Andrej SOVINC

Andrej Sovinc is a protected area expert with 10 years of site management experience as the head of the Secovlje Salina Nature park and Natura 2000 site in Slovenia. For the last 25 years he is actively involved in international conservation; e.g. coordinating the IUCN European Action Plan for Protected Areas and coordinating the European network of over 600 protected area experts in the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, as European Vice-Chair. Initially trained as a civil engineer and specialized in wetland management and restoration, he subsequently undertook post graduate studies on nature protection and gained a PhD on protected area systems.

His experiences are in practical protected area and Natura 2000 management, working with stakeholders and local people, in provision of advisory services to governmental agencies and NGOs on different interventions and in cooperation with consultancies and experts on different analytical projects. His work is reflected in the preparation of management and strategic documents for protected areas and use of natural resources, project development and management, capacity building, education and organization of expert meetings and trainings, balancing the biodiversity conservation goals with the needs of people.