, Biological tycoon Danube (Pannonian) basin, a short Kolpa, Mura, and rivers in the stretch of Adriatic coast, as well Both natural and cultural landscapes east of Slovenia, are the country’s as the northern edge of the Dinaric in Slovenia are in relatively good con- main agricultural area. Large fields mountains, which stretch down from dition. Forests, ranging from broad- of wheat, corn, and sugar beet lie here to the Balkan peninsula. Alti- leaved deciduous to montane, cover in the flatlands, while vineyards and tudes vary from 2,854 meters above some 53 % of the country’s territory, orchards cling to the hills. A number sea level at the tip of Triglav peak in and dominate about 80 % of Slov- of the river forests, including parts of the to 0 meters above enia’s landscapes, making it one of the Drava and Mura, are still intact. sea level along Slovenian’s 46.6 km the most heavily forested countries in Adriatic coastline. Slovenia’s narrow stretch of Adriatic Europe. Common beech is the most coast, squeezed within the 46 kilom- naturally widespread tree species Disappearing lake eters stretching from the outskirts of the Italian city of Trieste to the Area: 20,253 km (half the size of Slovenia is sometimes referred to as Croatian border, is rocky and marked ² Switzerland). the “country on the sunny side of the by Mediterranean species of flora and Alps” because of its location at the fauna. Terrain: a short coastal strip on eastern tip of the European mountain the Adriatic, an alpine mountain A complex system of subterranean range, which covers about a third region adjacent to Italy and Aus- caves, some submerged under water, of the country. The Julian Alps offer tria, mixed mountain and valleys others dry, has been etched by water breath-taking sights with limestone with numreous rivers to the east. into the carbonate bedrock that is peaks in the corner of the country found on more than half (53 %) of lowest where western Slovenia meets with Elevation extremes: the country’s territory. These karst point: 0 m, highest the borders of Austria and Italy. Mount systems provide habitats for a wide point: Triglav 2,864 m. Triglav (2,864 m high), with its three diversity of species, including the Land use: arable land: 12 %, richest population of cave- permanent crops: 3 %, permanent dwelling fauna in the world. pastures: 24 %, forests and wood- Many of these species are land: 54 %, other: 7 % (1996 est.). unique to their particular isolated habitats. Protected areas: 1 National Park (84,805 ha), 1 Regional Park One of the more curious (413 ha), 37 Landscape Parks features of Slovenia’s karst (60,298 ha), 49 Nature Reserves. landscape is the disappear- ing Cerknica Lake. The Population: 1,930,132 (July ten-kilometre long and five- 2001 est.). kilometre wide lake regu- Capital: Ljubljana – population photo 2: © H. Kretschmer/WWF-A 270,000. Challenges For further information in Slovenia. Most of of the country’s Economic growth based on indus- contact: forests (85 %) regenerate naturally, trial, urban and agricultural develop- i.e. do not require artificial planting of ment has contributed to pollution of Društvo za opazovanje seedlings to replace themselves, and surface and ground water, soil and in preučevanje are characterised by a native mixture air and a decrease in biological and ptic Slovenije of tree species. landscape diversity. While critical (DOPPS) / The fine fragmentation of the Slovene loads in air and soil pollution could BirdLife Slovenia landscape makes it attractive, but be restricted to industrial and urban p.p. 2722 inconvient for modern farming. As or intensive agricultural areas (i.e. SI-1001 Ljubljana Ljubljana, Celje and Maribor basins a result, though 36 % of Slovenian Tel.: +386 1 544 12 30 territory is agricultural land, most of and Pannonian plain), water pollution this – some 70 % -- belongs to upland is more widely spread and is critical [email protected] and mountain farms. Most of this land in the lower reaches of many water Useful links:

WWF EU Accession site www.panda.org/accession

Ministry of the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy www.sigov.si/mop/en

Republic of Slovenia Nature Protection Authority www.sigov.si/uvn/ indexeng.html

The Council for the Environmental Protection photo 3: © A. Mohl/WWF-A of the Republic of Slovenia www.sigov.si/svo/ is divided among small farms that cul- courses. In spite of the increase in innovo_e.htm tivate an average of only 3.2 hectares surface area, the quality of forests has of land (only 6 % of all farms cultivate been jeopardised due to air pollution General environmental more than 10 hectares of land). The as well as promotion of monoculture information on Slovenia extensive agricultural practices that stands of conifers. www.grida.no/enrin/biodiv/ are used to cultivate much of these As elsewhere in Europe, the indus- biodiv/national/slovenia/#A lands supports a high level of biologi- trialisation of agriculture, especially cal diversity. since the Second World War, has Triglav National Park The forests are home to vital popula- had a decisive impact on biodiversity. www.sigov.si/cgi-bin/spl/ tions of large mammals, including There has been a direct loss of spe- tnp/naslovna.htm brown bears, wolves and lynx – popu- cies and habitats due to land reclama- lations that are beginning to re-stock tion, particularly in floodplains. Over Website devoted to Natura the depleted populuations of the 70,000 hectares of lowlands were 2000 (in Slovene) Alps. The relative health of Slovenia’s drained between 1973 and 1991. www.natura2000.gov.si habitats, plus their fine fragmentation Water courses were straightened, and diversity as well as location at the canals built and vegetation along crossroads between Balkan, Pannon- waterways cleared and large areas ian and Central European regions, ploughed for mono-cultural crops. areas will benefit, e.g. from applica- makes the country one of Europe’s Construction of hydropower plants tion of the Water Framework Directive biological tycoons, just behind Slo- has significantly damaged the nature as well as Natura 2000 network of vakia and Turkey in terms of relative value of the Drava river. special conservation areas. biological wealth. Though accession to the EU can be Currently, about 8 % of Slovenia’s ter- expected to drive forward some of ritory has protected status, but this is these processes, including intensified planned to increase in coming years use of most productive land, other Photo 1: Julian Alpe to nearly a third of the country’s terri- Photo 2: Brown bear tory.

Photo 3: Mura river / 2003 with support | Produced Ministryand Water the Austrian from Federal Environment [email protected] Forests, of Agriculture, Beckmann, 2003. Layout: Author: Andreas