- Environmental Engineer passionate about nature and life sciences research. I'm a person eager to know or learn someth... moreEnvironmental Engineer passionate about nature and life sciences research. I'm a person eager to know or learn something more every day and a researcher at earlier carrier, I'm always seeking for new opportunities to enrich both my personal and professional life.edit
The biggest issue facing European hydrogeologists is the need to protect the quality and quantity of groundwater resources (Zwahlen 2003). Cave pollution (the term is here used as: caves that are filled with waste) is among the drivers... more
The biggest issue facing European hydrogeologists is the need to protect the quality and quantity of groundwater resources (Zwahlen 2003). Cave pollution (the term is here used as: caves that are filled with waste) is among the drivers contributing to the pollution and degradation of karst aquifers. Nonetheless, the extent of the problem is neither well described nor systematically monitored at the national level (Prelovšek 2011a, 2011b). In Europe, karst covers around 1.4 million km or 13.8% of the land surface (Chen et al. 2017), and provides an important share of drinking water, e.g. in Austria the share is more than 50%, in Croatia more than 35% and in Belgium more than 30% (COST 1995). In Slovenia, karst landscapes are recognizable and important features at the national level (Habič 1992, Mihevc 1999, Gams 2004, Zupan Hajna 2004, Ribeiro 2017). These landscapes cover approximately 8,800 km or 44% of the country's surface, while the karst springs provide about 43% of drinkin...
The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of karst landscape on the sustainable development of the Bela krajina region, southeast Slovenia. In order to better understand the influence of karst landscape on sustainable... more
The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of karst landscape on the sustainable development of the Bela krajina region, southeast Slovenia. In order to better understand the influence of karst landscape on sustainable development we used three approaches: (1) the Karst Disturbance Index, (2) a quantitative analysis by using sustainable development indicators and (3) a qualitative analysis using structured interviews. The Karst Disturbance Index classified the degree of disturbance in Bela krajina as low. According to sustainable development indicators we found differences in the structure related to economy, population and environment within the region. And, according to the qualitative analysis, the negative impacts of the karst landscape on sustainable development are mainly associated with hampered agriculture and the positive with tourism; thus, karst landscape cannot only be seen as a limiting factor, since it also has development potential. Regional development i...
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Field mapping is an accurate but also time consuming method of detailed mapping of habitat types. Levels of habitat types are usually hierarchically nested at several levels. Our main research question therefore is: ‘How detailed can be... more
Field mapping is an accurate but also time consuming method of detailed mapping of habitat types. Levels of habitat types are usually hierarchically nested at several levels. Our main research question therefore is: ‘How detailed can be modelling of habitat types with decision trees and digital data in karst landscape?’ Similar to studies in other (non-karst) environments we explored the basic properties of the habitats in Dinaric Karst study region (Classical Karst in Southwest Slovenia) and tested modelling of habitat types at three different levels of detail. To seek for the best set of predictor variables we used Rapid-Eye satellite images, airborne images and digital elevation model. We prepared more than 60 explanatory variables and divided habitat polygons into training and testing samples to validate the results. The results proved that modelling with decision trees in Dinaric Karst landscape does not result in high accuracy at high detailed levels. Due to the presence of mi...
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According to the Underground Cave Protection Act (Ur. l. RS 2004), caves in Slovenia are defined as natural heritage of national importance and are owned by the state. The law defines the activities in caves, mostly outlining the... more
According to the Underground Cave Protection Act (Ur. l. RS 2004), caves in Slovenia are defined as natural heritage of national importance and are owned by the state. The law defines the activities in caves, mostly outlining the prohibited impacts on cave environment. Some regulations have also been applied for tourist activities, due to the commercial use and adaptation of the show-caves inventory (Ur. l. RS 2004). Although the legislation strictly prohibits the pollution of caves in any form, monitoring and remediation activities are not officially being practiced. Nevertheless, some caves have been cleaned up in the past, mostly on the initiative by cavers (Prelovšek 2011).
This study presents the results of an in-depth study on landscape changes over the last two centuries in the region of Bela krajina, south-eastern Slovenia. Since this region is situated along the Slovenian–Croatian border, immigration... more
This study presents the results of an in-depth study on landscape changes over the last two centuries in the region of Bela krajina, south-eastern Slovenia. Since this region is situated along the Slovenian–Croatian border, immigration and emigration are permanent fixtures in the region. Due to historical reasons, population structure and land use changes occurred. With regard to these processes, two case studies were selected: settlements of Adlešiči and Bojanci. Adlešiči is a village mainly inhabited by farmers of catholic religion. Bojanci was colonized by Orthodox Uskoki, i.e. refugees from Ottoman Empire who become Habsburg soldiers who lived a military life and had different attitude towards land cultivation. Landscapes in these two settlements have its own distinctive patterns contrasting to each other in the land use, showing historically distinctive cultural landscapes. The study aimed to interpret the development of cultural landscapes in these settlements by analysing the...
