Background Salt production was in past centuries one of the main commercial activities for people living along the 46 km-long Adriatic coast of Slovenia. Today however, this labour-intensive activity has become too costly and most ‘salinas’ (salt-pans) have been abandoned, or are no longer used. The Secovlje salt-pans, located in the southernmost stretch of the Slovenia coast, on the estuary of the Dragonja river, are among the few remaining, active salinas. In one of the two areas that make up the site, Fontanigge, salt production was abandoned a few decades ago. But, it is still produced in the second area, Lera. In common with the majority of the other (53) coastal salinas in the Mediterranean, the Secovlje salt-pans are used as breeding habitats by several species of gulls, terns and waders listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive. The Secovlje salt-pans’ site also harbours other important habitats types listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, such as mudflats and sandflats not covered sea seawater at low tide. The site was designated a natural park in 1990. Despite its ecological value, the costs of maintaining the natural heritage of the site are high. They involve the maintenance of embankments and dykes, in order to prevent uncontrolled flooding and changes in salinity, which would have a negative impact on the habitats and species present in the area. Objectives The project targeted the conservation of the natural habitats and species of Community interest within the Secovlje salt-pans’ site. The main action comprised the restoration of the system of dykes and embankments where, due to lack of funds, maintenance had not been carried out in the last decades. Moreover, nesting islands would be created, as additional breeding areas for terns, converting old structures originally built for a fish-farming plant, which was never completed. Additional protected spaces for birds would be provided by the creation of new channels along the boundaries of the salt-pans, thus reducing possibility of human disturbance and mammalian nest predation. Information and awareness-raising material, including a newsletter and a film, would be produced, in Slovenian and Italian, as the Secovlje salt-pans are located within a bilingual area. A site management plan of the site would also be elaborated with the involvement of regional representatives. This would help to encourage the sustainable use of the salt-pans and to insure the continuation of nature conservation measures after the end of the LIFE project. Finally, the project area would be included in the list of sites that the Slovenian government is proposing for the Natura 2000 network. Results The project achieved its main objectives. All the foreseen actions were carried out successfully. Although there were some delays due to unfavourable weather conditions, these did not affect the overall course of the project. The restoration of the dykes and the creation of sandy and floating islands has already resulted in improved ecological conditions for breeding birds and fishes, and some bird species appeared for the first time in the region. Dissemination and awareness activities were effective. Finally, the After-LIFE programme is underway with early, promising results, according to the beneficiary. The restoration project actions and results could serve as demonstration examples for similar ecosystems. The following actions were successfully carried out: - Elaboration of a site management plan for a 10-year period - Restoration of the dykes and embankments: the dykes and embankments were restored, consolidated and regularly maintained. Some 2,000 m2 of the most valuable habitat area was protected by the control of high tides and flooding; 5,000 m2 of the area with low conservation value was transferred into potential new breeding areas for six bird species. - Prevention of nest-predation: some 6,500 m of new edge channels were dredged and over 100 ha basins were surrounded by edge channels - Creation of substitute habitats: new small dykes, or sandy and floating islands were created, and beside the targeted bird species these attracted new species such as great flamingo (Phoenicopterus rubber) shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), redshank (Tringa totanus), avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and European bee-eater (Merops apiaster). - Awareness activities to promote the nature conservation work among local people and to strength trans-boundary co-operation. The project ensured effective maintenance of endangered habitats and protection of species. Targeted habitats include: (1130) Estuaries, (1140) mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide, (1310) Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand, (1320) Spartina maritimae, (1410) Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi), (1420) Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic salt marshes and salt meadows (Sarcocornetea fruticosi). Targeted species include: Knipowitschia cf. caucasica and Aphanius fasciatus (six above mentioned habitat types and two fish species are listed in Annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive. There are also six bird species (Himantopus himantopus, Recurvirostra avosetta, Sterna hirundo, Sterna albifrons, Anthus campestris and Charadrius alexandrinus) listed in the Annex I of the Birds Directive), with the most important national populations or the only breeding populations for Slovenia. The Secovlje and Strunjan salt-pans are considered as the most important post-breeding area for migrating Larus melanocephalus (Annex I of the Birds Directive) in Slovenia.