Annex 18: Layman's report

Annex 18: Layman's report

ŽIVETI S PROJEKTOM LIFE AQUALUTRA LIVING WITH THE PROJECT LIFE AQUALUTRA

Poročilo za širšo javnost

Layman's Report

Ohranjanje populacije vidre (Lutra lutra) na Goričkem – 1. faza Conservation of Otter Population (Lutra lutra) in Goričko

- Phase 1

LIFE04NAT/SI/000234 AQUALUTRA

O vidri smo doslej vedeli bore malo. Skrivnostna je in previdna, a zvedava, kot je pač značilno za kune. Spretna in igriva, skoraj breztežna, ko se zvijaje poganja skozi vodo. Neusmiljena in bliskovito hitra, ko zgrabi, kar se je namenila ujeti. Neustrašna in domala nepremagljiva, ko brani mladiče. Čeprav ubira ustaljene obvodne poti, jo dočakajo le najbolj vztrajni. Marsikoga pa preseneti naključno, ko se tega najmanj nadeja. Nič čudnega torej, če se ponekod med ljudstvom pojavlja kot povodni mož, jezerska vila, rusalka, celo Nessie ali podobna lokalna »povodna« legenda. V projektu LIFE-NATURA smo želeli odstreti nekaj tančic z vidrinega življenja.

Until now we knew very little about an otter. It is mysterious and cautious, but curious as all mustelids are. Dexterous and playful, almost weightless when it propels itself coilingly through water. Relentless and swift when grabbing what it wanted to catch. Fearless and almost invincible when protecting its young. Although it is set in its habitual paths only the most persistant can see it. It is understandable that amongst local people it was perceived as a water sprite, water nyph, undine and even Nessie or similar local »aquatic« legend. In the course of the LIFE-NATURA project we wanted to unwail some of the mysteries of otter's life.

1 - Od železne ceste do projekta LIFE Od leta 1999 do 2004 je Inštitut LUTRA za Slovenske železnice opravljal monitoring vidre (Lutra lutra) in z njo povezanih vodnih ekosistemov v času gradnje in kasneje obratovanja železniške proge Puconci – Hodoš – državna meja. Ko je postalo jasno, da je železnica z grobimi premostitvami glavnih vodnih žil močno prizadela vidrin življenjski prostor na območju, ki je skrivalo vse potrebne naravne vrednote za razglasitev območja Natura 2000, se je začela zgodba o vidri in Goričkem. Najprej nismo vedeli drugega kot to, da vidra precej pogosto prihaja po Peskovskem in Mačkovskem potoku, najraje pa se zadržuje na Hodoškem jezeru. Tu in tam smo v vaški gostilni zaznali kakšno govorico, da so izginile ribe iz ribnika ali da je kdo pred leti povozil vidro. Da bi jo kdo videl? Zelo redko. Lovci so povedali, da je rada zahajala na star mlin na Krki, da sta bili včasih dve, ki sta se igrali in podili pod starimi jelšami, potem pa so mlin obnovili in vidri sta izginili skupaj z vodo… Pet let pozneje, ob zaključku projekta LIFE, vrednega čez milijon evrov, ki ga je potrdila Evropska komisija, vemo o vidrah na Goričkem mnogo več. Najpomembneje pa je, da o vidrah vedo veliko več

tudi domačini, predvsem mladi ljudje in tisti, ki sprejemajo pomembne odločitve. Vidra kraljuje v občinskem grbu in zastavi občine Gornji Petrovci, v dolini Male Krke, pod Križevci, pa stoji Vidrin center AQUALUTRA, kjer lahko obiskovalci Krajinskega parka Goričko izvedo vse o vidrah. Goričko, prej najbolj odmaknjena in slabo poznana slovenska pokrajina, je postalo znano kot »vidrina dežela«, ki jo vse raje obiskujejo tuji pa tudi domači izletniki. O tej deželi in kraljici voda je bil posnet dokumentarni film, o tem so pisali številni časopisi.

1-From an iron road to a LIFE project

From 1999 till 2004, Institute LUTRA has been performing a monitoring of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and its habitats for Slovenske železnice (Slovenian railways) during the construction and later operation of the railway Puconci – Hodoš – national border. When it became clear that the railway with its bridgings over the main water courses has severely damaged otter habitat in the region where all the natural resources would meet the demands to be a Natura 2000 area, a story of otters and Goričko has begun. At first we knew nothing more than a fact that the otter appears quite often along the streams Peskovci and Mačkovci and frequently stops at the lake Hodoš. Sometimes we heard a rumour in a village pub that some fish were missing from a fishpond or that someone has run over an otter in the past. Did anyone see it? Very seldom. Hunters have told us that it used to come to an old water-mill on river Krka. Sometimes there were even two of them, playing and chasing around under old alder trees. But then the water-mill was reconstructed and the otters disappeared together with water… Five years later at the end of the LIFE project, which is worth over a million of Euros granted by European Commission, we know much more about otters in Goričko. But even more important is that also the local people know them much better, especially young ones and those who can make important decisions. Otter reigns both in a coat of arms of municipality Gornji Petrovci and in Mala Krka valley. Under Križevci you can find an Otter centre AQUALUTRA where visitors of Landscape Park Goričko can learn all about the otters. Goričko, known as the most distant Slovenian region, has become known as the »otter land« becoming more and more popular travel destination amongst foreign and local tourists. About this land and the queen of waters a documentary has been made and a lot of articles in newspapers have been published.

