The European beaver (Castor fiber) is an indigenous species in Slovenia, which until recently was considered extinct. In 1996 beaver has been reintroduced to Croatia, from where it spread to Slovenia (rivers Sava, Drava, Mura). As an exclusive herbivorous species, its presence also depends on the sufficient amount of food in the environment. It feeds with herbs, aquatic plants, trees and shrubs. In summer beaver consume almost exclusively herbs. In an environment where herbs are not present all year round,  it consumes woody plants. At least 80 tree and 149 herb species have been recorded in the beaver diet, but none of the invasive species of Fallopia spp. present in Slovenia.

Non-native invasive plant species pose a serious threat to native plant and animal species, also otter and beaver. Their intense expansion and growth is often seen along rivers and streams as a result of human activity and inappropriate removal of natural riparian tree and shrub vegetation. The purpose of this pilot project was to show best practices of successful removal of invasive species knotweed ((Fallopia comp.) Of sect. Reynoutria). Removal of knotweed should leed to creation of natural riparian habitat, suitable for beaver and other native fauna and flora. In order for beavers to return to Ljubljana Moors, they need adequate foods provided by the riparian belt. Ensuring the appropriate composition of tree and shrub species is of key importance for the long-term conservation of this species.

In year 2012, we tested different methods of knotweed removal on two test sites. In area Špica by the river Ljubljanica we monitored effectiveness of knotweed shoots removal. We found out that regular removal of shoots is successful and it reduces the number and height of shoots of Japanese knotweed.

In the framework of the project we also prepared a lecture at the Nature-health fair where we presented the problems of nature, the environment and man, the different methods of limitation (mechanical, chemical, biological) and their weaknesses and advantages, and above all our experience and the results of removing invasive plants.

 

 

Title: Removal of invasive species on the banks of Ljubljanica and ensuring the suitability of habitat for beaver

Akronim: Beaver, get back to the marshes!

Applicant: Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage

Co-financier: The City of Ljubljana

Duration: 2013

 

Ljubljana will be a green city if its citizens will also be “green”. Therefore, it is important that we raise children into small “caretakers” of nature, who will treat it with care and respect. For this reason we prepared a project Otter’s Preschool, in which we carried out educational and creative workshops in kindergartens. With the project, we continued with upgraded educational activities for the youngest prepared in the framework of the project Merman in School 3, carried out in some kindergartens in Ljubljana in 2013. The selection of workshops covered various topics, mainly related to inland waters.

The children learned about the diversity of life (biodiversity) of inland waters. During workshop they learned about otter, the queen of water. We explored the water environment in nature. At the same time, we removed waste and thus contributed to the conservation of nature. By performing simple water experiments, we learned about some water properties and how different pollutants affect water and aquatic organisms. We learned about metamorphosis. In addition to aquatic organisms, we also discovered other mammals. We made footprints in various materials and casts from plaster. We have come to know one of the threats to biodiversity, which is increasing due to the construction of new roads – traffic. With the help of STOPHEDGEHOGE we learned that we need to be careful on the road and, in addition to our safety, we also have to take care of the safety of animals for which there are often no crossings.

Title: Otter’s Preschool

Applicant: Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage

Co-financier: The City of Ljubljana

Duration: 2014

 

In 2014, we conducted the project Little owl’s home at the Ljubljana Moors. Our goal was to improve the little owl’s habitat by installing artificial nesting structures, which are used to replace the natural tree cavities in which the species usually nests. With the intensification of the agricultural practices at the Ljubljana Moors the numbers of secondary cavity-nesting birds disappear rapidly, therefore the installation of artificial nests is necessary for the conservation of these species of birds, including the little owl (Athene noctua). Within the project, we made a night survey using the play-back method with the help of 20 volunteers. We recorded the presence of one singing male in the vicinity of Notranje Gorice. We also installed 10 wooden nest boxes with the appropriate size for different species of cavity-nesting birds as the Little owl, Scops owl and the Hoopoe. We prepared and carried out 4 lectures for a primary school, secondary school and for the general public in which we presented the threats to the existence of endangered owl species and their habitats (e.g. old orchards) in Slovenia. The project was presented in many articles and other media, including a participation in a TV broadcast in cooperation with RTV Slovenia. Project activities were also published on our web site and on the Facebook profile.