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The main goal of this study is to assess the transferability of a species distribution model (SDM) for Robinia pseudacacia (black locust) to two testing sites in the Prekmurje region in northeast Slovenia. The predictive performance of... more
The main goal of this study is to assess the transferability of a species distribution model (SDM) for Robinia pseudacacia (black locust) to two testing sites in the Prekmurje region in northeast Slovenia. The predictive performance of the SDM at the testing sites was measured by 1) visual evaluation, 2) confusion matrix, 3) true positive rate (TPR), 4) the maximum of the true skill statistics (TSS) over possible cutoffs, and 5) paired-sample ANOVA. We show that the model adequately predicted potential distribution of the species in the region, which ensures that extension of the prediction at this scale will be a reliable base for nature conservation decisions. This also serves as a positive example for within-region transfer and extension of SDMs.
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Med prvo svetovno vojno so avstro-ogrska in italijanska letala snemala kraje ob soški fronti, medtem ko so bili v drugi svetovni vojni iz nemških (Luftwaffe) in britanskih letal (Royal Air Force – RAF) posneti predvsem kraji ob južni... more
Med prvo svetovno vojno so avstro-ogrska in italijanska letala snemala kraje ob soški fronti, medtem ko so bili v drugi svetovni vojni iz nemških (Luftwaffe) in britanskih letal (Royal Air Force – RAF) posneti predvsem kraji ob južni železnici, rapalski meji in na slovenski obali. Po drugi svetovni vojni so aerosnemanja postala bolj civilna domena za potrebe kartografije in so postopoma prešla v roke domačih strokovnjakov (1972). Šele leta 1975 je bilo ozemlje Slovenije posneto v celoti. Posledica vojaških in civilnih aerosnemanj je zelo obsežen a arhivsko zelo razpršen fond zgodovinskih aeroposnetkov slovenskega ozemlja. Aeroposnetke od prve svetovne vojne naprej in njihovo uporabnost predstavljamo z vidika značilnosti in možnih tehnik obdelave (vizualna fotointerpretacija, analogna ali digitalna stereo analiza). Ob tem so podani primeri uporabe in predlogi za uporabo pri aktualnih geografskih problemih (naravne nesreče, mejni spori, spremembe oblikovanosti zemljišč in rabe tal).
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This study shows the link between land use, landscape changes, and ecosystem services. Two pilot areas were investigated for how land use changes from 1824 to 2013 affect the provision of ecosystem services. It was found that... more
This study shows the link between land use, landscape changes, and ecosystem services. Two pilot areas were investigated for how land use changes from 1824 to 2013 affect the provision of ecosystem services. It was found that low-intensity managed traditional land use is disappearing due to the intensification of agricultural production on the one hand, and the retreat of agriculture from unfavorable areas on the other hand. However, such traditional land use contributes to more diverse and more numerous ecosystem services and helps preserve the cultural landscape. Therefore, intensification and overgrowth should be restricted, and less intensive agriculture should be encouraged. The approach presented can be used as a support tool for decision-making in managing and governing landscapes.
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Wetlands in Europe are vulnerable interconnected environments, significantly contributing to biodiversity. They are often challenged by the overlapping of different levels of spatial planning and authorities in charge of their... more
Wetlands in Europe are vulnerable interconnected environments, significantly contributing to biodiversity. They are often challenged by the overlapping of different levels of spatial planning and authorities in charge of their preservation and management, by the lack of coordination and incapacity of administrative authorities to handle complex territorial dynamics. In this study, we present the methodology used to engage relevant stakeholders in wetland governance in Ljubljansko Barje Nature Park, located in the southern part of the Ljubljana Basin, Slovenia. The main focus of this chapter is the detailed explanation of the implementation of effective governance for the Ljubljansko Barje Nature Park, acting through a participatory process in which users, private and public entities are committed to mainstreaming wetlands preservation into their ordinary activities. The Wetland Contract is a document signed by different stakeholders, aiming at the active participation of stakeholder...
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The conservation of the natural environment and its values in Slovenia goes back to the last decade of the nineteenth century, and the beginnings of the first and only national park go back to 1924. The 1999 Nature Conservation Act... more
The conservation of the natural environment and its values in Slovenia goes back to the last decade of the nineteenth century, and the beginnings of the first and only national park go back to 1924. The 1999 Nature Conservation Act established a national framework for protecting 13% of Slovenia’s territory. Slovenia is among the European countries with best-preserved natural conditions and the greatest biological and landscape diversity. This is reflected by the size of Slovenian territory that is protected: more than 52% of the country lies in ecologically important areas and approximately 37% within Natura 2000 sites. Various examples are used to present the management of national assets. Slovenia has 1 national park (IUCN category II/V; the example presented is Triglav National Park), 3 regional parks (IUCN category V/II; the example presented is Kozje Regional Park), 44 landscape parks (IUCN category V; Kolpa Landscape Park is presented), 1 strict nature reserve (IUCN category I...