2 - Kaj smo želeli s projektom Vidra je kraljica voda, krovna vrsta sladkovodnih ekosistemov pri nas. S svojo značilno karizmatično podobo ima pomembno sporočilno vlogo pri spodbujanju ozaveščenosti različnih skupin javnosti za ohranjanje rek, potokov, jezer in življenjskega okolja v najširšem pomenu. Evrazijsko vidro (Lutra lutra) kot ogroženo vrsto navajata Bernska konvencija (Seznam II) in Habitatna direktiva (The Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Dodatek II in Dodatek IV), zato je tudi Slovenija kot članica EU obvezana varovati vrsto in ji zagotavljati ugodne habitatne razmere. V projektu smo želeli zagotoviti prav to: ohraniti vitalno populacijo vrste Lutra lutra na območju Krajinskega parka Goričko z obnovo njenih habitatov na najbolj kritičnih mestih in vzdrževanjem vodnih ekosistemov v ugodnem stanju. Ker smo predvidevali, da si Goričko vidrino populacijo deli z Gradiščansko v Avstriji ter območjem Zalske županije na Madžarskem, smo skušali izboljšati povezanost prekmejnih migracijskih koridorjev na območju trilateralnega parka Goričko – Örszeg – Raab (Slovenija – Madžarska – Avstrija). Obnova vidrinih habitatov pa bo koristila tudi drugim vodnim in obvodnim vrstam, med katerimi so številne pomembne kot vidrin plen; posebno pozornost smo namenili ogroženim in redkim. Vidre so skrivnostne živali in hkrati redka vrsta, mi pa smo želeli odkriti čim več skrivnosti vidrine populacije na Goričkem. Sodobne raziskovalne metode, kot je spremljanje z radijskimi oddajniki, so lahko za takšne živali nevarne. Zato smo se odločili za kombinacijo različnih nenasilnih metod monitoringa. Zanimala nas je približna številčnost populacije, spolna in starostna sestava, predvsem pa smo želeli odkriti poti, ki jih živali največ uporabljajo. Najpomembnejši cilji, ki smo si jih zastavili, pa so bili ozaveščevalni in izobraževalni. Namenjeni so različnim ciljnim skupinam, od šolarjev, lovcev in drugih lokalnih skupin javnosti do strokovne javnosti, pa tudi organiziranim in posameznim obiskovalcem. Sporočanju teh vsebin je namenjen center za ohranjanje vidre z neposredno okolico, kjer ob Mali Krki teče tudi učna pot. Tu se dejavnosti s koncem projekta šele začenjajo.

2. What was the purpose of the project? Otter is a queen of waters and umbrella species for freshwater ecosystems. With its charismatic image the otter has very important role as a messenger in rising of public awareness for rivers, streams, lakes and wider environment conservation. Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is listed on Bern convention (Annex II) and Habitat directive (The Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Annex II, Annex IV) as an endangered species. Therefore Republic of Slovenia as a member of EU is obliged to protect this species and its habitats. That was also the purpose of our project: to conserve a viable otter population on the area of Gorčko Landscape Park with restoration of most destroyed parts of otter’s habitats and with maintenance of good condition of fresh water ecosystems. As we have assumed that Goričko is sharing the same otter population with Austria and Hungary, we tried to improve connections of migration corridors on the area of Trilateral Park Goričko – Örszeg – Raab. Otter habitat restoration is also important for other water and riparian species. Some of them are important otter pray and we paid special attention to rare and threatened species. As otters are mysterious and rare animals, we tried to reveal as many otter secrets as possible. Modern investigation techniques as telemetry can be dangerous for such animals. That is why we have decided to use a combination of non-invasive methods of otter monitoring. The aim of the monitoring was to find out approximate size of otter population, their sex ratio and age structure. Beside that we wanted to find out which corridors are most frequently used by otters. Public awareness rising and education of different groups of people were the most important aims of the project. They were designed for scholars, hunters, and other local and groups of public and experts as well for organized groups or individual visitors of Goričko Landscape Park. This is also the main mission of Otter Visitor Centre with the educational path along the stream Mala Krka. By the end of the project activities in the centre are just beginning.

