 | Nature reserve from birds-eye view
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.jpg) | Reserve restoration
The restoration works in Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve started in January 2006. The selected sub-contractor, Slovenian company SCT d.d. started the works with the creation of the freshwater marsh in Bertoška bonifika area and construction of the depony for 200.000 cubic metres of sediment, planned to be dredged from the lagoon in the next steps. |
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 | Birds
In the last few years, over 200 birds were recorded in Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve, 42 of them regularly breeding. The results of the bird monitoring show significant improvement of the ecological conditions comparing to 2001 data, when only 132 species were recorded. At the moment, the reserve attracts migratory and wintering species mostly. After the completion of the on-going restoration works, the strong increase of the breeding bird species is expected. |
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 | Public competition
In co-operation with the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia (ZAPS), DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia successfully carried out the public competition for the design of the visitor centre and other visitor facilities (hides etc.) and for the completion of the landscape architecture of Škocjanski zatok NR. 7 design ideas were submitted, all of them reviewed by the Evaluation Committee, which selected the winner of the competition. The pictures show the awarded design idea, prepared by Urša Komac, Špela Kuhar, Robert Potokar, Ajdin Bajrovič and Mateja Šetina. |
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 | Fauna
One of the reasons for protecting the area of Škocjanski zatok back in 1998 is the outstanding diversity of the fauna species in this small area. Before degradation, 41% of all Slovenian amphibian and reptile species live here, as well as 36% of Slovenian mammals and 55% of bird species. |
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 | Children drawings
In close co-operation with two primary schools from Koper (Pinko Tomažič and Janko Premrl – Vojko) we carried out many field lessons in the reserve for all primary school age groups. In this sections, you can see the drawings, made by the children inspired after spending a whole school day in the reserve. |
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 | Field lessons for schools
In the last 7 years, we used the field lessons to present the reserve to young people from local schools as well as from the other parts of Slovenia. In this way, we contributed towards environmental awareness raising among the youth and enabled them to learn about the importance of wetlands. The field lessons consist of two parts: first is the presentation about the biodiversity and conservation importance of Škocjanski zatok NR, which is held at the school. Within the second part, the children attend the guided tour to the reserve, where they can see various plant and animal species and learn about processes in nature. |
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 | Guided tours
DOPPS regularly carries out guided tours to the reserve for local people, members of the association and other interested groups and individuals. At the guided field trips, the visitors can observe the flora and fauna diversity of the reserve and enjoy the bird-watching. In the period from 2001 to 2006, 17 guided tours were carried out in Škocjanski zatok NR. |
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 | Ara River mouth cleaning
Cleaning of the mouth of the left discharging channel of Rižana River, known as Ara, was carried out in 2003. The activity was sub-contracted by the Agency for the Environment. As the Ara channel is the only freshwater inflow to the reserve, this activity was crucial for improving this inflow and consequently to decrease the threat of anoxic conditions and botulism in dry periods. After the implementation of the cleaning, the ecological conditions significantly improved at the Ara channel mouth and were identifiable in the lagoon as well. |
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 | Habitat management
From 2001 on, the meadows in the Bertoška bonifika area were regularly mowed and moulched after the end breeding season in order to remove the biomass. Abandoned orchard has been removed too. |
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 | Monitoring in Škocjanski zatok NR
Immediately after the start of management activities, DOPPS started to establish the monitoring system in the reserve. From 2000 on, the bird populations monitoring has regularly been carried out. From 2001 on, the monitoring of water quality and water levels were also carried out by sub-contractors. In 2004, DOPPS started to monitor the basic parametres of water quality, while the water levels monitoring has been established with the mounting of 3 lymnographs to the lagoon in 2003. |
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 | ADRIAWET Annual Meeting 2006
The main theme of this Annual Meeting was ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION in wetlands. Through a series of presentations we learned a lot about education and different approaches that Adriawet partners use in this field. The meeting has also been a great opportunity to exchange experience on other important subjects of wetland managament, such as wildlife management, research and monitoring, work with visitors, tourism and promotion etc. The meeting was held on November 24, 2006 in Park Škocjanske jame.
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