In the area of Lake Cerknica we are conducting detailed botanical zoning of habitat types. In this way we will obtain expert bases for all further campaigns, define threats to habitat types and carry out the activities necessary for conservation of habitat types.

Lake Cerknica encompasses many endangered habitats protected by the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora of Natura. The largest habitat protected under the Habitats Directive is the intermittent Lake Cerknica. Within this habitat there are many smaller ones, for instance: Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils, Central European mesotrophic to eutrophic lowland hay meadows with the healing Salad Burnet Sanguisorba officianlis and Field Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratense, transition mires and quaking bogs Dujce and Benetek, hard oligo-meso trophic waters with bentic vegetation of Chara ssp. and natural eutrophic lakes. The last two can be found in areas where water remains the longest. In order to efficiently conserve and protect such habitats we need to know where they are located and how they should be treated. Botanical zoning with the inventory of common plant species is carried out specifically for this purpose. A comprehensive overview of plant communities will provide the basis for preparing the management and renaturation plan for the stream sections Tresenec and Goriški Brežiček. Habitat type zoning is a preliminary action important for comprehensive protection of Lake Cerknica.

The project partner is the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana. In the scope of the project the Biotechnical Faculty is responsible for habitat mapping of the Lake Cerknica area and for preparing expert grounds for the management plan.