total: 20,256 sq km
land: 20,256 sq km
Coastline: 46.6 km
Population: 1,970,570 (July 1999 est.)
Source: CIA Worldfact Book (2000)
Slovenia
Ministry of the Environment and Physical Planning
Ministry of Economic Relations and Development
Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning
Ministry
of Transport and Communication
(Source: CIA World Factbook 1999)
Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the following information. The information was taken from the Slovenia's submission to the 5th and 7th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: February 1999). For further information on the Slovenia's social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Slovenia at:
http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/slovenia/index.htm
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was ratified in 1995. With respect to marine environmental protection, Slovenia reported in 1997 that it finds the Barcelona and MARPOL Conventions difficult to implement.
Decision-making
Structure of decision-making
Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and Ministry of Economic Relations and Development are responsible for integrated coastal zone management.
Ministry of Environment and Physical planning, Ministry of Defense (Civil Protection) and Ministry of Transport and Communication (Maritime Directorate) are responsible for Marine environmental protection.
Sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources is dealt with in the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food.
An inter-ministerial body is being established, with
following members, to steer sustainable development in
coastal region: Ministry of Environment and Physical
planning, Ministry of Economic Relations and Development,
Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Food, Governmental Office of European Affairs,
Local Communities and Regional Chamber of Commerce.
There is an Inter-ministerial Agreement on Co-operation concerning Protection, Rescue in cases of Emergency during Accidents due to Dangerous Substances.
Slovenia also has an Advisory Board concerning the Barcelona Convention Informal Co-ordination.
Strategies, policies and plans
Regarding the fact, that Slovenian coastal area is relatively small, the national policy on oceans is integrated in general national strategies and programmes, such as in the National Environmental Action Programme that was adopted by the Slovenian Government in December 1998. The document includes a special paragraph, related to the Slovenian coastal zone as sensitive area. The paragraph tackles primarily with the problem of co-operation between administrations on national and local level, calling for permanent institutional arrangement. Water protection, marine environmental protection sustainable use of resources, solid waste treatment, and nature protection are included in other paragraphs of National Environmental Action Programme.
Major Programmes
The integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is under implementation. Slovenian Coastal Zone Management Project is being upgraded into permanent activity concerning development, environmental protection and natural resource protection on Slovenian coastal zone. The Municipality of Koper, for example, is administrating planned land use, protected areas, and infrastructure for integrated coastal management purposes.
In addition to the National Environmental Action Programme, the following programmes are related to marine environment protection from both land-based and sea-based activities: National Programme of Action for the Protection of Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (in development), National Monitoring Programme for the Monitoring of Marine Environment, and National Intervention Plan in an Event of Pollution at Sea.
Legislation, regulations, and policy instruments
Slovenia undergoes the process of accession to European Union. In this process Slovenia has adopted National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis Communitaire (NPAA) which includes, inter alia, all EU environmental legislation, i.e. also those related to marine affairs and fisheries.
Regarding the size of Slovenian part of the Adriatic, there are precise regulations on fishing on national level including limitations on fishing practices, gears, fishing locations, timing, and permissible fish size. All these aim to encourage sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources.
Fragile ecosystems in Slovenia include Posidonia oceanografica seagrass. Creation and adoption of regulative acts concerning protected areas (national parks, monuments and reserves) are in process. Slovenia is also developing management plans for protected areas.
Under the Slovenian Environment Protection Act, prior assessment of major activities with potentially significant adverse impact on the marine environment and the living standards of coastal population is mandatory for any proposed new development.
In order to strengthen marine environmental protection, charges for water pollution have been introduced.
Involvement of Major Groups in the decision-making process
Major groups, including the private sector and small-scale fishermen, are ad hoc participants in national processes at both national and local levels.
Representatives of local authorities, business and industry (Regional Chamber of Commerce) are members of Steering Committee and Co-ordinating Group of Slovenian Coastal Zone Management Project. Scientific and technological community and Representatives of Agriculture are involved in sectoral group work within the framework of the project.
Status
The major current uses of the coastal areas are:
- three major population centres (total population of the coastal region is about 80.000);
- main activities: transport and communications (Koper harbour - 8 million tonnes/year), trade, industry (metal, chemical, food), tourism and recreation.
