Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning is hosting the third exhibition from the series LIFE projects in Slovenia. The first exhibition was from the project LIFE Kočevsko, followed by joined exhibition of two LIFE projects – AQUALUTRA and AQUAVIVA.September and October are dedicated to freshwater wetlands, which are presented with photographs from the project Conservation and management of freshwater wetlands in Slovenia – WETMAN. The exhibition is set in the lobby of the Ministry, Dunajska 48 in Ljubljana.
The purpose of the exhibition is to recognize the importance of the conservation of freshwater wetlands. The Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation prepared exhibition in 2012 and since then it was already displayed in the University of Maribor Library , School center Slovenj Gradec, Secondary School Kranj, library Kranj, at the Municipalities of Mislinja and Lovrenc na Pohorju, at Brdo Castle, the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia, at the Nature–Health Fair, and many other locations. By the estimation, over 30,000 people visited the exhibition already.
The aim of the LIFE project WETMAN – Conservation and management of freshwater wetlands in Slovenia was the restoration and improvement of six Slovenian wetlands which are defined as Natura 2000 sites. The project objectives aimed at improving and establishing a favorable conservation status of eight European endangered species and seven habitat types that can be found in the pilot project areas. Activities took place at six pilot project areas representing different types of wetlands (high, low and transitional mires, oxbow lakes, ponds, wet meadows and flood), which have not been properly maintained in the past: Pohorje bogs, Zelenci, Mura oxbow lakes in Petišovci, three Karst ponds in Vinica, fens in Planik near Mengeš and Vrhe near Slovenj Gradec.
With the implementation of numerous planned project activities and some additional, developed during the project, the project contributed to the conservation of wetlands in Slovenia and its sustainable management.
The project WETMAN took place from 1st February 2011 to 1st February 2015. The total project budget was € 2,144,376, from which 50 % represented financial contribution of European Commission. Co-financiers of the project were also the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning (26%), the Municipalities of Slovenska Bistrica, Zreče, Črnomelj, Slovenj Gradec, Lovrenc na Pohorju and Maribor. The project was conducted by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation, together with its partners: Slovenian Forest Service, Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia, Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia, Ruše Municipality, Kranjska Gora Municipality and RTV Slovenia.
The project WETMAN was more than successful. Among the 27 other projects it was listed as finalist of the “Best of” LIFE Nature projects in 2015. This award is given to the best, most effective and inspiring LIFE projects in the area of nature and environmental protection, which have a very positive impact on the environment and nature, on the economic growth and in the field of providing significant benefits for European citizens.
More information: http://www.wetman.si/?lang=en.
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