In March 2023, DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia made an investment called "Deepening of Secondary Channels and Habitat Accommodation in the Brackish Lagoon of the Stagnon Valley Nature Reserve" with the aim of reducing the impact of climate change on wetlands and, consequently, the threats posed by climate change to protected habitats and species in the Stagnon Valley.
Research on the impact of climate change on wetlands has shown exponential growth in the vulnerability of habitats in the brackish part of the reserve. This means that by 2060, Natura 2000 habitats could be significantly reduced or even be at risk of extinction without intervention. This would also have a negative impact on the fauna dependent on these habitats. To mitigate these effects, it is crucial to create sufficient space for targeted habitat types such as halophilic plants, which is possible through the construction of new mudflat islands or elevation of existing ones. This was also the main objective of the investment made under the POSEIDONE project.
As part of the POSEIDONE project, three muddy islets were designed and enhanced in the brackish lagoon of the Stagnon Valley Nature Reserve, with a total area of 11,609.13 m2, requiring the excavation of 3,307.50 m3 of lagoon sediments. The muddy islets were designed at different heights, with the aim of encouraging spontaneous development of the targeted Natura 2000 habitat types, taking into account the successional process. The material for the creation of the islets was obtained through the deepening of secondary channels (mosaics) within the brackish lagoon, also improving water circulation within the lagoon in the long run and helping to mitigate the risk of eutrophication of the lagoon.
