Local population’s support for the implementation of nature protection measures in the Natura 2000 sites of the Mura riparian forest

Reka Mura je v svojem celotnem toku vključena v omrežje območij Natura 2000, a so hkrati predeli teh območij v neugodnem ohranitvenem stanju, kar je posledica preteklih hidromelioracijskih ukrepov, onesnaženja voda in krčenja gozdov za nove kmetijske površine. Z javnomnenjsko anketo med prebivalstvom desetih krajev v okolici pilotnih območij Gornje Bistrice in Murske šume (junij–julij 2015N = 303) smo želeli ugotoviti poznavanje različnih naravovarstvenih režimov, dojemanje omejitev za lastnike zemljišč, mnenje o pritiskih ljudi na poplavne gozdove ter podporo do štirih varstvenih ukrepov za izboljšanje ohranitvenega stanja gozdnih habitatnih tipov v obeh pilotnih območjih. Ugotovili smo relativno dobro poznavanje območij s posebnim režimom upravljanja, splošno strinjanje, da so omejitve v teh območjih pomembne, in da je večinsko prepričanje, da lastnikov zemljišč ne omejujejo precej oziroma zelo ter da poplavni gozdovi ob Muri niso izrazito niti izpostavljeni niti ne-izpostavljeni pritiskom družbe. Na podlagi podpore varstvenim ukrepom – (1) odstranjevanje tujerodnih invazivnih vrst(2) sajenje vrbe in jelše v habitatih vidre in bobra(3) osnovanje sestojev avtohtonih drevesnih vrst(4) povečevanje količine odmrle drevesne biomase v habitatih saproksilnih hroščev – je bilo anketirance mogoče razvrstiti v tri razrede z različnimi preferencami do izvajanja ukrepov. V vseh treh razredih so vprašani izrazili pozitivne preference do večje površine sestojev z avtohtonimi drevesnimi vrstami, v enem do odstranjevanja invazivnih vrst in v enem do vzpostavitve stabilnega stanja populacije saproksilnih hroščev. V dveh razredih so izrazili negativne preference do povečevanja populacije bobra in vidre in hkrati do odstranjevanja invazivnih vrst. Presenetljiva je predvsem ugotovitev, da so bili anketirani bolj naklonjeni stabilizaciji populacij saproksilnih hroščev kot povečevanju populacij bobra in vidre, kar si razlagamo tudi tako, da lahko bober in vidra človeku povzročata škodo (vidra z lovljenjem rib, bober s škodo na kmetijskih pridelkih in na drevju).The Mura River is incorporated in the Natura 2000 areas network in its entire river flowhowever, parts of this area are in unfavorable conservation status, which is a consequence of the past hydromeliorational measures, water pollution, and forest cutting for gaining new agricultural areas. With the public opinion survey among the population of ten towns in the surroundings of the Gornja Bistrica and Murska šuma pilot areas (June-July 2015N = 303), we wanted to determine knowledge of diverse nature protection regimes, understanding the restrictions for the landowners, opinion about human pressure on riparian forests, and the support for four protection measures for improving the conservation status of forest habitat types in both pilot areas. We discovered a relatively good knowledge of the special regime management areas, general approval on the importance of the restrictions in these areas, and majority belief that they do not considerably or highly limit the landowners, and that the riparian forests along Mura are neither distinctly exposed nor non-exposed to the pressures of society. Based on the support for protection measures – (1) removal of the non-native invasive species(2) planting willow and alder in otter and beaver habitats(3) establishing native tree species stands(4) increasing the quantity of the dead tree biomass in the saproxylic beetle habitats – we could classify the interviewees into three classes with diverse preferences for performing the measures. In all three classes, the interviewees expressed positive preferences for a larger surface of the native tree species stands, in one of them for the removal of invasive species, and in one of them for establishing a stable saproxylic beetle population status. In two classes, they expressed negative preferences for increasing the otter and beaver populations and, at the same time, for removing invasive species. The most surprising is the findings that the interviewees were more inclined to the stabilization of the saproxylic beetle populations than for the increase of the otter and beaver populations. A possible explanation for this is also the fact that beaver and otter can cause damage to people (otter by fishing, beaver by causing damage on agricultural produce and trees)