3 - Kaj se je dogajalo štiri leta in pol Projekt LIFE je obsegal 43 posameznih akcij s podakcijami. Ena osrednjih nalog je bila podroben pregled vidrine razširjenosti na Goričkem, ob tem pa smo še ugotavljali kakovost njenih habitatov (analiza fizikalnih in kemijskih parametrov vode, razširjenosti nekaterih plenskih vrst); hkrati smo evidentirali »črne« točke na prometnicah, kjer so ji grozile največje nevarnosti; z akcijskim načrtom za celotno območje smo skušali te točke v največji meri odpraviti ali nanje vsaj opozoriti. Prilagodili smo nekatere mostove in podhode, po Goričkem stojijo posebni prometni znaki, ki opozarjajo na vidro. Na nekaterih potokih v posameznih občinah smo z ekoremediacijami izboljšali lastnosti vodotoka ali zasadili obrežja na odsekih, kjer jih je neposredno ali posredno prizadela gradnja železniške proge. Hkrati smo krajanom in obiskovalcem pokazali, kako s posnemanjem naravnih procesov popravljamo napake nepremišljenih posegov v preteklosti. Najbolj zanimiv, čeprav pogosto tudi najbolj naporen del projekta pa je bilo spremljanje vider (monitoring) na različne načine: po znani in uveljavljeni metodi smo iskali sledi in pobirali iztrebke na mestih, ki so si jih vidre izbrale za markiranje. Vidre pozimi ne spijo, temveč zelo dejavno tekajo naokrog in označujejo svoje teritorije - takrat se namreč ženijo in v snegu jih najlažje sledimo. Mraz jih prav nič ne ovira, saj so z nepremočljivim kožuhom izvrstno zavarovane. Ko se je nam udrl tanek led na potoku, ni bilo najbolj prijetno. Najbolj prikladna mesta (pod mostovi) smo opremili z avtomatskimi kamerami, povezanimi z infrardečim senzorjem in vestno spremljali stanje voda… Kljub temu smo eno fotopast izgubili v naraslem Peskovskem potoku, drugo pa so nam odnesli zmikavti. Kako smo se razveselili prve vidre na posnetku iz Peskovskega potoka! Potem so prišle nove in nove: sledili smo materi, ki je vodila tri mladiče, opazovali druženje v pare pozimi in skušali sestaviti vidrino zgodbo. Slikat pa so se prišle tudi druge živali: jazbeci, srne, lisice, dihurji, ježi, celo črna štorklja! Največ je bilo seveda mačk in psov. Pozimi smo iz najbolj svežih iztrebkov pobirali vzorce za genetsko analizo DNA, ki so jo opravili v laboratoriju na Oddelku za zootehniko Biotehniške fakultete. Tako smo se spoznali z Božekom in Cvetko, ki sta obvladovala vse Goričko, pa z Jagodo, ki je verjetno teta od Lili in Zlatka, ta dva pa sta bratec in sestrica; Božek ima tudi brata Reneja in sorodnico Katko… V dobrih treh letih smo jih zabeležili 30. Bili pa so tudi žalostni dogodki. Lovci so nam predali vidrina mladička, ki so ju našli mrtva v bližini Ledavskega jezera. Z avtopsijo smo ugotovili, da ju je umoril večji pes. Ker smo v prvem projektnem letu našli dva povožena mladiča tudi v Mačkovcih, je gorička populacija v zadnjih letih utrpela kar precejšnje izgube.

3 What was happening for four and half years Project LIFE comprehended 43 single actions with some sub actions. One of the main tasks was detailed survey of otter’s distribution in Goričko next to ascertaining quality of otter’s habitats (analysis of physical and chemical parameters of freshwaters, distribution of some prey species). At the same time we were monitoring “black” spots on the roads where the otters were exposed to the biggest threat. With the action plan for the whole area we tried to eliminate those points or at least warn on them. We adjusted some bridges and underpasses and special traffic signs were installed over the whole Goričko. On some streams in some municipalities streams quality was improved with ecoremediations, banks were planted with vegetation on segments that were damaged directly or indirectly by construction of railway line. At the same time we tried to demonstrate to local residents and visitors how to improve mistakes that were done with inconsiderate operations in the past with imitating natural processes. The most interesting but at the same time the hardest part of project was monitoring of otters on different ways: with well known and established method we were searching for otter tracks and spaints. In the winter time otters don’t sleep but are very active and mark their territories. In that time there is mating time and otters are easily tracked in snow. Cold doesn’t impede them because they are excellently secured with impermeable fur. It wasn’t very pleasurable when ice over the stream was broken under our feet. We equipped the most suitable points under the bridges with automatic phototraps connected with infrared sensors and thoroughly accompanying levels of stream water. In spite of this one camera was lost due to high water of Peskovski potok (stream) and one was stolen. How hippy were we about the first otter shot from Peskovski potok! Then new photos came: we were following mother with three cups, observing pairs in winter time and tried to construct otter’s story. But many other animals came to be photographed: badgers, roe deer, foxes, polecats, hedgehogs, even black stork! But mostly there were mousses, cats and dogs. In winter time we were picking fresh spraints samples for genetic analysis of DNA. Analysis was done in the laboratory of Departement of Zoology (Biotechnical faculty). In that way we get to know with Božek and Cvetka that were covering whole Goričko area, and with Jagoda, that is probably aunt of Lili and Zlatko, and those two are brother and sister. Božek also has a brother Rene and is related Katka… 30 different individuals were recorded in last three years. There were also sad moments. Hunters delivered us otter cubs that were found dead in vicinity of Ledava Lake. With autopsy we find out they were killed by a dog. In the first project year we also found two cubs that were run over by a car. Because of that we have suspected that otter population in Goričko is suffering heavy losses.

