SPA Kozjansko – special protection area

Kozjansko is a hilly region with altitudes up to 500m. It gradually becomes lower as it approaches the lowland region by the River Sotla. The area is quite densely populated, but there are no large settlements. The landscape is a combination of pristine, untouched nature and places where the effect of human intervention is greater, but is balanced with nature. The well-preserved extensive cultural landscape which provides a diversity of habitats is a typical feature of the region. These areas are scattered with small villages and homesteads with tall-stemmed orchards, meadows, individual fields, hedges and edges of the forest. Many bird species with high population densities in Slovenia can be found here. Another traditional feature are the extensive meadows along the meandering River Sotla. Due to the high population density, Kozjansko is Slovenia’s most favourable area for common redstarts, Eurasian wrynecks and European scops owls. Furthermore, by Slovenian standards, this is a region where there are extremely dense populations of grey-headed woodpeckers, Eurasian eagle-owls, red-backed shrikes, black woodpeckers, and European honey buzzards.

Bird species for which the SPA is designated:

• A236 Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
• A234 Grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus)
• A274 Common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
• A338 Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio)
• A072 European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
• A215 Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)
• A214 Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops)
• A233 Eurasian wryneck (Jynx torquilla)

SAC Orlica – special protected area

Orlica and Tisovec are the most eastern parts of the Posavje hills. The area is covered in Illyrian beech forests joined by acidophilic beech forests on the acid soil. The forests may be interrupted by small areas of dry grasslands that are home to several rare plant and animal species. Precipitous limestone walls also provide an important habitat for vegetation growing from the cracks in the rock. The lesser horseshoe bat is found in the Orlica area. Streams are the living space of a common piece, while forests offer living space to several endangered species of beetles, such as longhorn beetle, Alpine longhorn beetle, and stag beetle.

Species:          

• 1014 Narrow-mouthed whorl snail (Vertigo angustior)
• 1078* Jersey Tiger moth (Callimorpha quadripunctaria)
• 1083 Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus)
• 1087* Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina)
• 1089 Longhorn beetle (Morimus funereus)
• 1093* – Stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium)
• 1303 Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)

Habitat types:

• 8210 – Carbonate rocky slopes with vegetation in the cracks
• 9110 – Beech forests (Luzulo-fagetum)
• 91K0 – Illyrian beech forests (Fagus sylvatica (Aremonio-fagion))

SAC Bohor

Bohor and Vetrnik lie in the south-eastern part of the Posavje Hills. Its steep northern slopes are covered in Illyrian beech forests along with acidophilic beech forests. These forests are a habitat for endangered beetle species (the Rosalia longicorn and longhorn beetle). Next to the streams where stone crayfish live, wet grasslands can also be found. Mushrooms from the Conocybe family are the most common inhabitants, along with the yellow-bellied toad, which prefers damp environments. On a smaller area of the region, wood white butterflies can be found on the edges of forests. The southern slopes are covered in arid extensively cultivated meadows inhabited by a variety of species, especially orchids.

Species:          

• 1078* Jersey Tiger moth (Callimorpha quadripunctaria)
• 1087* Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina)
• 1089 Longhorn beetle (Morimus funereus)
• 1093* – Stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium)
• 1193 Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata)
• 4036 Wood white butterfly (Leptidea morsei)

Habitat types:

• 6210* Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco Brometalia) (* important habitat for orchids)
• 6510 Lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis)
• 9110 – Beech forests (Luzulo-fagetum)
• 91K0 – Illyrian beech forests (Fagus sylvatica (Aremonio-fagion))

SAC Pustišekova polšna – special protected area

A horizontal cave as a solitary karst phenomenon consisting of lithothamnion limestone. The cave is an important habitat for the lesser horseshoe bat and the greater mouse-eared bat. In this area, beech forests can be found on this acid soil.

Species:          

• 1303 Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)
• 1323 Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis bechsteinii)

 Habitat types:

• 8310 – Caves, inaccessible to the public
• 9110 – Beech forests (Luzulo-fagetum)

SAC Dobrava – Jovsi – special protected area

The area includes the Dobrava forest, the flood meadows in Jovsi, and the flood plain along the Sotla River up to Gregovci pri Bizeljskem. The area is characterised by a high diversity of aquatic and riparian habitats, which have been preserved here due to specific hydrological conditions and extensive agriculture. The most well-preserved complex of marshy and flood meadows is the Jovsi, with its characteristic vegetation of white willows, hedgerow lines, and riparian vegetation along individual drainage ditches. The lowland floodplain forests of pedunculate oak and common hornbeam in Dobrava are a remnant of the former lowland floodplain forests along the Sava River and a habitat for beetles (stag beetle and great capricorn beetle) and the Balkan goldenring. With its wet grassland fringe, Dobrava is an ecosystem with a high degree of natural conservation and a diverse composition of habitats, which give rise to a high species diversity. The entire complex is a habitat for amphibians (especially toads and Italian crested newts), the floodplain along the Sotla River is important for the European pond turtle, and the lowland extensive meadows are important for the large copper. The larger streams within the area are associated with the thick shelled river mussel and the riparian vegetation with the narrow-mouthed whorl snail.