The primary sources of land-based pollution of the marine environment are municipal waste waters, industrial effluents from metal manufacturing, lacquering, electroplating, food industry and non-point sources (agriculture and atmosphere).
The Slovenian Government promotes the primary treatment of municipal sewage discharged to rivers, and supports the establishment and improvement of regulatory and monitoring programmes to control effluent discharge. However, sewage treatment facilities remain unfinished (under construction) due to a lack of funds, although efforts to resolve this issue are being initiated in some old municipals such as Koper, Izola, and Piran.
The primary sources of sea-based pollution of the marine environment are the harbour of Koper and marinas.
The Slovenian Government has appointed inspectors for the environment to identify major types of pollution of the marine environment from land-based sources through the chemical and biological analysis of water. Nevertheless, there are technology constraints hampering the identification of major types of pollution.
The impact of shipping on the sustainable management of coastal zones include light pollution by hydrocarbons, dredging and dumping for waterways (impact unknown), and potential introduction of alien species. Other coastal- and marine-based industries have great impact on reduction of natural coastline. They also cause local pollution problems, urban sprawl, traffic jams and degradation of landscape values.
The Slovenian coast is a naturally sensitive area, thus the transboundary impacts are significant. The town of Triest has 300.000 inhabitants and mechanical, chemical, and food industries. Some 40 million tonnes cargo per year is handled through the port of Triest.
The percentage fishing contributes to the economy is small. Total fish catch (including cephalopods and mussels) was 1,991 tonnes in 1995, and the total volume of mariculture was 64 tonnes.
The international Code of Conduct of Responsible Fishing will be incorporated in the ICZM programme of the Slovenian coastal region.
Major projects and activities related to sustainable
development of marine and coastal areas in Slovenia
include:
- sewage system construction;
- construction of wastewater treatment plants; and
- upgrading measures for management of protected areas.
Capacity-building, education, training and awareness-raising
A training course on Integrated Coastal Zone Management as an Instrument for Sustainable Development was organised in 1998. Participants included regional policy makers, civil servants and enterprises.
Awareness raising campaigns on sustainable development
and oceans and seas include:
- participation in EXPO 98 in Lisbon;
- action for protection of marine turtles;
- exhibition "Colours of the Bay" and a book exhibition;
- seminars and lectures in schools;
- brochures;
- "Blue Flag Award" for marinas;
- sport events (1300 km kayak expedition Igoumenitsa - Koper); and
- signatures of My Ocean Charter.
Constraints
The priority constraints to implementing effective programmes include the lack of permanent co-ordinating mechanisms between local communities, central government and its agencies, business sector and civil society organisations, and the lack of integrated strategy for sustainable development of the Slovenian coastal zone. These constrains are, nevertheless, being tackled in the Slovenian Coastal Zone Management Project framework.
Technology
The determining factors for decision-making in the choice of technologies are related to technical regulations and standards, which are being harmonised with those of the EU.
Information
The following kinds of national information are available to assist both decision-makers and planners working in coastal areas related to the following areas: fishery and mariculture statistics, data from the monitoring of marine pollution, data on mineral resources (data base at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Directorate for Mineral Resources), and data from regional prediction for sea-level rise (high tides is among the critical uncertainties).
The databases cover natural resources, cultural and socio-economic characteristics, activities and uses, habitats, protected areas, and sea grass beds in coastal zones. Marine degradation caused by land- and sea-based activities, estuaries, wetlands, and spawning and nursery areas are not inventoried. Only limited but regular assessments are made of the state of the environment of coastal and marine areas due to limited finances. Nevertheless, Slovenia is able to measure improvements and changes to the coastal and marine environment.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is used by the Hydro-meteorological Institute in Ljubljana and in Municipality of Koper.
The information is made available through brochures and reports such as Annual Statistical Review and Report on the Environment.
More information can be found from
Ministry of the Environment and Physical Planning
http://www.sigov.si/mop/index.htm
Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
http://www.sigov.si/zrs/
Hydro-meteorological Institute
http://www.rzs-hm.si/
The coordination of national and regional observation programmes and the provision of forecasts need improvement.
The Slovenian Government participates in the development of socio-economic and environmental indicators, systematic observation systems, and mussel watch programmes.
Financing
This sector is financed through the national budget, local community budget and by external assistance (EU funds, bilateral technical co-operation).