 

Title: Little Owl’s Home at the Ljubljana Moors

Applicant: Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage

Co-financier: The City of Ljubljana

Duration: 2014

Slovenian traffic network has been growing rapidly in the last two decades. The major share goes on the account of road infrastructure, while the growing rate of railway infrastructure is lower. The traffic network occupies great areas of land, causes habitat fragmentation and contributes greatly to mortality of wildlife. A physical barrier caused by ever growing road and railway network leads to increase in vehicle numbers, as well as growing vehicle velocities, together contribute to even worse traffic security and is at the same time a great threat to biotic diversity. Threats to biotic diversity rise out of human perception of nature, his attitude towards the latter and predominant behaviour patterns. All this also reflects in human attitude toward the traffic and traffic network construction. In order to bring the problematic to the people, we need higher awareness, motivation and better education. Project proposal will significantly contribute to higher public awareness about the threats traffic and its infrastructure pose to biotic diversity of Slovenia.

Slovenian drivers and young (future) drivers, that receive their education in driving schools, are the targeting group which we have focused on. We will also focus on driving instructors that act as promoters and multipliers of project message to new drivers. We wish to raise the environmental awareness among them, stressing the importance of safe driving for lives of animals as well as for people (11.3 % of road accidents on regional roads are caused by animal collision). We will cooperate with important organizations that can contribute a great share to improvement of recent situation in the field of traffic issue. Those organizations are Veterinarian and Hygienic Service, Council for Prevention and Education in Road Traffic, Slovenian Railways, hunting families and Slovenian Hunting Association, Biotechnical Faculty, DARS (Slovenian Highways), schools etc. We wish the traffic issue to enter into consciousness of every driver. In order to achieve that, we will launch preventive action in public media (radio news), deliver promoting material (leaflets with car stickers, traffic jackets, posters, web page) and educate (website, workshops).

 

Title: Traffic and Animals

Acronym: STOPHEDGEHOGE

Applicant: Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage

Co-financier:  Swiss NGO Fund

Duration: from January 2011 to June 2012

Zaradi populacijskih lastnosti vidre in njene ogroženosti so zelo pomembni zvezni koridorji med posameznimi osrednjimi območji populacije, v našem primeru med območjem Natura 2000 Ljubljansko barje in osrednjo vodno žilo Slovenije, Savo – to je Ljubljanica. V projektu Vidra na pragu prestolnice smo ugotovili, da vidra uporablja koridor Gruberjev prekop in ne Ljubljanice, ki teče skozi mesto, saj ta v mestnem okolju ne nudi primernih habitatnih struktur za vodno živalstvo. Vendar je bilo tudi na Gruberjevem prekopu kar nekaj za vodne živali nepremostljivih ovir (zapornice), za katere smo v tem projektu pripravili predloge za primerne omilitvene ukrepe, ki bi živalim omogočili migracije. Evidentiranje ovir in načrti ustreznih omilitvenih ukrepov so na voljo načrtovalcem pri obnovitvenih delih (npr. obnova Plečnikove zapornice pri Cukrarni), njihova predstavitev javnosti na pojasnjevalnih tablah, razstavah in v medijih pa je pomembno prispevala k ozaveščanju in izobraževanju najširše javnosti in obiskovalcev Ljubljane (turistov) na področju varstva narave, posebej vodnega okolja.

The closeness of the capital city of Ljubljana and protected, very important for nature conservation area of Ljubljana Moors with Ljubljanica river offers new opportunities for exploring nature and the results of the mechanisms for the protection of natural values. At the same time, properly presented and interpreted natural values ​​enrich the cultural pulse of the capital and contribute to the higher environmental awareness of both citizens and visitors.

