The Pond turtle is the only indigenous freshwater turtle in Slovenia. In accordance with the Council Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, the area of the Sečovlje salt pans with the St. Jernej Channel has been designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for the marsh frog since 2004.
The implementation of the Habitats Directive requires regular monitoring and the provision of data on the presence and population dynamics of the target species. The presence of the marsh tortoise in the Sečovlje salt pans had already been confirmed prior to 1996, but the data on the number of individuals observed were only based on random observations. The first small-scale survey of the marsh tortoise was conducted in 2009 and regular monitoring of this qualified species has been ongoing since 2018.
The main objective is to monitor the status of the species in the area. The area of the Sečovlje salt pans and the Dragonja estuary has been declared a Natura 2000 site for the protected marsh tortoise, which means that it is important for the conservation of the favourable status of the species. Of the two subspecies described in Slovenia, the subspecies E. o. hellenica is present in the park. This is a subspecies of marsh harrier that has been genetically confirmed in Slovenia since 2015 and, unlike E. o. orbicularis, is associated with a Mediterranean climate.
According to the monitoring results, the Sečovlje salt pans and the Dragonja river valley are one of the most important habitats for the Marsh Tortoise in both Slovenian Istria and Slovenia.
The breeding success of the marsh tortoise in this part of the park is considered high, and the moat is one of the key habitats for the survival of juveniles. The preservation of reed-covered banks and other natural stands of riparian vegetation is therefore essential to prevent disturbance and access by predators. Many fewer juveniles were caught at Rudnik. As in previous years, the discovery of stolen nests in this part of the park once again confirmed the high predation pressure. To ensure the long-term reproduction of the marsh harrier, an artificial nesting site was created in the Rudnik area.
In addition to predation pressure, the presence of non-native turtle species was confirmed.
According to the results of monitoring in the period 2018-2021, the Sečovlje salt pans and the Dragonja river valley are one of the most important habitats for the marsh tortoise in Slovenian Istria and elsewhere in Slovenia.
*In the Sečovlje salt pans it is considered a qualified species in favourable conservation status.