Animal
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IDRIJA UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK
Due to its high forest cover, nature conservation and diverse habitats, the area of the landscape park supports a wide range of wildlife species. Of the animals that can be found, the most numerous is the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), while deer (Cervus elaphus) are also on the increase. The steep and rocky parts of the park are inhabited by chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). The population of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) has been declining in recent years due to the abandonment of grassland. Of the dogs, the fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most numerous.
The park is also home to a large number of animal species that are recognised as threatened both nationally and internationally, so protecting their habitat and maintaining their populations in a favourable condition is of great importance. The Natura 2000 network in the landscape park consists of two types of sites: two Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) defined by the Habitats Directive, namely the Trnovo Forest Plateau – Nanos and the Idrijca River with its tributaries; one Special Protection Area (SPA) defined by the Birds Directive, namely the Trnovo Forest Plateau. The forests of the Park are thus home to some threatened bird species, such as the Ural owl (Strix uralensis), black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), three-toed clover (Picoides tridactylus), boreal owl (Aegolius funereus), pern (Pernis apivorus), hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) and the wood grouse (Tetrao urogallus). Other rare and endangered species include Morimus funereus; the marble trout (Salmo marmoratus), European bullhead (Cottus gobio) and stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) in the waters; and the endemic of the Dinaric karst, the human fish (Proteus anguinus) in the Wild Lake.
The Natura 2000 sites do not follow any written protection measures. Any potential development of the area must take into consideration the protected species and habitat types, their conservation status and the nature of the proposed development. Natura 2000 is the most successful way of conserving living nature and thus our future, on a global scale.The landscape park is also part of the Central Large Carnivore Habitat Area, Ecologically Important Area (EIA), as all three species of large carnivores are permanently present here: bear (Ursus arctos), wolf (Canis lupus) and lynx (Lynx lynx). Natura 2000 sites and EIAs are designed to conserve biodiversity. The EIA is defined by Slovenian legislation, while the Natura 2000 network is pan-European (it is defined by two directives, the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive).
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