4 - Kaj smo dosegli in se naučili Največji uspeh obsežnega projekta LIFE, ki bo hkrati omogočil tudi trajnost projekta, je Vidrin informacijski center AQUALUTRA z učno potjo v dolino Male Krke pod Križevci v občini Gornji Petrovci. Center je namenjen različnim obiskovalcem, predvsem organiziranim skupinam, ozaveščevalnim in izobraževalnim dejavnostim pa tudi raziskovanju. Uspeh ohranjanja populacij ogroženih živali je namreč najbolj odvisen od tega, koliko ljudje vedo o teh živalih in njihovih potrebah in koliko so pripravljeni zmanjšati svoje ravnanje in razvade v korist živali. Vidre, denimo, ne moremo ohranjati, če hkrati ne poskrbimo za njen življenjski prostor - reke, potoke, jezera in močvirja. Hkrati izboljšamo razmere tudi drugim živalskim in rastlinskim vrstam, ki žive ob in v vodah, ne nazadnje tudi sebi. Vidre žive v večini tekočih in stoječih voda na Goričkem, tudi presenetljivo majhnih potokih. Posnetki iz fotopasti so dokaz, da glavni habitatni koridor, ki je vse leto »zaseden« z vidrami, poteka po Mačkovskem in Peskovskem potoku ter se nadaljuje po Krki na Madžarsko. V fotopasti so se ujele odrasle vidre pa tudi mladiči; najbolj nepričakovan je spomladanski posnetek treh mladičev, starih nekaj mesecev, ki jih spremlja mati. Poleg vider pa smo posneli tudi več kot 30 različnih vrst živali, če ne štejemo domačih mačk in psov. Najpogostejše so bile vsekakor miške, ki so nam »uničile« 36 % posnetkov. Kamere so nam pomagale spoznati novo nevarnost za vidre, ki se je nismo zavedali: to so psi, ki jih lastniki ponoči spuščajo, da prosto tekajo naokrog in s tem ogrožajo divje živali. Število prometnih nesreč z vidrami bodo poskušali znižati novi prometni znaki, ki opozarjajo, kje lahko naletimo na vidro, ki prečka cesto. Če se kljub temu zgodi nesreča, je temu namenjena posebna telefonska številka, »VIDRAFONE«. Analiza genetskega materiala (DNA) iz vidrinih iztrebkov je - kljub težavam v laboratoriju z ločevanjem genetskih komponent vidre od genetskega materiala njenega plena - dala zanimive rezultate o vidrini populaciji. Čeprav ne moremo z gotovostjo trditi, da je na fotografiji ravno Božek ali Krasna ali druga vidra, katere DNA smo izolirali, smo se temu vendarle približali. Vemo, da je na Goričkem v zadnjih štirih letih živelo vsaj 30 vider in da je bilo med njimi 18 samic in 16 samcev. V največ primerih, kar devetkrat, smo registrirali Božeka, ki je bil nedvomno dominanten samec, saj je obvladoval domala vse Goričko. Zagotovo goričke vidre komunicirajo tudi prek meja, predvsem na Madžarsko, od koder se iz Mure in Ledave populacija napaja in nadomešča izgube. - Vemo pa tudi, da še marsičesa ne vemo in bo potrebno še precej raziskovalnega dela, da bomo do potankosti spoznali vidre na Goričkem in drugod po Sloveniji. Pri ekoremediacijah na potokih smo se zgledovali po naravi in se od nje učili. Iz vrbovih popletov, ki smo jih uporabili za utrjevanje brežin v potokih, že rastejo mlade vrbe, na obrežjih so se ukoreninile črne jelše, tolmune so naselile mladice ribjih vrst, mlako urhi in žabe; številni kačji pastirji različnih vrst se spreletavajo po obnovljenem potoku. Vidra je nemudoma označila pripravljene police pod mostom. Pomembno je, da se je tudi ekipa delavcev občine Gornji Petrovci izurila za obnovitvena dela po naravnih metodah, da so svoje spretnosti pokazali tudi drugim občinskim delavcem na območju parka. Po koncu projekta navdušeno čakajo na nove izzive, nove naloge. Zdaj drugače gledajo na domače potoke in jezera. Vidra pa je na Goričkem odkrila tudi ribnike, nad čemer lastniki niso preveč navdušeni. V dogovoru z dvema lastnikoma ribnikov v Križevcih smo dva ribnika ogradili z električno