The project was a continuation of the project The Otter on Capital’s Doorstep, which was also founded by the Institute Lutra in 2008/2009 with the support of the City of Ljubljana. Lutra lutra is an indigenous and internationally protected animal species under special protection of the state. It also lives on the Ljubljana Moors, where it is also a qualification species for Natura 2000 area. Because of the population characteristics of the otter and its threat, connective corridors between central areas are very important (in our case between the Natura 2000 area Ljubljana Moors and the central river in Slovenia, Sava (Ljubljanica). Otters use corridor Gruber canal and not river Ljubljanica, which flows through the city, since the urban environment does not offer suitable habitat structures for aquatic fauna. However, Gruber canal does also have many insurmountable obstacles for which we prepared proposals for suitable mitigation measures. Records of obstacles and plans for appropriate mitigation measures were available to planners in the reconstruction works. Additionally, their presentation to the public on explanatory bords, exhibitions and in the media has significantly contributed to raising awareness and education of the widest public and visitors of Ljubljana about nature protection, especially the aquatic environment.

 

Title: With the Otter through the Capital

Applicant: Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage

Co-financier: The City of Ljubljana

Duration: 2011

 

The purpose of the project “Vidrology” was to fill the new Otter’s centre Aqualutra in Goričko with educational and awareness-raising contents. In the project, the otter as an endangered and umbrella species of freshwater ecosystems was presented and promoted as a carrier of the quality of the continental aquatic environment in all the basins, regardless of political boundaries. Otter depends on the preservation of the water, so we disseminated fact about richness of the biodiversity of the Prekmurje and its natural values ​​and showed how we can preserve and protect them with a help of otter.

The project activities were mainly to improve the knowledge of the biodiversity of the wider area in all target groups, to present the basic principles of sustainable use of natural resources and spreading awareness about the role of each individual in protecting the environment and nature. The purpose of the project was to connect nature protection centers with similar goals and contents in the European space, to exchange experiences and to complement the offer. We visited related information nature conservation centres in Austria and the Czech Republic; gathered and prepared a lot of different didactic natural materials for education, which we stored in educational boxes made by the Pomelaj Rural Cooperative; prepared a practical guide for educational path; with wooden equipment in the open we demonstrated otter’s features while at the same time enabling the entertainment of young visitors of the centre; prepared school leaflets for pupils of primary and secondary school; carried out several workshops for children; printed the coloring book; prepared an informative publication about the Aqualutra centre and multimedia presentation (DVD) with a film.

 

Title: Following the Otter’s Knowledge

Acronym: Vidrology

Applicant: Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage

Co-financiers:

EEA Grants
Norway Grants

Duration: from July 2008 to March 2010

 

The most remote region in Slovenia is Prekmurje, lying in the extreme northeast of the country beyond the river Mura. Its northern part is Goričko, which begins on the left bank of river Ledava and shares a border with Austria and Hungary. If Slovenia is a hen, then Prekmurje represents its head and Goričko its brain. In the heart of this hilly landscape, furrowed with streams and brooks, lives a vital population of otter (Lutra lutra).  In 2004, the European Commission approved funding for a 4-year LIFE-NATURA project entitled AQUALUTRA: Conservation of otter population in Goričko – Phase 1 (LIFE04NAT/SI/000234), which was designed by Institute Lutra and submitted by the central municipality of Goričko, Gornji Petrovci.

In order to maintain a vital population of otter, it is essential to ensure the permeability of the habitat and migration corridors across the state border to the west (to Austria) and to the east (to Hungary). The greatest danger for this corridor is the “black” corridor, which consists of a regional road and a newly built interstate railway link with direct impacts on the natural habitat of otter. Additional threats are degraded habitats due to agromeliorations, including the watercourse regulation that has been carried out in recent decades.

Lutra lutra is also an umbrella species of freshwater ecosystems and can, with its characteristic appearance, play an important role of message species in preserving freshwater habitats and the living environment in the widest sense. The most important activities of the project were directed in two directions: improvement of otter habitats in the Goričko Nature Park and permeability of migration corridors in the common territory of Austria, Slovenia and Hungary, and the provision of quality habitat near Information centre Aqaulutra in the valley of a stream “Mala Krka”, running parallel to the main corridor and where an information center, educational path and other educational and awareness-raising activities for visitors were planned.

