This document discusses conservation efforts for the otter population in Slovenia's Goričko region. It summarizes a 2004-2009 LIFE project that aimed to improve otter habitats and migration corridors in Goričko, where the population is most dense. The project restored habitats, cleaned rivers, and constructed fish passages. It also opened the Otter Centre AQUALUTRA to educate the public. The document then outlines a 2011-2014 LIFE+ project called AQUAVIVA that addresses biodiversity loss in water ecosystems and integrated water resources management. It discusses engaging the public to conserve aquatic biodiversity in the Sava River basin and Danube River basin by using the otter as a flagship species

1. The otter, a link between
water ecosystems and tourism
FORGING TARGETS AND SOLUTIONS FOR RIVERS AND WATER
ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION
Ljubljana, November 2011
Marjana Hönigsfeld Adamič
LUTRA, Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage

2. Who is the otter?
The beauty…

3. or the beast?

4. LIFE III – NATURA
Conservation of otter population
(Lutra lutra) in Goričko – Phase 1
2004 - 2009

5. MISSION STATEMENT
The aim of the project was to assure favourable
conservative status of otter habitats and
connectivity of its migrating corridors in the
area of Goričko where the otter population
seems to be the most dense and viable in
Slovenia.
The otter at the same time represents the symbol
of preserved freshwater ecosystems and clean
water; as a charismatic species it can be used
for education and public awareness rising
activities for a wide range of target groups.

6. Project area
Landscape Park
Goričko
511 km2

7. Otter habitats in Goričko
Lake Krašči on the River Ledava

8. Otter habitats in Goričko
Lake Hodoš

9. Otter habitats in Goričko
River Mala Krka

10. Otter habitats in Goričko
Stream Peskovci
Stream Bodonci

11. Otter habitats in Goričko
Lake Bukovnica

12. Objection:
Improving and restoring the habitats of the otter

13. Ecoremediations
(willow spilling)

14. Cleaning of the riverbed in Lukaj (Kuzma)

15. Ecoremediation of the stream with fish passage

16. Woodden dam on the dry stream Kobilje

17. A bumper on a stream
Dolenci

18. Construction of the plant water treatment device on Ledava

19. Opening of the OTTER CENTRE AQUALUTRA in Goričko

20. International volunteer camp in the Centre AQUALUTRA –
summer 2011

21. Workshop for the local kindergarten

22. Visit of the group of pensioners

23. Razstava, kaskade
Exhibition AQUALUTRA in the Castle Grad Goričko…

24. … and in other locations (castles) around Slovenia

25. LIFE+ PROJECT AQUAVIVA
Live Water –
from Biodiversity to the Tap
2011 - 2014

26. ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS TARGETED
1. Biodiversity loss in freshwater ecosystems
2. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
is not living yet.
3. Sava River Sub-basin Agreement as a good praxis of
Danube River Protection Convention lacks
biodiversity topics.
4. Tap water versus bottled water
5. The problem of waste waters

27. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
is not living
The principles of IWRM should be presented to publics in a
popular and illustrative way combining environmental and
nature-conservation approach, in order to assure
responsible public participation in planning. Integration of
water management into other policy areas, especially
agriculture is necessary (at present, it is the exclusive
competence of Ministry of Environment and Spatial
Planning). International, transnational and cross border
cooperation is needed in order to achieve the goals of good
status of all waters till the year 2015.

28. Biodiversity in Sava River Sub-basin Agreement as a
good praxis of Danube River Protection Convention
is missing
As a leading country in this agreement, we would like to
address the issue of conservation of aquatic biodiversity
with present project proposal, exposing its connection and
dependence on environmental status of the whole river
basin. The plans in the regional (Danube) and sub-regional
(Sava) levels are completed. In this phase, acting in the local
level is required. After that, the message of cooperation and
common responsibility for conservation of aquatic
biodiversity should be sent from the source of Sava River
(Slovenia) along the whole river (Croatia and Bosnia and
Herzegovina) till its mouth to Danube (Serbia).

29. Danube river basin

30. INTRODUCING
THE OTTER – A
FLAGSHIP SPECIES
OF FRESHWATER
ECOSYSTEMS -
for education and
public awareness
raising
IN DANUBE RIVER
BASIN