ReNature

Renature - Restoration of the network of wetlands and grasslands important for Natura 2000 and other protected species and habitat types in the Karst Biosphere Reserve and the Reka River Basin and the Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Nature Park

Restoration of wetland and grassland ecosystems important for Natura 2000 (N2k) species and habitat types (HT) was carried out in the Karst and Reka River Basin Biosphere Reserve (MAB KPR) and the Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Nature Park (KP PPJ).

MAB KPR encompasses a unique network of ecosystems with great geological diversity and biodiversity and also a rich heritage. It contains 10 Natura 2000 sites, natural values (NV) and 5 ecologically important sites (EPO), UNESCO and Ramsar site. KP PPJ borders with MAB KPR in the municipality of Pivka and comprises a protected area of intermittent lakes, 2 N2k, 3 EPO and 117 NV. The areas between N2k and other nature conservation areas are extremely important from the point of ensuring the connectivity, integrity and overall coherence of the N2k network.

The project partnership included key actors who have the experience and competencies to achieve the project objectives. It was based on the expertise of diverse actors (cross-sectoral, vertical approach), who complement each other in the availability of knowledge (University of Primorska, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research), implementation (Škocjan Caves Public Service Agency, Slovenia; Municipality of Pivka; Veterinary Faculty) and networking with target groups (Škocjan Caves Public Service Agency, Slovenia). All partners had a clear role in the project and participated in most of work packages. All took an active role in the preparation phase.

The Donor project partner was the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), leading institution for applied research in ecology, including in ESS, ecosystem restoration and effective management models. Cooperation was established through the Norwegian Environment Agency. Bilateral relations were strengthened by active participation in the project, knowledge transfer in ESS mapping, a management model design, the implementation of restorations and study visits in both countries.

Biodiversity and nature protection plays a crucial role in the fight against climate change. Healthy and resilient ecosystems have a greater ability to mitigate climate change. Wetlands are the world’s most efficient carbon sinking habitats per unit area. Active storage, binding of CO2 in soil and biomass, reduction of emissions are also characteristic for meadows (EU,2010; BF,2019). 

Climate change has become the biggest threat to natural heritage sites in the last 10 years (IUCN,2020) and ecosystems in MAB KPR and KP PPJ are not an exception. 

Less precipitation, higher temperatures and evaporation (Ogrin,2014; ARSO,2020) lead to greater drought and fire risks in meadows and wetlands. Extreme weather events such as storms cause erosion, soil and vegetation damage. Climate change exacerbates other pressures: invasive species, overgrowth, deterioration due to non-management.

Dry karst grasslands are among the most diverse habitat types in Slovenia. Meadow orchards are key habitat structures for birds and bats (LIFENATURAVIVA, 2020). Goršak (2010) recorded more than 3000 animal species there. 

Wetlands such as karst ponds and other small water reservoirs have provided water supplies in the past, but have a nature conservation role nowadays. These aquatic biotopes in the project area form a network of habitats of water-bound (N2k) species that would not be found in an otherwise dry karst landscape (ZRC SAZU,2005). The disappearance of these ecosystems results in the decline of populations of N2k species and HT (e.g., crested newt, yellow-bellied toad, marsh fritillary, bats with N2k code 1321, 1324, 1305, 1304, 1303, 1307, 1308; birds with N2k code A214, A232, A247, A255, A309, A338, A379; HT62A0 and 6510, etc.). According to the Report under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive and Article 12 Birds Directive Report, all of them have an unfavourable conservation status due to habitat loss.

The specific project objectives were:

1. Restoration of 45ha of meadows and a network of karst ponds and other small water reservoirs important for Natura 2000 species and habitat types.
2. Development of a new model for the management of restored ecosystems, which includes the aspect of ecosystem services (ESS) and is adapted to climate change.
3. Raising awareness and educating the experts and general public, including relevant stakeholders at national, regional, local level.

 

Key project activities and deliverables were investments in the restoration of wetlands (eight karst ponds and arched well) and meadow ecosystems (45 ha), mapping and study of ecosystem services, design and launch of a new management model based on the ESS; preparation of guidelines for the dissemination of the new management model, at least 30 educational and awareness-raising events and an awareness campaign for the experts and general public.

The target groups were local communities in the project area: 

• regional and national authorities for Natura 2000: e.g., Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, The Slovenia Forest Service, Slovenian Environment Agency, Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ministry of Culture, National Institute of Biology, Farmland and Forest Fund of the Republic of Slovenia; 
• PŠJ Network of Schools and Universities; 
• the Community of Natural Parks of Slovenia;
• the Office for UNESCO; 
• small and medium-sized local enterprises; 
• NGOs for the Protection and Research of Species/HT, 
• general public.

The overall project goal was to improve the management of wetlands and grassland ecosystems in MAB KPR and KP PPJ, which are under climate change pressure.