Environment

Third most forested country in Europe

Forests cover half of Slovenian territory, an area of 10,124 km2. Slovenia is the third most forested country in Europe, following Finland and Sweden. Primeval forests are in the Kočevje area, where the bear, wolf and lynx are to be found. Required by law, 8% of Slovene territory is dedicated national and regional parkland, the further goal of up to 30% of all land has been set. About 11% of Slovenia's territory is specially protected; the largest area is the Triglav National Park with a surface area of 848 km2. The Škocjan Caves were entered on the world heritage list at UNESCO in 1986, and the Sečovlje saltpans were included on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 1993.
Environmental problems have developed from industrialisation and urbanisation of the last century. Strategies for environmental protection have been identified and defined on a national level. The Environmental Protection Act (1993) covers all important fields of the environment and environmental activities. The main objectives are incorporated in the constitution and the legislative level: the preservation, protection, and improvement of the quality of the environment, protection of public health, and rational use of natural resources. State bodies have been established to deal with the complex of issues. The Ministry of the Environment and Regional Planning, the Environmental Protection Council (1994), and many other agencies are involved in environmental legislation, research and management. Areas of concern are: industrial pollution, emissions caused by traffic, waste disposal, management of waste water, pollution of the majority of surface water, intensive agriculture. Effort in using cleaner fuels has reduced air and water pollution. The National Programme of Environment Protection (2000) has been set up to improve the environment in Slovenia. It is particularly aimed at: supporting the guidelines of the European Union, protecting the Karst region, landscape and biological diversity.

Photo album
Mašun - beech forest, Notranjska region

Learning activities

1. Write an index
Text-type: list
Linguistic element: nouns- proper and common
List the protected areas, and natural parks of Slovenia
http://www.parks.it/world/SI/

2. Write a tourist advertisement 
Text-type: advertisement
Linguistic element: compound sentences
Write a script for a promotional advertisement about the Škocjan Caves Regional Park
http://www.park-skocjanske-jame.si/

3. Send an email
Text-type: letter/email
Linguistic element: formulaic expressions
Write a letter to your family while on a visit to Goričko Regional Park of Prekmurje - about cultural and natural features
http://www.park-goricko.org/

4. Conversation
Text-type: conversation script
Linguistic element: adjectives
Write a dialogue about the attractions in the different regions of Slovenia
http://www.slovenia.info/

5. Prepare a brochure
Text-type: brochure
Linguistic element: conjunctions
Design and write a brochure on the information at the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning
http://www.mop.gov.si/en/


6. Write a webzine article
Text-type: webzine article
Linguistic element: complex sentences
Write an article about the significance of Sečovlje salt-pans Landscape Park of Slovene region Istra
http://www.kpss.si/

Comprehension - reading and responding

Read the text ‘Kratek opis narodnega parka ‘ by Stane Peterlin, Janez Bizjak from site, Triglavski narodni park
http://www.tnp.si/national_park/

Answer the following questions in English. 
1. What are the names of the lakes in Triglav National Park?
2. What are the names of the waterfalls in the park?
3. Describe the Pokljuka plateau.
4. How long did trading with iron products occur in the Alps?
5. What happened at the Soča Valley in World War One?
6. What is the cultural heritage of the Park?
7. What is the name of the first Alpine society?

Resources

Websites
http://www.ekosklad.si/
http://www.pozitivke.net/index.php?topic=ekologija
http://www.sigov.si/svo/innovo_e.htm
http://www.park-skocjanske-jame.si/
http://www.logarska-dolina.si/slo/index_s.html
http://www.mop.gov.si/en/useful_links/
http://www.organic-europe.net/country_reports/slovenia/
http://www.park-goricko.org/
http://www.tnp.si/national_park/ http://www.kpss.si/