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One of the main project activities was the restoration of the damaged forest. (c) SORA

Reducing the vulnerability of Jelovica area to the effects of climate change and to preserve it for posterity: These were the main objectives of the project JeloviZa, which was carried out between 2022 and 2024. Jelovica is an important nature conservation area in Slovenia and represents valuable habitats in the Natura 2000 area. Due to the effects of climate change, the area has been affected by a number of natural disasters (damages due to storms, snow and hail). These conditions have significally increased the vulnerability of the area in the past years. Through a participatory approach and regular communication, the project brought together stakeholders from five municipalities: Železniki, Kranj, Radovljica, Bled and Bohinj. 

In April 2024, the project partners presented their results in Kranj, Slovenia, and the mayors of the municipalities signed a letter of support for the sustainable management of the area. CIPRA Slovenia took the lead for this project, other partners in the project were the Institute for Nature Conservation (OE Kranj), the Forest Institute (OE Bled), the Development Agency Sora d.o.o., the Municipality of Železniki and CIPRA International. The project also included stakeholder activities such as transfer of good practices, trainings, talks and workshops, analysis of the status of habitats and qualifying species in Jelovica, ecosystem services valuation, zonation of the area as well as installation of counters to obtain data on the spatial load. One of the main project activities was the restoration of the damaged forest (20,000 hectares) - by planting climate-resilient tree species.

More about the project:
www.ra-sora.si/projekt/jeloviza/ and www.cipra.org/en/jeloviza

Contact for media requests:
Marion Ebster-Kreutzer, CIPRA International, [email protected]