Project pilot areas
Overview of the implemented activities
Planik area is an important habitat of a rare orchid called Yellow widelip orchid (Liparis loeselii). it is endangered by fast forestation of the area, a result of abandoned agriculture and changed hydrology. Owing to the support of all land owners we were able to implement the activities to preserve favourable status of Liparis loeselii on this area.
Majority of activities were completed in 2013. From the beginning of the project we have completed following actions:
RESEARCH
In the first year of the project implementation the workers of Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology (ZRC SAZU) carried out the detailed inventory of habitat types and vegetation at Planik area. This was used for the assessment of the general state of the area.
OVERGROWTH REMOVAL
Area of Planik is becoming overgrown by black alder (Alnus glutinosa), alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus), spruce and scotch pine. In two voluntary actions we removed trees and other taller vegetation over the area of 1ha. To do that, we obtained consensus from all land owners in the Planik area.
First action took place in December 2011, with help and support from the Municipality of Mengeš, Nigritella society and other volunteers. Later we removed all felled trees and bushes with the help of nature conservation students of Naklo Biotechnical center. We repeated the action in December 2013, when we removed the bushes that grew from hives. We also removed overgrowth from some new areas. Only one day prior to the action a company Vili Rozman s.p. cut down the trees and bushes for free.
HYDROLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
When farmers used to work the land at Planik area they dug several hydromelioration ditches. Some of them are buried and some of them are still draining the wetland. Draining the wetland is accelerating the process of overgrowing and worsening the living conditions for yellow widelip orchid. We decided to put up 5 wooden barriers of two ditches that are connected. This should cause the rise of water level in the wetland and improve the living conditions for yellow widelip orchid. We carefully planned the barriers so it would be possible to raise the water level later, if necessary. In order to monitor changes in the hydrological status of the wetland we checked the groundwater level every two weeks for one year prior to the installation of wooden barriers. This will give us the assessment of the fluctuation of the groundwater level through the year.
COMMUNICATION AND THE PRESENTATION OF THE AREA
Only the few know about the diversity of Planik valley. To improve that, we organized the following activities:
• Field excursion for nature conservation students of Naklo Biotechnical center in 2012. It was carried out in connection with the removal of overgrowth (15th of February 2012, 27 students).
• Presentation of the Planik valley to the land owners and interested audience. Since most of the participants of the presentation responded very positively, we organized
• extra field excursion in 2012;
• we visited the majority of the land owners where yellow widelip orchid grows in order to present them the facts about the orchid and about the area itself. Because of their big interest we invited them on a guided tour in June 2012, where we showed them the orchid in nature.
• We organized four (4) scientific excursions for children of Roje and Mengeš Primary schools. Excursions took place in Planik valley and all together 75 children experienced nature in its most pure form.
• The visitors will know much more about the nature in the Planik valley thanks to info board we put up at the entrance to the valley.
WHAT’S NEXT?
In 2014 we will:
• carry out the detailed inventory of the habitat types and vegetation again;
• reach an agreement (contract) and make a plan on sustainable management of the area;
• meet with land owners;
• present the results of the project to the Municipal council of the Municipality of Mengeš and in the local magazine;
• carry on with the groundwater level monitoring and vegetation growth rate monitoring.
