Important part of bear mortality in Slovenia and Croatia is caused by vehicle collisions on roads and railways. In this study we analysed vehicle-caused mortality in the Slovene-Croatian part of the Alpine-Dinaric-Pindos brown bear population and evaluated importance of vehicle collisions on expansion of the bear population into the Alps. Study provides important knowledge that will enable effective prevention of bear-vehicle collisions, which is important for the bear conservation, as well for improving safety for the drivers. We used data of removed bears in Slovenia and Croatia to analyse sex and age structure of bears killed in vehicle collisions, as well as temporal (inter-annual and seasonal) trends of this mortality. For the Alpine part we also evaluated demographic self-sustainability of this part of the population and effects of vehicle collisions on it. Based on our results, we identified most critical road and railway sections and prepared action plan for reducing bear-vehicle collisions on these sections. Planned measures include: (i) acoustic deterrents set along roads and railways, (ii) dynamic sign systems warning drivers of an animal close to the road, and (iii) electric fences along highways.
F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)
COBISS.SI-ID: 4261798We organised international thematic workshop »Landscape ecology of urban forests: enhancing ecosystem services« within the framwork of the International Association of Landscape Ecology (IALE). The 2015 IALE-Europe Thematic Workshop explored new ways in understanding, mapping and managing ecosystem services in urban forestry, agroforestry and agriculture. It considered environmental limits and the future opportunities to enhance ecosystem services. The workshop highlighted the contribution of landscape ecology in this fast developing area. Researchers, practitioners, policy makers, PhD and postdoc students came together to explore new ideas for sustainable management of urban forests.
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
A two-day workshop focused on forest restoration following ice-damage was organized in cooperation with the Slovenian Forestry Institute and the Slovenia Forest Service. The purpose of the workshop was to present the knowledge and research on measures following natural disturbance events to general public, particularly individuals who are directly involved in restoration practices, forest owners, district foresters, and others. Disturbances are a natural phenomenon, which results in economic damage, yet it also represents an opportunity to create forests with more variable age assembly, stand structure and species diversity. Future forests may demonstrate improved habitat conditions and increasing biodiversity. Ice sleet is quite indiscriminate natural disturbance, therefore it is difficult to develop recommendations for improved stability and resilience of forest stands. However research suggests, that regularly managed (tended), mixed species, uneven-aged and small-scale structured stands are overall less susceptible to damage. Forest tending is becoming more expensive, and government subsidies are decreasing. Recent research suggests that forest tending may be significantly rationalised by the principles of natural automation and concentration. Artificial restoration (planting) in stands damaged by ice-sleet will be necessary in sites with overall risk of erosion, on the richest forests sites and where seed trees are to distant or rare. It is also necessary to try out alternative, often cheaper forms of forest restoration.
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
COBISS.SI-ID: 279506176In the monograph we describe ecological and floristical characteristics of the natural basophilic pine communities in Slovenian territory. The Basophilic Pine communities forest site type comprises natural stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and (or) black pine (Pinus nigra) that occur on very steep to precipitous dolomite slopes or in erosion hazard areas on lithosols or shallow rendzinas, from the submontane to the upper montane belts in the Alpine, pre-Alpine, Dinaric, pre-Dinaric, rarely also in the sub-Pannonian and sub-Mediterranean phytogeographical regions of Slovenia. They usually overgrow small areas and their proportion in the total forest site area in Slovenia is negligible. Natural localities of basophilic pine stands are some of the most extreme forest sites, where deciduous trees are not competitive. Both pines tend to establish themselves also as pioneers on beech sites, but their pioneer stands are soon rejuvenated by beech, which eventually suppresses them both. Due to their ecological and floristic similarity, the original and secondary basophilic pine stands are not easily distinguished. The most natural stands occur on the most extreme sites, where logging does not normally take place. Basophilic pine communities also comprise dwarf pine stands of Alpine valleys that form (long)lasting pioneer stages on torrential fans and glacial material in Alpine valleys or in very steep erosion areas that are still within the beech forest belt. Forest stands on the sites of black- and (or) Scots pine communities in Slovenia have above all a protective role and are extremely important as one of the best preserved and autochthonous forms of natural forest vegetation. They are also site of numerous protected or threatened plant species, including some endemics.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice
COBISS.SI-ID: 279568384Forest management planning is the key part of forest management and an important tool for forest policy implementation. The paper social conditions change faster than forest ecosystems and planning must appropriately adjust to it. In the paper we evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the present planning concept and argue for priority tasks and possibilities for supplementing some fields of planning. The paper provides a critical assessment of the design, content, normative regulation of planning, adequacy of the response to societal demands, focus on future challenges, user-friendliness, the role of forest planners and forest policy, technology such as information system, as well as opportunities for introducing new content into forest management planning.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice