Conservation on Lake Cerknica, Slovenia

General

National Id:

Slovenia_03

Site name:

Cerknica Lake

Summary:

The purpose of this project was the establishment of appropriate conditions for protection and conservation of animal and plant species and their habitats on Lake Cerknica, in Slovenia. It simultaneously sought to promote an even development of local agriculture, forestry, fishing, tourism, recreation and education in accordance with natural values. The project was funded by LIFE program and Notranjska Regional Park was responsible of the project coordinated with the Biotechnical Faculty, the Municipality and Inzeniring za vode d.o.o.

NUTS Code:

Zahodna Slovenija

RBD code:

SI_RBD_1

Transboundary:

Data provider:

Jovanka Ignjatovic, REC

Source(s):

Cerknisko Jezero - Intermittent Cerknica Lake, Project Description

Case study: LIFE 06 NAT/SLO/000069 Intermittent Lake Cerknica

Project web site

Notranjski regijski park, Layman's Report

Action Plan for Renaturation of watercourses in the area of Cerknica Lake (Akcijski plan renaturacije vodotokov na obmoÄju Cerkniškega jezera) - available in Slovenian language

NWRM(s) implemented in the case study:

Wetland restoration and management

Re-meandering

Stream bed re-naturalization

Longitude:

14.363

Latitude:

45.7425

Site information

Climate zone:

cool temperate moist

Mean rainfall:

1700

Mean rainfall unit:

mm/year

Average temperature:

Mean runoff:

Mean runoff unit:

600 - 750 mm

Type:

Case Study Info

Light or indepth?:

Light

Vegetation class:

Cerknica Lake is one of the most important Slovenian Karst sights. When the water level is highest it covers over 29 km2. Lakes most significant characteristic is its intermittent nature. Due to this variability, special ecological conditions were created on the lake that enables rich diversity of animal and plant species and their habitats. The area is mostly covered with permanent pasture areas and marshy areas. Due to frequent flooding the extensive agricultural land use is dominated (wet meadows, pastures, fields).

Monitoring maintenance

Monitoring impacts effects:

Performance

Performance impact estimation method:

Unknown

Performance impact estimation information:

N/A info

Biophysical impacts

Information on retained water:

N/A info

Information on increased water storage:

N/A info

Information on runoff reduction:

N/A info

Water quality overall improvements:

Not relevant for this application

Information on Water quality overall improvements:

Not relevant for this application

Soil quality overall soil improvements:

Not relevant for this application

Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements:

Not relevant for this application

Lessons, risks, implications...

Key lessons:

The project was aimed at ensuring long-term favorable conditions for the conservation of endangered habitat types and associated plant and animal species at Lake Cerknica. The main focus was given to the restoration of the natural watercourses with the aim of prolonging the drainage time and holding back the water in the driest summer months. This contributed to raising the level of groundwater, particularly close to riverbeds or watercourses, crucial for conserving endangered habitat types and species. The project substantially improved the quality of the Cerknica Lake Natura 2000 site and raised awareness of the sites importance locally and beyond. It demonstrated new approaches to nature conservation in Slovenia, particularly the purchase of farmland for permanent protection and advanced mowing and mulching techniques on wetlands.

Success factor(s):

Type	Role	Comments
Communication activities	secondary factor
Attitude of relevant stakeholders	main factor
Financing possibilities	main factor

Financing:

Type	Comments
EU-funds: LIFE+	Main funding source was Life+ programme, Municipality of Cerknica and Ministry of Environment cofinanced the project.

Barrier:

Type	Role	Comments
		No barriers have been experienced

Driver:

Type	Role	Comments
Organisation committed to it	main driver	Cerknica lake is one of the most important Slovenian Karst sights known worldwide. In the past people wanted either to drain or to flood the lake for their benefit. Many interventions were carried out on lakes watercourses and sinkholes that changed the water regime on the lake. The result of the changed water regime is a lower ground water level and faster drying of the lake that has a negative influence on water organisms and habitats. With the act and establishment of a public institution Notranjska Regional Park in 2002 the lake has gained the legal protection.

Financing share:

Share type	Share	Comments
European funds	73
National funds	27

Socio-economic

Direct benefits information:

not available information

Ancillary benefits information:

not available information

Costs investment information:

Only info on total cost is available

Costs operation maintenance:

Only info on total cost is available

Costs total:

1840584

Costs total information:

Only info on total cost is available

Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

Improved water regime has a positive impact on the prevalence and size of certain Natura 2000 habitat types (depressions on peat substrates, transitional bogs, meadows). Modified water regime has a direct impact on macrophyte, amphibious and wading species. Slower flow of water and lower water level fluctuations affect a positive impact on the breeding of witnesses and reproduction and spawning green frogs, as well as spawning fish. Modified water regime allows for long-term species diversity of dragonflies, water beetles and caddisflies.

