DINARIC & ALPINE FOREST

The central and southern part of Slovenia is dominated by Dinaric forests, named after the Dinaric mountains, a chain running from central Slovenia down through most of the Balkans as far as Albania, in a northwest-southeast direction. The Dinarides are not very high (around 800-1500 m) and most of the area is covered by forests. The predominant forest type is an association of Beech Fagus sylvatica, Silver Fir Abies alba and Norway Spruce Picea abies, known as Abieti-Fagetum Dinaricum. Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus is also a very common tree species. The most notable examples of Dinaric forests in Slovenia are found in the Snežnik and Javorniki mountain ranges, the forests in the Kočevje region and the Trnovo forest (Trnovski gozd). Remnants of primeval (virgin) forest are still to be found in Slovenia and some of the best examples are in the Dinaric forests (e.g. Kočevje and Snežnik forests).Alpine forests in Slovenia are quite similar to Dinaric forests, except they exibit a greater abundance of Norway Spruce Picea abies and Mountain Pine Pinus mugo. The upper treeline in the Alps is formed by Larches Larix decidua, a specie not found in the Dinarides

Famous & Charismatic Species

Brown Bear

Ursus arctos / Rjavi medved

Wolf

Canis lupus / Sivi volk

Eurasian Lynx

Lynx lynx / Ris

Golden Jackal

Canis aureus / Šakal

European Badger

Meles meles / Jazbec

Red Deer

Cervus elaphus / Navadni jelen

Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus / Srna

Wild Boar

Sus scrofa / Divja svinja

Fox

Vulpes vulpes / Lisica

Beech Marten

Martes foina / Kuna

Wildcat

Felis silvestris / Divja mačka

White-backed Woodpecker

Dendrocopos leucotos / Belohrbti detel

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Ficedula parva / Mali muhar

Three-toed Woodpecker

Picoides tridactylus / Triprsti detel

Ural Owl

Strix uralensis / Kozača

Edible Dormouse

Glis glis / Navadni polh

Tengmalm’s Owl

Aegolius funereus / Koconogi čuk

Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium passerinum / Mali skovik

Hazel Grouse

Bonasa bonasia / Gozdni jereb

Capercaillie

Tetrao urogallus / Divji petelin

Crested Tit

Lophophanes cristatus / Čopasta sinica

Coal Tit

Periparus ater / Menišček

Willow Tit

Poecile montanus / Gorska sinica

Treecreeper

Certhia familiaris / Dolgoprsti plezalček

Firecrest

Regulus ignicapillus / Rdečeglavi kraljiček

Goldcrest

Regulus regulus / Rumenoglavi kraljiček

Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra / Krivokljun

Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula / Kalin

Black Woodpecker

Dryocopus martius / Črna žolna

Grey-headed Woodpecker

Picus canus / Pivka

Nutcracker

Nucifraga caryocatactes / Krekovt

Alpine Salamander

Salamandra atra / Planinski močerad

Adder

Vipera berus / Navadni gad

Rosalia Longicorn

Rosalia alpina / Alpski kozliček

Beech Longhorn Beetle

Morimus funereus / Bukov kozliček

THERMOPHILOUS FOREST

This forest type is found on relatively warm and dry sites, where beech Fagus sylvatica is replaced by other thermophilous tree species such as: Downy Oak Quercus pubescens, Hop-hornbeam Ostria carpinifolia, Manna Ash Fraxinus ornus, Sessile Oak Quercus petraea and Turkey Oak Quercus cerris. In certain sunny locations in western Slovenia (and more commonly in nearby northeast Italy) there are also evergreen Holm Oak Quercus ilex forests, typical of the Mediterranean. The largest areas of thermophilous forests are found in the sub-Mediterranean part, that is mainly in western Slovenia. Such areas include a good proportion of the Classical Karst area, Istria and the Vipava valley. These forests are not as old and well preserved as those in the Dinarides, but are rather the result of human land use through centuries. Many forests are coppiced and/or grow on abandoned farming areas (agricultural terraces, meadows and pastures). Despite the fact that thermophilous forests are of secondary formation, they are important habitats for some rare and protected animal and plant species.

Famous & Charismatic Species

Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus / Kobilar

Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos / Slavec

Short-toed Treecreeper

Certhia brachydactyla / Kratkoprsti plezalček

Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes / Dlesk

Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis / Zelena žolna

Eurasian Jay

Garrulus glandarius / Šoja

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos minor / Mali detel

Tawny Owl

Strix aluco / Lesna sova

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos medius / Srednji detel

Rock Bunting

Emberiza cia / Skalni strnad

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus / Mala uharica

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus / Močvirska uharica

Barn Owl

Tyto alba / Pegasta sova

Eurasian Scops Owl

Otus scops / Veliki skovik

Eastern Hedgehog

Erinaceus concolor / Beloprsi jež

Little Owl

Athene noctua / Čuk

Stag Beetle

Lucanus cervus / Rogač

Great Capricorn Beetle

Cerambyx cerdo / Hrastov kozliček

Sardinian Warbler

Sylvia melanocephala / Črnoglavka

Subalpine Warbler

Sylvia cantillans / Taščična penica

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Iduna pallida / Rumena penica

Crested Tit

Lophophanes cristatus / Čopasta sinica

Coal Tit

Periparus ater / Menišček

Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra / Krivokljun

Red Squirrels

Sciurus vulgaris / Veverica

LOWLAND RIPARIAN FOREST

Lowland riparian forests can be found in the flood area of all major rivers of Slovenia, but are generally more widespread in the east. They are periodically flooded by nearby rivers (for example Sava, Krka, Mura, Drava) and support an interesting animal and plant community. The predominant tree species in these forests are Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur, Common Hornbeam Carpinus betulus, Common Alder Alnus glutinosa, European Ash Fraxinus excelsior and Narrow-leaved Ash Fraxinus angustifolia. Some of the most notable examples of riparian forest in Slovenia include Krakovski gozd, Dobrava and the forests along the river Mura.

Famous & Charismatic Species

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos medius / Srednji detel

Collared Flycatcher

Ficedula albicollis / Belovrati muhar

Black Stork

Ciconia nigra / Črna žolna

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla / Orel belorepec

Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes / Dlesk

Turtle Dove