varovalno ograjo, ki zanesljivo varuje ribe pred nepovabljenim gostom. Največji je ostal dostopen - da vidra ne bo lačna. Ograje si lahko ribogojci in ljubiteljski rejci rib ogledajo le streljaj od največjega domačega kostanja v Sloveniji, ki raste na Tetajnem bregu v Križevcih. Zloženka Vidra v ribniku bo lastnikom ribnikov in ribogojnic pokazala pravo pot do zavarovanja objektov pred plenilcem. Ob koncu projekta smo primerjali rezultate različnih metod spremljanja vidre in sestavili še najbolj zapleteno nalogo: strokovne smernice za upravljanje s populacijo vidre na območju Natura 2000 Goričko in sosednjih zavarovanih območij v trideželnem parku Örség – Raab – Goričko. Kako ravnati in kaj upoštevati, da bo populacija ostala vitalna, strnjena in bo lahko nemoteno komunicirala čez meje.

4. What have we accomplished and learned? The biggest success of very expansive LIFE project, that will make Life project continuation possible after project ending, is Otter Visiting Centre Aqualutra with educational path in the valley of stream Mala Krka in village Križevci, Municipality Gornji Petrovci. The purpose of the Centre is education and awareness rising for different groups of visitors, as well as for further researches. The conservation of threatened animal species efficiency depends greatly on public knowledge and awareness about those animals and will of each individual to change their habits for the benefit of animals. We cannot conserve otters if we don’t preserve their habitats – rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. Doing this, we are improving the environmental conditions also for other animal and plant species and nevertheless also for ourselves. In Goričko, otters live in majority of all running and standing waters, even in surprisingly small brooks. The photo materials from photo traps evidently show, that the main migration corridors are stream Mačkovski potok and stream Peskovski potok, that flows to stream Krka and further to Hungary. Otters were present on both in all seasons. Photo traps have caught

adult otters as well as otter cubs. The most unexpected was a series of photographs with three otter cubs, accompanied with their mother. But not only otters were trapped in our photo traps. Cameras took photos of more than 30 different animal species that is without domestic cats and dogs. Animals that have “destroyed” 36% of all photos were mice. With photo traps we realized what another big danger for otters is: the domestic dogs that run freely in the nights threatening wild animals. Newly set up traffic signs will try to reduce number of road accidents wit otters crossing roads. For case that accident still happens, we established a special telephone number “VIDRAFONE”. The DNA analysis of otter spraints gave us interesting data on otter population, in spite of problems with separation of otter DNA from DNA of it’s pray in the laboratory. Even if we cannot be 100% certain if the animal on photo is Božek or Krasna or other otter which DNA we have isolated, we came rather near to that. We now know that for last three years at least 30 different individuals lived on Goričko area. Among them are 18 females and 16 males. In most cases (9 times) the isolated DNA was from individual we named Božek. He is indubitably the dominant male in the area. Otters from Goričko are also communicating across borders, especially to Hungary. Cross border streams are important corridor for otters migrating to Goričko area from bigger rivers as Mura and Ledava. We also know, there is still a lot that we don’t know. To know otters on Goričko and in Slovenia, plenty more of research work is needed. When we were establishing ecoremediations on streams we took nature as an example and we learned from it. From wicker works that we used for strengthening stream banks, young willows are already growing: on stream banks alder trees took roots, young fishes colonized stream pools, ponds are full of toads and frogs and different species of dragonflies are flying over renovated stream. The newly built shelves under the bridges were market by otters without delay. It is also very important, that the team of workers from Municipality Gornji Petrovci that carried out the mitigation measures learned how to restore the streams with natural techniques. They shared their knowledge with other public workers on the whole area of Goričko Landscape Park. At the end of the project they are enthusiastic about new challenges and missions. Their comprehension about lakes and stream is different now. Otters have also discovered new ponds with fishes but the owners are not very happy about that. In agreement with two fishpond owners in Križevci, we have set up an electric fence that keeps fish safe from otters. The biggest pond is still unprotected, so otters can still find enough food. The ponds with fences are located near the biggest chestnut tree in Slovenija, which grows on Tetanji breg in Križevci, and can be visited by all interested in pond protection. The publication “Otter in the pond” is a helpful instrument for fishpond owners, helping them in fishpond protection. In the end of the project, we compared results of different monitoring methods, used in this project. Now we have new, quite entangled task: preparation of expert guidelines for otter population management at Natura 2000 site Goričko and in trilateral Landscape Park Örség – Raab – Goričko.

