[NV01] Nature areas under protection
Key message
In 2009, the areas of protected nature, which include designated areas of protected nature, Natura 2000 sites as well as areas that fulfil the conditions for Natura 2000 sites, covered 39.7% of the Slovenian territory, which is nearly six times more than in 1992. The surface area has increased largely owing to Natura 2000 sites being designated in 2004, while in 2008 the increase was a consequence of the designation of those areas which, according to the European Commission, fulfil the conditions for Special Protected Areas, but were not defined as Natura sites. Nature protection conditions must be met and/or nature protection consent must be given for any and all developments in these areas.
Definition
The indicator shows the surface area of nature protected areas in Slovenia and their share in the total surface area of the country. Nature protected areas include conservation areas – Natura 2000 sites and areas which fulfil the conditions for Natura 2000 sites, as well as protected areas, that is parks, nature reserves and natural monuments.
The indicator shows the surface area of the protected areas; it does not, however, provide direct information as regards to achieving a favourable state of wild plant and animal species, their habitats as well as habitat types in these areas.
Protected areas partially overlap with Natura 2000 protection sites. They encompass a smaller surface area than the Natura 2000 sites, although they are organized to a higher level with elaborated management plans and appointed managers.
Charts
Register of protected areas, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2008.
| 1992 | - | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2008 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protected areas | % | 6.75 | 7.41 | 9.49 | 11.98 | 11.98 | 11.98 | 12.56 | |
| Nature areas under protection (protected areas + Natura 2000 + SPA add-ons) | % | 6.75 | 7.41 | 9.49 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 39.8 |
Register of protected areas, Register of Natura 2000 areas, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2008.
| 2008 | ||
|---|---|---|
| only Natura 2000 + SPA add-ons | ha | 564776.42 |
| overlapping: Natura 2000 + SPA add-ons / protected areas | ha | 189500.88 |
| only protected areas | ha | 53083.4 |
| unprotected areas | ha | 1219940.25 |
| only Natura 2000 + SPA add-ons | % | 27.86 |
| overlapping: Natura 2000 + SPA add-ons / protected areas | % | 9.35 |
| only protected areas | % | 2.62 |
| unprotected areas | % | 60.18 |
Goals
In terms of protected areas, the Resolution on National Programme of Environmental Protection Plan 2005-2012 (OG of the RS, No. 2/06) aims for their share to be increased by 5 %, in terms of Natura 2000 the goal is the adoption of an operational programme which was adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia already in October 2007 (Natura 2000 Site Management Programme 2007 – 2013). As far as realizing protection goals is concerned, the programme contains certain protection measures which are essential for the preservation of a favourable state of animal and plant species as well as habitat types.
The realization of both goals would lead to the realization of the final goal regarding nature protection, which is the reason why protected areas are being established, that is to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2010.
Comment
Up till 2004 the physical space of specific significance in Slovenia was protected within the framework of nature protected areas (national parks, regional parks, landscape parks, strict nature reserves, nature reserves and natural monuments). Roughly 12 % of the whole territory was thus protected in 2005, which has not changed significantly until today. The Triglav national park represents an important share of these areas, while in recent years the protected surface area has increased mostly due to the proclamation of two larger parks (the Notranjska Regional Park and the Goričko Landscape Park). Natura 2000 sites joined protected areas in 2004. These areas include almost 7203 km2 or 35.5 % of the whole Slovenian territory. Areas which fulfil the conditions for Natura 2000 sites, covering 340 km2 or 1.7 % of the country, were further designated in 2008. Protected areas partly overlap with the Natura 2000 areas and those areas which fulfil the conditions for Natura 2000. In 2008 these areas combined represented 39.8 % of the Slovenian territory, which is six times as much as in 1992.
In Slovenia, the share of Natura 2000 areas is large in comparison to other European countries. Slovenia protects a share of its territory 2.5 times larger than EU-27, both according to the Directive on the conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora, as well as the Directive on the conservation of wild birds. A large portion of the protected areas arises from a rather environment-friendly use of physical space, which is reflected in extensive forest cover and a high ratio of grassland in the structure of agricultural land. Considerable surface areas of partly overgrown or plantless land above the timber line also contribute to a large share of protected areas.
Methodology
Data for Slovenia:
• Register of protected areas, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2008 (as of June 30th, 2008)
• Register of Natura 2000 areas, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2008 (as of June 30th, 2008)
Data on protected areas are managed in the database Register of protected areas by the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, the Nature Conservation Sector on the basis of Article 111 of the Nature Conservation Act (NCA-OCT2, OG of the RS, No. 96/04) and Article 105 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA-1-OCT1, OG of the RS, No. 70/2008).
Data on Natura 2000 areas are managed in the database Register of Natura 2000 areas in the realm of registers of those areas, which are significant for maintaining biodiversity, by the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, the Nature Conservation Sector on the basis of Article 34 of the Nature Conservation Act (NCA-OCT1, OG of the RS, No. 96/04) and Article 5 of the Decree on special protection areas (Natura 2000 areas) (OG of the RS, Nos. 49/04, 110/04, 59/07 and 43/08).
Since the same landscape may be included both in protected as well as conservation areas, the datum on net surface areas has been applied for calculating the ratio of various protection types, overlapping areas and unprotected areas (without duplicating the surface areas which are simultaneously included in various protected areas).