EUSAIR - Final Report

growth (pine) and healthy sea (symbol of fish) and the inscription “Protect the
Sea” in Slovene, Italian and English. The main purpose: to raise the awareness
of coastal users and municipal and state authorities about responsible management
of the sensitive coastal and marine environment.
Signs on the coast were placed by representatives of the Ministry of the Environment
and Spatial Planning, Koper Branch. The ceremonial unveiling of the first
sign took place after the general restoration of the front embankment of Sečovlje
saltpans, on the occasion of World Water Day, March 22, 1993. The purpose: to
draw attention to the unique contact of fresh and sea water in the exceptional environment
of cultural (salt) and natural heritage (Ramsar habitat). The ministry also
commissioned a study for the preservation of natural parts of the Slovene coast,
which became the professional basis for the work of the Institute for the Protection
of Natural Heritage Piran (now based in Izola). It was on this basis that proposals
were prepared for proclamation of the protected area of the Strunjan saltpans and
the revitalization and protection of Škocjan Bay. At the suggestion of the Ministry of
the Environment and Spatial Planning, UNEP/MAP also financed the removal of tens
of tons of sediments from the Badaševica estuary, which were heavily contaminated
with heavy metals due to the long-term operation of galvanizers in Tomos and other
industrial facilities. UNEP/MAP also supported our proposal for the preparation of
a Coastal Management Programme (CAMP Slovenia) and between 2005 and 2008
held a series of thematic workshops for representatives of municipal and state administration
for integrated coastal management, led by distinguished international
experts. Within the framework of this project, a Spatial Vision for the Slovenian coast
was also developed, entitled “Quality in a thousandth of the Mediterranean«.
The 14 th session of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention was held in Portorož
in 2005, at which we adopted the 1 st Strategy for Sustainable Development of
the Mediterranean and signed a Slovene-Italian-Croatian agreement on pollution
prevention and management in the event of maritime accidents (Contingency Plan
N Adriatic). During the Slovene Presidency of the Barcelona Convention (2005-
2008), a modern Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM Protocol)
was prepared and signed, which Slovenia was the first to ratify on 25 September
2009. Due to the exceptional importance of the ICZM Protocol for the preservation
of healthy coastal areas of the Mediterranean, UNEP/MAP declared 25 September
to be Mediterranean Coast Day. For the fifth year in a row, Mediterranean
Coast Day in Slovenia has been celebrated in Izola as Mediterranean Coast Week,
with a series of professional and social events taking place within the framework
of the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region
(EUSAIR). In addition to organizing important events for comprehensive coastal
management, the Municipality of Izola is particularly proactive in implementing
concrete measures. Among the most important is the establishment of a green
corridor between Koper and Izola, which has restored 1/10 of the coast to the
people and relieved the narrowest coastal area of traffic pressures.
This “small step” in the EUSAIR process has had a major impact on accelerating
the integration of the green and blue corridor content into EUSAIR cross-border
development projects and integrating this content into EU Spatial Planning at Sea.
May the restored signs continue to have such an impact!
Mitja Bricelj,
Coordinator of the EUSAIR Pillar III Environmental Quality, Ministry of the
Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia
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