5 - Kaj se je za vselej spremenilo Projekt je sklenila slovesna otvoritev centra AQUALUTRA, na kateri smo občino Gornji Petrovci razglasili za vidri prijazno občino. Vidrin center z informativnimi, izobraževalnimi in ozaveščevalnimi dejavnostmi bo z najsodobnejšimi metodami interpretacije narave posredoval rezultate projekta različnim ciljnim skupinam javnosti in prenašal strokovna spoznanja v resnično življenje. Samotna dolina Male Krke bo odslej tudi učilnica v naravi, kjer bodo obiskovalci spoznavali naravne vrednote območja Natura 2000 na Goričkem in skrivnosti vidrinega življenja. Verjamemo, da se bodo radi vračali. Čeprav zemlja na gričevnatem svetu Goričkega ni posebno plodna, je kmetijstvo prevladujoča dejavnost prebivalstva; ekstenzivno poljedelstvo je razširjeno po dnu širših dolin, pobočja pa prekrivajo tradicionalni vinogradi in sadovnjaki. Na osrednjem in vzhodnem Goričkem je odseljevanje populacije še vsakdanjost, posledica pa je vse več zapuščenih kmečkih posesti in zaraščanje obdelovalnih površin z gozdom. Mladi, izobraženi ljudje se odseljujejo, na majhnih kmetijah ostajajo ostareli kmetje, ki vse teže obdelujejo zemljo. Opuščene tradicionalne kmetije v zadnjem času postajajo tržno zanimive, toda zvečine le za prekupčevalce, ki jih prodajajo tujcem za počitniške posesti. Tako nastaja le malo novih delovnih mest in le malokdo vidi razvoj Goričkega kot obetavno priložnost za ohranjanje narave in zmeren sonaravni turizem. Projekt LIFE-NATURA za ohranjanje vidre je že ponudil priložnost za zaposlitev dvema diplomiranima biologoma iz vzhodne slovenske regije in tako rešil vsaj en problem brezposelnosti. Center AQUALUTRA, ki je nastal v okviru projekta, bo potreboval vsaj eno novo delovno mesto; če bo uspešno razvil svoje potenciale in osvojil prosto tržno nišo na področju izobraževanja, ozaveščanja in razvoja sonaravnega turizma, bo potrebnih še več. Projekt AQUALUTRA ni prinesel sprememb le ohranjanju vidre. Ekonomsko najbolj podhranjeni regiji v Sloveniji, ki pa se ponaša s številnimi naravnimi vrednotami, prinaša nove razvojne priložnosti. V sodelovanju s potencialnimi lokalnimi ponudniki gostinskih in prenočitvenih zmogljivosti (turistične kmetije in manjše gostilne) bomo skušali razširiti turistične zmogljivosti do znosne meje trajnostnega turizma, obogatiti ponudbo za domače in tuje obiskovalce in jih čim dlje zadržati na Goričkem. Novi načrti bodo zahtevali tudi nove delovne moči različnih izobrazbenih profilov, od strokovnjakov naravoslovnih znanosti in visoko izobraženih turističnih delavcev do različnih samozaposlitvenih programov na izletniških kmetijah, izdelovanja tradicionalnih domačih izdelkov in prodaje domačih pridelkov z blagovno znamko »AQUALUTRA« - pridelano v deželi vider. Poslovni načrt je pripravljen, potrebna je le skupna volja za uresničitev samo navidezno nedosegljivih želja.

5 – What has changed forever Project was closed by a festive opening of the centre AQUALUTRA where the municipality Gornji Petrovci was pronounced as an otter friendly municipality. Otter centre will with its informative, educational and public awareness raising activities present project results to different target groups with modern methods of nature interpretation and will transcsend expert cognition to real life. Although Goričko land full of hills is not especially fertile farming is still the main activity of local inhabitants. Extensive agriculture expands in broader valleys and slopes are covered with traditional vineyards and orchards. In central and eastern Goričko migration of population is still everyday occurrence so more and more rural estates are abandoned and overgrown by forests. Young, educated people are moving away and elderly are left to cultivate the land. Abandoned traditional farms are nowadays becoming interesting for the real estate market and are later sold to foreigners as a vacation houses. The result is less and less working places for local people and hardly anyone can see development of Goričko as promising opportunity for nature conservation and sustainable tourism. LIFE-NATURA project for conservation of Eurasian otter has already offered an employment opportunity to two biologists from eastern Slovenian region and thus solved at least one unemployment problem. AQUALUTRA centre raised during the project will need at least one more employee. If the potentials of the centre will be successfully developed and an appropriate market niche in the area of education, public awareness raising and development of sustainable tourism found, more will be needed. AQUALUTRA project did not change only the otter conservation. It also brings new developmental opportunities for an economically the most undernourished region of Slovenia that prides itself upon its numerous natural resources. In collaboration with potential local alimentary and lodging capacity (tourist farms and smaller restaurants) we will try to expand tourist capacities inside the frames of sustainable tourism and retain visitors in Goričko as long as possible. New plans will require new working power of different educational profile, from nature scientists and highly educated tourist workers to different self-employment programmes at touristic farms and manufacturing of traditional local products under a trademark »AQUALUTRA« - produced in otter province. A business plan is prepared and only collective will is needed to realize seemingly unachievable desires.

