OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESERVE KARST BIODIVERSITY AND IDENTITY

The Kras4us project is primarily addressing the challenges consistent with the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the EU climate change strategies, which place emphasis on active protection and conservation of a high level of biodiversity in the unique and highly threatened Karst region. The project will focus on species that are indicative of the conservation status of Karst habitats and biodiversity, such as the Italian Crested Newt Triturus carnifex, the False Ringlet Coenonympha oedippus, the Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, the Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, and the Feather Grass Stipa eriocaulis, in a changing landscape. Part of the project will also address green infrastructure conservation. Within the first work package (WP1), we will implement three pilot actions to support our green infrastructure objectives. Green infrastructure such as dry grasslands, ponds and dry stone walls will be highlighted not only in terms of their importance for biodiversity conservation, but also as an outstanding cultural heritage, the visibility of which is part of the Karst identity. In the second work package (WP2), we will examine the status of biodiversity in areas affected by fire and identify areas where the status of populations of indicator species is favourable, and assess the impact of different management practices after fires in the Karst. The methodology and results of the study will allow to establish a good baseline for future monitoring. In addition, monitoring of the selected indicator species will be carried out for the first time on lesser-known and monitored endangered species (three of the five species are even extremely poorly known: Short-toed Eagle, Nightjar and Feather Grass), which we want to make more visible in light of their charismatic and indicator role. The final strategic role of the Kras4us project will be complemented by pilot actions and studies in the third work package (WP3), which will test the potential for circular economies through the utilization of biomass from karst areas, including fire-affected sites, areas of overgrown grasslands, and wood from invasive alien species. Cross-border cooperation will allow sharing of common monitoring approaches and measures to protect similar transboundary habitats in the Karst. The definition and development of circular economies using biomass as energy will be applied for the first time in the transboundary area of the Karst. Communication will be carried out at three levels: the first is aimed at the partnership (where project partners will develop the project's tasks and strategy together with associated partners), the second is aimed at the professional public and sectoral operators, and the third is aimed at the general public, with the aim of enhancing knowledge and understanding of biodiversity in the wider transboundary area of the Karst. The overall goal of the Kras4us project is to conserve and restore biodiversity in the transboundary Kras region, through the implementation of cross-border pilot actions and activities related to monitoring the status of bioindicator and umbrella species. The project aims to develop new strategies to enable sustainable development in the area, which, on the one hand, will allow local users (especially primary operators such as agriculture and forestry) to use biomass as energy, and on the other hand will also allow the development and conservation of biodiversity, as the circular economy will be developed with knowledge and respect for nature conservation.