Established in 2002, the Notranjska Park protects outstanding natural and cultural heritage – from Lake Cerknica and Rakov Škocjan to underground caves, meadows, forests, and rare habitats. Although public awareness about the importance of nature conservation is growing, harmful actions still occur on the ground: driving motor vehicles through nature, illegal dumping, disturbing wildlife, picking protected plants...
Nature conservation supervision in the park has been strengthened through the LIFE TRSCA project, which aims to improve the condition of wetlands and waterbird populations at Lake Cerknica. One of the key goals of the project is to ensure more effective protection of natural values and species. Rangers therefore play a vital role in achieving this goal.
According to the Nature Conservation Act (ZON), direct supervision is carried out by trained rangers operating within the management bodies of protected areas – including the Notranjska Regional Park. Rangers have official badges, ID cards, and uniforms, and are authorized by the ministry. They can check the identity of offenders, document violations, impose on-the-spot fines, or notify the inspection services or police.
However, their role is not only supervisory – an important part of their work is also to educate, advise, and guide visitors toward nature-friendly behavior.
Rangers regularly patrol different areas of the park. They primarily monitor:
- off-road driving,
- boating on Lake Cerknica and Rakov Škocjan (especially during bird nesting season),
- spread of invasive alien plant species,
- burning and dumping of waste in nature,
- illegal filming and commercial photography without a permit,
- drone use (prohibited below 100 m altitude),
- use of metal detectors to search for archaeological artifacts without a permit,
- wild camping, poaching of protected animal species, interventions in water bodies and wetlands,
- picking of protected plants and fungi,
- uncontrolled dog walking.
All these activities can have a direct impact on nature, particularly on the sensitive wetland ecosystems that LIFE TRSCA actively protects and restores.
Rangers are professionally trained through programs of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning. Currently, the Notranjska Regional Park employs three official rangers and five volunteer rangers, who contribute significantly to nature protection, although they are not authorized to take enforcement actions.
Supervision is conducted in cooperation with various other services – the police, municipal wardens, forest inspectors, environmental inspectors, as well as fishing and hunting wardens. Coordination, information exchange, and quick response are key to preventing harmful actions in nature.
Rangers in the Notranjska Regional Park are not “enforcers,” but rather a bridge between people and nature. Their presence enhances respect for nature, clarifies the rules, helps visitors understand the importance of environmental protection, and acts in case of violations.
If you witness inappropriate or harmful behavior in nature, please report it to us at +386 1 709 06 36 or info@notranjski-park.si.
Thank you for protecting nature together with us.
The implementation of extensive nature conservation projects exceeds the financial capacity of the local community, therefore Notranjska Park regularly applies for projects with the possibility of co-financing by the European Union.
The implementation of large-scale conservation projects exceeds the financial capabilities of the local community, therefore Notranjska Park regularly applies for projects with the possibility of co-financing from the European Union.