In addition to the activities carried out, the project aimed to preserve and increase the biodiversity of freshwater habitats in the project area, encourage local and regional decision makers to incorporate protective measures for otter at all levels of regional development plans, use otters as a message for raising public awareness of the importance and ecological role otters for the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and contribute to environmental education in the broadest sense, and to present the application of European nature protection and environmental legislation, including the Habitat Directive, the Water Framework Directive, the European Natura 2000 network and the OHNE project in everyday practice.

Within the framework of the project we also built and opened the Information Centre Aqualutra with all activities related to the preservation of the Lutra lutra and the presentation of appropriate methods for the conservation of its natural habitats, and prepared the exhibition AQUALUTRA, which was presented at castles Bistra, Grad, Bogenšperk and Podsreda, at the headquarters of Triglav National Park in Bled, at Municipality of Lenart, Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, the DUO handcraft center in Veržej and at many other venues.

 

Title: Conservation of Otter population in Goričko – Phase 1

Acronym: AQUALUTRA

Applicant: Municipality of Gornji Petrovci

Partners:

• Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage
• Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, Department of Zootechnics
• Limnos d. o. o., Applied Ecology Company
• Grand, d. o. o., video production
• Municipality of Puconci
• Municipality of Moravske Toplice
• Municipality of Kuzma
• Municipality of Kobilje
• Municipality of Cankova
• Municipality of Dobrovnik
• Municipality of Rogašovci

Co-financiers:

• European Commission
• Public Railway Agency
• Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning

Funding program: LIFE

Duration: from November 2004 to April 2009

 

Water is a natural good, a condition for life on Earth. In the water balance on our planet, fresh water presents only 2.5 percent of which less than 1 percent is accessible. In the last hundred years, water consumption has increased 6 times. Already today, there are many countries in the world where lacks clean drinking water. The population growth and climate changes can with the current use and consumption of water lead to a major global water crisis. In addition, its quality is influenced by rising emissions of dangerous substances. Slovenia is rich in water, although they not evenly spatially distributed. As in most European countries, even in Slovenia, in accordance with the Water Framework Directive, we manage water resources. The priority is to eliminate adverse impacts on water, to provide water of adequate quality for humans and natural ecosystems and to preserve their biodiversity. In other words, water must become more valued to us.

Title Droplets of Science hides two key elements of the program: water and science. Water does not appear when we open the tap and does not disappear in the drainage channel. With the program we wanted to emphasize the holistic approach of water and water resources in education. The program was designed to include the whole educational vertical – from a child in kindergarten to a student. With the program we wanted to reach as many young people as possible from all over Slovenia, so we cooperated with the Society for Environmental Education in Europe (DOVES), which is implementing the Eco-school project as a way of life. The program was also supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

We organized summer research camps for pupils, professional excursions and workshops, web conferences and a competition for the logo of the program and a drawing contest on the topic Life in the water.

We made an interactive website www.izobrazevanje.lutra.si which offers comprehensive information on water, inland ecosystems, water use, water analysis methods, water status, etc.

 

Title: Droplets of Science

Applicant: Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage

Co-financier: Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology

Duration: from September 2008 to October 2009

 

In a project we made after almost a decade another inventory of otter (Lutra lutra) and its habitats in the Ljubljana Moors (Natura 2000 area), monitored cases of otter mortality and risk factors, and envisaged measures to reduce the threat to the population. Since the European beaver regained new habitats in Slovenia, the project also assessed the suitability of the habitat and the paths for the re-colonization of the Ljubljana Moors for this species. At the same time we recorded non-native larger rodents (Coypu and Musk Rat) and presented them to the public.

We found that otter inhabits all running and most of standing water in the Ljubljana Moors and in the area of ​​Polhov Gradec Dolomites, which are geographically linked to Moors. Abundance of otter was greater compared to the situation in 2000, given the frequency of signs of presence in nature, we also concluded that the population was larger. This situation still justifies the status of otter as qualifying species for the Natura 2000 site of the Ljubljana Moors and imposes a special concern for its preservation.

