SUPPORT – Sustainable Pohorje Management

Today, forestry and leisure activities are the main human activities on the surface of Pohorje – a suitable place for them is in the nature conservation-important part of Pohorje. The presence of nature conservation-important habitat types and animal and plant species on Pohorje is a result of the interplay of natural conditions and human activities in the past. This area is therefore recognised as a nature conservation-important area at the national and European level – it is part of the pan-European Natura 2000 network, among other things. Numerous interests in a limited area require active management and coordination. The aim of the SUPORT project was to achieve more efficient management and monitoring of the state of Natura 2000 areas, namely by finding solutions for a more sustainable development of Pohorje. This would at the same time ensure the improvement of the state of areas of high nature conservation value and the development of leisure activities in nature.

The specific objectives of the project were:

• improve the condition of wetlands, grassland habitat types and protective forests in the project area;
• to obtain data on the status and distribution of 5. unknown bird species on Pohorje;
• increase the areas of target habitat types and habitats of target species through appropriate management;
• to align interests in the project area;
• establish a systemic management model in areas with high biotope value;
• include nature conservation guidelines in sectoral strategic documents.

The project implementation area covered 25,733 ha of Natura 2000 areas. It extends to the areas of twelve municipalities, three regional units of the Slovenian Forest Service, two regional units of the Slovenian Institute for Nature Conservation, and three regional development agencies.

More about the project on the website www.projektipohorja.si.