Debeli rtič Landscape Park – A Green Oasis of the Gulf of Trieste
The Debeli rtič Landscape Park is located at the very edge of the Ankaran Peninsula and represents one of the most important protected natural areas of the Slovenian sea. With its characteristic flysch cliffs, unspoilt coastline, wetlands, vineyards, and olive groves, it creates the distinctive image of a green oasis of the Gulf of Trieste.
The northern part of the park is characterised by wetlands with sub-Mediterranean vegetation and salt-tolerant plants, while the central part of the protected area is marked by fertile ridges overlooking the coast, vineyards, and olive groves.
The underwater world of the Debeli rtič Landscape Park is also exceptionally rich. Marine biodiversity is supported by the intertwining of different habitat types, including hard and muddy seabeds with algal growth and seagrass meadows of Cymodocea nodosa. These habitats provide an important living environment for numerous marine invertebrates and fish, while also offering shelter and feeding grounds for juvenile marine species.
The park is home to many rare and endangered species of marine fauna and flora, as well as approximately one third of all marine animal species found in the Slovenian sea.
Seagrass meadows also play an important role in mitigating climate change, as they act as a carbon sink and contribute to the preservation of a healthy marine ecosystem.
