Page 119 - 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. 119
the importance of protected areas on the slovenian coast for tourism ...
Fig. 7 Flooded areas in the event of a mean sea level rise of 50 cm and strong high tides (a),
and in the event of a mean sea level rise of 100 cm and strong high tides (b), in the areas of
Strunjan Landscape Park and Sečovlje Salina Nature Park
Source: Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia, 2014
flooded, and the coastal cliffs would be more exposed to the erosional ef-
fects of the sea, like those near Debeli Rtič.
Conclusion
Because the large-scale protected areas on the Slovenian coast are small in
terms of surface area, and are surrounded by heavily-exploited urban and
agricultural areas, they are even more vulnerable to various direct or indi-
rect impacts. According to our findings, higher temperatures are already
reducing runoff, which can alter conditions in the brackish wetlands by
making them more salty. On the other hand, we can expect more frequent
flooding of the wetlands due to the probable increase of extreme weath-
er events in the future. The largest direct impact of climate change on the
protected areas in question and thus on tourist visitation, however, will
come from sea level rise. A large part of the Sečovlje Saltpans, the Strunjan
Saltpans, and Škocjanski zatok will turn into a shallow sea, and areas of
117
Fig. 7 Flooded areas in the event of a mean sea level rise of 50 cm and strong high tides (a),
and in the event of a mean sea level rise of 100 cm and strong high tides (b), in the areas of
Strunjan Landscape Park and Sečovlje Salina Nature Park
Source: Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia, 2014
flooded, and the coastal cliffs would be more exposed to the erosional ef-
fects of the sea, like those near Debeli Rtič.
Conclusion
Because the large-scale protected areas on the Slovenian coast are small in
terms of surface area, and are surrounded by heavily-exploited urban and
agricultural areas, they are even more vulnerable to various direct or indi-
rect impacts. According to our findings, higher temperatures are already
reducing runoff, which can alter conditions in the brackish wetlands by
making them more salty. On the other hand, we can expect more frequent
flooding of the wetlands due to the probable increase of extreme weath-
er events in the future. The largest direct impact of climate change on the
protected areas in question and thus on tourist visitation, however, will
come from sea level rise. A large part of the Sečovlje Saltpans, the Strunjan
Saltpans, and Škocjanski zatok will turn into a shallow sea, and areas of
117
