slen
LIFE13 NAT/SI/000314
About project

Project actions and results

Published on 13. 1. 2015 under About project

A1 Preparation of the conservational baselines for the management of the Natura 2000 site Kočevsko

As a part of the A1 action, the existing data from professional services (Slovenian Environment Agency, Slovenia Forest Service, Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia, Institute for Water of Republic of Slovenia etc.) and current sectorial plans (Forest management planning, regional hunting management plans, plans for fishery management and breeding plans) will be analysed.

The analysis will serve as a basis for comprehensive overview of the taken measures. 3 workshops will be organized. Each of these themed workshops focuses on a different area: forestry and hunting, Water or Fisheries and Agriculture. A suitable SWOT analysis will be conducted during workshops. The entire A1 campaign will be organized on the principle of stakeholder involvement (participation).

Guidelines will be developed to overcome the shortcomings and increase the cooperation between the sectors and improve the management of Natura 2000 sites Kočevsko.

Results

A2 Field surveys of the distribution and habitat conditions of target species and habitat type and baselines of the socio-economical analysis of the Natura 2000 sites Kočevsko

The A2 action incorporates the implementation of baseline inventory of target species state and state of their habitats. In addition to these initial inventories, a baseline inventory of socio-economic analysis of Natura 2000 sites Kočevsko will be implemented. As a part of the campaign, A2 will identify baseline indicators and set the reference value. In this way (along with D actions) we will be able to successfully measure the implementation of field actions. A2 is essential for executing specific field actions – action C.

Results

A3 Preparation of the measure plans for the conservation actions C

Preparation of the execution plans for the conservation actions C

Based on the results of A1 and A2 actions, we will prepare the implementation plan for immediate activities in the field – action C, which will improve conditions and habitat type of target species. Implementation plans will be developed specifically as project plans and incorporated into existing systems, sectorial planning – as examples of sectorial implementation plans (silvicultural plans, annual hunting management plans, annual work programme of the public service in the field of water management and programme implementation of the municipal utility services and other implementation plans).

The A3 action contains a key technical basis for the spatial placement campaigns and detailed instructions for the execution thereof. Designed examples of implementing projects will be examples of good practice to be transferred to other areas of Natura 2000 in Slovenia.

The A3 action includes the upgrading of computer software, managing a database of measures identified in silviculture plans, SFS plans and entering planned road blocks on forest roads in the municipal spatial information system.
As part of the A3 action, the existing register of caves will be upgraded. Proposal for closing driveways into polluted cave or cleaning driveways into caves. All this actions will be incorporated in municipal spatial information system.

Results

B1 Lease of land

The A3 action will determine areas, where the measures for target species will be implemented. There are certain areas where actions for the target species will be carried out. Some areas provided for the protection of the target species are privately owned. In those cases contracts will be signed with forest owners and compensation for 20 years will be paid.

Results

C1 Improvement of the habitat of Proteus anguinus and habitat type 'caves not open to the public'

The C1 action is intended to improve the quality of habitat HT caves that are not open to the public and targets the Olm species. The campaign is divided into subsections:

C1.1 Rehabilitation with cleaning up the polluted caves

C1.2 Limiting access to the most congested caves with a wooden or stone barricade

C1.3 Limiting pollution of caves by placing warning signs of prohibited waste disposal

Results

C2 Improvement of the habitat and populations of Picoides tridactylus and Dendrocopos leucotos

The C2 action consists of implementing measures to improve the situation of habitat (either for foraging or nesting) of the three-toed woodpecker and the white-backed woodpecker.
In areas which are planned for Eco cells there will be various measures implemented which will ensure the increase in dead or decaying wood mass (lying and standing trees). The main measures will be thinning tree population with methods of ringing tree phloem (tree juice), marking trees, marking areas of eco-cells, the recording of geolocation by GPS and transfer to the forestry information system, which will be upgraded in the A3 action.

Results

C3 Improvement of the habitat and populations of Tetrao urogallus and Bonasa bonasia

The C3 action is designed to improve the habitat and reduce negative impacts on the population of Western capercaillie and Hazel grouse. The campaign is divided into:

C3.1 Measures to improve the situation of Western capercaillie habitat and Hazel grouse harbours- human disturbance

C3.2 Measures to improve the nutritional habitat of Western capercaillie and Hazel grouse

C3.2 Measures to reduce negative impacts of wild animals on populations of Western capercaillie and Hazel grouse.

