The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Annotated Ramsar List: Slovenia

The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

SLOVENIA / SLOVENIE / ESLOVENIA

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Slovenia by declaration of succession to the SFR of Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991. Slovenia presently has 3 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 8,205 hectares.

site; date of designation; region, province, state; surface area; coordinates
site; date de désignation; région, province, état; superficie; coordonnées
sitios; fecha de designación; región, provincia, estado; área; coordenadas

Cerkniško jezero z okolico (Lake Cerknica and its environs). 19/01/06; 7,250 ha, 45º45'N 014º23'E. Natura 2000 site, Ecologically Important Area, Regional Park. The largest and most typical intermittent karst lake in its region. It is formed during rainy periods when the volume of water can no longer be drained through sinkholes, and the lake has no surface outflow, discharging exclusively underground. Numerous picturesque karst phenomena, such as karst sources, estavelles, ponors and ponor caves, abound, and the Križna cave is renowned for its underground lakes; the Rakov Škocjan valley, formed by the collapse of ceilings of underground caves, and the River Rak are fed mainly by water from the lake. These special habitats support many rare and endemic species, such as cave beetle and cave salamander, and the lake is the only nesting site in Slovenia for the red-necked grebe, the redshank and the ferruginous duck as well as a breeding place for the corncrake. Remains of Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Iron Age settlements are found on Gorica Island in the middle of the lake, as well as prehistoric settlements from the 12th to the 4th centuries BC and a Roman necropolis nearby. Frequent, unpredictable flooding makes intensive agriculture impossible, but pasture and forest uses are widespread, besides some small recreation grounds; appropriate tourist facilities are needed to avoid adverse effects of unorganised tourism. Ramsar site no. 1600. Most recent RIS information: 2006.

Secoveljske soline (Secovlje salt pans). 03/02/93 650 ha; 45º29’N 013º36’E. Landscape Park; Nature Reserve. An area of tidal mudflats, salt pans, and saltmarsh supporting reedbeds and salt-resistant vegetation at the mouth of a canalized river. The site is important for various species of breeding, wintering and large numbers of staging waterbirds. Numerous nationally rare invertebrates and halophytic plants occur within the site, and the area is important for conservation education, outdoor recreation, and scientific research. Salt pans have been operated in the delta for hundreds of years and 40% of the site consists of operational salt pans. Ramsar site no. 586. Most recent RIS information: 1993.

Škocjanske jame (Skocjan Caves). 21/05/99; 305 ha; 45º40’N 014º00’E. World Heritage Site, Important Bird Area. The site is a karst underground water cave system with typical karst phenomena and features developed at the contact between permeable and impermeable rocks and in limestones. It provides habitat to numerous endemic (crustacean species, cave beetles) and endangered animal species (such as Miniopterus schreibersi, one of the rare bat species). The karst grassland is a breeding site for Apus melba, Bubo bubo, and Emberiza hortulana. Human activities include tourism, extensive agriculture, and forestry. Ramsar site no. 991. Most recent RIS information: 1999.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 7 February 2000, updated 6 February 2006, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.