External funding support is received for the regional coastal water supply (Rizana Waterworks). In addition, the World Bank supports the Primoska Regional Water Supply.
Cooperation
Slovenia is a Party to the following
agreements:
- 1963 (Vienna) Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage;
- 1969 (Brussels) Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damages;
- 1969 (Brussels) Convention - Intervention on the High Seas in Case of Oil Poll Casualties;
- 1971 (RAMSAR) Convention - Wetlands of International Importance 1982 (Paris) Amendment;
- 1971 (Brussels) Convention on the Establishment of International Fund for Compensation Oil Pollution Damage;
- 1972 (Paris) Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage;
- 1972 (London) Convention on the Prevention of Marine pollution by Dumping of Wastes;
- 1973 (London) International Convention for Prevention Pollution form Ships (MARPOL);
- 1978 (London) Protocol (segregated ballast);
- 1978 (London) Annex III on Hazardous Substances;
- 1978 (London) Annex IV on Sewage;
- 1978 (London) Annex V on Garbage;
- 1979 (Bonn) Convention on Protection of Migratory Species of Animals;
- 1982 (Montego Bay) Convention on the Law of the Sea;
- 1985 (Vienna) Convention - Protection of the Ozone Layer;
- 1987 (Montreal) Protocol - Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer;
- 1990 (London) Amendment to Protocol;
- 1986 (Vienna) Convention on Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents;
- 1986 (Vienna) Convention on Assistance in the Case of Nuclear Accident;
- 1989 (Basel) Convention - Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes;
- 1992 (Rio) Convention - Biological Diversity;
- 1992 (New York) Framework Convention - Climate Change;
- 1994 (Vienna) Convention on Nuclear Safety.
Regional and sub-regional agreements:
- 1950 (Paris) International Convention for the Protection of Birds;
- 1969 (London) European Convention - Protection of Archeological Heritage
- (Barcelona) Convention - Protocol - Mediterranean Sea against Pollution;
- 1976 (Barcelona) Protocol - Dumping;
- 1976 (Barcelona) Protocol - Co-operation in Case of Emergency;
- 1980 (Athens) Protocol Land-based Sources Pollution;
- 1982 (Geneva) Protocol - Special Protected Areas;
- 1994 (Madrid) Protocol against pollution from exploration/exploitation;
- 1979 (Geneva) Convention - Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution;
- 1984 (Geneva) Protocol - Financing of Co-operative Programme (EMEP);
- 1994 ( Oslo) Protocol - Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions ñ signed;
- 1991 (Salzburg) Convention on the Protection of the Alps;
- 1994 Protocol on physical planning and sustainable development ñ signed;
- 1994 Protocol on Hillside Farming ñ signed;
- 1994 Protocol on Nature Protection and Landscape Management ñ signed;
- 1995 Protocol on Tourism ñ signed;
- 1995 Protocol on Mountain Forests ñ signed;
- 1993 (Lugano) Convention - Civil Liability for Damage from Activities Dangerous for the Environment ñ signed;
- 1994 (Lisbon) Energy Charter Treaty ñ signed;
- 1994 (Lisbon) Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Aspects ñ signed;
- 1994 (Sofia) Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River ñ signed.
Slovenia participates in the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) Regional Seas Programme for the
Mediterranean (MEDPOL), the Fourth Framework Programme of
the European Union on "Environment," and in the Alpine
Observation of the Northern Adriatic (Adria)
programme.
Other bilateral, multilateral and international
cooperation includes:
- European Union PHARE funds;
- Bilateral co-operation with Flanders, Belgium;
- the Trilateral Commission (Slovenia, Croatia, Italy) for Protection of the Adriatic Sea.
Future international cooperation is needed to handle the
transboundary effects of North Adriatic Ports and Navigation
Lines, the regular disposal of waste from ships in the port
of Koper, and the regular patrol of the Slovenian coast by
an ecological boat.
Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
Hydro-meteorological Institute
COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN SLOVENIA
EUCC has compiled country files on Integrated Coastal
Management (ICM) for all coastal states of Europe and
Central Asia. Summaries for all countries will become
available in August.
This page provides a preliminary summary on the following
items for Slovenia:
- Spatial planning
- Environment
- Nature Conservation
- Sectoral Development
- Framework for Development of ICZM
- National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
- Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM
1. Spatial
planning
1.1 Legislation
No information received.