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In the topography of war landscapes the remains of war are found in the form of trenches, bombing craters and remnants of war infrastructure. Today war landscapes are “overlaid” by post-war “layers” of cultural landscapes. It requires... more
In the topography of war landscapes the remains of war are found in the form of trenches, bombing craters and remnants of war infrastructure. Today war landscapes are “overlaid” by post-war “layers” of cultural landscapes. It requires non-invasive remote-sensing methods, e.g. time series of aerial photographs and high-resolution terrain models (LiDAR digital terrain model) to recognize these landscapes. In the study area on Kras Plateau (SW Slovenia) over one hundred kilometres of World War I trenches are preserved in the NW part of the plateau (app. 72 km2) in the present-day topography and represent tangible war geoheritage. But much of these geoheritage was also lost in post-war periods, e.g. near the village of Vrtojba (SW Slovenia) where in 1917 over 12 km of World War I trenches existed, but a century later no traces of war are visible in the present-day topography. Almost two hundred World War I bomb craters also existed around the village that are also not existent in the to...
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Robinia pseudacacia L. was introduced into Europe at the beginning of the 17th century and is now considered to be an invasive species also in Slovenia. Our study area was located in northeastern Slovenia, within the Prekmurje region. The... more
Robinia pseudacacia L. was introduced into Europe at the beginning of the 17th century and is now considered to be an invasive species also in Slovenia. Our study area was located in northeastern Slovenia, within the Prekmurje region. The aim of our study was to find explanations for the current occurrence pattern of the species in that location. Areas dominated by R. pseudacacia have been mapped in a scale of 1:5.000 in the lowland area of Prekmuje, across a sample plot of 4 by 3km in 2009. We analyzed potential factors that can influence the distribution of the species within the region: distance to the road network, distance to water bodies, elevation, land use, soil type and soil quality. We performed a spatial randomized sampling technique stratified for prevalence on the resulting maps in order to collect observations on the relationship between R. pseudacacia presence and the potential influenting factors. The statistical relationships were then established by a generalized l...
This study shows the link between land use, landscape changes, and ecosystem services. Two pilot areas were investigated for how land use changes from 1824 to 2013 affect the provision of ecosystem services. It was found that... more
This study shows the link between land use, landscape changes, and ecosystem services. Two pilot areas were investigated for how land use changes from 1824 to 2013 affect the provision of ecosystem services. It was found that low-intensity managed traditional land use is disappearing due to the intensification of agricultural production on the one hand, and the retreat of agriculture from unfavorable areas on the
other hand. However, such traditional land use contributes to more diverse and more numerous ecosystem services and helps preserve the cultural landscape. Therefore, intensification and overgrowth should be
restricted, and less intensive agriculture should be encouraged. The approach presented can be used as a support tool for decision-making in managing and governing landscapes.
other hand. However, such traditional land use contributes to more diverse and more numerous ecosystem services and helps preserve the cultural landscape. Therefore, intensification and overgrowth should be
restricted, and less intensive agriculture should be encouraged. The approach presented can be used as a support tool for decision-making in managing and governing landscapes.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
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Monitoring the spread of invasive species is crucial for nature conservation; however regularity can only be assured if cost-effectiveness can be achieved. We aimed at testing low-cost remote sensing sources and simple methodology for... more
Monitoring the spread of invasive species is crucial for nature conservation; however regularity can only be assured if cost-effectiveness can be achieved. We aimed at testing low-cost remote sensing sources and simple methodology for recognising the invasive species Robinia pseudacacia and thus founding a
monitoring scheme. A study area with mixed wooded stands containing R. pseudacacia has been selected for this purpose in NE Slovenia. Four different sources (Landsat ETM and airborne orthophotos from summer and spring) were tested together with a filtering for forested areas. Filtering was based either
on Landsat information or on a forest polygon layer as alternatives. Generalised linear models were constructed
in a training window within the study area to establish a statistical rule of recognition for the species based on spectral information. Models were tested both within and outside the training window
for accuracy. As means of accuracy assessment both the well-established AUC and the specially adapted Jaccard index have been applied.
The best and most reliable recognition was achieved by using the spring orthophoto, in which the species
was captured in flower, combined with a GIS filtering by a forest vector layer. The superiority of this combination was especially striking when tested over the full study area. The Jaccard index appeared to be more sensitive in discrimination between models. Thus we conclude that even spectrally less detailed data sources may provide a basis for successful monitoring if the phenology of the target species is also considered.
monitoring scheme. A study area with mixed wooded stands containing R. pseudacacia has been selected for this purpose in NE Slovenia. Four different sources (Landsat ETM and airborne orthophotos from summer and spring) were tested together with a filtering for forested areas. Filtering was based either
on Landsat information or on a forest polygon layer as alternatives. Generalised linear models were constructed
in a training window within the study area to establish a statistical rule of recognition for the species based on spectral information. Models were tested both within and outside the training window
for accuracy. As means of accuracy assessment both the well-established AUC and the specially adapted Jaccard index have been applied.
The best and most reliable recognition was achieved by using the spring orthophoto, in which the species
was captured in flower, combined with a GIS filtering by a forest vector layer. The superiority of this combination was especially striking when tested over the full study area. The Jaccard index appeared to be more sensitive in discrimination between models. Thus we conclude that even spectrally less detailed data sources may provide a basis for successful monitoring if the phenology of the target species is also considered.