» Kras Geopark in the Project KRAS-CARSO«Martina Stupar, B.Sc.Geology Nature conservation consultant Geoconference»Emerging new geoparks in Europe sharing knowledge & good examples«mežica, 21. November 2012
Historical point of view of the Kart region for speleology Karst constitutes one of the world s great landscape types, where special type of surface and of special phenomena occur. Karst is exceptional important for the history of geological, geomorphological, biological (biospeleological) and karstological research. - where the first scientific research of a karst topography was made. - The name has Paleoeuropean origin (karra, meaning stone)
Preliminary study for the establishment of the Karst Geopark 1. Geology 2. Geomorphology and speleology 3. Biodiversity 4. Protected areas 5. Culture heritage dr.bogdan Jurkovšek dr.tea Kolar- Jurkovšek dr.ladislav Placer dr.bojan Otoničar Eda Belingar
Geological review
1. Geology External Dinarides; Mesozoic carbonate platform, named Adriatic-Dinaric carbonate platform, Lithostratigraphy; massive or beded limestone; devided in formations (named by local villages and cities; Brje formation, Komen, Sežana, ) and Alveolinid- nummulotid limestone, ended with Flysh sediments Geological features ; - geological sections; (K/Tc) Dolenja vas, scientific importance -fossils; outcrops of Tomaj limestone; vertibrates, plants, Kozina; Upper Cretaceous dinosaur locality in paleokarst cave -quarries of limestone; Doline, Lipica, Kazlje, - abandoned coal mines with fossils (Stomatopsis)
Tectonics; - geological section of Raša fault in Senožeče, Divača fault near Povir - Geomorphological features directly linked with tectonics; Brestovica dol, Karst edge, cave systems (Škocjan caves), and underground Reka river, systems of dolines on surface,.. - Geology, soil and ethnology (terra rossa, Teran vine, typical karst landscape, land use, karst rock walls dry walls (suhi zid)) Evaluation /assessment for geoturism regarding the potencial risk of endangered, preservation, accessibility and other criteria; 11 geological and 9 tectonical features were suggested for geoturism
2. Geomorphology and speleology Karst plateau 200 to 500 m height above sea level, cca 440 km2 Karst formations - features on the surface, karren, sinkholes, dolines, collapse dolines, blind valleies, remains of old caves which have appeared due to the lowering of karst relief roofless caves, - subterranian features, caves, cave systems, shafts, underground river s chanells, cave flowstone, cave fauna. - paleokarst (upper cretatious emersion ) Evaluation /assessment for geoturism regarding the potencial risk of endangered, preservation, accessibility and other criteria. 25 karst features were suggested ( + tourist caves; Škocjanske jame, Vilenica, Divaška jama)
In the Cave cadastre are listed 10.419 caves (Karst Research Institute, March 2012)
3. Biodiversity Geographical, geological, climate conditions hundreds of years of land use and human impact result habitat diversity and extremely rich flora and fauna. - large number of rare, endanegered and endemic species - hot spot of biodiversity - cave favna; beetles, vertibrates (Proteus), locus typicus for new genera. Rare habitats are protected with Natura 2000 direktive.
Natura 2000 protected habitats of Leptodirus hochenwarti, Proteus anguinus, and other cave habitats
4. Protected areas Nature heritage areas; 83 of local importance 81 of national importance (+1052 caves) 72 natural monuments The Landscape park Glinščica The Regional Park Škocjanske Jame also put on the UNESCO's world heritage list in 1986.
5. Cultural heritage - cultural landscape; - architectural heritage, Štanjel - sacral heritage, churches - water supply facilities, vilage fountains, water ponds, ice pit (ledenica) - Castles, - arheological heritage, in caves Mala Triglavca, Tominčeva jama, Mušja jam -..is enlisted in Register of immovable cultural heritage of RS
6. Conclusions 1.The area has clearly defined boundaries and it has sufficient surface area for true territorial economic development, based on geological and speleological heritage as well as cultural, archaeological, historical and ethnological interest. 2. The area comprise over ten of numbers of geological sites of international or national importance in terms of their scientific quality, rarity, aesthetic appeal or educational value. 3. Geological heritage is represented through the sinergy of geodiversity, biodiversity and culture as well as due to untengible heritage of this geografic defined area,.
Kras Geopark Karst Geopark proposed area includes the municipalities Miren Kostanjevica, Komen, Sežana, Divača in Hrpelje Kozina and corresponds to the basic expert criteria to become a Geopark.
Thank you!