Pomen obalnih mokrišč za prebivalce slovenske Istre // The importance of coastal wetlands for the people of Slovene Istria

Abstract

Prispevek predstavlja rezultate raziskave, opravljene v letu 2012, v treh zavarovanih mokriščih na slovenski obali (Naravni rezervat Škocjanski zatok, Krajinski park Strunjan in Krajinski park Sečoveljske soline), z namenom ugotoviti, ali so zavarovana območja pomembna kot območja dnevne rekreacije in preživljanja prostega časa za prebivalce obalnih občin ter, ali prispevajo k boljši kakovosti bivalnega okolja. Temeljni nameni vseh treh območij zavarovane narave so: varovanje obstoječega stanja pred uničujočimi posegi, ohranitev ekosistemov in biotske raznovrstnosti. V obdobju intenzivne urbanizacije slovenske obale pa so postala še pomembnejša, ker so to »naravna« okolja v neposredni bližini gosto poseljenih mest Kopra, Izole in Pirana. Raziskava, ki je temeljila na anketiranju obiskovalcev (n = 275) zavarovanih obalnih mokrišč, je potrdila predvidevanja, da z ohranjanjem naravnih ekosistemov obalnih mokrišč, nekdaj opuščena in tudi degradirana območja pridobivajo nove funkcije in pomen. Po mnenju vprašanih nudijo mokrišča dobre pogoje za sprostitev in rekreacijo ter prispevajo h kakovosti njihovega bivalnega okolja. Pogosto naveden vzrok za njihovo obiskovanje je tudi opazovanje narave in sprememb v okolju, kar kaže na vse pomembnejšo izobraževalno vlogo.

The paper presents the results of a survey conducted in 2012 in three protected wetlands on the Slovene coast (Škocjanski Zatok Nature Reserve, Strunjan Landscape Park and Sečovlje Saltpans Landscape Park) in order to determine whether these protected areas play an important role as daily recreation and leisure time areas for the residents of the coastal municipalities, and whether they increase the overall quality of the living environment. The main purposes of all three natural protected areas are to protect the present status against possible devastating human impacts, and to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity. With the intensive urbanization of the Slovene coast, these areas have become even more important because they represent "natural" environments in the close vicinity of the densely populated towns of Koper, Izola and Piran. The study, which was based on a survey among visitors (n = 275) of the protected coastal wetlands, confirmed our presumption that with the conservation of the natural ecosystems of coastal wetlands, formerly abandoned and degraded areas have gained new functions and significance. According to the respondents, these wetlands provide good conditions for relaxation and recreation and further contribute to the quality of their living environment. Often the reason for visiting is also the observation of nature and environmental changes, which indicates the increasing importance of the educational role of these wetlands.