UNESCO recognizes Transboundary Julian Alps Biosphere Reserve

(ANSA) - UDINE, 08 LUG - The Julian Alps Italian Biosphere Reserve, located in Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the Julian Alps Slovenian Biosphere Reserve, located in the neighboring Republic of Slovenia, have been officially recognized by UNESCO as the "Julian Alps Transboundary Biosphere Reserve." This recognition, obtained recently in Agadir, Morocco, celebrates the Julian Alps "as a unique mountain range characterized by a high degree of naturalness and inhabited by populations eager to preserve and promote their identity. " "A significant milestone for our Julian Prealps Nature Park and the Triglav National Park," commented Stefano Santi, director of the Friulian Park, "which are the coordinators of their respective national biosphere reserves. It is the result of a fruitful and long-standing collaboration and friendship." UNESCO has 748 Biosphere Reserves worldwide, of which only 23 are transboundary. The Julian Alps were already recognized as separate Biosphere Reserves in Slovenia in 2003 and Italy in 2019. Today, this artificial division is overcome with the recognition of the new Julian Alps Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, encompassing 277,000 hectares.
    The director of the Triglav National Park, Tit Potočnik, and the president of the Julian Prealps Nature Park, Annalisa Di Lenardo, also emphasized how this recognition is the result of a strong bond of friendship between the communities of the Julian Alps and can provide an opportunity to address future challenges affecting the two territories jointly.
    Meanwhile, the Julian Prealps Regional Nature Park and the Triglav National Park continue collaborating within the Julian Alps Transboundary Ecoregion. This summer, the synergy will be celebrated with the images from the "Magical Nature" exhibition, which will be inaugurated on July 12 in Prato di Resia at the Park's Visitor Center and remain open until August 18. The exhibition features photos from an international competition organized by the Slovenian National Institute of Biology as part of the European project "Life Naturaviva. Biodiversity art of life." (ANSA).