6 - Prispevek k ohranjanju narave in Naturi 2000 Projekt je bil naravnan k izboljšanju strokovnega in splošnega védenja o populaciji vidre, njeni razširjenosti na Goričkem in komunikaciji prek meja Slovenije, veliko pa smo izvedeli tudi o vzrokih ogroženosti. Poleg konkretnih varstvenih ciljev na območju, ki je del evropskega ekološkega omrežja Natura 2000, je imel projekt predvsem informativno-ozaveščevalno poslanstvo, ki ga je uresničil z različnimi publikacijami, prispevki, srečanji in delavnicami. V vsaki partnerski občini na Goričkem smo na podlagi analiz vode, vidrinega habitata in drugih dejavnikov izbrali kritično mesto in ga »popravili« s sonaravno ureditvijo (ekoremediacijo). Renaturacija vodotoka sredi vasi na eni strani prispeva k obnovi vidrinega habitata, na drugi pa k ozaveščanju lokalnega prebivalstva in obiskovalcev krajinskega parka Goričko. Delovna ekipa na terenu je bila praviloma lokalna, za izvajalce smo pripravili tudi posebno izobraževalno delavnico. Prav zato smo lokacije na vodotokih izbrali na vidnih in dostopnih mestih. Vidra je po javnomnenjski raziskavi Srednje ekonomske šole iz Murske Sobote (2006) najbolj prepoznavna vrsta s seznama Natura 2000 v Prekmurju. Podobno smo ugotovili tudi v raziskavi v okviru projekta LIFE. Ko njeno vlogo v sladkovodnem ekosistemu povežemo s skrbjo za čiste vode, pod vidrino krovno znamko prepletemo dva pomembna evropska varstvena dokumenta: Habitatno smernico, ki zapoveduje ohranjanje vrst in njihovih habitatov, in Okvirno vodno smernico, ki zahteva dobro stanje vseh voda do leta 2015. Najvidnejši dosežek projekta, Center AQUALUTRA, nadaljuje poslanstvo projekta tudi po končanem projektu. Po vnaprejšnjih dogovorih bo sprejemal skupine obiskovalcev, prirejal predavanja in vodene obiske vidrinih poti ter posebej opazovanj vidre v naravi. Njegova dejavnost se dobro ujema s cilji Krajinskega parka Goričko in splošnimi cilji varstva narave; ponujala bo tudi priložnost osnovnim in srednjim šolam za izvedbo tematskega naravoslovnega dneva, fakultetam in študentskim organizacijam pa izvedbo terenskih vaj in strokovnih ekskurzij. Ker smo pri gradnji centra uporabili okolju najmanj škodljive in čim bolj naravne materiale z najboljšimi izolacijskimi lastnostmi (les, slama, ilovica), bo center ob izpolnjevanju vzgojno-izobraževalnih nalog za organizirane skupine obiskovalcev in podpori raziskovalnim nalogam hkrati demonstriral varčno rabo energije in razumno ravnanje z vodo (deževnica za sanitarno vodo, rastlinska čistilna naprava za čiščenje odpadnih vod). Tako bodo obiskovalci dobili tudi lekcijo iz trajnostnega ravnanja z naravnimi viri in odgovornega odnosa do narave, od katere smo vsi odvisni. Za finančno in organizacijsko podporo delovanja centra bo skrbela fundacija AQUALUTRA, ki jo ustanavljamo v sodelovanju s partnerji projekta in strateškimi partnerji iz lokalnega gospodarstva. Poslovni načrt zanjo je pripravila skupina študentov Ekonomske fakultete iz Ljubljane pod mentorstvom prof. dr. Bogomirja Kovača.

