Eco-systemic services of forests in Kočevska region

In the year and a half since the project LIFE started, we organized numerous activities aimed at general public as well as experts from various fields. We believe that wider public involvement in both past and future activities contributes to a firmer consensus on the decisions we make in regard to the environment, and rises awareness of the need for nature conservation.

The Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation administered a questionnaire to evaluate the importance of individual eco-systemic services of forests in Kočevska region to the respondents. The respondents were employees of the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation (21), LUK (Adult education center) (1) and Slovenia forest service (66). They were asked to grade the importance of individual eco-systemic services from 0 (lowest importance) to 5 (highest importance).

Regulatory services were given the highest score (3, 9), followed by cultural (3, 4) and supply (3, 2). Even though the survey did not cover a representative sample it will be a good foundation for further activities and contribute to final goal of the project – to raise awareness of the economic value of pristine nature.