Technical Project Data:
Project Acronym: LIFE IP NATURA.SI
Project Number: LIFE17 IPE/SI/000011
Project Duration: September 5, 2018 - December 31, 2026
Project Value: €17,007,204
Contribution from the European Commission: €10.2 million
Objectives of LIFE-IP NATURA.SI
The main objective of LIFE-IP NATURA.SI is to enhance management and implementation of Natura 2000 Management Programme (PUN 2000). The aim of this IP is not just to implement selected measures from PUN 2000, but to act as an umbrella, connecting all key institutions, individuals and available approaches in nature conservation, to complementary connect results, knowledge and best practices gained in traditional LIFE, and other projects and enable an enhanced uptake of these results in national, systemic level.
Results are going to be achieved via cooperation among various sectors and stakeholders.
LIFE-IP NATURA.SI specific objectives
The project has 4 specific objectives. They are linked to the implementation of concrete conservation measures in the field, to the improvement of Natura 2000 management, to the improvement of knowledge on selected species, and to the improvement of communication.
O1: Improving the conservation status of selected species and habitats by implementing selected measures on project areas.
O2: Enhancing management of Natura 2000 and implementation of measures by increasing the capacity of key actors dealing with nature conservation in Slovenia.
O3: Improving knowledge on selected species, habitat types and Natura 2000 sites as a whole, including through enhanced and more efficient monitoring, with a long-term sustainable national monitoring scheme put in place.
O4: Raising awareness and level of information on Natura species, habitat types and Natura 2000 sites with enhanced collaboration with landowners, research institutions, experts and volunteers of non-governmental organisations and turn them from stakeholders to partners.
Pilot Areas:
- Ličenca near Poljčane (SI3000214)
- Volčeke (SI3000213)
- Boč, Haloze, and Donačka gora (SI3000118)
- Dravinja with tributaries (SI3000306)
- Dravinjska dolina (SI5000005)
- Slovenian Istria (SI3000212)
- Kamniško – Savinjske Alpe (SI3000264)
- Grintovci (SI5000024)
Activities of the Slovenian Forestry Institute:
SFI is involved in the following activities: A.1, A.3, A.4, A.6, C.1, C.3, C.5, C.7, D.1, E.1, E.2, E.3, E.4, E.6, F.1.
The LIFE-IP NATURA.SI project is nationwide and is based on cooperation between various sectors and stakeholders with the aim of improving the management and implementation of the Natura 2000 Management Program (PUN 2000). The project pursues four specific objectives related to concrete nature conservation actions in the field, improving the management of Natura 2000, increasing knowledge about specific species/habitat types, and enhancing communication. A distinctive feature of integrated LIFE projects is the inclusion of other EU funding sources to achieve common goals (agricultural, structural, regional, research, or national funds and private sector investments).
At the Slovenian Forestry Institute, the project content is led by Associate Professor Dr. Lado Kutnar. The project tasks are also carried out in collaboration with a team of experts from the Slovenia Forest Service. The main tasks performed by GIS in the project are related to two priority forest habitat types: 9180* Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes, and ravines, and 91E0* Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior. For these habitat types in three Natura 2000 pilot areas (Ličenca near Poljčane (SI3000214), Boč, Haloze, and Donačka gora (SI3000118), Kamniško-Savinjske Alpe (SI3000264), and Grintovci (SI5000024)), forestry experts are determining their baseline condition and preparing proposals for the implementation of conservation measures to guide the development and maintenance of forests of these habitat types. The stands of both habitat types are threatened by various factors and are mostly in poor or unfavorable condition. A proposal for a monitoring protocol for the selected priority habitat types and three selected Natura 2000 moss species will also be prepared and tested.
In the project, SFI will analyze and create habitat suitability models for seven selected Natura 2000 forest species (2 owl species and 5 beetle species) in collaboration with the National Institute of Biology. We will also analyze the state of three selected Natura 2000 moss species (analyzing major knowledge gaps for the three selected moss species, preparing proposals to address these gaps, and conducting a survey of the coverage of target moss species with the existing national monitoring scheme). Project staff participate in various workshops for training employees to improve Natura 2000 area management, better communication, and public awareness.