Results

C4 Improvement of the habitat and populations of Haliaetus albicilla

The C4 action is intended for improving the state of nesting and feeding habitat of the white-tailed eagle and the reduction of human impacts on the population in the know nests in the narrow area. The action applies to the area of the white-tailed eagle, which is located near the lake in Kočevska Reka. The action is divided into subsections:

C4.1 Gaining control of the known White-tailed eagle nest

C4.2 Improving dietary options of White-tailed eagle

C4.3 Noise Reduction to improve the breeding of White-tailed eagle

Results

D1 Measurements of the impact of concrete field actions using the monitoring indicators of the target species and habitats

Measurements of concrete field actions using the monitoring indicators to the target species and habitats

Through monitoring of indicators developed in the A2 action this campaign will measure the effects of field actions (C actions). Monitoring indicators will allow us to determine the effectiveness of the measures implemented in the project and to make conclusions about the adequacy of the measures. Indicators will show us qualitative and quantitative impacts on target species populations and their habitat.

Results

D2 Assessment of the socio-economic effects of the project actions and functioning of the target ecosystems

Through series of interviews, the D2 action will conduct fast method of assessing the socio-economic benefits of the project – the benefits of already implemented project actions.

The D2 action also includes a study on the functioning of ecosystems, which will examine the functioning of the target ecosystems during and at the end of project. The study will be based on the examination of two target ecosystems in the area of Natura 2000 Kočevsko, namely: the forest ecosystem and underworld ecosystem. The study will attempt to assess the project’s impact on the functioning of both target ecosystems and provide a guideline for ensuring long-term natural processes in both target ecosystems. Using the results of the study we will be able to assess trends in ecosystem services / functions during the project and identify changes that will arise because of project activities.

Both studies in the D2 action will present a comprehensive overview of the socio-economic and ecosystem impacts of the project.

Results

E1 LIFE notice boards on the premises of the beneficiaries

The completion of the E1 action and the placement of information panels

In October, the Municipality of Kočevje completed its implementation of activities in the scope of E1 action. At the initial Kick-off meeting of project partners, held in Kočevje from 16 to 17 October 2014, all representatives of partner organisations received information panels with designed logos according to the Life projects rules which they will place at the entrances of respective organisations. Information panels contribute to the better recognition and promotion of the Life Kočevsko project. The E1 action is thus completely executed and completed.

Results

E3 Networking with stakeholders: education, training and awareness raising

The A3 action contains specialized professional and general education about the importance of forest and underground biodiversity (via the use of forest pedagogy) for adult local/regional stakeholders and children in elementary and high schools within the Kočevska region.

The E3 action also provides training for the target groups of stakeholders from the public and private sectors and civil initiatives: forestry, hunting, spatial planning and regional development through tourism, agriculture and nature conservation. Action is divided into sub actions:

E3.1 Education and training of foresters

E3.2 Education and Training of hunters

E3.2 Education and training of spatial planners, developers, tourism providers and farms with supplementary activity

E3.4 Education and training of teachers and educators in the field of forest pedagogics

E3.5 Raising awareness of schoolchildren

E3.6 Raising awareness of adults

Results

E4 Project promotion

The promotion of project results will include production of informational materials about the target species and Kočevska habitat type areas. There will be standard promotional materials such as brochures, postcards, calendars, T-shirts, videos, photo exhibitions, etc.

Results

E5 Educational nature trail along the lake and equipment for the 'Eagle room' in the cultural centre Kočevska Reka

Within the E5.1 campaign we will establish a didactic learning path along the lake. During the E5.2 sub-action we will equip the Eagle room in the newly renovated cultural house in Kočevska Reka. The Eagle room will serve as a main INFO room and will represent a basic cell of the project (C4 – action: video surveillance nest) with its educational content and presentations to the general public (close connection with the E3 and E4 campaigns).

Results

E6 Layman's report

With the help of this report, the project partners will present the project and its results to wider public.

Results

F2 Networking with similar projects

As a part of the F2 campaign, project partners will visit an example of good practice in managing the Natura 2000 sites and protected natural areas in the National Park Bavarian Forest, Bavaria in Germany and in the National Park Šumava in the Czech Republic.

In the final phase of the project, all project partners will visit the Dinarides area in the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This field trip will be used as a transfer of experience and project results. These two countries along with Slovenia have the largest share of Dinaric Alps and the highest total population of target species.

In addition to the two excursions, we will attend at least two international conferences in Europe, which will be organized by related project and international groups for project target species and habitat types, preferably on measures for the capercaillie and hazel grouse and measures for the three-toed and white-backed woodpecker.

Results

F4 Plan for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project results

For the purposes of LIFE after LIFE, all project partners will create a plan on how to ensure the long-term objectives of the project. The plan will include LIFE after LIFE activities that will be implemented by the project partners and, where appropriate, the key stakeholders.

Results