Slovenia

Trisha White
Defenders of Wildlife
(202) 682-9400

Limited-Access Highway in Slovenia

Compared to its neighbors, Slovenia is the new kid on the block. Having only gained their independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, this small, picturesque country is still in its infancy. However, Slovenia continues to enjoy the highest GDP per capita of the transitioning economies of the region. Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, forests, caves, hills, plains, rivers and the sea can all be found within a modest 8000 square miles, roughly the size of New Jersey.

Far from antiquated, Slovenia has over 12,000 miles of highway, with many more in the works. Despite their relatively small and stable population of 2 million, Slovenia is rapidly building more highways to support sprawling urban developments. Slovenian transportation officials are responding to more than their own citizens' mobility needs. Lying between Italy, Hungary and Croatia, Slovenia contains many important traffic routes for international traffic.

Tourists and travelers aren't the only ones making tracks across Slovenia. Particularly in the Alps, Slovenia is also a corridor for wildlife. Recovering from centuries of exploitation, Slovenia is enjoying spontaneous afforestation, with 60% forest cover in 2000, compared to only 35% in 1875. As a result, the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in Slovenia is progressively expanding. The 300-400 bears living in Slovenia are of great international interest, as the only source for a natural recolonization of the Alps. A viable population of about 250 bear inhabits a core management area in south central Slovenia. Smaller populations, established by bears emigrating from the core area, exist in adjacent border areas of Slovenia, Austria and Italy. In addition to the bear, Slovenia is home to many other species, including wolf (Canis lupus), brown hare (Lepus europaeus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), wild cat (Felis sylvestris), stone marten (Martes foina), badger (Meles meles), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

An expanding highway network threatens the future of the bear and all Slovenian wildlife. The ongoing construction of the highway system will split the main bear emigration corridor in several places, essentially cutting off movement between populations. To address these problems, the Slovenian Forestry Institute and the University of Ljubljana have been encouraging transportation officials to consider these impacts as they continue roadbuilding.

In the past, highway management practices to help wildlife were limited to obligatory fencing of all existing highways in Slovenia and wildlife crossing signs along unfenced regional and local roads. After several bears were killed and wounded on highways, Slovenian citizens demanded more protection. In their first act of civil disobedience on behalf of wildlife, Slovenians protested the construction of a highway and succeeded in convincing the ministry of transportation to build an ecoduct for the safe passage of wildlife, as well as agriculture and pedestrian traffic.

Bear-traffic collisions have helped persuade planners at the Slovenian Ministry for Public Transport to consider installing wildlife crossings on planned sections of highways. In the interim, research has shown that with simple modifications, certain species will use existing facilities to cross highways.

Slovenia is at a crossroads - they bear the glorious burden of sharing their home country with the remnants of species long since extirpated from much of Europe. Simultaneously, they are rapidly expanding and modernizing, seeking the creature comforts enjoyed by so many neighboring countries. As such, they are in the unique position to demonstrate the compatibility of human progress and wildlife conservation.

Resources

Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia
http://www.dars.si/english/

Slovenian Forestry Institute
http://www.gozdis.si/

University of Ljubljana
http://www.uni-lj.si/DefaultA.asp