Page 180 - 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. 180
challenges of tourism development in protected areas of croatia and slovenia
it was designated as a Slovenian nature reserve, an ecologically important
area (EPO) open to the public, and a Natura 2000 site of Birds and Habitat
Directives. Management of ŠZNR is in the hands of the non-governmental
organisation Društvo za opazovanje in proučevanje ptic Slovenije – BirdLife
Slovenia (DOPPS) (1999–2019). It is the very first case in Slovenia that an
NGO was granted a management licence over a protected area (DOPPS,
2015).
ŠZNR is also important as an educational and research laborato-
ry, where many scientists can investigate the characteristics of a northern
Adriatic coastal habitat and its properties. For more than three decades,
the area has provided an area for the research of many scientists such as or-
nithologists, botanists, marine biologists, entomologists, nature conserva-
tionists, and many others. One of the main concerns has been to ascertain
whether the deepening of the central part of the lagoon and its connection
with the sea channel was successful. The study of the marine macrofauna
of the lagoon after the deepening process showed that the ecological con-
ditions substantially improved. In fact, some studies using the modern ap-
proach of biotic indices (Pittaco et al., 2017) confirmed the diversification
of marine fauna in the lagoon and incremental increases in the number of
feeding guilds. Moreover, this confirms the fact that the abundant mac-
robenthic fauna is sustaining the wintering bird community. In addition,
the planning of artificial muddy islets simultaneously with the deepening
of the lagoon proved to be a successful strategy to attract important wet-
land bird species—which were the main motivation to protect the area.
Due to its vicinity and connection with the harbour Koper (Luka
Koper) through the marine channel, the area is susceptible to bioinvasion,
e.g. colonisation of alien species. Maritime transport is one of the most rec-
ognised pathways for the introduction of alien species into a new environ-
ment. Alien organisms, which were able to survive the long journey from
the area of origin in the ballast tanks of a ship or on its hull, get released
into the new area, i.e. the waters off of Koper. Through the marine chan-
nel, they are able to enter the lagoon and cause modifications in the native
biota.
It is for this reason that the lagoon of Škocjanski zatok has attracted
marine biologists and ecologists to investigate potential colonisation, set-
tlement, and impacts on native biota. Up to the time of writing, many al-
ien species have been detected in the protected area and some of them are
already well established in their new environment. Among such alien spe-
178
it was designated as a Slovenian nature reserve, an ecologically important
area (EPO) open to the public, and a Natura 2000 site of Birds and Habitat
Directives. Management of ŠZNR is in the hands of the non-governmental
organisation Društvo za opazovanje in proučevanje ptic Slovenije – BirdLife
Slovenia (DOPPS) (1999–2019). It is the very first case in Slovenia that an
NGO was granted a management licence over a protected area (DOPPS,
2015).
ŠZNR is also important as an educational and research laborato-
ry, where many scientists can investigate the characteristics of a northern
Adriatic coastal habitat and its properties. For more than three decades,
the area has provided an area for the research of many scientists such as or-
nithologists, botanists, marine biologists, entomologists, nature conserva-
tionists, and many others. One of the main concerns has been to ascertain
whether the deepening of the central part of the lagoon and its connection
with the sea channel was successful. The study of the marine macrofauna
of the lagoon after the deepening process showed that the ecological con-
ditions substantially improved. In fact, some studies using the modern ap-
proach of biotic indices (Pittaco et al., 2017) confirmed the diversification
of marine fauna in the lagoon and incremental increases in the number of
feeding guilds. Moreover, this confirms the fact that the abundant mac-
robenthic fauna is sustaining the wintering bird community. In addition,
the planning of artificial muddy islets simultaneously with the deepening
of the lagoon proved to be a successful strategy to attract important wet-
land bird species—which were the main motivation to protect the area.
Due to its vicinity and connection with the harbour Koper (Luka
Koper) through the marine channel, the area is susceptible to bioinvasion,
e.g. colonisation of alien species. Maritime transport is one of the most rec-
ognised pathways for the introduction of alien species into a new environ-
ment. Alien organisms, which were able to survive the long journey from
the area of origin in the ballast tanks of a ship or on its hull, get released
into the new area, i.e. the waters off of Koper. Through the marine chan-
nel, they are able to enter the lagoon and cause modifications in the native
biota.
It is for this reason that the lagoon of Škocjanski zatok has attracted
marine biologists and ecologists to investigate potential colonisation, set-
tlement, and impacts on native biota. Up to the time of writing, many al-
ien species have been detected in the protected area and some of them are
already well established in their new environment. Among such alien spe-
178