Species:             

• 1014 Narrow-mouthed whorl snail (Vertigo angustior)
• 1032 Thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus)
• 1060 Large copper butterfly (Lycaena dispar)
• 1078* Jersey Tiger moth (Callimorpha quadripunctaria)
• 1083 Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus)
• 1088 Great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo)
• 1145 Weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis)
• 1167 Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex)
• 1188 Fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina)
• 1193 Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata)
• 1220 European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)
• 4046 Cordulegaster dragonfly (Cordulegaster heros)

Habitat types:

• 6510 Lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis)
• 9110 – Beech forests (Luzulo-fagetum)
• 91F0 Riparian oak-ash-birch forests (Quercus robur, Ulmus laevis and Ulmus minor, Fraxinus excelsior or Fraxinus angustifolia), along large rivers (Ulmenion minoris)
• 91L0 Illyrian oak/European hornbeam forests (Erythronio-Carpinion)

Special area of conservation SAC Sotla and tributaries

The surrounding areas of the original water channels and tributaries in the upper stream of the River Sotla are mostly covered in forest. Typically, these areas are quite steep, but then the slopes gradually level out. Right beneath the town of Rogatec, the river quickly changes pace – flowing fast where the riverbed is narrow and continuing peacefully again through the flood plains. Throughout its journey, with the exception of sections where the riverbed is narrow, the water meanders its way over the land. Along the whole length of the stream there are diverse water and waterside habitats, providing a favourable living environment for various species of fish, dragonflies, mussels, crabs, lampreys, and mammals in the aquatic environment. Waterside vegetation is mostly interconnected, thus building a kind of natural wall in the majority of sections. Most of the tributary streams, which contribute relatively large quantities of water, flow into the Sotla from the right side. The Sotla riverbed is regulated along the entire length even in larger sections in order to protect agricultural areas and buildings located on the flood plains. The Vonarje dam is a challenging barrier for migrating water organisms.

Species:             

• 1032 Thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus)
• 1083 Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus)
• 1088 Great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo)
• 1093* – Stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium)
• 1098 Lamprey (Eudontomyzon spp.)
• 1114 Pigo (Rutilus pigus)
• 1124 White-finned gudgeon (Gobio albipinnatus)
• 1130 Asp (Aspius aspius)
• 1134 European bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus amarus)
• 1138 Mediterranean barbel (Barbus meridionalis)
• 1146 Ray-finned Cobitidae fish (Sabanejewia aurata)
• 1149 Spined loach (Cobitis taenia)
• 1160 Sterber (Zingel streber)
• 1163 Bullhead (Cottus gobio)
• 1355 Otter (Lutra lutra)
• 2511 Kessler’s gudgeon (Gobio kessleri)
• 2533 Balkan Loach (Cobitis elongata)
• 4046 Cordulegaster dragonfly (Cordulegaster heros)

Habitat types:

• 3150 Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation
• 9110 – Beech forests (Luzulo-fagetum)
• 91E0* Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (softwood meadows), (Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, salicon albae))

SAC Suhadolski potok, potential conservation area

The area comprises the Suhadolski potok bed with a riparian zone from the western part of the catchment area in the foothills of Orlica in the north of the municipality of Brežice to the outflow into the Gabernica. The area also includes the Gabernica from the outflow of the Suhadolski potok to Globoko and the tributary Šribarjev jarek. Although the area is mostly surrounded by agricultural plain, it has a naturally preserved course and riparian vegetation. The varied riverbed, with fine material in places and hiding places, is a habitat for the crayfish and the lamprey.

Species:             

• 1093* – Stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium)
• 1098 Lamprey (Eudontomyzon spp.)

The site descriptions indicate the species and habitat types for which each special area of conservation is designated (qualifying species and habitat types), and the species or HT code.

The * symbol indicates a priority species or habitat type, or an area where priority species or habitat types are present.