1.2 Administrative competencies
At the national level the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning is performing the national administration duties. Within the Ministry an Office for Physical Planning performs duties concerning physical planning (state physical plan together with the regional components) and the supervision of the preparation of physical plans at the local level.
The municipalities have important responsibilities in the field of physical planning. They prepare and adopt physical plans and detailed urban plans.
1.3 Coastal Policy
In 1993 the Office for Physical Planning organised a
planning workshop for the entire coastal area entitled
ëPhysical Planning of the Coastal Areaí.
2. Environment
2.1 Legislation and
Regulations
- Natural and Cultural Heritage Act, (1981).
- Draft Environmental Act.
2.2 Administrative Competencies
At the national level the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning is performing the national administration duties. Within the Ministry a Nature Protection Authority is performing the national administration duties. The Nature Protection Authority performs duties concerning comprehensive environmental protection, natural heritage, water protection (including the sea), comprehensive environmental impact assessment and allocation of concessions for use of water.
The municipalities have important responsibilities in the field of environmental protection. As soon as the law determining the distinction between national and local public goods will be adopted, it will be possible to declare natural public goods status to natural goods and, on the basis of this status, allocate concessions on these goods.
2.3 Environmental Policy
No information received.
3. Nature Conservation
3.1 Legislation and
Regulations
- Natural and Cultural Heritage Act, (1981).
- Draft Environmental Act.
3.2 Administrative Competencies
At the national level the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning is performing the national administration duties. Within the Ministry a Nature Protection Authority is performing the national administration duties. The Nature Protection Authority performs duties concerning comprehensive environmental protection, natural heritage, water protection (including the sea), comprehensive environmental impact assessment and allocation of concessions for use of water.
The municipalities have important responsibilities in the field of environmental protection. As soon as the law determining the distinction between national and local public goods will be adopted, it will be possible to declare natural public goods status to natural goods and, on the basis of this status, allocate concessions on these goods.
3.3 System of Protected Areas
At the present time, about 8% of Sloveniaís land
area is under protection. There is one national park (the
Triglav National Park), 6 proposed regional parks, 10 nature
reserves, 27 landscape parks and a long list of natural
monuments. There are 6 marine and coastal areas already
protected on the Slovenian Coast. Only the national park is
being managed, the other protected areas exist more or less
only on paper. In spite of the countryís small area,
there are at least 3 sites of worldwide interest, all 3 are
in the Karst region.
4. Sectoral Development
4.1 Coastal Defence
No information received.
4.2 Recreation and Tourism
Tourism and the diverse opportunities offered by the combination of coastal, mountain and historic centres constitutes an additional option for medium term development potential. The rich historical tradition of Slovenia combined with private sector sustainable tourism investment will enable Slovenia to capture a much larger share of upper-market tourism. Tourism growth should be based more on quality product enhancement rather than growth of arrivals and uncontrolled expansion of building development. The area is visited by tourists because of its natural beauties and naturally because of its attractive location relatively near the bigger cities of Northern Italy, Austria and Hungary. The Slovenian coast has a relatively well-developed tourist infrastructure. The coastal zone accounts for 21,000 tourist beds, which is 27% of the national tourism accommodation capacity, most of them in Piran receiving about 400,000 tourists a year. Tourism development in Piran and other parts of the coast, sprawls outside the city creating needs for new infrastructure and is excessive beyond the carrying capacity of the coast and the road network. It is also located in sensitive coastal landscapes reducing the areaís biodiversity potential.
4.3 Fisheries and Aquaculture
The mariculture is concentrated on white fish farming and farming of edible thorny mussel. The current breeding quantities amount to levels of 100 tons of shellfish and 100 tons of fish. According to information of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, an increase of white-fish breeding to 450 tons and oysters to 1,000 tons per year is planned. The problems are feeding and treatment (antibiotics) of young fish in the already overloaded maritime environment, and construction of the infrastructure for the farms on the shore.
4.4 Transport
The number of registered motor vehicles per 1.000 inhabitants in the coastal region is higher than the national average and is comparable to the situation in developed countries. The consequence for such a high degree of motorization is a high traffic density and pressure on the road infrastructure. A modified national structure plan was adopted in 1995.