Although beavers are spreading their areal in Slovenia and inhabit more and more rivers, they have not yet arrived to river Ljubljanica during the project period. If the planned interventions and construction on the main watercourses in Slovenia (Sava) will not prevent their spread, they can also be expected at the Ljubljana Moors. Musk Rats were barely noticeable, while the Coypu in recent years “conquered” river Ljubljanica and excite nature lovers with their appearance; they are mostly not informed about this invasive species. That is why we prepared awareness and information material for the broadest public. Much of the nature conservation is based on raising awareness and informing various groups of people.

Since education requires high quality educational and professional materials, we remembered already existing exhibition of AQUALUTRA, which was prepared in the framework of the LIFE-NATURA project. In cooperation with the management of the Ljubljana Marsh Nature Park we prepared two exhibition boards with the results of the distribution of the otter on the Ljubljana Moors and about differentiation of semi-aquatic mammals that can be found on the Ljubljana Moors.

After the opening in the Castle Grad in Goričko exhibition was placed in Technical Museum of Slovenia Bistra. With a nice cultural event we solemnly opened exhibition on May 18, 2009, on the World Museum Day. In the cultural and historical environment of the medieval castle, the exhibition has come to life in a very special way, since Bistra is a well-known location where the otter is constantly appearing. We could show to the visitors fresh signs of her presence.  The exhibition was transferred in September to the new Information Centre Aqualutra in Križevci, Goričko. We also prepared a workshop for elementary school children.

 

Title: Inventory of Otter (Lutra lutra) and other major water mammals on the Ljubljana Moor and related aquatic ecosystems

Acronym: The Otter on Capital’s Doorstep

Applicant: Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage

Co-financier: The City of Ljubljana

Duration: 2009

 

 

 

European Otter (Lutra lutra) Workshop 2008

European working sessions/workshops about Eurasian otter are regular activity of  Otter Specialist Group (OSG) at Species Survival Commission of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In October 2005, at a meeting in Padua, Italy, it was concluded that, due to a number of topical issues, the group would meet each year or in years when there is no meeting on global scale. At the 10th International Otter Colloquium, held in Hwacheon, South Korea in October 2007, this task was entrusted for year 2008 to Lutra, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage.

European Otter workshops have been irregularly ongoing since 1974, since IUCN Otter Specialist Group was established. Its tasks are:

• to lead preservation of all species of otters (Lutrinae),
• to define and revise the status and needs of all species of otters, supports necessary research, protection and management programs of various organizations and governments,
• to disseminate knowledge of the status and protection necessity,
• to promote reasonable management of all otter species  (more at http://otterspecialistgroup.org/index.html).

The European IUCN Group is limited to Eurasian Otter and is specifically dealing with the coordination and implementation of protection and management activities arising from common European legislation, but due to the different transposition into national laws in different countries, they are implemented differently. The group is led by a coordinator, each country should also have a national representative which is responsible for the preparation of a report on the status and protection of otters in their country, cooperation with state bodies, professional services and nature conservation organizations.

The specific objective of a session in 2008 was to review the state of Lutra Lutra, activities for its protection across individual European countries in the light of Natura 2000 network and to prepare national reports. Some countries, especially those on Eastern Balkan, do not have national representatives and we do not know the situation in these countries at all. Until 2008, Slovenia was the only representative of the former Yugoslavia, which had a national representative in the group, Croatia has one now as well. Most of the Balkan countries were then preparing for admission to the European Union, so they had to become acquainted with the legality of European nature protection legislation and prepare for the adoption of the Natura 2000 network. We wanted the workshop in Slovenia to be an important stepping stone for the countries of the former Yugoslavia, since Slovenia represents an important communication bridge between European and Balkan countries. The bridge between the countries is also an otter, because the rivers – the habitat of the otter – do not know the political boundaries. On this basis, we prepared a plan for the most necessary research and protection activities and focused on the most critical points.

Workshop was held from 5th to 10th October 2008 on the outskirts of the Goričko Nature Park, in the Vivat Solar Park in Moravske Toplice (www.vivat.si). Workshop was attended by representatives of most European countries and some Asian countries bordering Europe and where the same species of otter (Lutra lutra) lives.