Landscape plan of Lake Cerknica area

What does Cerknica lake have to offer to its visitors? What kind of (touristic) development is desirable? Which areas are to be strictly protected? Main goal of the project is a landscape plan of Lake Cerknica area that will prevent uncontrollable development and define potentials to be developed in a way that nature experience will stay exceptional.

The project offers a landscape design on the basis of conservation regimes restrictions and spatial analyses. It provides a starting point for defining priority areas of development and conservation. It is crucial to start on the strategic level and define zones with guidelines - especially considering human impacts on the protected area. Core zone of nature protection are nature reserves where no infrastructure is predicted. Nevertheless, viewpoints from where observing reserves is possible and with which curiosity driven movement is satisfied are planned. A proposal for a zone where touristic infrastructure could be developed and which does not present a threat on protected species and habitats is given. The development is based on the infrastructure design for the existing leisure activities with the intention of developing nature tourism and recreation. The emphasis is put on a reserved approach towards the instalment of physical elements into the area and submitting to natural processes. Regarding the fact that extraordinary landscape and biodiversity are the main attractions and reasons for visiting, it should be conserved that way. The only suitable are subtle interventions that ensure orientation, where to go and where it is not desirable to go, and that are not aesthetically obtrusive. Coordinating development and conservation with interpretative trails, guiding and awareness rising are recognized as tools that could contribute to the management of the area. Interpretation serves as one of the tools, on the basis of which the outline planning scheme of the interpretative path is formed. The visitors are guided through the area by marked points where the potential for nature experience and education has been recognized. The path not only provides a presentation of the area and a guided visit but also contributes to the management through education that impacts the behaviour of the visitors. I strongly believe that in this way the precious landscape of living and non-living nature and the experience it gives will be preserved. And this is something worth fighting for.