6. Contribution to nature conservation and Natura 2000 The project was set to improve expert and common knowledge about otter population on Goričko. We also have learned a great deal about threats to otters. The main goal of the project was, beside concrete protection actions, was information and public awareness rising. .We accomplished that through different publications, articles, meetings and workshops. Based on results of water quality, otter habitat and other environmental factors we have choose one critical section of a stream in every partner Municipality on Goričko. This section was renaturated. Renaturation of the stream in the middle of the village is not only a contribution to improvement of otter habitat. It is very important for awareness rising of local public and visitors. This is why we tried to select parts of streams that are visible and easy to access. We have also prepared a special workshop for the team of workers that was built out of local inhabitants. According to human dimension public research (Secondary Scholl of Economy in Murska Sobota), an otter is the most recognizable species from Natura 2000 list of all species in Pomurje. The results of Human dimension public research carried out in this Life project are very similar. As an umbrella species in freshwater ecosystems it connects to care for fresh waters and links to two most important European documents of protection. First one is Habitat directive, directing to conservation of species and their habitats and the other one is Water directive, directing to good condition of all waters till the year 2015. The project mission will be continued by the most visible result of the project, Otter Visiting Centre Aqualutra. The groups of visitors will be accepted on further notice, lectures will be organized, guidance for the educational path will be available and also otter watching in nature will be possible. Centre activities fall well with aims of Goričko Landscape Park as well as with aims of nature conservation. The Centre will also be available to primary, secondary schools an faculties for implementation of education an expert excursions. For centre building we used materials least harmful to environment and as natural as possible with best isolation properties (wood, straw, clay). Because of that centre will demonstrate sustainable use of energy and reasonable use of water (rainwater for sanitary water, constructed wetland for purification of waste waters) That way the visitors will get lessons on sustainable operation with natural resources and responsible relation to nature from which we all depend. Foundation AQUALUTRA that is in process of establishment with project partners and partners from local administration will take care for financial and organizational support of centre. Plan for centre was made by group of students from Faculty of Economics Ljubljana under mentorship prof. dr. Bogomir Kovač.

7 - Kaj nam sporoča povodni mož Vidra je nadvse uspešna živalska vrsta, ko jo presojamo z merili evolucije. Preživela je tisočletni masaker in kljubovala različnim lovnim iznajdbam. Kljub prepričanju, ki je vladalo v začetni evforiji evropskih naravovarstvenih prizadevanj, da v reguliranih in osiromašenih vodotokih ne preživi, se je izkazala za mnogo bolj prilagodljivo. Toda vloga vrhunskega plenilca ji v bližini človeške civilizacije prinaša nove nevarnosti v obliki obremenitev voda z različnimi strupenimi, nerazgradljivimi, kancerogenimi in drugače škodljivimi snovmi, ki se kopičijo po prehranskem spletu navzgor. Volk lisico, lisica mačko, mačka miško, miš pšeničko…Vidra je nemalokrat zadnja. V njenih organih pa koncentracija škodljivih snovi lahko povzroči trajne spremembe, zastrupitve, neplodnost… Od vrhunskega plenilca do človeka ni daleč. V Evropi se vidra vrača. Spremljanja njenih populacij v različnih državah kažejo, da naseljuje nekdanje habitate hitreje, kot smo pričakovali, če le poskrbimo za izboljšanje razmer v vodnem okolju. Vrača se s prikupnim obrazom karizmatične evropske vrste in nam pripoveduje zgodbo o ohranjenih rekah, o čistih potokih, v katerih žive zdrave ribe, žabe, raki, školjke in kačji pastirji. Pripoveduje zgodbo o evropskem ekološkem omrežju Natura 2000, s katerim si kupujemo odpustke za pretekle grehe, o dobrem stanju voda, ki smo ga že kdaj zapravili in ga moramo po evropski okvirni vodni smernici obnoviti do leta 2015. Bomo končno prisluhnili povodnemu možu?

7 What message does water sprite carry? Otter is exceedingly successful animal species that if we estimate it with measures of evolution. It has survived thousand years massacre and has confronted different hunting inventions. Despite conviction that prevailed in the beginnings of European natural conservation efforts that otter doesn’t survive in regulated and impoverished streams, it proved much more adaptable. But the role of top predator in vicinity of human civilization brings new dangers to otter in form of loaded waters with different toxic, undegradable, carcinogen and other harmful substances that are accumulating in the food chain. Otter is usually last in that food chain and concentrated harmful substances in otter’s organs can cause durable changes, poisonings, infertility…It is not far away from top predator to man. In Europe, otter is returning. Monitoring of its populations in different states shows that it is recovering faster than we expected especially if we take care of water environment conditions. It is returning with attractive face of charismatic European species and is telling us story about conservation of rivers, pure streams where healthy fish, frogs, crayfish, shells and dragonflies live. Telling us story about European network Natura 2000, with which we are buying indulgences for the past sins, about good state of waters that we sometimes already have wasted and, according to water directive, have to restore them till 2015. Will we finally hearken to water sprite?