Page 108 - Koderman, Miha, and Vuk Tvrtko Opačić. Eds. 2020. Challenges of tourism development in protected areas of Croatia and Slovenia. Koper, Zagreb: University of Primorska Press, Croatian Geographical Society
P. 108
challenges of tourism development in protected areas of croatia and slovenia
surroundings, both on land and offshore, and are increasingly threatened
by the changing climate.
Climate change is projected to bring about a rise in sea level, which
would cause either frequent (during the tides) or permanent flooding, and
the loss of important habitats and tourism sites. Climate change typically
involves an increase in temperatures and evapotranspiration, a decrease in
precipitation and runoff, more frequent extreme precipitation events, and
long-lasting dry periods. The protected areas that are the subject of this
chapter will almost certainly experience considerable changes in wet/dry
dynamics and more frequent heavy flooding, and also be affected by high-
er temperatures and salinity levels.
Large-scale protected areas on the Slovenian coast
and their importance for tourism
Despite the fact that around one-third (30%) of the coastline lies within
protected areas, today around four-fifths (81%) of the coastline has been an-
thropogenically transformed (Kolega, 2015), and protected areas represent
the only (partially) preserved natural environments with a high ecosystem
value. The coastline contains four large-scale protected areas. Under the
Nature Conservation Act (1999), these are three landscape parks (Sečovlje
Salina Nature Park, Strunjan Landscape Park, and Debeli Rtič Landscape
Park), which broadly correspond to IUCN Category V – Protected
Landscape, and Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve, which is classified into
Category Ib – Wilderness Area (Sovinc, 2011). The narrowest coastal strip
also comprises several natural monuments, sites of valuable natural fea-
tures, ecologically important areas, and Natura 2000 sites. Together, the
large-scale protected areas cover an area of more than 16 km2.
Sečovlje Salina Nature Park
Sečovlje Salina Nature Park (also referred to as the Sečovlje Saltpans) ex-
tends over an area of around 750 ha, of which saltpans cover 600 ha, be-
tween the Seča Peninsula and Jernejev kanal (Bartholomew’s Channel) on
one side and the border with Croatia on the other (Fig. 2). In 2002, the
company Soline Pridelava soli d.o.o. was selected as the manager of the
Park. One part of the Park consists of the area of the abandoned Fontanigge
Saltworks, which is maintained for the purposes of preserving habitat types
and other ecosystem values, while the other part of the Park comprises the
106
surroundings, both on land and offshore, and are increasingly threatened
by the changing climate.
Climate change is projected to bring about a rise in sea level, which
would cause either frequent (during the tides) or permanent flooding, and
the loss of important habitats and tourism sites. Climate change typically
involves an increase in temperatures and evapotranspiration, a decrease in
precipitation and runoff, more frequent extreme precipitation events, and
long-lasting dry periods. The protected areas that are the subject of this
chapter will almost certainly experience considerable changes in wet/dry
dynamics and more frequent heavy flooding, and also be affected by high-
er temperatures and salinity levels.
Large-scale protected areas on the Slovenian coast
and their importance for tourism
Despite the fact that around one-third (30%) of the coastline lies within
protected areas, today around four-fifths (81%) of the coastline has been an-
thropogenically transformed (Kolega, 2015), and protected areas represent
the only (partially) preserved natural environments with a high ecosystem
value. The coastline contains four large-scale protected areas. Under the
Nature Conservation Act (1999), these are three landscape parks (Sečovlje
Salina Nature Park, Strunjan Landscape Park, and Debeli Rtič Landscape
Park), which broadly correspond to IUCN Category V – Protected
Landscape, and Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve, which is classified into
Category Ib – Wilderness Area (Sovinc, 2011). The narrowest coastal strip
also comprises several natural monuments, sites of valuable natural fea-
tures, ecologically important areas, and Natura 2000 sites. Together, the
large-scale protected areas cover an area of more than 16 km2.
Sečovlje Salina Nature Park
Sečovlje Salina Nature Park (also referred to as the Sečovlje Saltpans) ex-
tends over an area of around 750 ha, of which saltpans cover 600 ha, be-
tween the Seča Peninsula and Jernejev kanal (Bartholomew’s Channel) on
one side and the border with Croatia on the other (Fig. 2). In 2002, the
company Soline Pridelava soli d.o.o. was selected as the manager of the
Park. One part of the Park consists of the area of the abandoned Fontanigge
Saltworks, which is maintained for the purposes of preserving habitat types
and other ecosystem values, while the other part of the Park comprises the
106
