Invitation to the ECO KARST Kick-off Meeting

Dear Madam/Sir,

We are happy to announce that all conditions have been fulfilled for starting up the ECO KARST project.  

The main objective of the ECO KARST project is to contribute to the protection and sustainable development of karst bio-regions in the Danube basin based on their valued ecosystem services. ECO KARST addresses 7 protected karst areas in 7 different countries and involves partners from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia (lead partner) and Romania. The project started on January 1st 2017 and will be concluded on June 30th 2019.

Result will be improved management and sustainable development of karst bio-regions driven by raised awareness about ecosystem services and increased number of committed pro-biodiversity business (PBB) entrepreneurs.

Objective of the kick-off meeting is to present the ECO KARST project and other related EU funded projects to major stakeholders and general public and to set conditions to start the project activities. It will take place on:

Thursday, 9 March 2017 at M Hotel, Derčeva ulica 4, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Agenda

12.30               Registration

13.00               Opening Speech – Damjan Oražem – Director, Slovenia Forest Service

13.10               Interreg Danube Transnational Programme – Gusztáv Csomor, DTP

13.30               Eco Karst - Ecosystem services of karst protected areas – driving force of local sustainable development – Aleksander Golob, Slovenia Forest Service

13.45               AlpES - Alpine Ecosystem Services – mapping, maintenance and management – Tadej Kogovšek, Suzana Vurunić, Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation

14.00               Star Tree - Multipurpose trees and non-wood forest products: a challenge and opportunity, Anže Japelj, Slovenian Forestry Institute

14.15               Mapping and assessment of forest functions in Slovenia – Dragan Matijašić, Rok Pisek, Slovenia Forest Service

14.30               DiscussionLooking forward to seeing you at the meeting.Respectfully,

Aleksander Golob

ECO KARST project manager