European Recovery and Resilience Funds – Together Towards the Goal: More Resilient and Biodiverse Forests
According to data from the Slovenian Forest Service, 58% of Slovenia's land is covered by forests, home to 71 different indigenous tree species. The presence of numerous protected and endangered species in these forests indicates a high level of preservation and diversity of forest habitats, highlighting the exceptional ecological importance of forests for the conservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity is crucial for adapting to and mitigating climate change, which is having an increasingly significant impact on populations in vulnerable areas and causing substantial economic damage.
As part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, Slovenia has implemented a reform and investment measure aimed at making forests more resilient and preserving their biodiversity.
Restoring and mitigating the effects of climate change and climate-related disasters on resilient forest biodiversity – reform
The purpose of this reform is threefold: to contribute to achieving a favourable conservation status for forest habitats and species; to increase biodiversity; and to strengthen the ecological functions of forests.
The reform's main objectives are:
- To reduce the risk of pests spreading during forest restoration;
- To ensure professional oversight and transparency in the use of forest reproductive material (seeds and propagating material, parts of plants, and planting material)
- To preserve healthy and resilient forests that can better withstand the impacts of climate change.
In pursuit of these objectives, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of Slovenia (MKGP) amended the Rules on conditions for entry in the register of suppliers and other obligations of suppliers and on the requirements concerning the marketing of forest reproductive material (PISRS). The amendment to the Rules, which entered into force on 26 August 2023, sets out the conditions for entry in the register of suppliers, as well as the obligations of suppliers to ensure the quality of forest reproductive material.
In order to facilitate traceability of origin and ensure professional oversight, the Ministry also updated the Rules on master certificates of identity of forest reproductive material (PISRS), which entered into force on 24 December 2022.
The amendments to the aforementioned Rules represent a milestone and were one of the conditions for the European Commission to disburse Slovenia's second payment request for available funds in full in December 2023.
Centre for Seeds, Nurseries and Forest Protection – Investment
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food used European recovery and resilience funds to support the construction of the Centre for Seeds, Nurseries and Forest Protection at the Slovenian Forestry Institute in Ljubljana as part of the investment. The objective was achieved when construction of the centre was completed in December 2025. The operating permit was obtained on 18 February 2026 and became final on the next day.
Through its operations, the Centre for Seeds, Nurseries and Forest Protection will enhance the long-term quality and resilience of Slovenian forests, particularly in terms of protection against fires, harmful organisms, and other threats that are increasing due to climate change.
The European Union contributed EUR 5.1 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility to make this investment possible, supporting nature-friendly forest management and the species and genetic diversity of Slovenian forests.
Slovenia will claim the investment target achieved for the "Centre for Seeds, Nurseries and Forest Protection" as part of its sixth payment request, which is expected to be submitted to the EC in the spring of 2026.
