SLOVENIA

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Alpine mountains, the Adriatic and a solid waste problem 

Slovenia’s is a meeting-point of both Central European and Mediterranean natural features. Alpine mountains, the Po Valley and the Adriatic Sea, all contribute to exceptional biological and landscape diversity, which is also very sensitive to human interference.

While a concerted effort to use cleaner fuels has resulted in reductions in air and water pollution, Slovenia still needs to do much more in the areas of groundwater protection and management of urban and industrial waste.

According to expert estimates, Slovenia boasts an above-average biological diversity. The habitats include forest, underground and aquatic ecosystems, wetlands, sea, alpine and mountain areas and dry grasslands. Slovenia is rich in non-living natural elements, such as minerals and fossils, and geo-morphological and hydrological phenomena, which form a wealth of natural resources like gorges, caves and waterfalls. The attractive natural features draw tourism, which often means encroachment in the most vulnerable areas, and poses a threat to the very habitats that attract visitors to begin with.

But the most severe impacts on the environment of Slovenia are not those perpetrated by nature enthusiasts.

Industry is a major polluter, and the problem has been addressed with a certain amount of success – at least in the area of reducing air pollution. Improvements in air quality have been achieved through a transition to the use of more environment-friendly fuels and heating systems and desulfurisation projects in thermal power plants. Any effort at producing clean energy will register as a positive impact on sulfur emissions because the electricity sector contributes to 81 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions.

As for nitrogen oxides, 66 percent of those emissions are caused by traffic – a problem which is not abating. Motor traffic is the main source of emissions of lead and volatile organic compounds, which may contribute to production of photochemical oxidants, and traffic is increasing in the country.

Another problem that has not been effectively addressed is the need for better waste management, which probably receives poorer attention than any other environmental protection issue in Slovenia. The disposal of waste at municipal dumps is practically the only means of handling urban and industrial waste. These dumps are often inappropriately located and technically inadequate, because they lack sealing, gas drainage or are close to groundwater sources or prone to flooding. On top of this, they are mostly full. Aside from these dumps, there are between 50,000 and 60,000 illegal waste dumps in Slovenia.

Solid waste is only part of the problem, management of wastewater also needs improvement. Although wastewater generated by 75 percent of the population is treated in some way, and the drinking water supply is organised through public service for 80 percent of the population, a significant portion of industry still discharges wastewater into watercourses without any prior treatment.

The majority of surface watercourses in Slovenia are excessively polluted, and 29 percent of these fall into the third and fourth water quality class. The quality of groundwater has been deteriorating recently, and pollution is spreading to river sources. Agriculture is responsible for the bulk of pollution of groundwater caused by nitrates, phosphates and pesticides and by organic substances and ammonia compounds from livestock farms.

Agriculture also puts pressure on the soil and forests. Arable land covers approximately 32 percent of Slovenia’s territory, and forests more than 50 percent. Intensive agricultural production and industrialisation, as well as dense traffic and urbanisation, have caused substantial damage to fertile soil and forests since World War II, and especially in the last 20 years. There has been a decline in soil productivity, which is stepped up by the pollution of the air and surface waters.

The level of damage to Slovene forests due to air pollution, especially from sulfur dioxide and acidification, is quite high, particularly in the case of conifers. Natural accidents also threaten forests and further increase the level of damage. A significant risk, especially in the karst region, arises from forest fires. The abundance of specific herbivorous animal species exceeds the natural capacity of forests. The damage caused to trees by bark beetles in dry and warmer years is huge. Forests are also threatened by various diseases. The inappropriate exploitation of forests and reduced investment in the forest restoration and management have a detrimental effect.