Ecosystem provisioning services:

Information on Ecosystem provisioning services:

Not relevant for this application

Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

No specific impact

Information on Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

Not relevant for this application

Policy, general governance and design targets

Policy description:

The Cerknisko Jezero project substantially improved the quality of the Cerknica Lake Natura 2000 site and raised awareness of the sites importance locally and beyond. It demonstrated new approaches to nature conservation in Slovenia, particularly the purchase of farmland for permanent protection and advanced mowing and mulching techniques on wetlands.

Quantified objectives:

The project aims to ensure long-term favorably conditions for the conservation of turloughs and other endangered habitat types and associated plant and animal species at Lake Cerknica. It simultaneously promotes sustainable development of local agriculture, forestry, fishing, tourism, recreation and education in accordance with natural values.

Part of wider plan:

Policy pressure:

Policy requirement directive:

Policy impact:

Policy wider plan:

Wider plan type	Wider plan focus	Name	Comments
National		Spatial Development Strategy of Slovenia
Regional		Decree on the spatial and social components of a long-term plan of the municipality Cerknica
Local		Amendments to the general planning conditions Municipality of Cerknica

Policy area:

Policy target:

Target purpose
Runoff control
Increase Water Storage
Groundwater Recharge
Improved Biodiversity
Oher Societal Benefits

Design & implementations

Application scale:

Field Scale

Installation date:

2009-12

Lifespan:

Age:

Performance timescale:

1 - 4 years

Area (ha):

2900

Area subject to Land use change or Management/Practice change (ha):

Size:

1400

Size unit:

Design capacity description:

A land survey of current and former watercourses on an area larger than 100 ha was carried out as the bases for re-naturalization of former meanders. More than 12 km of watercourses in the Cerknica were included in this study. By restoring former meanders of two streams it was intended to raise the groundwater level in the area. Restoration works were done on few sections, approximately 1400 m long.

Constraints:

N/A info

Favourable preconditions:

N/A info

Management change from:

The project provided the first demonstration of land purchase in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act in Slovenia. It involved preparing extensive documentation, obtaining the necessary permits and consent, and verifying contracts.

Management change to:

It managed to purchase 260 ha of land to be set aside for long-term protection of cultural and natural heritage. Direct action restored 1.35 km of natural streams. This succeeded in raising the groundwater level of the Dujce fen and providing sustenance to characteristic water and river-bank plant communities of the Tresenec stream. A specialized equipment was introduced for mowing and harvesting hay on 26 ha of flood meadows with low carrying capacity. Mowing was conducted to prevent overgrowth of shrubs towards the center of the itinerant lake. 500 tonnes of hay were mowed and made available to stakeholders.

Design contractual arrangement:

Design consultation activity:

Activity stage	Name	Key issues	Comments
Implementation phase	Popularization of the project	The project was highly active in engaging the public, including through information notices in a shopping centre, published materials and lakeside boards.	Public was informed about the course of the project on more different levels: Lectures and other activities for local and general public (31 lectures for professional, local and general public were performed that had very good media support both on local and national level), Articles in local and national newspapers (102 articles in printed media, mostly in local newspapers were published. 22 articles were also published in the monthly bulletin eNatura under the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning), Announcements on radio and TV stations (There were 117 publications on local and national TV and radio stations, concerning the LIFE project. The project group regularly cooperated with local radio stations, the public was informed about the importance of nature protection and conservation. The project group also cooperated in radio show named Rompompom for young people, for which 5 broadcasts were prepared), Contributions concerning the nature protection and conservation were published monthly on the local TV station (the project and work within was presented in several talk shows on the local TV station. The advertisement for buying agricultural land in the area of Lake Cerknica was also regularly transmitted).
Implementation phase	Work with youth	Project conducted nature protection actions with a network of schools.	As a future investment, one of the project team's goals was to meet all schoolchildren that live in Notranjska Regional Park and present them the project and actions within it. The following activities within this action were carried out: Establishment of Nature protection network of schools and kindergartens of Notranjska Regional Park, Educational activities, Preparation of educational materials, Summer research camps).

Design land use change:

Design authority:

Authority type	Role	Name	Comments
Other	Financing	Municipality of Cerknica	Miunicipality
Other	Initiation of the measure	Notranjski regijski park	Public institute established by municipality of Cerknica.
National water authority	Determination of design details of the measure	Inženiring za vode	Private company
Other	Implementation	Biotechnical Faculty, Department for Biology	Faculty under University of Ljubljana
Other	Financing	Ministry of Environment	Ministry

Last updated: 12 Jan 2015 | Top

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