KAZALCI OKOLJA

Environmental indicators in Slovenia


Environmental indicators are based on graphs, maps and assessments and as such present environmental trends in Slovenia. The indicators represent one of the four pillars of our environmental reporting, and are prepared in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act. The Environmental Indicators in Slovenia website enables users to browse among 180 indicators. They are based on numerical data and they indicate the state, characteristics and trends of environmental development in Slovenia. They are prepared using a systematic approach based on data and monitoring, as shown in the information pyramid.

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Neutral

Higher levels of heavy metals and nitrogen are observed around the urbanized areas, industrial regions and around thermal power plants. The reason for elevated levels at the western part of Slovenia is transboundary transport of air pollutants from the Po Valley in Italy, however at the eastern part might be transit traffic and agricultural activity. A decrease of heavy metals and nitrogen in mosses is observed in Slovenia since 1995.

Good
Sea

Phytoplankton biomass, expressed as chlorophyll a concentration, reflects nutrient loading in the marine environment. Chlorophyll a concentrations shows a trend towards improvement in the status of the Slovenian sea, as the ecological status has been assessed as high or good over the last period.

Good
Sea

The quality of bathing water along the Slovenian coast is excellent, which ranks Slovenia at the top among the EU countries.

Good

Deadwood is an important animal and plant habitat that contributes to the biodiversity of forest ecosystems. According to Slovenia Forest Service data, the volume of standing and fallen trees without stumps and branches in 2022 was 21.3 m3/ha, which represented approximately 6% of the entire wood stock of forest stands. In virgin forests, however, the deadwood volume can be even several dozen times greater.

Good

In the past centuries, forest area has been increasing constantly after 2010; however, the rate of expansion has slowed down and remains relatively stable in recent years. Since 1875, when forests covered only 36% of the Slovenian territory, forest cover has increased to 58.5% in the year 2009 and rests stable today at 58.0 %. In terms of forest share, Slovenia ranks third among EU-28 countries, behind Sweden and Finland.

Neutral

In 2021, 62% of the population was connected to the municipal wastewater treatment systems with secondary or tertiary treatment, which do not produce GHG emissions. Compared to the previous year, the share decreased by a small percentage point, moreover, the share has remained almost unchanged since 2017.