To satisfy the needs of the growing traffic in the port of Koper, a railway was constructed in 1967 from Koper to Divaca or to the Slovenian railway network. Today 80 % of the goods from the port are transported by rail, which is about 5,6 million tons.
For transport via Port of Koper see below.
4.5 Harbours and Shipping
The Port of Koper handles 7 million tons of cargo, 1.5 million tons of oil and oil products and 100,000 tons of chemicals per year. The port undergoes fast and dynamic development. Compared with the rival ports of the Northern Adriatic (Rijeka, Triest, Venice) it has good development opportunities, first of all because of its spatial capacity, modern equipment as well as reliable and qualified working force. The physical traffic in the port in increasing as shown by the figures on traffic movement by years (4 million tons of cargo (without crude oil) in 1992, over 7 million tons in 1995). The port is connected to the hinterlands by a single-track railway (which covers 80 % of the freight transport) and by road.
4.6 Industry
No information recieved.
4.7 Agriculture
Agriculture is largely neglected as an activity. The main agricultural characteristics of the coastal area are as follows:
- small and fragmented estates (prevailing size is up to 0,5 ha);
- only 10 % of the farms are bigger than 0,5 ha;
- A small share of rural and active farming population (about 3 %).
The consequence is an extensive production, but also
lower environmental pollution due to agriculture than in
areas with intensive agricultural production. The major
agricultural activities are wine and fruit growing and
gardening. The problem is melioration of valleys,
construction of water accumulations, and reduction of
ecological diversity.
5. Framework for Development of ICZM
In recognition of the need to preserve and develop its
coastal resources, the Republic of Slovenia has in recent
years been a very active participant in a number of
important international initiatives. Besides participating
in the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, where
Slovenia signed a number of important declarations, Slovenia
also accepted the ëAgenda 21í as the most
important document to provide guidance towards sustainable
development. In 1993, Slovenia has acceded to the Barcelona
Convention, becoming an active partner in this regional
initiative. It has also endorsed the regional Mediterranean
Agenda 21, adopted in Tunis in 1994. Other conventions that
Slovenia signed and ratified are the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Ramsar Convention and
MARPOL. Slovenia has actively been involved in many other
regional initiatives, particularly in the Mediterranean
Action Plan, within which the decision has been made to
implement the Coastal Area Management Programme for the
coastal area of Slovenia, but also in METAP of the World
Bank, UNDP and projects of the European Investment Bank and
the EU. The project No. ZZ96 03, Slovenia Coastal Zone
Management, has been commissioned by the European
Commission, DG1A, and has been funded within the PHARE
program.
6. National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
- Preparation of sectoral programme documents and strategies to serve as an input for the preparation of the strategic framework.
- Preparation of the coastal profile in the document "Analysis of development and environmental protection opportunities and constrains in the Slovenian Coastal Area".
- Preparation of the strategic framework that includes all aspects and strategies prepared by stakeholder groups, local and international experts and Slovene counterparts.
- Preparation of a training course on Integrated Coastal Area Management and Sustainable Development.
- Preparation of a proposal for a Coastal Protection and Development Authority.
- Preparation of documents on strategic framework and ICAM, physical planning, environmental protection, management of natural resources, institutional arrangements and training on the implementation tool.
- The project No. ZZ96 03, Slovenia Coastal Zone Management, has been commissioned by the European Commission, DG1A, and has been funded within the PHARE program.
7. Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM
- Difficulty to maintain the attention and interests of the stakeholder group members throughout this project phase. That was reflected by a decreasing participation at meetings in time, especially the industry group showed modest results.
- While there is little problem in combining sustainable fisheries and tourism, it may be very difficult or even impossible to mix port development and/or wastewater disposal on one hand and development of mariculture on the other.
- Discrepancy between the number of inhabitants (which doubles in summer time in the southernmost part of the coastal area) in the coastal area and the available infrastructure.
- The majority of the activities in the coastal zone are still running without a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and without an estimate of the cumulative impact of different activities on the environment.
- Inadequate management of special areas in the coastal zone (protected areas and intensively used areas).
- Problems in protecting the public maritime domain, securing public use and public access to the coast.
- Inadequate instruments for implementation of plans. [30]