We took local supporters and co-financiers of our project to see the results of the LIFE Stržen project. The Mayor of the Municipality of Cerknica and the directors of the companies Alpod d. o. o., Ebm-papst d. o. o., Elgoline d. o. o. they visited the Orlek ornithological observatory, which according to the Slovenian ornithological profession is the best observatory of its kind in the country. Also because it stands in the best location, above the nature reserve of the Notranjska Park “Levišča”.

The mayor of Cerknica, Marko Rupar, the director of Alpod, Matjaž Štefan, the director of EBM-papsta, Jošt Rupnik, and the director of Elgolina, Igor Gornik, also visited the location of the Stržen renaturation, which was completed this year. They were enthusiastic about the successful construction work. With the re-excavation of the former bends, the Notranjska Park returned to Stržen a larger volume of water and a larger space for the development of animals and plants.

The LIFE STRŽEN project is co-financed by the LIFE financial mechanism of the European Union. Usually, LIFE projects are financed in the amount of 60%, but if the project activities are related to the improvement of priority Natura 2000 habitat types or species, the share of co-financing can be increased up to 75%. As the project activities of the LIFE STRŽEN project are focused on improving the status of the priority habitat type intermittent lakes (HT 3180 *) and the priority species of drum bird (Botaurus stellaris), the European Commission approved co-financing of the LIFE STRŽEN project in the amount of just over EUR 2.8 million. representing 74.95% of the project value.

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