Slovenia’s biodiversity lives underground

11 June 2010, Slovenia. The Slovenian Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, which joined Countdown 2010 in 2007, has studied subterranean species like no other country. A number of laws have been enacted to protect Slovenia’s cave systems and their underground fauna in line with the Ministry’s commitment to the 2010 Biodiversity Target.

The Proteus (see photo) is one of the many endemic species found in the underground rivers of Slovenia’s famous Dinaric karst landscape. Besides depressions, sinking rivers and springs, this includes some of Europe’s most impressive cave systems, like the UNESCO World Heritage Site Škocjanske Jame. Karst is formed by the underground weathering of limestone rocks.

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), and in particular its World Commission on Protected Areas, is involved in discussions on how best protect the wider Dinaric karst landscape, beyond the borders of Slovenia. IUCN Regional Director for Pan-Europe, Dr Hans Friederich, and the Director of the IUCN Office for South East Europe, Boris Erg, recently visited Slovenia to discuss how IUCN can help improve management of the whole Dinaric mountain range.

Dr Hans Friederich and Boris Erg also met with the President of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk to discuss the UN General Assembly in September, where biodiversity is one of the main topics, and the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan in October.

• Read more about Proteus on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
• Discover the Škocjanske Jame
• Slovenian Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning on Countdown 2010  website