Iški Morost Nature Reserve Revisited

Iški morost - Iška Moor - is a true gem in the larger setting of Ljubljana Marshes landscape park. Strictly protected and intricately managed by DOPPS - Birdlife Slovenia it is a remnant of once vast marshy grasslands, shrubs and flood forests that used to cover the Ljubljana Marshes, an immensely important habitat of many protected species of flora and fauna, the largest connected area of the highly endangered grassland habitat type – the humid Molinietum grasslands -, and a view into the past of this land.

A view over the eastern part of Iška Moor, across the Ljubljana Marshes towards Ljubljana and the Alps beyond.

The eastern part of the reserve is coverend mainly by restored meadows and damp grasslands, with a few shrubs and an occasional tree. The humid meadows fell into disuse in the second half of the 20th century, and were overgrown by shrubbery. A careful restoration of this rare habitat began in 1998 and is still ongoing.

Wet molinietum grasslands are being slowly restored.

An old meandering channel of river Iška is still visible, despite being silted up since the straightening of the river that was a part of a large melioration effort starting in the late 18th century, turning the marshes into fields.

The old, meadering, silted up channel of Iška river is still visible.

The eastern border of the nature reserve is marked by a melioration channel, dug in the late 18th century.

Iška Moor is a place well worth a visit. A circular Corncrake’s educational path goes around it, showing and explaining rare habitat types of the Ljubljana Marshes, and the forms of management employed to maintain and conserve it. While walking on the path make sure to keep your eyes and ears open - you might just be able to see one of the rare and endangered plants and animals that live here!

A lone birch tree and some shrubs in the middle of the marshy grassland.

All kite aerial photos shot with Nikon P330 on a Royal 69 sled kite.