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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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.

Bad

Trends in annual precipitation are not as obvious as temperature trends. Changes between years and differences between regions are significant. According to climate change projections, annual precipitation will increase slightly while changes in seasonal precipitation will be more noticeable. Summer conditions are the most worrying, because less precipitation and higher temperature might result in higher frequency of droughts. In winter, more precipitation may lead to an increase in flooding events.

Bad

Among the statistical regions of Slovenia, the Osrednjeslovenska region has the highest ecological footprint per capita (5.8 gha), while the Goriška region has the lowest (4.79 gha). The largest share of the ecological footprint in all regions is represented by the carbon footprint, contributing approximately 60%. A significant portion is also attributed to forest products (around 20%) and agricultural land (around 10%). The region with the highest biocapacity per capita is Primorsko-notranjska (8.02 gha), while Osrednjeslovenska has the lowest (1.11 gha).

Neutral

Tourism in Slovenia is growing steadily. It was particularly high in the last five years before the pandemic, when Slovenia established itself as an attractive green destination. In 2021 and 2022, domestic guest arrivals and overnight stays increased due to the pandemic. In 2024, Slovenian tourism already exceeded the global and European average with an 8% increase in foreign arrivals compared to 2019.

Neutral

In 2024, we began reporting on the chemical status of groundwater for a longer six-year period, in line with the reporting cycle under the Water Framework Directive. Based on this assessment, the state adopts measures to improve water quality.

Good

Groundwater in intergranular aquifers in Slovenia is most affected by nitrate pollution, particularly in northeastern Slovenia. In contrast, groundwater in karst and fissured aquifers is less impacted due to geographical conditions, lower population density, and a smaller proportion of agricultural land.

For the period 2019–2024, poor chemical status was identified in the water bodies of the Savinja, Drava, and Mura basins. The main cause of poor chemical status in all water bodies was nitrate, with atrazine additionally contributing in the Drava basin.