Biodiversity Conservation Strategy of Slovenia.

The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The overall objectives of NAPA are to raise public awareness on climate change at all levels and to identify adaptive or mitigation measures to reduce the impact on lives, property and socio-economic development.
The ecological and social function of agriculture will be enforced through sustainable agricultural practices and sustainable development of areas rich in biodiversity. The conservation of plant and animal species in agricultural activities and sustainable agriculture will be ensured in an environmentally sustainable manner. Forestry protection measures will be taken to conserve and restore plant and animal diversity and to protect the rare or endangered forest species and ecosystems. Furthermore a suitable living environment will be established for all indigenous species of wild animals and the conservation and development of aquatic ecosystems will be ensured in the forest environment. The habitats of particular importance for animals and areas important for the conservation of biodiversity will be designated in a forest area for conservation. A network of forest gene reserves will be established within the framework of the Slovene forest gene bank. The exploitation of forests will be prevented in order to eliminate the threat to their sustainable development and functions. Freshwater fish populations will be managed in accordance with the ecological processes in the water ecosystems. Protection measures will be taken against the recreational fishing and the introduction of non-indigenous fish species for the conservation of indigenous plant and animal species, as well as the natural balance of ecosystems. Biodiversity conservation will be ensured in the marine and coastal habitats by ensuring the sustainable use of biotic resources subject to marine fishing and harvesting of marine organisms. Special emphasis will be placed on the local gene origin in the stocking of indigenous fish species. Water management will be ensured in a nature-friendly manner to guarantee the conservation or restoration of the natural dynamics of waters. The embankment area and the flood zone functioning as a habitat of many plant and animal species, in particular endangered ones, will be conserved and restored.
Good agricultural practice will be promoted to reduce the threat of pollution caused by chemical and mineral substances and other harmful effects on biological and landscape diversity. Public awareness will be raised on the importance and contribution of biodiversity conservation to prevent human-induced degradation such as use of pesticides. Sustainable plant cultivation and animal breeding will be promoted through the selection of varieties and breeds that are adapted to the natural conditions. The breeding/cultivation of less productive indigenous plant species and breeds of domestic animals will be supported. The less intensive agricultural practices will be promoted in areas of high nature protection value, especially in protected areas. The in-situ and ex-situ conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources will be ensured to conserve the genetic potential of indigenous varieties and breeds. In order to implement efficiently the in-situ conservation of biodiversity and to use its components in a sustainable manner, the changes in the status of biodiversity will be identified through monitoring. The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity components will be integrated into the market-orientated agricultural policies and activities. The nature protection objectives will be integrated into the game breeding and hunting plans. In addition to that, their harmonization with the directions for the conservation of endangered species and threatened habitat types will be guaranteed. Ecofriendly processes will be carried out in the energy, industrial, transport and tourism sectors with respect to the biodiversity conservation.
The Biodiversity Working Group of the Council for Sustainable Development shall monitor the implementation of the Strategy objectives and report to the Council for Sustainable Development and the Government. The members of the Biodiversity Working Group are the representatives of the key governmental sectors, local communities’ associations, influential non-governmental organisations and scientific institutions.